Geddy Lee = Master of Bass/Keys/Vocals, Alex = Master of Guitar, licks, and solos, Neil = Master of drums, lyrics, philosophy. What does this all have in common? RUSH IS AN AMAZING AND STELLAR BAND!!!!
I love Geddy cause hes a great vocalist and great bassist. I don't think many other guys can do lead vocals in a band and then be able to come to an interview about the bass with this much knowledge.
Geddy Lee will never fail to impress me with his bass skills. He's right up there with John Entwhistle, JPJ, and many of the other highly successful prog and classic rock bassists. Now let's talk about how he balances 3 parts of the band...
whenever my bandmates say his singing is annoying, i give them a bass synth, a bass, keyboards and a microphone and i tell them to play a rush song. it's a great way to shut someone up.
Shallex grab a set of Moog Taurus pedals, a Fender Precision bass, a keyboard and a microphone. Go play a Rush song, and realize that's the way to tell you to shut up and quit disrespecting a legend who is one of the greatest bands of all time!
Geddy on an old SCTV Skit album talked about using laughin gas to hit some notes on a couple tunes. Very cool of him to humble enough and inventive enuff to do so. I've never minded high register singers like Geddy, Yes's Anderson, Air Supply even, Triumph, Steve Perry, etc. Awesome artist.
Geddy was the first bassist I ever jammed with on 2112, back in 2004. However, the irony of that 1972 J-bass being in Gibson's old headquarters is not lost.
His rickenbacker sound on the EXIT STAGE LEFT DVD is far superior to any other live performance by Rush. I wish he would go back to that sound full time.. Like his Jazz bass.. But its the Ricky for me.
GHENGIS GRIMES I completely agree with you when you hear the tone of that Ricky for me it doesn't get any better I think his Jazz is too twangy except on Counterparts I like that tone
WE CAN FINALLY END THE LIMELIGHT DEBATE. We all knew Tom Sawyer was the jazz and Red Barchetta was ric But we know now Limelight is the ric. I have somehow found inner peace.
I've watched/heard so many wonderful interviews with Geddy, and I'm always struck by how current his trains of thought are, for having been playing so long. I very much doubt that the double Ric's merits, as an instrument or prop or otherwise, have occurred to him at all for the last 2 or 3 decades. He pretty much stopped using it when he had to have a bigger keyboard rig, and my guess is he'll never return to it, now that he's much more into moving around the stage. :)
I like rush, and i like led zeppelin. John Paul Jones and geddy lee are both amazing bassists. How can you not like rush, but like led zeppelin. That's just unheard of. There is no comparison between the two because of two different music genres. I still think they are amazing though
i think the main message behind this is that he always goes back to fender jazz basses. and sometimes uses rickenbackers for the other end of the tonal spectrum.
@cfredrics Very true! Some of my favorite people come from Canada, like Jim Carrey, the band Kittie, Rush, Alanis, not to mention Hockey! And of course Terrance & Philip, haha!
In Neil Peart's Roadshow book...he goes into it in a bit more detail...and then goes on to say that they hate going to Florida and its a police state. Probably right too.
Was this interview conducted in New York City at the Guitar World office? That Kiss picture in the back is from Guitar World's issue from 1996 because i own it!
I suppose if you view it like that. I view it as the 7 parts (with their own seperate titles) are seperate songs combined to create one album. Kinda like chapters in a book. Anywho, which one is your favorite?
......... Uhhh He's absolutely not wrong... Tom Sawyer - Jazz Limelight - Rick YYZ - Rick (Bass solos are overdubs with the Jazz) Camera Eye - Rick Witch Hunt - Jazz Barchetta - Rick Vital Signs - Rick You'd be surprised how much the Rick dominates the majority of songs up to and including Signals.
11 years later. Limelight isn’t a Ric, it’s a J bass. The only 2 songs with ric on moving pictures are Barchetta and the camera eye. YYZ bass solo punch ins might also be Ric.
@NapoleanXV Lol, yeah I knew Fender endorses him, but I'm sure Geddy has enough cash to play whatever instrument he prefers. Gotta say I love the Rick tone though, wish he'd use it for a few more songs live, maybe even bust out ye olde double neck guitar/bass.
Actually Geddy, Malignant Narcissism is 2 minutes and 18 seconds, not 2 minutes and 15 seconds. But hey its not like I'm a crazy rush fan who had to listen to this song when you brought it up in the interview :)
If you read Neil's book Roadshow...there's a little section where he talks about what happened during the R30 tour in '04 with Alex in Florida; some disagreement him and his son got into in a hotel on NYE - and the police tasered and arrested him. If the charges stuck (which were total bullshit, Geddy hit the nail on the head there), he wouldn't have been allowed back in the US again. But there was a plea bargain and a confidential settlement which was drawn out over several years (hence why it was still an issue during the recording of Snakes and Arrows in 06/07).
when he talks about Alex being in Florida dealing with some bullshit that was probably when he had the altercation New Year's Eve and I got in fight with the cops and got his nose busted had to go back in this trial against the cops involved etcetera and the hotel management it was nuts
I had the same observation about the original Steinberger L series basses and guitars. They were very innovative, the sustain was amazing, they were light and compact, and they were virtually indestructible. But I just couldn't get the girth I wanted from them tonally. The guitars were great for players who used a lot of processing (David Torn did amazing things with his Trans Trem L) but plugging straight into a Fender Champ or Silvertone never gave me the harmonics and depth I prefer.
wikiwikiwee1Dialed/looked it up... Canadians speak a more British English not Americanised. It still pisses me off when I hear someone pronounce YY Zee....It's YY ZED dam it ! Lol
do you remember dial up internet it still disgusts me to think we had to increase our phone bill, yeah my family had a designated line so you could call on the phone AND internet at the SAME TIME!
wikiwikiwee1 Yes I remember when internet was done on the phone but I don't believe that is what he is referring too because of the way he said it as it is a common expression [ not that it matters but a RUSH fan since 1970 and grew up in Toronto ] . Geddy is a Canadian who comes from a European family now in his early 60's like myself and others of that age and background we choose our words differently because we have a different understanding of there meanings. Sadly if you are Canadian of a younger generation especially under 20 as our culture has been diminished or an American who either doesn't understand or know of the difference you will not get it. There are many interviews of all three members of rush including there documentary were you will see examples of this in there speech. There are many different words used for every day objects, different expressions, pronunciations and even different word spellings that are related to European mostly British speech that our quite common among Canadians.
Geddy has mentioned that everyone assumed he used the Jazz Bass for the entire album, he thinks it was because that was what he was playing in the inner sleeve pictures.
Geddy thinks the Wal bass is not a great rock bass with no beasty bottom end...I guess that's where Justin Chancellor comes in :) (No disrespect to Geddy. I play the bass and love them both)
I had read years ago in bass player magazine that Geddy really liked the over all sound of the Wal bass, but, since he was touring a LOT back then, the weight of it was really getting to him.
Rush has a distinct bass sound. It's aggressive, and most notes are intentionally overplucked. In my experience Fender basses excel in this, while other basses require a softer touch. It's the same reason Geddy wouldn't enjoy playing a Warwick. They're great instruments, but they aren't really built to be smacked in that way.
ChromeGhost0219.......I agree. I'm a huge fan of Geddy and Rush, but his sound nowadays seems to not have much low end at all. Mostly treble and distortion based. Just an opinion.
It probably depends on how you are hearing it. Nowadays, they master their albums at least three different ways: iTunes, CD, and vinyl. Plus, he might hear it differently through his studio headphones, in-ear monitors, or practice amp. The means by which you hear it probably makes a difference, also.
@ModestM00se thats funny because all the members of rush are fans of tool and aenima is one of lifesons favorite albums of all time im sure there musical taste is more developed than yours seeing as you like modest mouse, and there world class musicians who know talent when they hear it. it's also so weird how guitarists everywhere lust after adam jones guitar tone and danney carrey's drumming but i guess tool knows nothing about rock music
With all due respect to Geddy Lee I have to disagree with him on the Wal bass not having enough heavy bottom end. Justin Chancellor of Tool uses those and MAN is his tone heavy! but all well, Geddy is still the only bassist I've heard that made the jazz bass sound heavy
No but he's extremely biased toward fender, i just think it would look bad to play another bass while being endorsed to another company lol. But I agree with you those wal basses are amazing with tons of low end.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Geddy Lee = Master of Bass/Keys/Vocals, Alex = Master of Guitar, licks, and solos, Neil = Master of drums, lyrics, philosophy. What does this all have in common? RUSH IS AN AMAZING AND STELLAR BAND!!!!
Geddy is amazing. His bass lines are an amazing compliment to his voice. Geddy is truly one of a kind. Just like Rush....
I just get this feeling like Geddy Lee is probably the most interesting person I never knew.
KISS pic in the back! Love the idea of these two bands touring in 1974-75!
I love Geddy cause hes a great vocalist and great bassist.
I don't think many other guys can do lead vocals in a band and then be able to come to an interview about the bass with this much knowledge.
Geddy Lee will never fail to impress me with his bass skills. He's right up there with John Entwhistle, JPJ, and many of the other highly successful prog and classic rock bassists. Now let's talk about how he balances 3 parts of the band...
Agree 100!
Geddy is just total down to earth, no ego, a really nice guy who just happens to play for one of the best bands out then and now! Rock it man!
coolest musician. This dude just seems like the nicest guy ever! i love how he talks about his other songs and the basses he uses for them!
whenever my bandmates say his singing is annoying, i give them a bass synth, a bass, keyboards and a microphone and i tell them to play a rush song. it's a great way to shut someone up.
Shallex grab a set of Moog Taurus pedals, a Fender Precision bass, a keyboard and a microphone. Go play a Rush song, and realize that's the way to tell you to shut up and quit disrespecting a legend who is one of the greatest bands of all time!
Geddy on an old SCTV Skit album talked about using laughin gas to hit some notes on a couple tunes. Very cool of him to humble enough and inventive enuff to do so. I've never minded high register singers like Geddy, Yes's Anderson, Air Supply even, Triumph, Steve Perry, etc. Awesome artist.
geddy´s voice has stood the proof of time....38 years and counting.
Geddy was the first bassist I ever jammed with on 2112, back in 2004. However, the irony of that 1972 J-bass being in Gibson's old headquarters is not lost.
Awesome interview. Thanks for posting!
His rickenbacker sound on the EXIT STAGE LEFT DVD is far superior to any other live performance by Rush. I wish he would go back to that sound full time.. Like his Jazz bass.. But its the Ricky for me.
GHENGIS GRIMES I completely agree with you when you hear the tone of that Ricky for me it doesn't get any better I think his Jazz is too twangy except on Counterparts I like that tone
Jazz bass. All the way.
Well DUH....Rush got me through some hard times...always loved their music...
WE CAN FINALLY END THE LIMELIGHT DEBATE. We all knew Tom Sawyer was the jazz and Red Barchetta was ric
But we know now Limelight is the ric. I have somehow found inner peace.
I've watched/heard so many wonderful interviews with Geddy, and I'm always struck by how current his trains of thought are, for having been playing so long. I very much doubt that the double Ric's merits, as an instrument or prop or otherwise, have occurred to him at all for the last 2 or 3 decades. He pretty much stopped using it when he had to have a bigger keyboard rig, and my guess is he'll never return to it, now that he's much more into moving around the stage. :)
If you've ever listened to Panacea (Part of Fountain of Lamneth) off of Rush's Caress of Steel album, his excellent voice I think is self-evident. :3
I would love to get ahold of Geddy/Peart's jam tapes.
@Derekbasscovers its a pre-74 jazz bass, but post 68. like he said a 72' jazz bass.
@jjensen67
Pffft, Geddy's best on the RIck, fender must be payin him to play the jazz... (Obviously kidding, but I love the ricky's tone)
So glad to hear mention Greg Lake. I think he sometimes gets over looked!! Entwistle had the formula for most modern Bass players!!
@2012wyvern I believe it's the Fender 60's jazz bass, but he also has a signature bass from Fender.
Wonder if the guy who pawned his bass realizes that Geddy has been using it for so long lol. Just hilarious lol
@punishedexistence Of course he is down to earth! Not only is he a bassist, but he is also Canadian!
he rocks
I like rush, and i like led zeppelin. John Paul Jones and geddy lee are both amazing bassists. How can you not like rush, but like led zeppelin. That's just unheard of. There is no comparison between the two because of two different music genres. I still think they are amazing though
my two favourite bands
i think the main message behind this is that he always goes back to fender jazz basses. and sometimes uses rickenbackers for the other end of the tonal spectrum.
i love how he got the advance and used it on a legendary rickenbacker! exactly what i would do
Haha I bought one with my wages from my first job too in 1980. A 4001 for £365 uk
@cfredrics Very true! Some of my favorite people come from Canada, like Jim Carrey, the band Kittie, Rush, Alanis, not to mention Hockey! And of course Terrance & Philip, haha!
In Neil Peart's Roadshow book...he goes into it in a bit more detail...and then goes on to say that they hate going to Florida and its a police state. Probably right too.
I love hearing Geddy say "Bullshit" Hahaha
Was this interview conducted in New York City at the Guitar World office?
That Kiss picture in the back is from Guitar World's issue from 1996 because i own it!
i went to go listen to tom sawyer and red barchetta after this lol and yeah theyre is a difference, jazz bass has a heaver :D
Can anyone tell me where this is taken from? Is it available on DVD?
Interesting.If you watch GRACE UNDER PRESSURE TOUR the good old Steinburger still sound incredible but it did have less bottom end.
I think this was the first time I ever heard Geddy Lee curse
Geddy Lee should play the Canada national anthem when he lets them win at the olympics.
:D geddy lee awesome
I suppose if you view it like that. I view it as the 7 parts (with their own seperate titles) are seperate songs combined to create one album. Kinda like chapters in a book. Anywho, which one is your favorite?
Geddys a genius
whats name of the bass he is using?
HOLY SHAT, that's a Fender Jaguar Bass! Have that same thing!
......... Uhhh He's absolutely not wrong...
Tom Sawyer - Jazz
Limelight - Rick
YYZ - Rick (Bass solos are overdubs with the Jazz)
Camera Eye - Rick
Witch Hunt - Jazz
Barchetta - Rick
Vital Signs - Rick
You'd be surprised how much the Rick dominates the majority of songs up to and including Signals.
11 years later. Limelight isn’t a Ric, it’s a J bass. The only 2 songs with ric on moving pictures are Barchetta and the camera eye. YYZ bass solo punch ins might also be Ric.
Wal bass is actually back now! Same basses at before.
lmfaooo i heard about alex in florida apperently he got into a fight with a bouncer or something
@NapoleanXV
Lol, yeah I knew Fender endorses him, but I'm sure Geddy has enough cash to play whatever instrument he prefers. Gotta say I love the Rick tone though, wish he'd use it for a few more songs live, maybe even bust out ye olde double neck guitar/bass.
I wonder if he's ever played a warwick? I would have thought that would cover all his requirements and more..
No Warwick basses.
Oh... Geddy....
Alex was in Florida dealing with 'legal shit'. And that's what it was.
Actually Geddy, Malignant Narcissism is 2 minutes and 18 seconds, not 2 minutes and 15 seconds. But hey its not like I'm a crazy rush fan who had to listen to this song when you brought it up in the interview :)
I have that same G&K head.
@theemceemurdah I did'nt know there were other CD's! All I have are rush.
If you read Neil's book Roadshow...there's a little section where he talks about what happened during the R30 tour in '04 with Alex in Florida; some disagreement him and his son got into in a hotel on NYE - and the police tasered and arrested him. If the charges stuck (which were total bullshit, Geddy hit the nail on the head there), he wouldn't have been allowed back in the US again. But there was a plea bargain and a confidential settlement which was drawn out over several years (hence why it was still an issue during the recording of Snakes and Arrows in 06/07).
KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN!!!
@brw9284 it looks like an enlarged Guitar World magazine cover. Search for "guitar world" "september 1996".
@jerrythepotato1919 Cool man. What are your top 3 favorite songs?
is that a kiss poster in the background??
7:00 best part
@RuroiniStenchin fender does pay him to play the jazzes actually... rickenbacker doesnt do endorsements.
@freewill51 Amen. Are there other bands. I heard of a band named Pink Floyd, a few of their songs are ok. BUT ALL OF RUSH ROCKS.
when he talks about Alex being in Florida dealing with some bullshit that was probably when he had the altercation New Year's Eve and I got in fight with the cops and got his nose busted had to go back in this trial against the cops involved etcetera and the hotel management it was nuts
What?
I don't understand, what happeneed?
Its been a year now. Looks like Chopper isnt gonna answer ya! :(
He's correct tho. Google "alex lifeson new years eve" and you see it
Anyone who hates one anyone is a tool. TOOL fans may be angry but at least not all of them are hateful.
I had the same observation about the original Steinberger L series basses and guitars. They were very innovative, the sustain was amazing, they were light and compact, and they were virtually indestructible. But I just couldn't get the girth I wanted from them tonally. The guitars were great for players who used a lot of processing (David Torn did amazing things with his Trans Trem L) but plugging straight into a Fender Champ or Silvertone never gave me the harmonics and depth I prefer.
How did you manage to swipe that username? You even have a space in it too. Weren't names supposed to be one word?
he dialed it up online, wow, it's been a while
canadia
wikiwikiwee1Dialed/looked it up... Canadians speak a more British English not Americanised. It still pisses me off when I hear someone pronounce YY Zee....It's YY ZED dam it ! Lol
do you remember dial up internet
it still disgusts me to think we had to increase our phone bill, yeah my family had a designated line so you could call on the phone AND internet at the SAME TIME!
wikiwikiwee1 Yes I remember when internet was done on the phone but I don't believe that is what he is referring too because of the way he said it as it is a common expression [ not that it matters but a RUSH fan since 1970 and grew up in Toronto ] . Geddy is a Canadian who comes from a European family now in his early 60's like myself and others of that age and background we choose our words differently because we have a different understanding of there meanings. Sadly if you are Canadian of a younger generation especially under 20 as our culture has been diminished or an American who either doesn't understand or know of the difference you will not get it. There are many interviews of all three members of rush including there documentary were you will see examples of this in there speech. There are many different words used for every day objects, different expressions, pronunciations and even different word spellings that are related to European mostly British speech that our quite common among Canadians.
nice!
Cool
@1324babybash I'm 12 and I saw them for the second time a month ago.
Wasnt there a guy who analyzed the Limelight bass sound and came to the conclusion it's a Jazz Bass with only the neck pickup on?
Geddy has mentioned that everyone assumed he used the Jazz Bass for the entire album, he thinks it was because that was what he was playing in the inner sleeve pictures.
That guy was an idiot.
@JohnLennonLover9 haha no rush fan would think your insane. i love it as well
@JohnLennonLover9 Why would you be insane for loving his singing voice? They were one of the biggest rock bands ever obviously he has a great voice.
2112 is not a song it's an album. Which song in 2112 is your favorite?
@Derekbasscovers I see, cool
Its weird that he's wrong... Limelight is classic jazz bass
Geddy thinks the Wal bass is not a great rock bass with no beasty bottom end...I guess that's where Justin Chancellor comes in :) (No disrespect to Geddy. I play the bass and love them both)
Wal kicks ass!!
Justin's signal chain is beyond ridiculous. A LOT of stuff goes into his tone.
I had read years ago in bass player magazine that Geddy really liked the over all sound of the Wal bass, but, since he was touring a LOT back then, the weight of it was really getting to him.
To me, Wals just aren’t as GEDDY. But that could just be me
Rush has a distinct bass sound. It's aggressive, and most notes are intentionally overplucked. In my experience Fender basses excel in this, while other basses require a softer touch. It's the same reason Geddy wouldn't enjoy playing a Warwick. They're great instruments, but they aren't really built to be smacked in that way.
Any one notice the amphead? YEAAAA!!!! Gallien-Krueger RULES!!!
@MrKookoodude everyone thought that
@64ah OK that was REALLY nerdy but it made me laugh so hard!
@NickHill668 Whatchoo talkin 'bout Willis?
@PattyWhomperOFFICIAL thats true but there are also people who look worse the older they get........like me!
ChromeGhost0219.......I agree. I'm a huge fan of Geddy and Rush, but his sound nowadays seems to not have much low end at all. Mostly treble and distortion based. Just an opinion.
It probably depends on how you are hearing it. Nowadays, they master their albums at least three different ways: iTunes, CD, and vinyl. Plus, he might hear it differently through his studio headphones, in-ear monitors, or practice amp.
The means by which you hear it probably makes a difference, also.
@rollipololi it was a with a police officer and he was defending his son, and geddy is right it was bullshit. look it up somewhere you can find it!
@ModestM00se thats funny because all the members of rush are fans of tool and aenima is one of lifesons favorite albums of all time im sure there musical taste is more developed than yours seeing as you like modest mouse, and there world class musicians who know talent when they hear it. it's also so weird how guitarists everywhere lust after adam jones guitar tone and danney carrey's drumming but i guess tool knows nothing about rock music
i think you're insane for thinking people on a video of geddy lee will think you're insane for loving his voice hahaha
watch his fingers...when he talks about basses, his fingers move not his hands...kinda cool! probably subconcious.
With all due respect to Geddy Lee I have to disagree with him on the Wal bass not having enough heavy bottom end. Justin Chancellor of Tool uses those and MAN is his tone heavy! but all well, Geddy is still the only bassist I've heard that made the jazz bass sound heavy
???
Don't kid yourself man it's not the bass, fender endorsed him, he has to say that.
I can't see Geddy Lee hold back his opinions due to an endorsement. Besides, it's not like no other company would endorse him if Fender stopped lol
No but he's extremely biased toward fender, i just think it would look bad to play another bass while being endorsed to another company lol. But I agree with you those wal basses are amazing with tons of low end.
It's not often I hear someone play a jazz bass and showcasing the low end
they rarely talk about them =(
Met that man, nbd
@theothertroll You can't troll Rush. You just can't because it doesn't apply.
GK*
@Zer0SkiLL789 He's gotten a huge amount of flak from some people who consider his voice shrill. I don't, but then again, my voice is somewhat similar.
naaa your arn't insane, Geddy is a god in human form
How can a bass can cust 5 dolars? Even back in the days when Geddy was just a kid
Cool as fuck.
Ged wearing a Lamb of God T shirt?
@Annonymus121 NAH GREAT NEWS
@freewill51 LOL !
Rush warmed up for KISS on a tour in the 70s.
"I can't actually play fretless bass." Plays fretless bass.