Reader here!
I mentioned several weeks ago that I had a few books on my summer reading list. Well, summer is officially over, and I was able to knock off book off of my list, as I made my way through Rush singer and bass player Geddy Lee’s autobiography, “My Effin’ Life.”
I have to say, it was quite an entertaining read, as Geddy takes you through his childhood, his teenage years, and the Rush years.
Geddy chronicles growing up in and around Toronto, the loss of his father, and the rebellious nature that led him to quit high school and chase his Rock ‘n’ Roll dreams.
One chapter deals with the harrowing and tragic story of his family navigating through the Holocaust during World War II, and Geddy notes incidents of Anti-Semitism that he dealt with growing up, and you see how that helped to shape him. That part is not an easy read, but worth it, to gain a better understanding of his family’s background and resilience, and where he comes from.
Geddy tells the tales of getting together with Alex Lifeson and original Rush drummer John Rutsey, before parting ways with him and bringing the legendary Neil Peart into the fold, creating that fantastic alchemy that eventually turned Rush into a global sensation, and eventual Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers.
We hear the ups and downs of writing, recording and touring the amazing catalogue of Rush music, and I admit I never realized how much more involved Geddy was on the production end, compared with his bandmates.
He also tells us of the life he’s shared with his wife Nancy and their family, and the difficulties that come in holding a family together when his life as a musician collided with his wife’s career and her life when he was on the road.
As well, he doesn’t hold back, peeling the curtain back and talking about some of the things that tend to come along with rock stardom, including substance use and abuse.
And he takes readers through the last few years that Rush were recording and touring, and the uncertainty that came after Neil Peart suffered the double tragedies of losing both his daughter and wife, and the time it took for the power trio to reform and continue, up until Peart’s passing in 2020 from glioblastoma – the form of brain cancer that also took the life of another Canadian rock icon – Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie.
All in all, despite some heavy moments, “My Effin’ Life” is a fun read overall, and a great reminder that you don’t have to be born into music royalty to carve out your place in music history. You just have to be willing to work hard enough and find the right people to make those Rock ‘n’ Roll dreams come true.
I definitely recommend this book, whether you’re a Rush fan or not.
Now, I’ll have to see if I can track down Neil Peart’s books, to give them a read. As far as I can tell, Alex Lifeson has not written a book, but who knows? Maybe someday, he’ll he’ll put his memories down in print, as well!
Here’s one of my fave Rush tunes… “Subdivisions!”
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