Dearly Beloved's Rob Higgins Talks New Album and Uncle Geddy Lee

Rush fans may remember Rob Higgins, Geddy's nephew and member of the now defunct group Rocketscience; Geddy produced and sang on their track "Space Suit" from their now out of print album Foolscap (hear it on Youtube).

Higgins is currently bass player and front man of the group Dearly Beloved, and in a new interview with MusicRadar.com, Higgins talks about his relationship with his uncle, touring with Rush and being present for recording sessions.

"My mom is Geddy's older sister, so he would get stuck babysitting me. So for me, I was lucky! I was sitting in the corner of rehearsals. He'd have to look after me for the afternoon, so if he was going to rehearsal I was going to rehearsal. I would sit in the corner and watch the band for six hours without saying a word. I was always a quiet observer. They maybe thought I was tuned out, but I was absorbing every interaction, evert attempt at a song, every beat, every note. I was so enthralled with all of it.

"Growing up, he was my cool uncle. My mom would take me over there and we would have family visits. He was the uncle who always had the instruments in a sound proof room in the basement. My mom would visit with the family and I would spend the whole afternoon just bashing around on drums and guitars and basses. I can't ever really remember a time not playing music. I think since I was born I've had proximity to it. I guess I've got Geddy to thank for that. I don't think I would have had it otherwise."

When I was a teenager I was able to go to London with them, and I was living with them in a house while they were recording an album in England. I was fortunate enough to go on tour with them, live on a tour bus with them and spend time like that. I've always studied how they operate as a band, and it's certainly influenced the bands I've been involved with. They're all about work ethic but maintaining an incredible sense of humour."

In terms of the music it's always pushed me to push myself. I was afforded some opportunities to see them pushing themselves in the studio. There was one opportunity when I was 12, where I went and stayed with them in Quebec up in the mountains, this little studio called Le Studio just outside of Montreal. It was fascinating to just be in the studio for hours and have nothing to do, just to see their work ethic. Whether laying down a part on a song or figuring out an overdub or working with a producer to get the most out of a piece of music, it was fascinating to be a fly on the wall"

- Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!