Rush 50 career spanning 4 cd boxed set - Now Available

Rush 50, a career spanning four cd boxed set hit shelves today, March 21st. The set is available in four formats: 4 CD, 7 LP, digital and Super Deluxe editions.

"RUSH 50 serves as a complete career-spanning Rush anthology on seven LPs and four CDs, featuring 50 tracks in total - seven of them previously unreleased - alongside numerous choice selections from every studio album, live release, and deluxe reissue the band has officially released over the years. Amongst the Holy Grail unreleased tracks are the first-ever official CD and LP reissue of Rush's very first single on Moon Records from 1973, 'Not Fade Away' and 'You Can't Fight It,' a pair of early gems that Rush fans have been clamoring to be released officially for decades - newly remastered from the original analog tapes. Other studio rarities found on RUSH 50 include Vault Editions of 1974's 'Working Man' and 1978's 'The Trees,' both of which showcase alternate guitar solos by Alex Lifeson, with the former track only having been available as a digital single while the latter cut has never been officially released beyond its appearance on instrument-based video games. Additionally, five unreleased live songs have been culled from some of Rush's most legendary performances. Four of them - including two non-album cuts, 'Bad Boy' and 'Garden Road' - originate from a pair of the band's earliest live shows at (1) Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, on May 15, 1974, and (2) the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 26, 1974. The two live tracks from the Ontario show include original drummer John Rutsey ('Need Some Love' and 'Before and After'), while the other two from the Cleveland gig feature Neil Peart behind the kit ('Bad Boy' and 'Garden Road'). Rush visited New York's iconic Electric Lady Studios in December of 1974 with their unreleased performance of 'Anthem' being presented here. The RUSH 50 collection's last unreleased live offering comes from Rush's final career performance with Peart that took place at The Forum in Los Angeles, California, on August 1, 2015 - a masterful, nuanced medley construction of 'What You're Doing / Working Man / Garden Road' newly mixed from the multi-tracks by longtime Rush producer & engineer Terry Brown." - Rush.com

The setlist is below.

Geddy Lee Unveils His Supercharged Minimoog Model D

Moog Music's latest creation is a supercharged Minimoog for Rush icon Geddy Lee. Built to his custom specs, it's only exclusively available in the US on Reverb through Geddy Lee’s Official Reverb Shop.

The Moog Music Geddy Lee Minimoog Model D features all the rich, analog circuitry that made the Minimoog a household name, with some special additions. Top features include: a hot-rodded VCA circuit, dedicated LFO controls, modern MIDI integration, and a custom, satin red finish with metallic flecks that recalls the red stage instruments from Rush's Grace Under Pressure tour.

 Click here for more info. 

Geddy Lee's "The Lost Demos" 12" coming to Record Store Day April 12th

Back in December 2023, Geddy Lee released The Lost Demos, two tracks recorded for My Favorite Headache but later shelved. Previously only available as a digital download, The Lost Demos will be released as a 12" single for Record Store Day April 12th. [As an aside, wouldn't it have made sense to include these tracks on the My Favorite Headache vinyl reissue released this past June?] For a list of store locations visit recordstoreday.com. 

"For Record Store Day 2025, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Rush lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist Geddy Lee releases The Lost Demos, two previously unreleased solo songs. Lee originally recorded this pair of demos, 'Gone' and 'I Am... You Are', during the writing sessions for his 2000 solo debut, My Favorite Headache. With the help of producer/engineer David Bottrill, he has unearthed them for the first time, properly mixed and mastered. Commenting on the project, Geddy said 'I'm excited to see these two "lost demos" released - I loved the songs when they were written and in some ways they feel as fresh and perhaps more relevant all these years later.' Both songs conjure the spirit of the classic My Favorite Headache, which originally arrived on November 14, 2000." - RecordStoreDay.com

Rush 50 career spanning compilation - Now Available for Preorder

The new compilation, Rush 50, is now available for preorder at Amazon: a 4-cd box for $99.98, a 7-LP box at $249.98, the digital collection, for $26.49, and a Super Deluxe Edition containing all items for $374.98.  All versions include a 104-page hardcover book featuring new Hugh Syme 50th anniversary artwork along with stunning new song illustrations, photos and liner notes by renowned rock journalists David Fricke and Philip Wilding.

Celebrate 50 years of RUSH with their first-ever complete career anthology. 50 tracks on 4 CDs featuring selections from every studio, live and deluxe reissue album. Igniting the experience are the very first two singles “Not Fade Away” and “You Can’t Fight It” remastered & reissued for the first time ever. The collection showcases 7 unreleased tracks including five 1974 live selections with the non-album songs “Bad Boy” and “Garden Road,” a Vault Edition of “The Trees” with an alternate guitar solo, and the very last performance with Neil Peart in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015 of “What You’re Doing / Working Man / Garden Road.” The 104-page hardcover book features new Hugh Syme 50th anniversary artwork along with stunning new song illustrations, photos and liner notes by renowned rock journalists David Fricke and Philip Wilding.

Exclusive to the Super Deluxe edition are 20 lithos illustrating one song from each studio album and a second 100-page hardcover book The Fullness Of Time, a brand-new graphic novel by Fantoons storytelling a conversation by Geddy & Alex reminiscing on the trials, tribulations and successes recording each studio album and how the band’s sound evolved with contributions from the producers and engineers the band worked with on their studio albums.

See "click here for more" for the full tracklist

Alex Lifeson appears on Herin's new album "Hiding In Plain Sight"

Alex Lifeson appears on the track "Second Ending" on the album Hiding in Plain Sight by Chris Herin, released last November 1st. This is the debut solo album by Herin, who is also the guitarist for the progressive rock band Tiles. The album was produced by Terry Brown, and the artwork is by Hugh Syme. Other guests on the album include Doane Perry, Michael Sadler, Peter Frampton, Kim Mitchell, and Crown Lands.  Order here. - Thanks to RushIsABand for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson appears on Maiah Wynne's new album, "Out of the Dark"

Alex Lifeson appears on Maiah Wynne's new album, Out of the Dark, released this past Friday November 21st.  Five years ago, the Envy of None vocalist released the "Fearless Girl" single which featured Alex on guitars.  That song is one of 11 tracks which are included on her new solo album; Alex appears on five tracks: Come On, All Too Much,  What a Shame,  Fearless Girl [album version] and Old Strings [Maiah's version].  

Fans of Envy of None will note this album contains "Old Strings [Maiah's version]".  Of this version, Alex Lifeson said "The original version is nothing like [the Envy of None version]. It was double time and I had added banjo and mandola as Maiah and I traded ideas. Soon after, Alf and Andy's half time version was submitted and changed everything. More in line with the EON vision."  Order here. - Thanks to Hank Niemczyk for the headsup!

Neil Peart's, final book, "Silver Surfers"

UPDATE After production delays, Silver Surfers hits store shelves November 19th/tomorrow!  

The final piece of writing by legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart was about one of the great passions of his life—collecting cars; the joy of collecting them, and the even bigger joy of driving them. In this never-before-seen piece, finished just before his passing in 2020, Neil writes about not only his lifelong passion for cars and the open road, but about his Silver Surfers—a rare collection of the best sports cars from the 1960s.

Each image in the book, personally selected by Neil, takes you on his journey of car collecting—including a photo of him at 22 with his first car, a 1969 Lotus Europa, purchased when he was working as a parts manager at his father’s farm equipment dealer; a 1948 MGTC he bought in London while on tour; and the black Ferrari car he drove while writing the songs for the seminal album Moving Pictures. And then there are his beloved Silver Surfers—seven classic 1960s sports cars, from an Aston Martin DB5 Saloon to a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, each one a gorgeous silver, except one: a black 1964 Shelby Cobra whose patina Neil loved so much he refused to change it.

Beautiful studio images showing both the interior and exterior of these extraordinary cars, as well as personal images of Neil driving them along the California coast, accompany Neil’s warm, personal memories of why and how he bought the cars, the friends he made along the way, and what it was like to be behind the wheel. Neil’s final work is a love letter to these cars that meant so much to him, and to the passion of the road that fueled his life.

Click here to preorder.

Lerxst Launches Grace – Limited Edition Alex Lifeson Signature Guitar

Alex Lifeson and Lerxst announce the launch of Grace, the latest edition of his signature guitar series created in partnership with innovative Canadian manufacturers Godin Guitars. If you missed out on the limited-edition Limelight – or think you look better in red! – now’s your chance to grab a hold of your new favorite axe. For more info, please visit Lerxstamps.com or the official Lerxst Reverb Shop. 

 “It’s a beautiful instrument that suits many different styles of playing,” he continued, “and the mirrored pickguard comes in handy for late night sessions when you need, um, to check, ah, your hair or something.” - Alex

"The Minimoog Book" featuring foreward by Geddy Lee

The Minimoog Book, the authoritative chronicle of the Minimoog synthesizer’s profound impact on music history is now available. Featuring a compelling foreword by Geddy Lee, this book delves into the Minimoog's influence on rock legends and its continued inspiration for today's musicians. With extensive research, exclusive interviews, and over 700 photos, The Minimoog Book is an invaluable resource for rock music enthusiasts, and is currently for sale on the Bjooks Publishing website and other outlets including Sweetwater, Thomman, for around $75 USD.

Geddy Lee appears in new Tragically Hip documentary No Dress Rehearsal

The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is a definitive four-part documentary series about a bunch of scrappy kids from Kingston, Ontario — Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair — who went on to make music that defined Canada to the world and, more importantly, Canada to Canadians.  Throughout the series, producer-director Mike Downie — brother of the band’s singular frontperson — interweaves never-before-seen archival footage with new interviews with the band, family, friends, and famous fans including Will Arnett, Dan Aykroyd, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Harmer, Geddy Lee, and Justin Trudeau.  The series will receive a preview screening on September 5, 2024, in the Primetime program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, in advance of its Prime Video debut on September 20.  Check out the trailer here. - Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Alex Lifeson's "Victor" Reissue coming August 9th

Alex Lifeson's 1996 solo project, Victor, will finally see its first vinyl release on August 9th. The reissue will be available on both double vinyl and CD, and from the release notes, "The reissue features the original album, completely remixed by Alex personally, offering significantly enhanced audio quality specially prepared for this release. Additionally, the album's fourth side features four instrumental tracks." Click here to order

Of the bonus tracks, "Kroove", "Banjo Bob" and "Serbs" were previously released on Alex's website on August 2, 2021 as "The Lerxst Demo Archives Pt. 1", while "Cherry Lopez Lullaby" was added Oct 29, 2021.  Here's what he had to say about them at that time:

"'Kroove' was written and recorded @1996 late one night in my home studio. It started with the main guitar pattern then I added the drum loop, keys and bass. The geetar pickin’ section was especially fun to record. I’ve always liked that late night feel of this one." [webmaster note: you may recognize "Kroove" as a longer version of "Bittersweet Bundle of Misery" from the R30 live video].

"'Banjo Bob' was a fun session I did mid 1999. Originally recorded to a drum loop, I asked my good friend and Black Sheep drummer, Jim MacLellan, to have a go. He basically played to the finished track after I’d recorded all the elements. I love the false setup of the banjo and all the ugly undertones in the middle section.  It was recorded at Lerxst Sound-Richmond Hill as there is a strict no banjo in the house policy dictated by Charlene."

"'Serbs' is another track Jim played on sometime in early 1999. It actually started with the accordion section and then built in reverse. I tried to create a soft pulse character for the guitar verse then an overcompressed drum moment before the Serbs marched in. My parents wanted me to play the accordion like a nice Serbian boy from suburban Willowdale should but the guitar was calling me. I’ll never know if I made the right decision..."

"'Cherry Lopez Lullaby' was written during the mix session of Clockwork Angels while in LA for months starting early 2012.  I did an interview with High Times and the interviewer brought along a friend, an esteemed grower who provided a sample of his creation named Cherry Lopez.  Because I was on an EST body clock, I was up most mornings @ 5:00 AM.  I'd order coffee, sit on my hotel room balcony, read the paper and wake and bake then dive into making some fun sounds while the city was waking up.  I had some borrowed acoustic and electric guitars for the duration, thankfully, as sitting around waiting to go to the studio was tedious and certainly, a bowl of Cherry kept my appetite healthy."

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Make Surprise Performance at Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Concert in Toronto

Rush singer/bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson made a surprise appearance Thursday night at “Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot,” the star-studded tribute concert to the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter lineup at the Carnegie Hall of the country’s music world, Toronto’s Massey Hall. Lightfoot, who wrote such classics as “If You Could Read My Mind” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” died last May at the age of 84 — he had played the historic venue 170 times.

Lee and Lifeson, billed on the private performer rundown and setlist only as “L+L,” were backed by Canadian Music Hall of Famers (and the evening’s house band) Blue Rodeo on Lightfoot’s song “The Way I Feel,” complete with an acoustic guitar solo from Lifeson.

"Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee Are Playing Rush Songs Again — For Their Ears Only" - Rollingstone.com

In a new interview with Rollingstone.com, Alex Lifeson catches us up on his busy post-Rush life, Envy of None 2, and explains in detail why he really, really doesn't want to tour again.

"Rush: The Comic Book" by Tidal Wave publications

Hitting stores today is "Rush: The Comic Book" by Tidal Wave publications: https://amzn.to/3Ucepvm

"Rush, the Canadian band, takes center stage in a captivating comic book biography. With record-breaking sales, chart-topping hits, and an enduring influence on musicians worldwide, Rush's extraordinary journey unfolds within these pages, showcasing the remarkable tale of a band that shaped generations."

Thanks to RushFanForever for the headsup!

Lerxst Announces The Snow Dog – Limited Edition Octave Fuzz Pedal

BURGAW, NC, April 3, 2024 – Just a few months after the successful launch of the By-Tor overdrive/boost pedal, Alex Lifeson and Lerxst have announced their next pedal collaboration - The Snow Dog. The Snow Dog is an octave fuzz that utilizes the Lerxst two-in-one pedal format to provide a versatile array of modern and vintage fuzz sounds with a footswitchable upper octave effect. The Snow Dog is available now for $295 as a limited-run of 500 pedals available exclusively through the LERXST Reverb Store and also includes a tour pass signed by Alex. For more information and to purchase, please click here.

Alex Lifeson appears on "Today Was Yesterday"

Alex Lifeson features on 6 tracks on the new album Today Was Yesterday, released back on November 24th.  Buy now.

"Today Was Yesterday is the fresh and exciting new project of Angelo Barbera and Ty Dennis, two friends and veterans of the Los Angeles music industry. Their self-titled debut album showcases their talent and passion for creating timeless songs that blend catchy melodies, meaningful lyrics, and superb musicianship that is inspired by the bands that have left a lasting mark on music history. The album features guitar legends Alex Lifeson (Rush), and Robby Krieger (The Doors), who add their signature sound that helps make this release an instant classic. Today Was Yesterday is more than just a band name, it's a statement of timeless music that transcends genres and generations."

Alex Lifeson appears on Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes present: 'Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)'

Alex Lifeson is one of 60 superstar musicians performing on the remake of Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes present 'Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)', produced in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. Out March 15th. Preorder here

Lerxst Launches Limelight – The Alex Lifeson Limited Edition Signature Guitar

Alex Lifeson and Lerxst announce the launch of Limelight, a new signature guitar created in partnership with Canadian manufacturers Godin Guitars. Inspired by Lifeson’s iconic Hentor Sportscaster guitars from the mid-80s, Limelight thoroughly reimagines Lifeson’s original concept with modern part selection and craftsmanship to create a high-quality, forward-thinking instrument designed for today’s players. Limelight is available now for MAP $3,999. For more information please click here.

Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too? - Now Streaming

Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too? is now streaming on Paramount+.  All episodes are currently available to stream for subscribers, with the first episode provided for free.

"So this happened…. Out of the solitude of a pandemic lockdown came some ideas.. one of them was this… communing with my fellow Bass Folk to learn a little bit about where and how they live the moment they walk off the stage… Edifying, enlightening and an effin’ blast.. check it out and decide for yourself if Bass Players are Human… too!" - Geddy Lee

Geddy Lee's "The Lost Demos" Single

Geddy Lee's "The Lost Demos" Single is now available on all streaming services, as well as mp3 download.   The two demos were recorded during the sessions for Lee’s first and only solo album to date, 2000’s My Favourite Headache, but didn’t make the final tracklist. They were recently mixed and mastered by producer David Bottrill (Tool, Peter Gabriel).

“I’m excited to see these 2 ‘lost demos’ released,” said Lee in a press release. “I loved the songs when they were written and in some ways they feel as fresh and perhaps more relevant all these years later.”