“The voice of Geddy Lee sounds like snip ‘n’ fix time at the kennel.”
So wrote a reviewer of Rush’s Hemispheres album in the October, 1979 issue of Creem magazine.
Rush fans were none too happy, but in those heavy prog years for the band, they were used to shrugging off such things. Besides, by then, the hard-working Canadian trio was selling out shows pretty much every where they went.
Geddy Lee shrugged it off, too, and went on to become an iconic rock figure. As the band’s frontman, he was lauded for his bass, synth, and pedals playing, and juggling those with singing.
Heading into the 80s, his voice smoothed out on songs like Tom Sawyer and Limelight. It is true, however, no one ever said Geddy had great pipes.
But as those words of wisdom say, “Good things come to those who wait.” While his fans await the release of his new memoir in November, Lee can take pride in the knowledge that he is included in a new book titled, “The Singers Talk: The Greatest Singers of Our Time Discuss the One Thing They're Never Asked About: Their Voices.”
That’s right — Chrissie Hynde, Smokie Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Steve Perry, Stevie Nicks, Tony Bennett, Lionel RIchie, Geddy Lee.
There’s other singers in the book, too, but I bought this one to learn more about Geddy. Through the years he was interviewed many times, but they focused on his finger and foot playing talents.
A bonus is the fact the book is getting great reviews. Plus, "all royalties will benefit the kids and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their Music Gives to St. Jude Kids campaign."
Gordon, lead singer/drummer of the Los Angeles rock band Kingsize and a screenwriter, begins the chapter on Lee by making a good point about Rush:
“You were either fully obsessed with Rush, knowing every single vocal lick and drum fill by heart, or you were outside the gates, wondering why their fans were so insane. I was outside the gates. It wasn’t until much later that their music got to me. Like all the best music does — when you’re ready.”
Geddy answers a number of questions including one about how he tried to take care of his voice on the road.
…One time I had a terrible ear infection, and I was supposed to get on a plane and fly to Montreal. The air pressure from the plane would’ve been excruciating, so I had to go see my throat doctor, and he basically had to puncture my ear drum in order for me to get on the plane and do the show that night. Which I did do, even though my ears were bleeding through the whole show. The procedure itself was one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced in my life. When he did it, I just screamed from the actual pain."
On this theme, Geddy continues.
"Yeah, I’m prone to nose bleeds. I remember a show where I had a nose bleed in the middle of the show. It’s really gross but you have to swallow the blood as you’re playing. Then, in between songs, you’re trying to stop the bleeding and you’re spitting out blood. That just continued through the whole night."
So there you have it aspiring musicians. Success is attainable, but be prepared for a bit of pain, too...
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