Geddy Lee @ The Halls, Wolverhampton, 10th December 2023
It’s not very often you get up close and personal with a rock legend and tonight The Halls in Wolverhampton, packed mainly with men of a certain age, were there to witness a night filled with stories from Rush frontman Geddy Lee. He was on a lengthy tour to promote his autobiography “My Effin’ Life” and each night he would invite a special guest to be his interviewer. Tonight, it was fellow bass player and self-confessed Rush fan, Nicky Wire. When Lee was introduced to the crowd, he came on to a standing ovation by a crowd whose music he made was the soundtrack to our lives.
He did look overwhelmed by the introduction and genuinely happy to be there. After a short thanks to the crowd there was an emotional start to the evening. He explained that he had had a tough few years with the death of long-time friend and Rush drummer Neil Peart. Explaining that they knew for a long time he was ill with a brain cancer and were sworn to secrecy, which was a big strain on Lee and fellow Rush member Alex Lifeson. This was coupled with his mother suffering with dementia.
He moved on quickly to some really interesting explanations into the Rush song writing processes and how Neil Peart was auditioned to join the band. Also, how Lee left the band only to return soon after in the early days of the burgeoning Rush.
The stories about his mom and dad who along with his grandmother where they were in various Concentration camps including Auschwitz which they were in for a couple of years, and he said – how they survived in there I don’t know. Its is also where his grandfather died, something that had a massive influence on his family. After surviving this awful ordeal, they moved to Canada.
The stories continued about the Rush touring schedule and the first half was completed by Lee reading from his autobiography. As did the second half which was about how his name evolved from his birth name of Gershon Eliezer Weinrib – Gershon taken from his grandfather His nickname is attributed to his mother who pronounced “Gary” with such a heavy Yiddish accent that it came out sounding like “Geddy.” The name stuck and he has been known as Geddy ever since, which he changed legally. This was followed by answering questions that the audience had sent in including his relationship with fellow long-term friend and Rush collaborator Alex Lifeson.
The time spent in the company of such a rock legend was a wonderful experience and he came across as genuinely lovely, funny and a man who has certainly been a massive part of our lives. It was a real privilege to be there.
Review and photographs Andy Shaw
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