Geddy Lees' "Bonus Years"

Broadcast Date: Feb. 26, 1997

In 1997, Rush is one of Canada's most successful bands, selling some 35 million albums worldwide over a career spanning nearly three decades. In February that year, the trio – drummer Neil Peart, guitarist Alex Lifeson and vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee – receives one of the country's highest honours when they are invested as officers of the Order of Canada. In this CBC-TV interview, Lee says that given how long the band's been around, he considers Rush to be in its "bonus years." Performing, he adds, is still his favourite part of the job.
Geddy Lee's 'bonus years'

• Rush was founded in Willowdale, Ont., a suburb of Toronto, in 1968. Drummer Neil Peart joined in 1974, replacing John Rutsey shortly before Rush's first U.S. tour.

• Geddy Lee was born Gary Lee Weinrib. However, his mother – a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Canada – pronounced her son's name as Geddy, and it stuck.

• Rush's music is most often described as "progressive rock." In 2005 Entertainment Weekly magazine (noting that Lee "sings like a duck from planet Zerfnog") voted the band's 1981 album Moving Pictures second in a list of five essential prog-rock albums.

• In 1975 Rush won a Juno Award as best new band. They have won six Junos in total, and in 1994 were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

• Lee is a devoted fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and can often be seen in his seat behind home plate during televised games.

Geddy Lee's 'bonus years'

Medium: Television

Program: Midday

Broadcast Date: Feb. 26, 1997

Guest(s): Geddy Lee

Reporter: Brent Bambury

Duration: 6:20

Download Video Now

Liveleak requires flash. If you see this message, make sure you have the latest flash player installed. To install the latest version, click HERE