by Geddy Lee
First published 2023
Geddy Lee opens his memoir by revealing his birth name: Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, named for his grandfather who died in the Holocaust. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bassist traces his path from this identity to becoming the voice and bass backbone of Rush, one of Canada's most successful progressive rock bands. Lee examines his parents' teenage experiences during World War II and how their survival shaped his upbringing. He describes dropping out of high school to chase music and the early struggles that preceded Rush's rise to gold and platinum success. The memoir chronicles his decades-long friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, including his grief over Peart's recent death. Lee discusses his musical obsessions and interests beyond the band while documenting Rush's journey to becoming one of rock's most beloved acts. The book combines personal honesty about family trauma, humor about the music business, and the pain of losing close friends.
Genres: autobiography, canadian-literature, biography-memoir, music, musicians
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Setting: Canada
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
512 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: mental-illness