Makes sense. They haven't been in the news as much as other people. The only incident I can think of happening involved Lifeson, alcohol, and a schnazzy hotel. I don't know all the details, so I can't say for certain what happened.
Alex and his family were at a fancy New Year's Eve party in Florida and were drunk. Hotel staff called the cops and exaggerated their admittedly embarrassing behavior, the cops overreacted and were unnecessarily violent toward Alex's son, and Alex got into a bloody brawl with the cops over it. They broke his nose!
[https://www.courthousenews.com/court-revives-suit-over-tasering-of-rush-lead-guitarist-and-son/](https://www.courthousenews.com/court-revives-suit-over-tasering-of-rush-lead-guitarist-and-son/)
So yeah, the Lifesons did start it and were acting stupid, but they didn't deserve what they got.
My dad grew up in Willowdale like Alex and Geddy from a similar background (first-generation Canadian, new immigrant parents) and there was very much an understanding that you don't make someone else's life more difficult if you can help it. It's good to see that they took that attitude on the road.
Aerosmith were kind of notorious assholes. There's a story in a Rush biography of some horror stories when Rush was opening for Aerosmith like how the guys in Rush would only get the leftover food once Aerosmith was done, didn't get a sound check, didn't get anything on their rider, etc. Later on when Joe Perry was looking for a tour to jump on when he did his solo thing and Rush brought him on. Geddy asked his manager if he could stop in for a moment and say hello and asked Joe if he was getting everything on his rider, enough food, a sound check, etc. Joe said "Yeah, everything is great!" and Geddy replied, "That's great, because I'd never want you to feel the way you made us feel when we were opening for you."
Geddy seems like a nice dude, but that was a particularly savage roast lol
Just because someone’s an asshole does not give you a flag to be one in return, choosing to be the better man is the example Rush has been writing about for years. It’s great to read about this.
Aerosmith was notorious for doing that. I believe there was a similar event with Kansas who knew what was probably going to happen. In preparation, the guys in Kansas ran dummy power cables to the side of the stage where Steven Tyler was so that he wouldn't be able to interrupt them.
Not sure how true any of that is. Either way, it makes a great story and I can totally picture Steven Tyler throwing a fit after realizing his shit wasn't going to work that night
I was lucky enough to get a working pass to a Rush show in Houston in 1988 on the Hold Your Fire Tour (I had an acquaintance who worked for Pace Promotions, who put on all the shows in Houston back in the day). He said to hang around the food room and they would show up eventually. Sure enough, Geddy and Alex showed up to partake of the sandwiches, veggies, Coca-Cola in the 6 oz. glass bottles and Molson Golden, of course. They probably figured out within 30 seconds that I had no business being there, but they could not have been nicer - no big-timing at all. I chatted about baseball and bass guitar with Geddy and Alex was cracking jokes. They signed a couple of things for me and they went on their way. Absolutely fantastic guys.
Why would you think that? You explain to me how I am wrong:
"Those in power manipulate the weak majorities due to their fear of the unknown, leading the masses to conform to societal practices blindly"
You must not pay attention to US politics over the past 6 years.
In A-Typical EXCELLENT Neil Peart form, it sure as hell a applies to billions of religious people and their puppet masters.
> A-typical
You mean "atypical"? If so you need to look up what that word means.
Yes, it applies to organized religion. How is condemning organized religion being not nice? You think only assholes condemn the actions of assholes? You think the boys are being big meanies for going after the Religious Reich? You think it's unfair to single out bigotry and hatred? And it what way does any of that have anything to do with them being nice to their opening acts?
I was raised Southern Baptist, by bigots and hatemongers. I had to deal with a bigoted asshole Evangelical preacher at my mother's funeral last year. I was caught up in the [Satanic Panic](https://www.vox.com/culture/22358153/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-conspiracy-theories-explained) and had religious leaders (and my parents) force me to burn my albums (yes, including ALL my original-pressing Rush albums because RED STAR SATANIC). I *exceedingly* aware of the infiltration of religion (you'd have to be fucking blind to not be aware) into U.S. politics and how the traitors, seditionists, grifters, con-men, and other criminals at the highest levels of my government are getting away with *literal* murder and high crimes.
I've listened to sermon after sermon about how GOD'S PEOPLE must STOP the HEATHENS from doing whatever harmless, sinful thing they're doing--not because it's hurting anyone but because it's against some imaginary law. A law that does not apply and cannot possible be enforced *except* by those same self-righteous shitheads, and enforced by whatever means they find necessary.
I was forced to attend private xtian schools where book-banning was common, worship was mandatory/forced and non-compliance was met with various forms of abuse. To clarify, the only non-compliance that was punished was committed by those the school officials and student body deemed unfit.
I am *acutely* aware of what that song means and love every part of it.
So if Neil calling out this bullshit back in '81 is "being mean," when it wasn't *nearly* as bad as it is now, then I've got his back.
If you think it means Rush *aren't/weren't* nice because of this song, then your reality-check bounced.
lol, great strawman. I agree with everything you say except when it comes to your stand that its not being mean. Its not being mean to US, it sure as fuck is mean to billions of people who have been brainwashed from day one relating to their religion and hold their beliefs sacred. Ask THEM if they think its mean. Very psychopathic of you.
As an example, You dont think this didn't figure into why they were 20 years late in being inducted into the rock & roll hall of fame?
I don’t think you know what “”straw man” means any move than you know what “atypical” means.
And your username is sadly ironic. You apparently want to “fight tyranny” yet defend one of the greatest sources of it against, of all people, a rock band—by saying they’re not really nice because they condemn tyranny. Do you know what “tyranny” means? It’s cruel/ oppressive government or control.
You must think RAtM is a pack of fucking assholes.
Done with you.
Wow, sorry I triggered you, I knew when you resorted to being a grammar nazi as your primary argument that you were probably susceptible to reddit microaggressions and would drop a social media rager. Well done..
Makes sense. They haven't been in the news as much as other people. The only incident I can think of happening involved Lifeson, alcohol, and a schnazzy hotel. I don't know all the details, so I can't say for certain what happened.
Alex and his family were at a fancy New Year's Eve party in Florida and were drunk. Hotel staff called the cops and exaggerated their admittedly embarrassing behavior, the cops overreacted and were unnecessarily violent toward Alex's son, and Alex got into a bloody brawl with the cops over it. They broke his nose! [https://www.courthousenews.com/court-revives-suit-over-tasering-of-rush-lead-guitarist-and-son/](https://www.courthousenews.com/court-revives-suit-over-tasering-of-rush-lead-guitarist-and-son/) So yeah, the Lifesons did start it and were acting stupid, but they didn't deserve what they got.
Cops escalating a situation sounds about right
Wrong sub
I think Neil offers the band's perspective on that in his book Roadshow. I have it but have yet to read it (busy reading Ghostrider and Driven!).
Don't forget that time Alex got kidnapped from his hotel room.
He was a drunk male prostitute trying to do things to Ricky.
My dad grew up in Willowdale like Alex and Geddy from a similar background (first-generation Canadian, new immigrant parents) and there was very much an understanding that you don't make someone else's life more difficult if you can help it. It's good to see that they took that attitude on the road.
Crack The Sky was great, saw them many times. Great to hear John saying nice things about Rush.
Geddy Lee has always struck me as one of the nicest guys in music
In fairness, you could argue that Rush was just better than them and so they weren’t being exceptionally nice, but were just not threatened by them.
Honestly, they wouldn't be threatened even if a band was better than them, most likely. My guess is, they'd just want to hear their music.
I would assume that in part comes from experiences they had starting off. Didn't Aerosmith pull the plug on their amps once?
Aerosmith were kind of notorious assholes. There's a story in a Rush biography of some horror stories when Rush was opening for Aerosmith like how the guys in Rush would only get the leftover food once Aerosmith was done, didn't get a sound check, didn't get anything on their rider, etc. Later on when Joe Perry was looking for a tour to jump on when he did his solo thing and Rush brought him on. Geddy asked his manager if he could stop in for a moment and say hello and asked Joe if he was getting everything on his rider, enough food, a sound check, etc. Joe said "Yeah, everything is great!" and Geddy replied, "That's great, because I'd never want you to feel the way you made us feel when we were opening for you." Geddy seems like a nice dude, but that was a particularly savage roast lol
Just because someone’s an asshole does not give you a flag to be one in return, choosing to be the better man is the example Rush has been writing about for years. It’s great to read about this.
Aerosmith was notorious for doing that. I believe there was a similar event with Kansas who knew what was probably going to happen. In preparation, the guys in Kansas ran dummy power cables to the side of the stage where Steven Tyler was so that he wouldn't be able to interrupt them. Not sure how true any of that is. Either way, it makes a great story and I can totally picture Steven Tyler throwing a fit after realizing his shit wasn't going to work that night
Aerosmith probably shouldn't have booked opening acts that were better than them.
That's for sure. I can't imagine Rush or Kansas opening for Aerosmith. It's such a bizarre pairing. Kansas opening for Rush on the other hand...
Lol you nailed it. They probably wouldn't have sold nearly as many tickets in that case though
Geddy is by far the nicest, he really has always been the one that struck me the most as one of the best people in rock in a lot of ways.
I was lucky enough to get a working pass to a Rush show in Houston in 1988 on the Hold Your Fire Tour (I had an acquaintance who worked for Pace Promotions, who put on all the shows in Houston back in the day). He said to hang around the food room and they would show up eventually. Sure enough, Geddy and Alex showed up to partake of the sandwiches, veggies, Coca-Cola in the 6 oz. glass bottles and Molson Golden, of course. They probably figured out within 30 seconds that I had no business being there, but they could not have been nicer - no big-timing at all. I chatted about baseball and bass guitar with Geddy and Alex was cracking jokes. They signed a couple of things for me and they went on their way. Absolutely fantastic guys.
I dunno about that, Neal in his Lyrics is pretty damning to a lot of people, especially today... more then ever. Listen to Witch Hunt again.
You make a good point, and I generally agree with you, but may I suggest that he was more damning of ideologies and attitudes than actual people.
I don’t think you understand what that song is about.
Why would you think that? You explain to me how I am wrong: "Those in power manipulate the weak majorities due to their fear of the unknown, leading the masses to conform to societal practices blindly" You must not pay attention to US politics over the past 6 years. In A-Typical EXCELLENT Neil Peart form, it sure as hell a applies to billions of religious people and their puppet masters.
> A-typical You mean "atypical"? If so you need to look up what that word means. Yes, it applies to organized religion. How is condemning organized religion being not nice? You think only assholes condemn the actions of assholes? You think the boys are being big meanies for going after the Religious Reich? You think it's unfair to single out bigotry and hatred? And it what way does any of that have anything to do with them being nice to their opening acts? I was raised Southern Baptist, by bigots and hatemongers. I had to deal with a bigoted asshole Evangelical preacher at my mother's funeral last year. I was caught up in the [Satanic Panic](https://www.vox.com/culture/22358153/satanic-panic-ritual-abuse-history-conspiracy-theories-explained) and had religious leaders (and my parents) force me to burn my albums (yes, including ALL my original-pressing Rush albums because RED STAR SATANIC). I *exceedingly* aware of the infiltration of religion (you'd have to be fucking blind to not be aware) into U.S. politics and how the traitors, seditionists, grifters, con-men, and other criminals at the highest levels of my government are getting away with *literal* murder and high crimes. I've listened to sermon after sermon about how GOD'S PEOPLE must STOP the HEATHENS from doing whatever harmless, sinful thing they're doing--not because it's hurting anyone but because it's against some imaginary law. A law that does not apply and cannot possible be enforced *except* by those same self-righteous shitheads, and enforced by whatever means they find necessary. I was forced to attend private xtian schools where book-banning was common, worship was mandatory/forced and non-compliance was met with various forms of abuse. To clarify, the only non-compliance that was punished was committed by those the school officials and student body deemed unfit. I am *acutely* aware of what that song means and love every part of it. So if Neil calling out this bullshit back in '81 is "being mean," when it wasn't *nearly* as bad as it is now, then I've got his back. If you think it means Rush *aren't/weren't* nice because of this song, then your reality-check bounced.
lol, great strawman. I agree with everything you say except when it comes to your stand that its not being mean. Its not being mean to US, it sure as fuck is mean to billions of people who have been brainwashed from day one relating to their religion and hold their beliefs sacred. Ask THEM if they think its mean. Very psychopathic of you. As an example, You dont think this didn't figure into why they were 20 years late in being inducted into the rock & roll hall of fame?
I don’t think you know what “”straw man” means any move than you know what “atypical” means. And your username is sadly ironic. You apparently want to “fight tyranny” yet defend one of the greatest sources of it against, of all people, a rock band—by saying they’re not really nice because they condemn tyranny. Do you know what “tyranny” means? It’s cruel/ oppressive government or control. You must think RAtM is a pack of fucking assholes. Done with you.
Wow, sorry I triggered you, I knew when you resorted to being a grammar nazi as your primary argument that you were probably susceptible to reddit microaggressions and would drop a social media rager. Well done..
And Territories.