Geddy Interview & Demonstration

jon · Post by **jon** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:15 pm

Someone on the TNMS Rush Forum spotted this the other day.

Not a lot of Rickenbacker content here, but a bit of history about his bass choices and some demonstration of his technique, even if he seems to be struggling to remember some bits off the new album. Not the only point on which his memory plays tricks on him in this interview, I think.

Geddy Lee Interview

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:32 pm

WOOT! Pawn shop in Kalamazoo!! No instruments in the two we have now...

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:29 pm

Cool interview, I enjoyed it! I agree that one or two details of stuff are probably fuzzy..the 4001 on 'Limelight'? Nah...only live perhaps when the song was new, but it was the Jazz on the recording..

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 1:40 am

Great Interview!

Thanks Jon for posting it!

just_bassics · Post by **just_bassics** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:41 am

Yea, Thanks! I wish more musicians would go into such detail about their gear. (hint, hint, Chris Squire!)

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:08 am

Maybe it WAS the Rick on Limelight. He didn't seem too happy mentioning it. I know in the video he plays a Jazz, but he's playing a Rick in the Tom Sawyer vid and we know it's a Jazz.
It's all so confusing!!! LOL.
Great insight though...

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:13 pm

That was a fantastic post, Jon! Thanks! Lots learned there.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:51 am

Great video, I'm a huge Geddy devotee as well since about 1976. His "finger like a pick" style is how I transitioned from plectrum to finger use since I could never get the hang of two/three finger plucking. Rush is opening their tour in Atlanta tonight and in 9 more days I'll be third row in Va. Beach getting a bass lesson(worth every penny)

.

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:54 am

I'm still trying to scrape up cash for the Darien Lake show. : (

bob_the_bass · Post by **bob_the_bass** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:09 am

Great interview - very enlightening!

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:41 pm

Neat.. Thanks Jon

jojo99 · Post by **jojo99** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:34 pm

Notice he calls it a "RickenBOCKer"... he really does seem to gloss over using the 4001, considering it was a huge part of the first decade of the band. He also seems to downplay the extent Squire influenced him...maybe these two points are related-- I know he contacted Squire sometime back and wanted to produce an album for him. Squire of course turned him down, and Squire commented on that when asked about it and he basically poo-poo'd Lee as a Yes copycat: "he plays bass like me and sings like Jon- like a miniYes" (or something to that effect). That must've hurt Lee, coming from a big hero of his.

bob_the_bass · Post by **bob_the_bass** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:30 am

Chris can be an arse sometimes!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:39 am

I read an old guitar player interview where Geddy stated that Squire was a huge influence on his sound. He went on to say that when he heard Squires tone he thought the only way to get there was to get a bass like Squires. When they got their first record advance Geddy went out and got a 4001.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:46 am

Old Chris was wrong. He may have influenced Geddy, but IMO Mr Lee is a much, much better bassist.
A lot of people will disagree, I'm sure.
I love Chris Squire's earlier stuff with Yes, and his tone was superb. As a rock bassist Gedders is light years ahead, and I love Geddy's Ricky tone too.
Please be gentle with me, it's only an opinion!! LOL!