Geddy Lee—best known for making Canada cool in the 1970s as he melted faces in the prog-rock band Rush—spent most of 2019 *not* behind the bass but behind a desk, writing The Big Beautiful Book of Bass. The hardcover Globe & Mail bestseller—which’ll set you back $103.04 for a signed copy—is billed as a mix of lush photographs of Lee’s extensive bass collection and interviews he conducted with other famous bassists, like Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).
Finally, the most underrated instrument ever is getting its own coffee-table tome.
Lee recently announced Halifax will be on his book tour for the effort, signing copies IRL at Coles in the Halifax Shopping Centre this Saturday, Dec 14 at 4pm. Superfans, take note: tickets are only available online and cover cost of entry and a signed book. Here are the questions I’d wanna ask when it was my turn at the signature table:
1. What was it like finding a second wave of micro-fame through That ’70s Show? Surely the amount that Eric and the crew referenced you, you shoulda gotten a guest appearance, IMO.
2. You famously say you became the bassist in Rush out of necessity, because your original bassist quit. Did this make bass playing feel like a chore, and if so, how’d you overcome that?
3. How did you write a book about famous bassists and not interview Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers?
4. Or Kim Gordon??
5. Which Rush song would you love to retire from the catalogue?
K thanks byeeee.
This article appears in Dec 5-11, 2019.
a whole book about basses and no mention of strings.
I understand that Indigo wants to make money but forcing people to buy another copy of Geddy’s book to get his signature even when I own it already is pretty sad. I guess it’s one way to make it on the naughty list.
At least I got my workout in by carrying around a few pounds of bass pictures.
Thomas, Halifax