Solo Projects And
Guest Appearances

"I'm not looking back, but I want to look around me now"

Solo Albums

Victor, Alex Lifeson's solo album, January 9, 1996

Click here for lyrics and additional information.

My Favorite Headache, Geddy Lee's solo album, November 14, 2000

Click here for lyrics and additional information.

Solo Songs

"Pieces of Eight", Neil Peart on a 45rpm flexi-disk included in Modern Drummer, May 1987

This instrumental percussion piece is included as a bonus track on the Anatomy Of A Drum Solo DVD. Parts of this song are incorporated into Neil's live drum solo.
"Another thing I have been seeking for quite a while is a keyboard percussion synthesizer. I had been playing a marimba quite a lot and really wanted some kind of more portable instrument to use live and (hopefully) in the studio. Once again, Jim [Burgess] did some research and came up with a unit made by the KAT company in Massachusetts. It is available in modules of one octave and up, and basically consists of a set of soft rubber pads laid out as a keyboard. I decided on a three- octave range, and since the KAT is also a programmable MIDI controller, compatible with the Akai unit, I started collecting samples of marimbas, vibes, tubular bells, glockenspiel, tuned African percussion, harp arpeggios - again, you name it! Like many percussionists, I had long harbored a secret wish to create a piece of music using only percussion instruments, and this looked like the key to that dream! I practiced with the KAT for a few days and then, when I had a free day, recorded a 'demo' of a marimba piece I had been working on over the summer. I began with the marimba part, double-tracked it, and then overdubbed my acoustic drums on top (yes, the new Ludwigs!). I began experimenting with overdubbing different vibe sounds, a bass marimba, a cabasa, castanets, concert toms, metal sheets, African toms, and some highly tuned bongos. (All of this was played with mallets on the KAT unit.) I did use one of Geddy's keyboard sounds, but since it consisted of a marimba with a human voice mixed in, I decided that was close enough! The biggest difficulty was finding a good bass instrument in the percussion library. The bass marimba didn't provide the power in the bottom end that I was looking for, so we experimented with some other things. We ended up using an African drum called a Djembe - transposed to the keyboard - and I played the bass part with that! It made me laugh - a new definition of "bass drum"! The piece is entitled 'Pieces Of Eight' because of all the different time signatures it ended up meandering through. I hadn't thought about that too much just playing the marimba, until I had to learn it on drums! With only a day to record it all, I didn't really have time to play it more than a couple of times through, so that, too, was a good challenge." - Neil Peart, "The Quest For New Drums", Modern Drummer, May 1987.

"The Drum Also Waltzes" and "Leave That Thing Alone!" (drums only), Neil Peart from the cd accomanyment to the book Drum Lessons With The Greats Part 2, March 1997

Parts of "The Drum Also Waltzes" are also part of Neil's live drum solo.

"Momo's Dance Party", Neil Peart from A Work In Progress video, October 9, 1997 (VHS), April 23, 2002 (DVD)

This song was played as the credits rolled in this instructional video recorded during the making of Test For Echo, and a version with an extended intro was included as a bonus track on the Anatomy Of A Drum Solo DVD. Parts of this piece are incorporated into Neil's live drum solo.
"One hot night in a village in Togo called Assohoum, in November 1989, I laid out my sleeping bag on an adobe rooftop and lay looking up at the bright stars in the perfect silence of an African night - no traffic, no television, no radio, just scattered conversations or distant dogs. As I was dozing off, a drum rhythm echoed from across the valley, two hand-drummers playing an intrelocking pattern, and it stuck in my head, only to emerge months later as the basis for a rhythm I used in a Rush song called 'Heresy'...Later, the same rhythum became the foundation of a solo piece I created in the early '90s to serve as a backing track while I practiced my marimba playing, called 'Momo's Dance Party.' A version of that little étude appears at the end of my instructional video, A Work In Progress. 'Momo's Dance Party' was also inspired by a real-life experience on that same African journey...Momo, an ambitious young man who had received some education away from the village. Momo seemed to be the only villager who spoke the colonial language of French, and he seemed to be trying to put his village on the tourist map...in the evening, the entire village gathered to put on a show for us. The children sang and dance while the men drummed, then the women performed graceful, narrative dances. The grand finale was the village choir, the rich voices of men and women harmonizing beautifully, accompanied only by one man playing a shaker, and annother playing a metal disk with a stick. This syncopated pattern hypnotized me at the time, and remains in my memory as one of the most musical performances I have ever heard." - Neil Peart, Traveling Music, pg. 297

"Little Drummer Boy", Alex Lifeson on all instruments from Merry Axemas, October 14, 1997

Rumored to have been begun in Lifeson's home studio the day after returning home following the Test for Echo tour.
"I approached it in a Western-sort of 'Bonanza' kind of guitar presence, a big guitar with big, gigantic strings, if you could imagine." Alex Lifeson, Rockline, May 15, 2002

"I just gravitated to the lonely Johnny Cash sound," Lifeson smiles, "and it was down to retuning the guitar to where the strings sound big and fat and carry the melody better. And I wanted it to feel that if you had a fire in the fireplace and were decorating the tree, you'd want to hear it again. It starts off feeling that stark lonely vibe-then you start tapping your foot, and it makes you feel good." - Merry Axemas linernotes

"O Canada", Geddy and Alex featuring South Park's Terrance and Phillip from South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut (soundtrack), June 22, 1999

"We loved it! The problem with it is we got in at the tail end. I know Matt wanted to work it into the movie itself. But, he didn't get in touch with us until the last couple of weeks of their production. So it was all kind of a 'rush' job but, ah - God I can't believe I just said that (laugh). But, it was great and he's a wonderful guy, very, very funny, very smart and it was really great." - Alex Lifeson, AT&T Celebrity Chat, February 10, 2003.

"March of the High Guard", Andromeda Theme, written and performed by Alex Lifeson, October 2000, available on the Andromeda Soundtrack, February 26, 2002

This served as the theme music for the first season of Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, the Star Trek creator's final series which premiered the week of October 2, 2000. It is rumored that star/executive producer Kevin Sorbo never liked the theme, and had it changed after the first season. There are two versions, the original television theme and an alternate version released on the soundtrack. Click here for more information.

"Bittersweet Bundle of Misery", Alex Lifeson on R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour, November 22, 2005

The instrumental piece which plays as the credits roll at the end of the R30 concert DVD, as well as in the "The Anthem Vault" menu on the second DVD, was written and performed by Alex Lifeson.

"The Hockey Theme", performed by Neil Peart for TSN, available via iTunes Canada, January 19, 2010

Click here for more information.

"Peart and DW Drums are donating the custom kit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, where it will be on display for hockey and music fans alike to enjoy...'Growing up in Southern Ontario in the '50s and '60s as 'a kid who couldn't skate right' was a serious handicap,' said Peart. 'Hockey totally dominated our lives for half the year - Sunday nights with my dad at the St. Catharines Arena cheering on the Junior A Blackhawks, anxiously watching NHL games on television, arguing in the schoolyard over favourite teams and players, trading hockey cards, putting them on our bicycle spokes, and playing on backyard rinks and frozen ponds, on the street, and on those old tabletop games. Hockey ruled. So, all these years later, being invited to create a new version of 'Canada's second national anthem' for TSN's NHL broadcasts was a huge honour to me, and an exciting musical challenge. The day of recording and filming it 'in the presence of the Stanley Cup' was truly one of the great experiences of my life. (Take that, bullies from 50 years ago!)' For the recording, Peart wore his trademark cap adorned with the logos of the original six NHL teams. He also wore a hockey jersey featuring his 'Bubba's Bar & Grill' logo on the front and the number three on the back, in reference to the three members of Rush. The band's name was also sewn onto the jersey's nameplate." - Rush.com Newsletter, January 13, 2010

Guest Appearances As performer

"Battle Scar", Rush with Max Webster on Universal Juveniles, December 1980, and Best Of Max Webster, 1989

"Toronto, July 28, 1980. An intense thunderstorm raged outside all day long, while indoors a storm of a different kind was brewing. In the studios of Phase One, two complete sets of equipment crammed the room, and two complete bands filled the air with a Wagnerian tumult, as Max Webster and ourselves united to record a song for their album, called Battlescar." - Neil Peart, Moving Pictures Tourbook

"We set up both bands live and we had this producer Jack Richardson standing in the middle with a baton, sort of conducting us. We were all in a circle and he was in the middle, and we just recorded the tune." - Geddy Lee, Visions


"Take Off", Geddy Lee (vocal) on Bob and Doug McKenzie's The Great White North, 1981

Released on Anthem Records, this song was originally to have been included on Rush's Chronicles compilation album. "Take Off" was also a top 20 single, edited to remove the playful banter before and after the musical section, while the album made the US Top 10, higher than any Rush record. In 1983 the McKenzie Brothers drove a van with a Rush bumper sticker in the motion picture Strange Brew.
"Doug explained how Geddy was recruited. 'We were friends in school, and we were doing the record, so I called him up. We paid him a few bucks. He came in, put on his toque and sang it.' Geddy commented on the record. 'Canada has finally found an identity. I just came in, they paid me my 10 bucks to come in and sing a few words. It was different from any session I've ever done. These two guys were coaching me... telling me what to do.'" - Visions

"I went to school with Rick Moranis, and basically grew up with him. When they were doing the album, they called me up and asked me if I'd sing on one of the tracks. So I went down and it took me all of half an hour to do. It was fun; strictly a fun thing to do with some pals. Nobody had any idea it would get as big as it did." - Geddy Lee, Success Under Pressure

"He's a really nice guy. Very thoughtful and introspective. Rick went to school with him, which is why he appeared on that album. It was like, 'We don't sing. So we need a singer for our song. So why don't we ask Geddy?'" - Dave Thomas, LaTimes.com, October 25, 2009

  • "Tough Break", Rush with Jack Secret (aka Tony Geranios), recorded in Septermber 1981 "Le Studio, September, 1981 - We were getting a little bored with inactivity. During the mixing of Exit...Stage Left there was really not much for us to do except say 'it sounds good' or 'it doesn't sound good'. I had been working down in the little studio, cleaning and renovating an old set of Hayman drums that were kicking around, and had started working on a 'Jack Secret' song with Jack and Skip from the crew. Geddy and Alex soon joined in on keyboards and rhythm guitar, and we later recorded the song ('Tough Break') up in the studio." - Neil Peart, "Stories From Signals", Signals Tourbook

    "All the Horses Running" and "Over Queen Charlotte Sound", Geddy Lee (bass) on Marie-Lynn Hammond's Vignettes, 1983, and Marie-Lynn Hammond & Vignettes, 1999

    In addition to Geddy Lee, this album also includes Ben Mink on many tracks.

    "Crying Over You" and "Holy Water", Alex Lifeson on Platinum Blonde's Alien Shores, 1984, and Seven Year Itch: 1982-1989 (compilation)

    Due to personel changes, Platinum Blonde renamed themselves The Blondes for their 1990 album Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, which includes thanks to Alex in the linernotes. Alex later co-mixed a self-titled unreleased album for yet another incarnation of the band titled No. 9 (see separate entry below).
    "...Platinum Blonde managed to infuse well-crafted intelligent modern rock with pop hooks that literally grafted themselves onto the airwaves. One of the first to acknowledge this fact was Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson who validated their efforts with solos on 'Crying Over You', 'Holy Water'; and a working relationship that continues to the present with Mark's new group, No 9." - Seven Year Itch linernotes

    "Tears are Not Enough", Geddy Lee (vocal) with Northern Lights, the Canadian contingent of We Are The World, February 10, 1985

    Geddy sings one line: "You know that we'll be there."
    "I get so impatient with the pop side of causes, the whole sensibility of, 'Let's get together and change things' because these people just do not know what they're talking about and don't take the trouble to find out how they can really change something. It's a Sixties mentality - it had no action then, and has no action now. It's just sound and fury. And, let's be honest, how many of these people are only lending their names as a career move?! Geddy was involved with the 'Northern Lights' charity record here in Canada, although Rush weren't invited to participate in the 'Live Aid' event - mainly because if you look at the guest list, it was very much and 'in-crowd' situation. We didn't refuse to take part because of any principles...Some of those involved in 'Northern Lights' were actually quoted as saying that their managers told them to get down to the recording sessions because it would be a good career move! What a farce!...It's not a lack of food, nor a drought that's causing the problems, but civil war! People are starving others deliberately and how do you change that via a rock concert?! I don't decry charity causes, but if someone were to ask me to do a concert in aid of Ethiopia I'd say NO! I would quite happily donate some money or do anything else that might help, but I believe you have to get involved far more then just giving money to salve your conscience... even that type of charity is so negative because it's self-serving and shallow." - Neil Peart, Metal Hammer, April 25, 1988

    "It was interesting. It was fairly comical to watch all these people being one by one brought to the mic and ordered around by David Foster. Uh, at the same time, it was a lot of fun to meet people like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell who are artists that I have had a lot of respect for, for many years, but I would say it was a very odd pairing of human beings...I remember [David Foster] asking Joni Mitchell to sing her line over and over again, and, to everyone standing around, every performance was wonderful, and yet he insisted on making her sing it over and over again--to most people's amazement. And then when Neil Young came in, he sang it once, and David Foster asked him to sing it again because it was a little out of tune, and Neil Young replied to him that that's his style and he's not going to do it again, to which a great swelling of pride welled up in all the onlookers!" Regarding singing his line, 'And you know that we'll be there', "It was one take." - Geddy Lee interview with Vancouver Radio's "The Nardwuar The Human Serviette Show", December 4, 1998

    "Champion" (drums) and "Mirabi" (co-drummer with Steve Smith), Neil Peart on Jeff Berlin & Vox Humana's Champion, 1985. Mirabi is also on Jeff Berlin's Crossroads (compilation), June 9, 1998

    "On one track, I got to play together with Steve Smith. Steve actually did most of the playing, I just came in on the choruses for that 'thunderous double-drum effect.' That was a lot of fun and a real exciting challenge. It was a major milestone for me to walk into a situation like that with no rehearsal. All I'd ever heard of the music before was a living-room demo with a beat box." - Neil Peart, Modern Drummer, January 1986

    "I had a visit from Jeff Berlin, who's a friend, on the tour and I had the opportunity to watch him goofing around backstage with a bass, and was just amazed at his knowledge of bass chords. That's something I had never really exploited in my playing, so he inspired me to play around more with it. He probably doesn't know it, and would be embarrassed to hear it. I ended up using bass chords on "Force Ten" and "Turn The Page". Not so much in the sense of strumming them as using my thumb more, almost like a finger picking style of playing, which is something that I'm still working on. Just plucking with my thumb and going back and forth between the thumb and the first two fingers and pulling. Almost like a snapping technique. It's opened up a bit more range for me. There's more melodic possibilities and rhythmic possibilities too, which is an important role for the bass player. If you can establish not only a melody but a rhythmic feel, that's an extra tool." - Geddy Lee, Bass Player, Nov/Dec 1988

    "Beyond Borders", Alex Lifeson with the Canadian Guitar Summit, a 45 rpm flexidisk included in Guitar Player Magazine, July 1987

    Written by Triumph's Rik Emmett as a fusion of rock, jazz, and classical guitar, performers include himself, Alex, Ed Bickert and Liona Boyd (who gave "special thanks to Alex Lifeson" on her 1991 album Dancing On the Edge).
    "I approached my role from an atmospheric standpoint, and I tried to tie things together and do little things that I wouldn't normally do on a Rush record... When I got involved with this project, everything was just about finished, which enabled me to sit back and put my feet up and play whatever I wanted." - Alex Lifeson, Guitar Player, July 1987.
    "One of the things I learned about Alex was the way he conceptually approaches a recording; he's able to look at a piece of music from the outside in, rather than from the inside out, which is my way of doing things. He thinks a lot in terms of flavors, colors, textures, and atmospheres. He refers to all of the little details that can be added to a performance to make a chill go up your spine as the 'GB factor,' which stands for goose bumps. In fact a couple of times during the mix he showed me how he was actually getting goose bumps on his arms from listening to the playback." - Rik Emmett, Guitar Player, July 1987
    "After I heard Alex and Rik Emmett, I thought there must be something special in the Canadian water." - Steve Morse, Major Impacts linernotes.

    "Hands of Man" (vocal and instrumental version), Alex Lifeson with The Big Picture on Dream On The Horizon: A Tribute To The Olympic Spirit!, 1988

    Recorded for the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Alex performs on two versions of "Hands of Man" along with Rik Emmett and Liona Boyd (these three, along with jazz guitarist Ed Bickert, made up the Canadian Guitar Summit the previous year), with vocals by Joel Wade (who would later sing background vocals on Triumphs' Surveillance, 1989, and Rik Emmett's Absolutely, 1990). "Hands of Man" was also written by Boyd, who apparently sang the song during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in Calgary on February 13th, 1988, along with special guests Lifeson and Emmett. Boyd later gave "special thanks to Alex Lifeson" on her album Dancing On the Edge, 1991. During the instrumental, Rik solos first, followed by Alex.

    "Who's Missin Who", Geddy Lee (vocal) on Climb's Take A Chance, 1988

    Geddy sings one line early in this Japanese release by professional baseball player Warren Cromartie's band, Climb (Cromartie is the drummer). Prior to a successful career in Japan, Warren Cromartie played for the Montreal Expos from 1974-1983. It was during that period that he became friends of Rush. Rush fans may remember the secondary school on the Signals back cover was named after him, and both he and the Expos are thanked in the Signals linernotes.

    "In The Danger Zone", Alex Lifeson (guitar solo) on this track only from Greenway's Serious Business, 1988.

    Brian Greenway (from April Wine) is on vocals, guitar and keyboards; Aldo Nova helps out on keyboards and programming.
  • Geddy Lee on Klezmer band Finjan's Ship To Shore, 1988 (cover image wanted)
    Geddy has a small speaking role in this album by the Winnipeg band, which was produced by Ben Mink. Geddy plays the part of the Yiddish nephew, by the name of Grshn Lzr.

    "Get Ready", Geddy Lee from the cd accompanyment to the book Standing in the Shadows of Motown : The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson, May 1, 1989

    "Smoke on the Water", Alex Lifeson with Rock-Aid Armenia, 1990

    Rock-Aid Armenia was a benefit for the victims of the earthquake in Armenia on December 7, 1988. "Smoke on the Water" was also released as a single. At least five versions of the song were released in various forms of remixes: Album version, Mayem Mix, Mega Rock Remix, Radio Mix, Extended Mix (same as Album version). The cover lists Rush, although Alex was the only contributor. Smoke on the Water includes the following artists: Lead guitarists: Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Brian May (Queen) and Geoff Beauchamp. Vocalists: Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Bryan Adams, Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company). Bass guitar: Chris Squire (Yes). Keyboards: Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Keith Emerson (ELP), Geoff Downes (Asia, ex-Yes). Drums: Roger Taylor (Queen).

    Alex Lifeson on all tracks on Gowan's Lost Brotherhood, 1990

    Released by Anthem Records, the album includes Red Rider guitarist Kenny Greer. The song "Lost Brotherhood" is also on Best of Gowan, 1997. Originally a member of 70's Toronto progressive rock band Rhinegold, after their breakup Larry Gowan went solo performing with various artists, including Jon Anderson (of Yes), and has worked with Rush's producer and cover artist (Terry Brown and Hugh Syme). In 1999 Gowan replaced Dennis DeYoung as lead singer of Styx.

    "Guns" (co-drummer), "Rain Rain Rain" (percussion) and "Palomar" (percussion), Neil Peart on The Rheostatics' Whale Music, 1992

    Neil is seen wearing a Rheostatics' t-shirt in the Counterparts tourbook.
    "...the Rheostatics recorded with Rush's Neil Peart in 1992. He came down to Reaction Studios while we were making Whale Music and set up a little yellow jazz kit in the corner. The Barenaked Ladies were there, too; they'd laid in their background vocal to "California Dreamline" earlier in the day and together we watched Neil warm up, a chimeric figure in his beaded African hat under the low studio lights. Head lowered, torso centred, feet kicking, his hands glancing over the drums, Neil played all afternoon. His touch was soft when it had to be, but propulsive, too, like a distance runner tugging the flow of blood to his heart. It's one thing to see your hero perform from a distant seat in Maple Leaf Gardens, but it's something else to feel close to his work, as I did that day. At one time in my life, I'd dreamed of what it would be like to simply attend a Rush concert, and there I was at the studio, not 20 feet from where he was crafting a part for a song that would appear on our album.....As Neil commanded his kit, he painted my adolescence before me, evoking everything about it." - The Rheostatics' Dave Bidini, Toronto Star, January 6, 2002

    "I Nominate Dr. David" and "Some Dumb Machine", G.L. Weinrib (aka Geddy Lee) (bass) on Mendelson Joe's Women Are The Only Hope, 1992

    Geddy Lee, credited as "G. L. Weinrib", performs on only two tracks as confirmed by a postcard from the artist; violins, mandolin, electric guitar and mixing are credited to Ben Mink (who also received "special very special thanks" on this album, and is also known for collaborationg on My Favorite Headache and for performing on Signals' "Losing It"). A close friend of Geddy, Joe Mendelson opened for Rush during the Caress of Steel tour, and is a well known folk musician, painter, writer and left wing political activist. Anthem Records released two other Mendelson Joe albums commercially, Born to Cuddle, 1988, and Addicted, 1991. Women Are The Only Hope was never commercially released, but can be ordered here.

    "Cotton Tail" (drums) and "Pick Up the Pieces" (percussion), Neil Peart (also producer) on Burning for Buddy Vol. I, October 4, 1994

    "All Along the Watchtower", Alex Lifeson on Kumbaya 1995 (recorded September 4, 1994)

    Recorded live at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre on September 4th, 1994, this was the second Kumbaya Festival, an AIDS benefit also held in '93 and '95. All Along The Watchtower includes Alex Lifeson, Tom Cochrane, Lawrence Gowan, Molly Johnson, John Webster, Bill Bell, Gordie Johnson, Stich Wynston, Gary Lowe, Don Freed, Michael Rosen, Richard Underhill, Annette Ducharm and Kim Stockwood. The first vocal is Cochrane and the second vocal part is Gowan. Bill Bell collaborated with Alex on his solo project, Victor (1996).

    "Just Scream", "Crawl" and "Will of the Gun", Alex Lifeson on Tom Cochrane's Ragged Ass Road, November 7, 1995

    Alex is credited with guitar on "Crawl" and "Will Of The Gun", and the guitar solo on "Just Scream". Tom Cochrane was formerly lead singer with Canadian rock group Red Rider. Cochrane's guitarist, Bill Bell, collaborated with Alex on his solo project, Victor (1996).

    "Like A Girl", Alex Lifeson on I Mother Earth's Scenery and Fish, July 9, 1996

    Produced by Vapor Trails producer, Paul Northfield. "I played on one of the songs on [Scenery and Fish], and the material is really strong. It's going to be a really good album for them, I think." - Alex Lifeson, Rockline, January 15, 1996

    "Born Under A Bad Sign", "All Along The Watch Tower" and "For What It's Worth/White Rabbit", Alex Lifeson (aka Big Al Dexter) on Second Anniversary At The Orbit Room, 1997 (recorded November 15, 1996)

    Recorded live at The Orbit Room (a bar in Toronto co-owned by Alex Lifeson), this recording was sold through the now defunct Rush fanzine "A Show Of Fans" in 1997. The Dexters were the house band which retired in 2004. Alex often made guest appearances, as captured on the other official release Hip To The Tip:Live At The Orbit Room (see below), which also includes a recording of "Born Under A Bad Sign".

    "One O'Clock Jump", Neil Peart (drums and producer) on Burning for Buddy Vol. II, June 24, 1997

    During the Vapor Trails and R30 tours, Neil performed along with the last 45 seconds of "One O'Clock Jump" to close his drum solo.

    "The Road", Geddy Lee (bass, keyboards, co-producer and co-writer) on Euphoria's eponymous debut album, July 13, 1999

    Geddy also received special thanks in the album's liner notes. Euphoria is the brain child of Toronto musician Ken Ramm. In the January 1986 issue of Modern Drummer magazine, while discussing his appearance on the Jeff Berlin's Champion, Neil Peart said he "... did a similar thing with a musician named Ken Ramm in Toronto. That record was released in Canada." However, an email from the artist confirms "the track with Neil Peart that he mentioned in Modern Drummer (January'86) is entitled 'Economy In Motion'. It was never released."

    "Good for Sule", Geddy Lee (bass) on I Mother Earth's Blue Green Orange, July 13, 1999

    "1967 Again" and "Born Under a Bad Sign", Alex Lifeson (aka Big Al Dexter) on The Dexter's Hip to the Tip, Live at the Orbit Room, 2000 (recorded in 1995)

    "Red Beans and Rice", Alex Lifeson (aka Big Al Dexter) with The Dexters on Soul in the City 2000

    Recorded live at the Capital Theatre, Toronto, Canada, November 10, 2000 (the same day Geddy Lee's My Favorite Headache was released). This limited edition CD comes in a simple black cardboard envelope, without artwork.

    "Space Suit", Geddy Lee (background vocals and producer) on the Rockscience demo EP, 1999, reissed on Foolscap, 2001

    Co-produced and recorded by Geddy Lee in his home studio, Rocketscience features his nephew Rob Higgins on bass and vocals. Guest appearances on the album include Ben Mink, the gals from Sticky Rice and of course, Geddy Lee (backing vocal on "Space Suit", previously available on Rocket Sciences' 5 song EP).
    "It is rock, rock with a kind of technical edge to it. I have a home studio and we have been working here and gone into the smaller studios around town to do some sessions now and again. It has been fun for me and I think fun for them as well." - Geddy Lee, JAM! Showbiz, January 18, 2000

    "...he knew things that we wanted and just tried to help us get them...he likes things a little weird and out there." - Rob Higgins, on recording with 'Uncle Geddy', Chartattack.com, June 28, 2001

    3 Doors Down

    • "Wasted Me", from Australian "Kryptonite" single, November 21, 2000, also included as a bonus track on the Australian release of Better Life, May 28, 2001
    • "Dangerous Game", from Away From The Sun, November 12, 2002
    • "Dead Love", unreleased
    In Spring 2000, shortly after the release of Better Life, Alex Lifeson produced three 3 Doors Down tracks: "Wasted Me", "Dangerous Game" and "Dead Love". "Wasted Me" was released as a b-side, and "Dangerous Game" was later released on their second album, Away From The Sun. Although the single states that "Wasted Me" was produced and mixed by Alex Lifeson, as quoted below it seems that at least two of the three tracks may also include Lifeson on guitar (although some fans sites state that he played on all three tracks).
    "We just recorded three songs with him. There's not anything set for what we're going to do with them just yet, but it was three songs: 'Dangerous Game,' 'Dead Love,' and 'Wasted Me.' And we got the chance to work with him and record those three songs down in New Orleans, at the American Sectors studio down there, and man, he was a super guy. You would never know where he's been or what he's done just from looking at him. And he's such a nice guy, as cool as they come. He's got no ego--and he deserves one, you know what I'm saying? We got to kind of know him a little bit and became friends, and invited him to our CD release party in Biloxi. And he actually got up onstage and jammed on a song with us. That was pretty fun. I can die now. He played 'Dangerous Game' with us that night. It was definitely an honor. I was tripping." - 3 Doors Down vocalist Brad Arnold, Yahoo Music, November 24, 2000

    "And he actually did two guitar tracks on the B side. The coolest thing I ever really did, because I did an acoustic set with him and it was me on one side of the mike and him on the other playing the same thing at the same time, doubling it in one track. And that was like a pinnacle of idolizing him. It was a milestone in my life. - 3 Doors Down guitarist Chris Henderson, rockpublication.com, October 25, 2001

    "Hey Bop A-Rebop", Alex Lifeson with The Stickmen on Side Two, December 12, 2003

    Formed in January of 2002, The Stickmen features founder Bernie LeBarge of The Dexters, and is the regular band at the Orbit Room on Friday nights. Alex Lifeson, co-owner of The Orbit Room, performs only one track.

    Everybody's Broken and Testify All Over Me, Alex Lifeson on John Kastner's Have You Seen Lucky, May 11th, 2006

    Alex performs on these two tracks only from Kastner's first solo album. Previously, Lifeson remixed the "Facination Unknown" single for Kastner's other band, All Systems Go! (see separate entry below), and later performed live with Kastner and Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy at the June 2005 White Ribbon benefit concert.
    "A cross between everything I've done over the past 20 years. Alex from Rush plays guitar on it and Lee Ving from Fear sings on it – so it’s really all over the place. That’s my crazy 70's upbringing in a nutshell". - John Kastner, Skiddle.com, May 18, 2006

    "I Fought The Law", performed by The Big Dirty Band [Geddy Lee (bass) and Alex Lifeson (guitar), Thornley's Ian Thornley (vocals and guitar), Three Days Grace's Adam Gontier (vocals), Die Mannequin's Care Failure (vocals) and former Tea Party drummer Jeff Burrows], and "Liquor & Whores" by Bubbles & The Shit Rockers (including Alex Lifeson) on Trailer Park Boys: The Big Dirty Soundtrack, October 3, 2006

    The soundtrack also includes Rush's "The Spirit Of Radio". Both songs, as well as the video for "I Fought The Law" directed by long time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughton featuring Geddy and Alex performing with the rest of the Big Dirty Band cut between scenes of the film, plus the film's trailers featuring Rush's "The Spirit of Radio", are available online at myspace.com/bigdirtyband. Trailer Park Boys fan Alex Lifeson is seen in a cameo role as a police officer in the movie, which also includes many Rush references. As part of the film's promotion, Lifeson hosted a Canadian TV special titled "Trailer Park Boys 101". For additional information regarding this release, click here.

    Alex Lifeson on multiple tracks on Edwin's Better Days, October 3rd, 2006

    "Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson is on several tracks, including 'Never Over' which should be a single...Edwin and Lifeson go back 10 years. The Rush guitarist invited Edwin to sing on his 1996 solo project, Victor, and that same year played on "Like A Girl" from I Mother Earth's second album, Scenery And Fish. 'He's only done me favors. I don't think I've done him any,' Edwin laughs. 'He was kind enough to let us work at his studio for a week and let us use everything we wanted - his guitars, his amps, whatever we wanted. He was great about it and he also did us the favor of coming in and doing some cameo guitar playing on a few songs. We ran the songs and he played what he felt, so we used his guitar stylings throughout the record.'" - Jam! Showbiz, May 10, 2006

    "Star 24 (No Apologies)", Alex Lifeson on Jakalope's Born 4, October 3rd, 2006

    "With Dave Rave Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie) once again at the helm of the project, Jakalope returned to the scene of the crime, recording Born4 at Vancouver's famed Warehouse Studio. NIN god Trent Reznor signed on as co-producer without question. Ogilvie and Phil Caivano (Blitzspeer, Monster Magnet) locked themselves away to create the music, coming together with Katie B for the lyrics and melodies...'Star 24 (No Apologies)' features Alex Lifeson of Rush." - Jakalope, June 2006
    "It was so neat hearing what we had started and then hearing what he [Alex Lifeson] added...When you’re starting a song you’re so involved and when you give it to somebody else who’s coming in from the outside they’re hearing their own thing and they can quickly add something that you never would have thought of." - Katie B, Jakalope vocalist, VueWeekly.com, November 19, 2006

    Guide Me Master, Geddy Lee with ESPN's Iron Diamond (commercial for fantasy baseball), March 2007

    The ESPN Baseball Tonight crew, including John Kruk, Peter Gammons and a slew of special guests including Geddy Lee, appear as the rock band "Iron Diamond" in a music-video-esque commercial for fantasy baseball on ESPN. The song "Guide Me Master" is one of four tracks as well as a slew of photos available from their Myspace page. The full band complement is: "John Kruk: lead vocals, ESPN Baseball Tonight Cohost; Peter Gammons: vocals, (home-plate shaped) guitar, ESPN Baseball Tonight Cohost, writer; Bronson Arroyo: vocals, guitar, 2006 MLB All-Star Pitcher; Geddy Lee: vocals, bass, Rush frontman, fantasy baseball genius; Gary Sheffield: drums, MLB slugger with 455 career HR's and counting; Joe Borowski: keytar, closer, 2006 Comeback Player of the Year Finalist; Jennie Finch: vocals, ESPN Fantasy Analyst, Olympic Gold Medalist; Matthew Berry: vocals, Senior Director of Fantasy for ESPN.com; Eric Karabell: vocals, ESPN Fantasy Analyst, ESPN Radio Host; Buster Olney: vocals, ESPN the Magazine Senior Writer."

    Anesthetize, Alex Lifeson on Porcupine Tree's Fear Of A Blank Planet, April 24, 2007

    "I really didn't know [Alex Lifeson] knew anything about Porcupine Tree until I read an interview with him in a British magazine. He mentioned really liking Porcupine Tree, and I fell of my chair when I read that because I grew up listening to Rush and I've always thought Alex was one of the most underrated guitarists in rock. So, I got in touch with him through the journalist, who had also done an interview with me around the same time, coincidentally. And we were right in the middle of writing at that time, so it was kind of an obvious thing to invite him to play on the record. It's like it's come full circle for me now, as the people I grew up listening to are now playing on Porcupine Tree records. So you can imagine the buzz, its incredible!" - Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, Prog Archives, April 22, 2007

    Sacred & Mundane, Alex Lifeson on Tiles's Fly Paper, January 29, 2008

    Alex Lifeson reunited with producer by Terry Brown (aka Broon) for the first time in 25 years to record this song.
    "Terry had approached Alex about making a guest appearance – and played him some of our new songs. Alex liked what he heard and said he would have a chance to do 'something' before Rush began rehearsals for their 'Snakes and Arrows' tour. The window of opportunity arrived this past March – and Terry went to Alex’ studio where the two proceeded to work their magic on 'Sacred and Mundane.' Listening to Alex' parts for the first time was amazing – and the amount of work he put into the song was beyond what we could have hoped for. He came up with a counter-riff that literally 'became' the song; he added acoustic guitars to the refrains; played an acoustic Celtic counter-melody in the bridge; came up with a cool backwards solo in the breakdown section; and added an assortment of guitar textures and effects from start to finish. Terry and Alex spent almost 12-hours recording." - Chris Herin, guitarist, Tiles-music.com

    Snacktime, Geddy Lee on the Barenaked Ladies' Snacktime, May 6th, 2008

    The title track of this children's album includes spoken guest appearances from various celebrities including Geddy Lee who is heard saying, "Hi I'm Geddy, and my favorite snack is barbecue potato chips." In addition, the final track, "Here Come The Geese", subtly quotes "Subdivisions"; when listing all the places one can find migratory geese, it includes "in the high school halls, in the shopping malls...".

    Welcome To The Bottom, Save Me From Myself (drums) and Even Now (drums and lyrics), Neil Peart on Vertical Horizon's Burning The Days, September 22, 2009

    The April 2007 issue of Drumhead Magazine included an interview with Vertical Horizon frontman, Matt Scannell, where he discussed his friendship and collaboration with Neil, and also discussed how Vertical Horizon was influenced by Rush.

    "Late in 2005, Matt and I started working on a song together, with lyrics I wrote especially for Matt’s voice — literal and metaphorical. Matt suggested I might like to play drums on that song, and when I agreed to that, he started sending me demos of other songs he thought I might like to play on. (Trickster!). So while I was in Toronto working on Rush songs, I was also 'moonlighting' on three of Matt’s songs, playing to his demos and working out drum parts for them...Through the miracle of modern technology, I was able to e-mail those recorded sketches to Matt, and collect his comments as I went along. Thus it came to pass...on June 14, 2006, at Capitol Records Studio B in Hollywood (Hollywood and Vine, in fact), I recorded three songs for Matt’s upcoming Vertical Horizon album...The following day I told Matt that session had been one of the greatest challenges, experiences, and — now — rewards of my life. That’s the way I have always felt about making Rush albums, and I have every faith the same will be true when Alex, Geddy, and I reconvene in September." - Neil Peart, NeilPeart.net, June 17, 2006

    Guest Appearances As Producer or Mixer

    Wireless, No Static, 1980

    Produced by Geddy Lee, his first production effort. Released by Anthem records, Wireless was also managed by SRO. This album was engineered by current Rush producer Paul Northfield and mixed by Terry Brown (the production team behind Permanent Waves), with additional voice credit to "Dirk", and "special thanks to Rush and crew" given in the liner notes. The album was recorded in December 1979 at Le Studio, where Rush had recently wrapped up recording Permanent Waves (Rush gave thanks to "Wireless & crew" in the Permanent Waves liner notes). Earlier that year Wireless was one of the opening bands on Rush's "Tour of the Hemispheres", in support of their 1978 album Positively Human, Relatively Sane (which also included a thank you to Geddy Lee).

    Boys Brigade, Into the Flow, 1983

    Produced by Geddy Lee. "Formed in 1981 in Toronto where they began as a pick-up act doing speak easies and underground clubs before debuting on Queen Street. Rush's light designer, Howard Ungerleider, took the band on as manager thereby putting them in direct contact with Rush's label, Anthem. Rush bassist, Geddy Lee, took an interest in the band and subsequently produced their debut album in 1983. The album spawned two hit singles "Melody" and "The Passion of Love". Critics predicted a long and prosperous career for the group but alas, their sheer size (three percussionists) and conflicting personalities led to a melt down." - Jam Showbiz Canadian Music Encyclopedia

    Clean Slate, eponymous five song EP, 1988

    Alex Lifeson's first production effort, he is also credited as re-mix engineer. Released by Anthem Records with photography by Andrew MacNaughtan, this Toronto band was also managed by Ray Danniels (SRO Productions).

    No. 9 (Platinum Blonde), eponymous album, 1999

    Co-mixed by "Lerxst", with a "Thank you to Alex", although the album was never officially released, a few copies were made and released independently. Three of the tracks from No. 9: "Superheros", "Alright" renamed "Right Alright", and "My Time" renamed "Stealing My Time", were remastered and may eventually appear on Are You Sitting Comfortably originally scheduled for release in late 2002. Previously, Lerxst performed on "Crying Over You" and "Holy Water" on the original Platinum Blonde's Alien Shores, 1984 (see separate entry above).

    Lifer, eponymous second album, August 14, 2001

    Produced by Alex Lifeson. Lifer, formerly 'Strangers With Candy' (who under this latter name released their debut album No Need in 2000), landed a six-album record deal with Universal/Republic Records after winning first-place in February 2000's MTV Ultimate Cover Band Contest. A critical failure, the band disbanded after the bassist and guitarist left the band to join the group "Breaking Benjamin".
    "We wanted a player, rather than just a standard producer," and said that the band expects to "sell a couple hundred thousand more copies" of their album because of Lifeson's reputation as a musician and performer. "We can only do so much with our songs, but he helped to clean up all of them." - Lifer guitarist Aaron Fincke regarding their choice of producer, The Crusader Online (Susquehanna University Newspaper), November 17, 2000.

    "Fascination Unknown (Alex Lifeson Remix)" by Canadian punk band All Systems Go on the "Facination Unknown" single, March 25, 2003

    According to Anthem Records, this "was just something fun he did that was for his own enjoyment and not be confused with 'work'".

    Alex later teamed up with All Systems Go guitarist/vocalist John Kastner and Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy to perform two covers, The Beatles' "Rain" and Neil Young's "Don't Cry No Tears", at the White Ribbon benefit concert against violence against women held at The Phoenix in Toronto on June 7, 2005. Alex then performed on Kastner's Have You Seen Lucky released May 11th, 2006 (see separate entry above).
    "Alex is simply a good friend of mine. We're both from Canada and have been friends for a long time. Because he also has a studio, I thought it would be a good idea to send him our single. He then re-mixed the track in his studio and sent me the result...his version is much different than the original. His mix has this Rush Feeling, meanders and has more effects. That's also precisely what I wanted, so yes, I am very satisfied." - All Systems Go guitarist/vocalist John Kastner, purerock.de, March 6, 2003
    		•