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Full disclosure, I am a Rush fan.

They are my favorite band, I’ve listened to them since HS, have listened to every one of their albums multiple times, listened to live albums, watched documentaries, read Peart’s books, etc. So the 4 star rating is coming from someone who hung on every word, blazed though this, enjoying every page of Gary from Canada’s story. Not a fan? First of all why not? Have you listened to Rush??? But if somehow you’re not a fan, maybe just a 3 star.

While this was light in style and conversational, this was credited to Lee with writer Daniel Richler, this also includes some chapters with some heavy lifting, Geddy talks about his parents who were survivors of the Holocaust and how that history effected his life and his career as an artist. Lee’s thoughts on his complicated feelings as a Jewish man who did not practice his faith was engaging and thoughtful.

We follow a chronological journey from the small venues in Toronto to all the world as a stage. Geddy shares background information about his band mates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart and we also learn more about his family, and the struggles as a touring musician. (This is how Peart described himself and I always found this bit of honest understatement as endearing).

One of my attractions with Rush, besides the awesome music, was their approachability. Behind the Canadian civility, they seemed like nice guys. Geddy is a nice guy, a family man who is also a technical master of his craft, but he’s also a rock star.

Think about it, while there are plenty of people who sing and play bass (and keyboards, OH! the 80s!) how many people routinely and for decades stand on a stage in front of tens of thousands of people? Being a rock star, having those unique experiences, must be a little like being an astronaut: there are a finite amount of people in the world, in history, who will know what that’s like. Floating in space as the Earth looms blue and alone must be frightening and awe inspiring, maybe a little like being on a stage hooked up with amps and blasting out songs that the audience is singing with you.

We also learn a little more about his relationships with other musicians and with producers and engineers and this was a rare glimpse behind the scenes for this kind of life and career.

I’m a Kindle / Audible guy but for this one, I read the physical book and this is full of great photos, many taken by Geddy and the guys in the band.

Truth be told, I knew a lot of this but it was still great to read and learn more and did I listen to Rush as I read? Do you even need to ask?

Maybe just for fans, but this fan really, really liked it.