Editing Geddy Lee

{{Short description|Canadian musician (born 1953)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Geddy Lee
| honorific_suffix  = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|size=100%}}
| image             = TaylorHawkTributeWemb030922 (168 of 281) (cropped).jpg
| image_upright     = 1.2
| caption           = Lee performing at [[Wembley Stadium]] in 2022
| alt               = 
| background        = solo_singer
| birth_name        = Gary Lee Weinrib
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1953|07|29}}
| birth_place       = [[North York|North York, Ontario]], Canada
| instrument        = {{Flatlist|
* Vocals
* bass guitar
* keyboards
* synthesizer 
<!--- If you think a genre should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument.--->}}
| genre             = {{Flatlist|
* [[Progressive rock]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->}}
| occupation        = {{Flatlist|
* Musician
* singer
* songwriter
* author 
* record producer}}
| years_active      = 1968–present
| label             = {{Flatlist|
* [[Anthem Records|Anthem]]
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
* [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Geddy Lee Unearths 'Lost' Solo Demos |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/12/rush-geddy-lee-solo-demos/ |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref>
}}
| past_member_of    = {{Flatlist|
* [[Rush (band)|Rush]]
* [[Big Dirty Band]]}}
| spouse = {{Flatlist|
* {{marriage |Nancy Young |1976}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://torontolife.com/culture/geddy-lee-rush-interview-memoir/|title="There was a period when we were doing cocaine just to keep the energy up": A Q&A with Geddy Lee of Rush|first=Toronto|last=Life|date=November 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2021/04/18/5585/Geddy-Lee-wishes-his-wife-Nancy-a-happy-birthday-via-Instagram] {{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> }}
| website           = 
| module            = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Geddy Lee Rotosound.ogg |title= Lee's speaking voice |type= speech |description= On [[Rotosound]] guitar strings }}
| module2           = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
|signature=Geddy Lee signature.png
|signature_size=50px
}}
}}

'''Geddy Lee Weinrib''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|g|ɛ|d|i}}; born '''Gary Lee Weinrib''', July 29, 1953) is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Rush (band)|Rush]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edgers |first=Geoff |title=There was never a band like Rush. Geddy Lee doesn't want to forget it. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/11/10/geddy-lee-rush-band-memoir-reunion/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Lee joined the band in September 1968 at the request of his childhood friend [[Alex Lifeson]], replacing original bassist and frontman [[Jeff Jones (bassist)|Jeff Jones]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Banasiewicz|first=Bill|title=Rush Visions: The Official Biography|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/BanasiewiczVisions.htm|access-date=March 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223124746/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/BanasiewiczVisions.htm|archive-date=February 23, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Geddy Lee on the Day He Was Fired From Rush |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/geddy-lee-my-effin-life-memoir-rush-1234877004/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Lee's solo effort, ''[[My Favourite Headache]]'', was released in 2000.

Lee's style, technique, and skill on the bass have inspired many rock musicians such as [[Cliff Burton]] of [[Metallica]];<ref name="CLIFF BURTON R.I.P. - 1986">{{Cite web|title=CLIFF BURTON R.I.P. - 1986|url=http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1986_cliff.htm|publisher=metallicaworld.co.uk|access-date=April 25, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829040333/http://metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1986_cliff.htm|archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]] of [[Iron Maiden]];<ref name="Steve Harris Biography">{{Cite web|url=http://ironmaiden.webvis.net/steve.html|title=Steve Harris Biography|publisher=ironmiaden.webvis.net|access-date=December 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104215917/http://ironmaiden.webvis.net/steve.html|archive-date=January 4, 2007}}</ref> [[John Myung]] of [[Dream Theater]];<ref name="fender">{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/john-myung-on-being-named-greatest-bassist-of-all-time-this-is-very-heavy-280465|title=John Myung on being named greatest bassist of all time|date=September 28, 2010 |publisher=musicradar.com|access-date=June 3, 2015}}</ref> [[Les Claypool]] of [[Primus (band)|Primus]];<ref name="ram.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ram.org/music/primus/articles/les_bday_atn.html|title=You Say It's Your Birthday: Les Claypool of Primus in Addicted to Noise, September 1997|website=www.ram.org}}</ref> [[Steve Di Giorgio]] of [[Sadus]], [[Death (metal band)|Death]] and [[Testament (band)|Testament]];<ref name="bassplayer.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bassplayer.com/features/1172/steve-digiorgio-back-to-basics-with-testament/62181|title=Steve DiGiorgio: Back to Basics with Testament|publisher=bassplayer.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610220227/http://www.bassplayer.com/features/1172/steve-digiorgio-back-to-basics-with-testament/62181|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> and [[Tim Commerford]] of [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Audioslave]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://forbassplayersonly.com/tim-commerford/|title=FBPO Exclusive Interview with Tim Commerford|date=June 14, 2015|work=For Bass Players Only|access-date=June 19, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> Along with his Rush bandmates – guitarist [[Alex Lifeson]] and drummer [[Neil Peart]] – Lee was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] on May 9, 1996. The trio was the first rock band to receive this honor.<ref>[http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/rus/bio.asp "Rush highlights"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715180526/http://www.maplemusic.com/artists/rus/bio.asp |date=July 15, 2010 }}, [[MapleMusic Recordings]] (accessed May 23, 2007).</ref> In 2013, the group was inducted into the [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees|Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] after 14 years of eligibility. In 2006, Lee was ranked 13th by ''[[Hit Parader]]'' on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of All Time.<ref>{{Cite web|author=oz|url=http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/|title=Hit Parader's Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time|publisher=Hearya.com|date=December 4, 2006|access-date=March 2, 2011|archive-date=September 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908211559/http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life==
He was born Gary Lee Weinrib<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Geddy |title=Geddy Lee on My Effin' Life, Rush, and the story of Neil Peart's audition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMUaFy-bJSs&t=574s |via=YouTube |date= November 16, 2023 |access-date=18 November 2023}}</ref> on July 29, 1953, in [[Willowdale, Toronto|Willowdale]], [[Toronto]], to Morris Weinrib (born Moshe Meir Weinrib; 1920–1965) from [[Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski]], [[Poland]]; and Mary "Manya" Rubinstein (born Malka Rubinstein; 1925–2021),<ref name="bpmc">{{cite web |url= https://www.benjaminsparkmemorialchapel.ca/ServiceDetails.aspx?sid=206477&fg=1 |title=Mary Weinrib |author=<!--Not stated--> |website= benjaminsparkmemorialchapel.ca| publisher= Benjamin's Park Memorial Chapel, The Benjamin Group |location= Toronto |access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite instagram |last=Lee |first=Geddy |user=geddyimages |postid= CQ_TCBxNRBF |date=July 6, 2021 |title='Suddenly she was gone from all the lives she left her mark upon.'<br /><br />Mary (Manya) Weinrib<br />July 16th 1925 – July 2nd 2021<br /><br />Rest In Peace Mom |access-date=July 11, 2021}}</ref> who was also from Poland: born in [[Warsaw]] and later raised in [[:pl:Wierzbnik (Starachowice)|Wierzbnik]].<ref name=Prato /><ref name="ug">{{cite news |author=jomatami |date=February 3, 2019 |title=Geddy Lee Shares His Parents' Holocaust Story, How They Met in Work Camp & How They Survived Auschwitz |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/geddy_lee_shares_his_parents_holocaust_story_how_they_met_in_work_camp__how_they_survived_auschwitz.html |work=[[Ultimate Guitar]] |location=San Francisco |access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="jweekly">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |title=How the Holocaust rocked Rush front man Geddy Lee |url= https://www.jweekly.com/2004/06/25/how-the-holocaust-rocked-rush-front-man-geddy-lee/ |work=[[J. The Jewish News of Northern California]] |location=San Francisco |date=June 25, 2004 |access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name="cjnews">{{cite news |last=Benarde |first=Scott R. |date=August 11, 2004 |title=How the Holocaust rocked Rush's Geddy Lee |url= http://www.cjnews.com:80/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7066&Itemid=86 |url-status=dead |work=[[Canadian Jewish News]] |location=Toronto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925084930/http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7066&Itemid=86 |archive-date=September 25, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=August 7, 2017 |title=W poszukiwaniu swoich korzeni |trans-title=In search of one's roots |url=https://starachowicka.pl/2017/08/07/w-poszukiwaniu-swoich-korzeni/ |url-status=dead |language=Polish |work=Gazeta Starachowicka |location=[[Starachowice]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210518191616/https://www.starachowicka.pl/2017/08/07/w-poszukiwaniu-swoich-korzeni/ |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |via=[[Wayback Machine]] |quote={{–}} Matka frontmana grupy Geddy Lee, pochodziła z Wierzbnika... |trans-quote={{–}} Mother of the band's frontman Geddy Lee, originated from Wierzbnik...}}</ref> His parents were [[Jews|Jewish]] [[Holocaust survivors]] from [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] who had survived the [[List of Jewish ghettos in German-occupied Poland|ghetto]] in [[Starachowice]] (where they met), followed by their imprisonments at [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]] and later [[Dachau concentration camp|Dachau]] and [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp|Bergen-Belsen]] [[internment|concentration camps]] during [[the Holocaust]] and [[World War II]].<ref name="ug" /><ref name="jweekly" /> They were in their teens when they were initially imprisoned at Auschwitz. "It was kind of surreal pre-teen shit", says Lee, describing how his father bribed guards to bring shoes to his mother. After a period, his mother was transferred to Bergen-Belsen and his father to Dachau. When the war ended four years later, and the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] liberated the camps, Morris set out in search of Manya and found her at a [[Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp]].<ref name="ug" /> They married there and eventually emigrated to Canada.<ref name="rs">{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=November 25, 2015 |title=From Rush With Love |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rush-neil-peart-geddy-lee-alex-lifeson-59586/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York City |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref>

When Lee started school, his name was incorrectly registered.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmU8kmwYrCg&t=1677s&ab_channel=LeftyGuitarist |title= Interview| format= video | first= Geddy| last= Lee| publisher= LeftyGuitarist| date= | access-date= | via= YouTube}}</ref> As a result, Lee grew up thinking his middle name was "Lorne".  As a teenager, he saw a copy of his birth certificate and discovered that his middle name was "Lee".<ref name=":0" />

Lee's father died young, which forced Lee's mother to work to support their three children by running the [[Newmarket, Ontario]], variety store that her husband had owned and managed.<ref name="bpmc" /><ref name="rs" /> Lee has suggested that his father's death was probably a factor in his becoming a musician: "It was a terrible blow that I lost him, but the course of my life changed because my mother couldn't control us." He has said that losing his father at such an early age made him aware of how "quickly life can disappear", which inspired him from then on to get the most out of his life and music.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVR6ZvWkL5Q;t=47s |title= The Story of Geddy Lee| publisher= Banger Films |place= Canada |format= video | date= 2015| access-date= | via= YouTube}}</ref>

Lee turned his basement into practice space for a band he formed with high school friends. After the band began earning income from small performances at high school shows or other events, he decided to drop out of high school and play rock and roll professionally. His mother was devastated when he gave her the news. 
{{quote|All the shit I put her through, on top of the fact that she just lost her husband. I felt like I had to make sure that it was worth it. I wanted to show her that I was a professional, that I was working hard, and wasn't just a fuckin' lunatic.<ref name="rs" />}}

''[[J. The Jewish News of Northern California|Jweekly]]'' featured Lee's reflections on his mother's experiences as a refugee and on his own Jewish heritage.<ref name="jweekly" /> Lee's name, ''Geddy'', was derived from his mother's Polish-accented pronunciation of his given first name, ''Gary''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Jordan |title=Locked down? Open up to… Rush's Jewish frontman Geddy Lee |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/locked-down-open-up-to-rushs-jewish-frontman-geddy-lee/ |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |access-date=20 October 2020}}</ref> This was picked up by his friends in school, leading Lee to adopt it as his stage name (excising his surname, leaving his middle name as his surname) and later his legal name,<ref name=Buttner>{{Cite web| last= Buttner|first=Christopher|title=Geddy Lee: The Reluctant Rockstar| url= http://www.prthatrocks.com/interviews/geddy.html |website= prthatrocks.com |publisher= Bass Frontiers Magazine |date= November 1996| access-date=April 26, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120205204217/http://www.prthatrocks.com/interviews/geddy.html|archive-date= February 5, 2012| url-status= dead}}</ref> Geddy Lee Weinrib<ref name=":0"/>{{rp|at=10:58|q=timestamp}} (replacing his first name).

After Rush had become a widely recognized rock group, Lee told the group's drummer and lyricist, [[Neil Peart]], about his mother's early life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=2024-01-08 |title=Which Dumbass Thought They Could Replace Neil Peart in Rush? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/rush-geddy-lee-drummers.html |access-date=2024-03-10 |website= [[Vulture.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Peart then wrote the lyrics to "[[Red Sector A]]", which was inspired by her ordeal. The song, for which Lee wrote the music, was released on the band's 1984 album [[Grace Under Pressure (Rush album)|''Grace Under Pressure'']].<ref name="cjnews" /> The lyrics include the following verse:
{{poemquote|
I hear the sound of gunfire at the prison gate
Are the liberators here?
Do I hope or do I fear?
For my father and my brother, it's too late
But I must help my mother stand up straight.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3ytkyn3vUU |title= Red Sector A| format= video | date= December 21, 2012| access-date= | via= YouTube}}</ref>}}

==Music career==
===Early years===
[[File:Geddy Lee Milan 2004.jpg|thumb|Lee performing in 2004]]Lee began playing music in school when he was 10 or 11 and received his first acoustic guitar at 14. In school, he first played drums, trumpet and clarinet. However, learning to play instruments in school was not satisfying to Lee, and he took basic piano lessons independently. His interest increased dramatically after listening to some of the popular rock groups at the time. Early influences included [[Jack Bruce]] of [[Cream (band)|Cream]], [[John Entwistle]] of [[The Who]], [[Jeff Beck]], and [[Procol Harum]].<ref name= Prato>Prato, Greg. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/geddy-lee-mn0000153933/biography "Biography of Geddy Lee"], ''All Music''</ref> "I was mainly interested in early British [[progressive rock]]", said Lee. "That's how I learned to play bass, emulating Jack Bruce and people like that."<ref name=Mulhern /> Bruce's style of music was also noticed by Lee, who liked that "his sound was distinctive – it wasn't boring."<ref name=Mulhern /> Lee has also been influenced by [[Paul McCartney]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BgrGhzD7qI| archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/5BgrGhzD7qI| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Geddy Lee On Paul McCartney's Influence On His Bass Playing|last=1bloocher|date=October 2, 2012|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Chris Squire]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Qnv0NH4-s| archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/X_Qnv0NH4-s| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Geddy Lee on Chris Squire's influence upon his own bass playing|date=December 12, 2016|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[James Jamerson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/rushs-geddy-lee-these-are-the-10-bassists-that-blew-my-mind|title=Rush's Geddy Lee: these are the 10 bassists who blew my mind|last=Sharma|first=Amit|date=October 12, 2018| website= musicradar.com |access-date=July 20, 2019}}</ref>

In 1969, Rush began playing professionally in coffeehouses, high school dances and at various outdoor recreational events. By 1971, they were now playing primarily original songs in small clubs and bars, including Toronto's Gasworks and Abbey Road Pub.<ref name=Bowman>{{cite book| last= Bowman| first= Durrell| title= Experiencing Rush: A Listener's Companion| publisher= Rowman & Littlefield |year= 2015| pages= 3–7 | isbn= }}</ref> Lee describes the group during these early years as being "weekend warriors". They were holding down jobs during the weekdays and playing music on weekends: "We longed to break out of the boring surrounding of the suburbs and the endless similarities . . . the shopping plazas and all that stuff...the music was a vehicle for us to speak out."<ref name=Bowman /> He claims that in the beginning, they were simply "a straightforward rock band."<ref name=Bowman />

Short of money, they began opening concerts at venues such as Toronto's [[Standard Theatre (Toronto)|Victory Burlesque Theatre]] for the [[glam rock]] band [[New York Dolls]].<ref name=Bowman /> By 1972, Rush began performing full-length concerts, mainly consisting of original songs, in cities including Toronto and [[Detroit]]. As they gained more recognition, they began performing as an opening act for groups such as [[Aerosmith]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], and [[Blue Öyster Cult]].<ref name=Armbruster>{{cite magazine| last= Armbruster| first= Greg| title= Geddy Lee of Rush| magazine= [[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]]| date= September 1984| publisher= |url= | access-date= }}</ref>

===Style===
[[File:GeddyLee.JPG|left|thumb|Lee live in concert at the [[Xcel Energy Center]] on May 22, 2008]]
Like Cream, Rush followed the model of a "[[power trio]]", with Lee playing bass and singing. Lee's vocals produced a distinctive, resonant "[[countertenor]]".<ref name=Bowman /> Lee possessed a three-octave vocal range spanning from baritone through tenor, alto, and [[mezzo-soprano]] pitch ranges; however, his range significantly decreased with age.<ref name=Bowman /> Lee's playing style is widely regarded for his use of high treble and very hard playing of the strings and for utilizing the bass as a lead instrument, often contrapuntal to Lifeson's guitar. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Lee mostly used a [[Rickenbacker 4001]] bass, with a very noticeable grit in his tone. According to Lee, during the band's "synth era" in the mid-1980s, Lee used [[Steinberger]] and later [[Wal (bass)|Wal]] basses, with the latter having more of a "jazzy" tone.<ref>{{Citation|last=mick curry|title=Geddy Lee Interview part 1 of 2|date=April 19, 2010|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wma2NtQ1CIE| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/Wma2NtQ1CIE| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|access-date=June 18, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> From 1993's ''[[Counterparts (Rush album)|Counterparts]]'' onward, Lee began using the [[Fender Jazz Bass]] almost exclusively, returning to his trademark high treble sound. Lee had first used the Jazz Bass to record '' [[Moving Pictures (Rush album)|Moving Pictures]]'' on songs such as "[[Tom Sawyer (song)|Tom Sawyer]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Ekje672mo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/04Ekje672mo| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=Rush's Geddy Lee on his Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass| website=[[YouTube]]|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=September 26, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Rising popularity===
After several early albums and increasing popularity, Rush's status as a rock group soared over the following five years as they consistently toured worldwide and produced successful albums, including ''[[2112 (album)|2112]]'' (1976), ''[[A Farewell to Kings]]'' (1977), ''[[Hemispheres (Rush album)|Hemispheres]]'' (1978), ''[[Permanent Waves]]'' (1980), and ''[[Moving Pictures (Rush album)|Moving Pictures]]'' (1981).  Lee began adding synthesizers in 1977, with the release of ''A Farewell to Kings''. Keyboard critic Greg Armbruster says the additional sounds from synthesizers expanded the group's "textural capabilities" and allowed the trio to produce an orchestrated and more complex progressive rock music style.<ref name=Armbruster /> It also gave Lee the ability to play bass simultaneously, as he could control the synthesizer with foot pedals. In 1981, he won  ''[[Keyboard (magazine)|Keyboard]]'' magazine's poll as "Best New Talent."<ref name=Armbruster /> By the 1984 album ''[[Grace Under Pressure (Rush album)|Grace Under Pressure]]'', Lee was surrounding himself with stacks of keyboards on stage.<ref name=Armbruster />

By the 1980s, Rush had become one of the "biggest rock bands on the planet", selling out arena seats when touring.<ref name=Prato /><ref name=Buttner /> Lee was known for his dynamic stage movements. According to music critic Tom Mulhern, writing in 1980, "it's dazzling to see so much sheer energy expended without a nervous breakdown."<ref name=Mulhern>Tom Mulhern, ''Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories and Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players'', Backbear Books (1993) p. 110</ref> By 1996, their [[Test for Echo Tour]] began performing without an opening act, their shows lasting nearly three hours.<ref name=rollingstone>''Rolling Stone'', December 12, 1996</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=February 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff|date=2015-11-06 |title=Watch Rush Perform 'Tom Sawyer' From 'R40 Live' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rush-tom-sawyer-live/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}</ref>

Music industry writer Christopher Buttner, who interviewed Lee in 1996, described him as a prodigy and "role model" for what every musician wants to be, noting his proficiency on stage. Buttner cited Lee's ability to vary time signatures, play multiple keyboards, use bass pedal controllers and control sequencers, all while singing lead vocals into as many as three microphones. Buttner adds that few musicians of any instrument "can juggle half of what Geddy can do without literally falling on their ass."<ref name=Buttner /> As a result, notes Mulhern, Lee's instrumentation was the "pulse" of the group and created a "one-man rhythm section", which complemented guitarist [[Alex Lifeson]] and percussionist [[Neil Peart]].<ref name=Mulhern /> Bass instructor [[Allan Slutsky]], or "Dr Licks", credits Lee's "biting, high-end bass lines and creative synthesizer work" for helping the group become "one of the most innovative" of all the groups that play arena rock.<ref name=Jamerson>Dr Licks. ''Standing in the Shadows of Motown'', Hal Leonard Corp. (1989) p. 125</ref> By 1989, ''[[Guitar Player]]'' magazine had designated Lee the "Best Rock Bass" player from their reader's poll for the previous five years.<ref name=Jamerson />

Greg Prato of [[AllMusic]] wrote that "few [[hard rock]] bassists have been as influential as Rush's Geddy Lee."<ref name="AllMusicBio">{{Cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |title=Geddy Lee: Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/geddy-lee-mn0000153933/biography |access-date=May 1, 2012 |publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Bass players who have cited Lee as an influence include [[Cliff Burton]] of [[Metallica]],<ref name="CLIFF BURTON R.I.P. - 1986" /> [[Steve Harris (musician)|Steve Harris]] of [[Iron Maiden]],<ref name="Steve Harris Biography" /> [[John Myung]] of [[Dream Theater]],<ref name="fender" /> [[Les Claypool]] of [[Primus (band)|Primus]],<ref name="ram.org" /> and [[Steve Di Giorgio]] of [[Sadus]], [[Death (metal band)|Death]] and [[Testament (band)|Testament]].<ref name="bassplayer.com" />

==''My Favourite Headache''==
''[[My Favorite Headache|My Favourite Headache]]'', Lee's solo album, was released on November 14, 2000, while Rush was on a hiatus following the deaths of Neil Peart's daughter and wife.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Prato|first=Greg|title=My Favourite Headache – Overview|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-favorite-headache-r505824|publisher= | website= Allmusic.com|access-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref> Musicians associated with the project include friend and Rush collaborator [[Ben Mink]] and drummer [[Matt Cameron]] of [[Soundgarden]] and [[Pearl Jam]].

==Side projects==
{{Main|List of songs recorded by Rush#Geddy Lee}}
The bulk of Lee's work in music has been with Rush (see [[Rush discography]]). However, Lee has also contributed to a body of work outside of his involvement with the band through guest appearances and album production. In 1980, Lee was brought in to produce Toronto-based band [[Wireless (band)|Wireless]] who had previously opened up for Rush and were on the verge of breaking up. With Lee at the helm, the group recorded their third and final album, ''No Static'', released on Rush's label, [[Anthem Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2679:wireless-no-static&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121|title=CD Reviews: Wireless - 'No Static'|date=August 29, 2012|website=Rocktopia|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722004231/https://www.rocktopia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2679:wireless-no-static&catid=910:cd-reviews&Itemid=121|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1981, Lee was the featured guest for the hit song "[[Take Off (Bob and Doug McKenzie song)|Take Off]]" and its included comedic commentary with [[Bob and Doug McKenzie]] (played by [[Rick Moranis]] and [[Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas]], respectively) for the McKenzie Brothers' comedy album ''[[The Great White North (album)|Great White North]]'', which was released on Rush's [[Anthem Records|Anthem]] label. While Rush has had great success selling albums, "Take Off" is the highest-charting single on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] of Lee's career.<ref>{{Cite Radio|date=Nov 20, 2023|title=Geddy Lee's highest charting song is NOT a Rush song|url=https://1063thefox.com/kahuna/geddy-lees-highest-charting-single-is-not-a-rush-song/}}</ref>

In 1982, Lee produced the first (and only) album from Toronto's new wave band [[Boys Brigade (band)|Boys Brigade]]. On the 1985 album ''[[We Are the World (album)|We Are the World]]'', by humanitarian consortium [[USA for Africa]], Lee recorded guest vocals for the song "[[Tears Are Not Enough]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/tears-are-not-enough-by-northern-lights/|title="Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights|date=May 30, 2011|website=musiccanada.wordpress.com|access-date=September 3, 2019}}</ref> Lee sang "[[O Canada]]", the Canadian national anthem,  at Baltimore's [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards|Camden Yards]] for the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Geddy Lee: rock star and baseball fan|newspaper=The Sporting News|date=April 13, 2007|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=196912|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002140210/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=196912|archive-date=October 2, 2007}}</ref>

Another version of "O Canada", with a rock arrangement, was recorded by Lee and Lifeson for the 1999 film soundtrack ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut]]''.<ref name="ref2112">{{Cite web|title=Virtual Songs – Side Projects|url=http://www.2112.net/sphere/virtualsongs/side.htm|publisher=2112.net|access-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref>

Lee also plays bass on Canadian rock band [[I Mother Earth]]'s track "Good for Sule", which is featured on the group's 1999 album ''[[Blue Green Orange]]''.<ref name="ref2112" />

Along with his bandmates, Lee was a guest musician on the [[Max Webster]] song "Battle Scar", from the 1980 album ''[[Universal Juveniles]]''.<ref name="ref2112" />

Lee appeared in [[Broken Social Scene]]'s music video for their 2006 single "Fire Eye'd Boy", judging the band while performing various musical tasks. In 2006, Lee joined Lifeson's [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]], the [[Big Dirty Band]], to provide songs accompanying ''[[Trailer Park Boys: The Movie]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Film, Television And Video Cameos|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/Videocameos.htm|publisher=2112.net|access-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319100506/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/Videocameos.htm|archive-date=March 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, Lee performed in place of late bassist [[Chris Squire]] with [[Yes (band)|Yes]] during the band's [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction, playing bass for the song "[[Roundabout (Yes song)|Roundabout]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWqMX854V8o | title=Yes - Roundabout (Live at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017 induction ceremony) - remastered audio - YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] | date=February 10, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-NsnlPc54| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430173904/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-NsnlPc54&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2017-04-30 | url-status=dead|title=Yes Roundabout with Geddy Lee on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2017|last=Cal Vid|date=April 29, 2017|access-date=September 17, 2018|publisher=YouTube}}</ref>

In 2018, Lee published ''Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass'', which highlights his collection of over 250 basses along with interviews with some of the leading bass players and bass technicians.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

In 2020, Lee provided guest vocals to an all-star Canadian rendition of the late [[Bill Withers]] song "[[Lean on Me (song)|Lean on Me]]" during the TV special ''[[Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble]]'', a Canadian benefit performance simulcast by every major television network in Canada as a benefit for [[Food Banks Canada]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/canada-lean-on-me-bill-withers-tribute-990242/|title=Justin Bieber, Geddy Lee and More Sing 'Lean on Me' in Bill Withers Tribute|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=April 27, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref> In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 24th-greatest bassist of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=Geddy Lee |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-13565/geddy-lee-13593/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In September 2021, [[Barenaked Ladies]] frontman [[Ed Robertson]] revealed that he was working on a "secret project" with Lee,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/barenaked-ladies-are-working-on-a-secret-project-with-geddy-lee|title=Barenaked Ladies are working on a "secret project" with Geddy Lee|last=Scarlett|first=Elizabeth|date=September 8, 2021|publisher=[[Louder Sound]]|accessdate=September 8, 2021}}</ref> which turned out to be callouts for a subsequent Rush pinball machine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/pinball-wizard-bnl-s-ed-robertson-on-how-his-obsession-inspired-rush-arcade-game/article_eb8d7042-6e09-5cd5-a3a3-c62883c43e90.html|title=Pinball Wizard: BNL's Ed Robertson on how his obsession inspired Rush arcade game|last=Friend|first=David|date=February 23, 2022|publisher=[[Toronto Star]]|accessdate=May 23, 2024}}</ref>

In 2022, he appeared as a [[Guest appearance|guest star]] playing Thomas Sawyer on the acclaimed long-running [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] period drama [[Murdoch Mysteries]].<ref>{{cite web |title=RUSH's GEDDY LEE Plays Carriage Driver Named TOM SAWYER In 'Murdoch Mysteries' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rushs-geddy-lee-plays-carriage-driver-named-tom-sawyer-in-murdoch-mysteries/ |website=blabermouth.net |date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=9 April 2022}}</ref>

In November 2023, Lee published an [[autobiography]] titled ''My Effin' Life''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Axelrod |first=Jim |date=2023-12-03 |title=Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson on the band's next chapter - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/geddy-lee-and-alex-lifeson-of-rush/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The book was promoted with a 19-date [[Book tour|tour]] of the UK and North America.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geddy Lee Book Tour |url=https://www.rush.com/geddylee/ |website=Rush.com |access-date=9 December 2023}}</ref>

On December 5, 2023, Paramount+ released a video series, "Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too?"  Four episodes were aired on [[Les Claypool]], [[Robert Trujillo]], [[Melissa Auf der Maur]], and [[Krist Novoselic]].  Each episode features Lee visiting with and talking to the guest bassist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/geddy-lee-asks-are-bass-players-human-too/|title=Geddy Lee Asks: Are Bass Players Human Too? - MTV - Watch on Paramount Plus|date=December 5, 2023|via=www.paramountplus.com}}</ref>

==Collections==
Lee is a collector, and has collected baseball [[ephemera]], vintage bass guitars, and wines, with a collection of 5,000 bottles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20050400citybites.htm|title=A Wine Cellar That Rocks!|last=Bolton|first=Greg|date=April 2005|website=2112.net|access-date=September 3, 2019}}</ref> As a child he collected stamps and [[vinyl records]]. He went on to collect [[first edition]] books as well as bass guitars.<ref name="Von Bader">{{cite news |last1=Von Bader |first1=David |title=Geddy Lee's Magnificent Obsession |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/geddy-lees-magnificent-obsession |access-date=29 November 2022 |publisher=Premier Guitar |date=5 March 2019}}</ref> Lee is also an avid watch collector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Von Bader |first=David |date=August 15, 2019 |title=Geddy Lee: Clockwork Angel |url=https://wornandwound.com/geddy-lee-clockwork-angel|website=wornandwound.com}}</ref>

===Baseball===
[[File:Geddy Lee Certificate of authenticity.jpg|thumb|Geddy Lee certificate of authenticity for a guitar]]
Lee is also a longtime [[baseball]] fan. His favourite team while growing up was the [[Detroit Tigers]],<ref name="tberg">{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/26/rush-singer-geddy-lee-baseball-fan-blue-jays/1949323/|title=Rush singer Geddy Lee expecting big year for Blue Jays|last=Berg|first=Ted|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 26, 2013|access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> and he later became a fan of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] after they were established.<ref name="tberg" /> In the 1980s, Lee began reading the works of [[Bill James]], particularly ''The Bill James Baseball Abstracts'', which led to an interest in [[sabermetrics]] and participation in a [[fantasy baseball]] keeper league.<ref name="tberg" /> He collects baseball memorabilia, once donating [[Negro Leagues Baseball Museum#The Geddy Lee Collection|part of his collection]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/geddy-lee-has-an-unlikely-connection-to-the-negro-leagues-baseball-museum-201308814.html|title=Geddy Lee has an unlikely connection to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum|website=ca.sports.yahoo.com|date=October 23, 2015 |language=en-CA|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref> to the [[Negro Leagues Baseball Museum]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1507|title=Geddy Lee Donates 200 Signed Negro League Baseballs|first=Mark|last=Dent|publisher=rushisaband.com|date=June 6, 2008|access-date=March 23, 2010}}</ref> and threw the [[ceremonial first pitch]] to inaugurate the [[2013 Toronto Blue Jays season]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/rush-s-geddy-lee-to-throw-out-1st-pitch-at-blue-jays-opener-1.1334267|title=Rush's Geddy Lee to throw out 1st pitch at Blue Jays opener|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=March 27, 2013|access-date=March 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Harkness">{{Cite web|last=Harkness|first=Geoff|title=Seven questions with Geddy Lee|url=http://www.lawrence.com/news/2000/nov/30/seven_questions|work=lawrence.com|publisher=Lawrence|access-date=March 26, 2011|date=November 30, 2000}}</ref> Lee sang the Canadian national anthem<ref>{{Citation|last=Ted Andrews|title=Geddy Lee – Canadian National Anthem|date=November 26, 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DELqdboo20Q| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/DELqdboo20Q| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|access-date=February 6, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> before the [[1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1993 MLB All-Star Game]]. In 2016, Lee planned to produce an independent film about baseball in Italy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35049772|title=Rush star Geddy Lee 'optimistic' over band's future|work=[[BBC]]|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=December 9, 2015}}</ref> Lee is regularly seen in his seat behind home plate at the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] stadium [[Rogers Centre]] with his scorecard.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/cut4/rush-frontman-geddy-lee-keeps-score-at-al-wild-card-game-c204973126|title=Spotted behind home plate at Rogers Centre: Rush frontman Geddy Lee and his scorecard|work=[[MLB]]|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2016}}</ref> When the team was forced to move to [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] during the 2020 season, a cardboard cutout of Lee was placed in a seat behind home plate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2020/08/10/blue-jays-will-find-all-the-cardboard-trappings-of-home-and-home-plate-lady-at-buffalos-sahlen-field.html|title=Blue Jays will find all the cardboard trappings of home — and Home Plate Lady — at Buffalo's Sahlen Field. Geddy Lee, mascot Ace and the manager's boys are among some of the others whose cardboard cut-outs will play fans in the Jays' temporary home.|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>

===Guitars and basses===
Lee also collects guitars and basses. He has a collection of over 250 vintage basses.<ref name="Guitar Lobby">{{cite news |last1=Schiebel |first1=Christopher D. |title=Geddy Lee Bass Guitars and Gear List (2022 Update) |url=https://www.guitarlobby.com/geddy-lee-bass-guitars-and-gear/#:~:text=Lee%20is%20known%20for%20being,stage%20and%20in%20the%20studio. |access-date=29 November 2022 |publisher=Guitar Lobby |date=26 June 2022}}</ref> He owns a 1961 [[Fender Precision Bass]] previously owned by [[John Entwistle]] of [[The Who]]. He also owns two 1964 Fender Jazz Basses in the rare Dakota Red color.<ref name="Magnotta">{{cite news |last1=Magnotta |first1=Andrew |title=Geddy Lee Reveals the Most-Prized Guitars in His Collection |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-01-08-geddy-lee-reveals-the-most-prized-guitars-in-his-collection/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |publisher=iHeartMedia, Inc. |date=8 January 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, Lee sent several of his guitars to Mecum Auctions, including a 1959 [[Les Paul (guitar)|Les Paul]] Standard, a 1960 [[Gibson ES-345]], a 1955 [[Fender Stratocaster]], a 1960 [[Gibson ES-335]], a 1965 Gibson ES-335 and a 1967 [[Gibson Flying V]].<ref name="GW">{{cite news |last1=Bienstock |first1=Richard |title=Geddy Lee to auction off 6 drool-worthy vintage guitars, including his '59 Les Paul |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/geddy-lee-to-auction-off-6-drool-worthy-vintage-guitars-including-his-59-les-paul |access-date=29 November 2022 |publisher=Guitar World |date=24 September 2019}}</ref>

==Equipment used==

===Basses===
[[File:Vintage Geddy Lee with Quiver.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Lee on tour with various basses and an acoustic guitar]]
In the early days of Rush, Lee used a [[Fender Precision Bass]], which eventually had its body modified and refinished to a blue "teardrop"-shape.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/signature-instruments-of-geddy-lee/|title=Explore the signature instruments of Geddy Lee|date=July 29, 2022|website=faroutmagazine.co.uk}}</ref> Inspired by the distinctive sound of Yes bassist Chris Squire, Lee then acquired a black [[Rickenbacker 4001]] bass, which remained his main instrument from the 1970s up until the early 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/geddy-lee-on-his-rickenbacker-tone|title="I love the sound of the Rickenbacker, but I didn't sound like Chris Squire on it!" Geddy Lee on his Rick-O-Sound tone and 'crossing the floor' to Fender|first=Joel|last=McIverpublished|date=October 17, 2023|website=guitarworld}}</ref>

In 1998, Fender released the [[Fender Jazz Bass|Geddy Lee Jazz Bass]], available in Black<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fender.com/en-GB/series/artist/geddy-lee-jazz-bass-maple-fingerboard-black-3-ply-white-pickguard/|title=Fender Products: Geddy Lee Jazz Bass|publisher=Fender.com|date=January 22, 2010|access-date=March 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618192648/http://www.fender.com/en-GB/series/artist/geddy-lee-jazz-bass-maple-fingerboard-black-3-ply-white-pickguard/|archive-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> and 3-Color Sunburst<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257702300|title=Fender Products: Geddy Lee Jazz Bass|publisher=Fender.com|date=January 22, 2010|access-date=March 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106060407/http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257702300|archive-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> (as of 2009).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257702306|title=Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass|publisher=Fender.com|access-date=March 2, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106063922/http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0257702306|archive-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> This signature model is a recreation of Lee's favourite bass, a 1972 Fender Jazz that he bought in a pawn shop in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1978. In 2015, Fender released a revised USA model of his signature bass,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-basses/jazz-bass/usa-geddy-lee-jazz-bass/product-0197702806.html|title=USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass®|website=Fender}}</ref> with most of the changes reflecting those Lee had made to his own instrument over the years.

Lee has been a longtime user of [[RotoSound]] strings. He uses Swing Bass RS66LD (.45-.105) on a majority of his basses,<ref>[https://www.rotosound.com/cool_timeline/geddy-lee/]  {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/news/2018/09/rush-legend-geddy-lee-backs-rotosound-swing-bass-strings/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200811012437/https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/news/2018/09/rush-legend-geddy-lee-backs-rotosound-swing-bass-strings/| archive-date = August 11, 2020| title = Rush legend Geddy Lee, backs Rotosound Swing Bass strings}}</ref> but used Funkmaster FM66 (.30-.90) on his [[Wal (bass)|Wal]] basses from 1985 to 1992.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rush.com/gear/wal-bass/| title = Wal Bass |website=Rush.com}}</ref>

===Bass amplification===
For Rush's 2010 tour, Lee used two [[Orange Music Electronic Company|Orange]] AD200 bass heads together with two OBC410 4x10 bass cabinets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Geddy Lee endorses Orange Bass Amps|url=http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=2175|website=Rushisaband.com|access-date=April 26, 2012}}</ref>

===Keyboards and synthesizers===
[[File:20110527-213757 Rush Ahoy Rotterdam 1200x0900.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.2|Lee with his Roland Fantom X7 during the 2010–2011 [[Time Machine Tour]]]]

Over the years, Lee has used synthesizers from [[Oberheim]] ([[Oberheim Eight Voice]], [[Oberheim OB-1|OB-1]], [[Oberheim OB-X|OB-X]], [[Oberheim OB-Xa|OB-Xa]]), [[Palm Products GmbH|PPG]] (Wave 2.2 and 2.3), [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] ([[Roland Jupiter-8|Jupiter 8]], [[Roland D-50|D-50]], XV-5080, and [[Roland Fantom X|Fantom X7]]), [[Moog Music|Moog]] ([[Minimoog]], [[Moog Taurus|Taurus pedals]], [[Moog Little Phatty|Little Phatty]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Geddy|title=The Snakes & Arrows Tour Book|url=http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/main/SAtourbook.htm|publisher=2112.net|access-date=May 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418064955/http://2112.net/powerwindows/main/SAtourbook.htm|archive-date=April 18, 2012}}</ref>), and [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] ([[Yamaha DX7|DX7]], KX76).

===Live performances: special equipment===
====Recreating unique sounds====
Newer advances in synthesizer and sampler technology have allowed Lee to store familiar sounds from his old synthesizers alongside new ones in combination synthesizer/samplers, such as the Roland XV-5080. For live shows in 2002 and 2004, Lee and his keyboard technician used the playback capabilities of the XV-5080 to generate virtually all of Rush's keyboard sounds to date and additional complex sound passages that previously required several machines at once to produce.<ref name="tpckrn">{{cite web| url = http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/rush/onstage-09.2002.php| title = "Rush Rolls Again", September 2002, ''OnStage Magazine''}}</ref>

To trigger these sounds in real-time, Lee uses [[MIDI controller]]s, placed at the locations on the stage where he has a microphone stand. Lee uses two types of MIDI controllers: one type resembles a traditional synthesizer keyboard on a stand (Yamaha KX76). The second type is a large foot-pedal keyboard placed on the stage floor ([[Korg]] MPK-130, Roland PK-5). Combined, they enable Lee to use his free hands and feet to trigger sounds in electronic equipment that has been placed off-stage.<ref name="tpckrn" /> With this technology Lee and his bandmates can present their arrangements in a live setting with the level of complexity and fidelity that fans have come to expect and without the need to resort to the use of [[backing tracks]] or employing an additional band member.<ref>Peart, Neil [http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/peartbscpresto.htm Rush Backstage Club Newsletter, March 1990, via "Power Windows" Rush Fan Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214051150/http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/peartbscpresto.htm |date=February 14, 2007 }}</ref>  During the ''[[Clockwork Angels Tour]]'', a notable exception was when a string ensemble played string parts, originally arranged and conducted by [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] on ''[[Clockwork Angels]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Graff|first=Gary|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/483005/rush-bringing-string-ensemble-on-tour|title=Rush Bringing String Ensemble on Tour|date=June 18, 2012|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=July 22, 2012}}</ref>

====Unique stage equipment====
[[File:geddy-henhouse.jpg|right|thumb|230px|[[Rush (band)|Rush]] live in concert with rotisseries and chef in background]]

In 1996, Lee stopped using traditional bass amplifiers on stage, opting to have the bass guitar signals input directly to the touring front-of-house console to improve control and sound definition. He began using [[Tech 21]] SansAmp units after experimenting with one in the studio intended for Alex Lifeson's guitar<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fl6RlKAVj9g&t=571s | title=Geddy Lee Interview: Tech 21 GED-2112 - YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] | date=September 19, 2017 }}</ref> and eventually received signature models from the company, most notably the GED-2112 rackmount.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/geddy-lee/| title = Geddy Lee – Tech 21 NYC}}</ref>

Faced with the dilemma of what to do with the empty space left behind by the lack of large amplifier cabinets, Lee chose to decorate his side of the stage with unusual items. The [[Snakes & Arrows Tour]] prominently featured three Henhouse brand rotisserie chicken ovens on stage complete with an attendant in a chef's hat and apron to "tend" the chickens during shows.<ref>Jamie Thomson. [http://music.guardian.co.uk/live/story/0,,2189240,00.html "Rush concert review: Wembley Arena, London. Friday, October 12, 2007."], [[The Guardian]]. Retrieved March 1, 2008.</ref>

==Awards==
* 1990: The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada named Asteroid (12272) Geddylee <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rasc.ca/asteroid/12272|title=Asteroid (12272) Geddylee|date=June 13, 2011 }}</ref>
* 1994: With Rush, inducted into the [[Juno Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carasonline.ca/canadian-music-hall-of-fame/|publisher=[[Canadian Music Hall of Fame]]|access-date=November 29, 2015|title=Past Recipients|archive-date=August 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802075451/https://carasonline.ca/canadian-music-hall-of-fame/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1996: Officer of the [[Order of Canada]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Mr. Geddy Lee |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-4318 |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=gg.ca}}</ref> along with bandmates [[Alex Lifeson]] and [[Neil Peart]]
* 2007: Best Album for Bass (''Snakes & Arrows'') – ''Bass Player'' magazine<ref>{{cite web |title=Web Exclusive Peek: The First Annual Bass Player Readers' Choice Awards |url=http://www.bassplayer.com/article/web-exclusive-peek/mar-08/34287 |website=bassplayer.com |access-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411111946/http://www.bassplayer.com/article/web-exclusive-peek/mar-08/34287 |archive-date=11 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2010: With Rush, Star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://walkoffame.com/rush|title=Rush Receives Walk of Fame Star|last=Herbert|first=Steven|date=June 25, 2010|website=walkoffame|access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref>
* 2012: [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/diamond-jubilee-gala-toasts-exceptional-canadians-1.1226414|title=Diamond Jubilee Gala toasts exceptional Canadians|date=June 18, 2012|publisher=CBC|access-date=June 19, 2012}}</ref>
* 2013: With Rush, [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] inductee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rockhall.com/inductees/byyear/2013/|title=Inductees by Year: 2013|publisher=[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]|access-date=November 29, 2015|archive-date=November 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129023741/http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/byyear/2013/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2021:  Lifetime Achievement Award for his philanthropic work at the Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) annual gala<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2021/09/geddy-lee-honoured-at-artists-for-peace.html|title=Geddy Lee Honoured at Artists for Peace and Justice's Annual Gala|last=Patuto|first=John|date=September 14, 2021 |publisher=Cygnus-X1.net|accessdate=September 14, 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Lee married Nancy Young in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shekh |first=Mahammad Arsad |date=September 17, 2017 |title=Is Geddy Lee Happily Married To Nancy Young? Know About Their Love life & Children |url=https://famousstardom.com/is-geddy-lee-happily-married-to-nancy-young-know-about-their-love-life-children |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=famousstardom.com}}</ref> They have a son and a daughter. He takes annual trips to France, where he indulges in cheese and wine.<ref name=aidinvaziri>{{Cite web|last=Vaziri|first=Aidin|title=Rush front man wants to put time on hold|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Geddy-Lee-Rush-front-man-wants-to-put-time-on-2796450.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=May 3, 2011|date=September 15, 2002}}</ref> In 2011, a charitable foundation he supports, Grapes for Humanity, created the Geddy Lee Scholarship for winemaking students at [[Niagara College]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/529542/rush-frontman-honoured-by-scholarship-endowment|title=Rush frontman honoured by scholarship endowment|publisher=Decanter.com|date=November 27, 2011|access-date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> Lee has described himself as a [[Jewish atheism|Jewish atheist]], explaining to an interviewer, "I consider myself a Jew as a race, but not so much as a religion. I'm not down with religion at all. I'm a Jewish atheist, if that's possible."<ref>[http://heebmagazine.com/a-show-of-hands-2 "A Show of Hands"], ''HEEB'', March 20, 2009</ref>

== Books ==
* {{cite book|first=Geddy|last=Lee|title=My Effin' Life|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|year=2023|isbn=978-0-06315-942-6}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [https://www.rush.com Rush official website]
* {{IMDb name|1441958}}
* {{Discogs artist|Geddy Lee}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPxwSF4CGyo Interview with Geddy Lee on his parents' experience in the Holocaust]
* [http://www.the-revenge-of-riff-raff.blogspot.jp/2012/07/interview-geddy-lee-rush.html Mid-career interview with Mark Crampton] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229173220/http://the-revenge-of-riff-raff.blogspot.jp/2012/07/interview-geddy-lee-rush.html |date=December 29, 2016 }})
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg4N_r-sXUs Geddy Lee Interview] on ''[[The Hour (Canadian TV series)|The Hour]]'' with [[George Stroumboulopoulos]]

{{Rush}}
{{2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

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