Geddy Lee: Hi-Tech Bassist and Synthesist with ... - Cygnus-X1.Net

GEDDY LEERight. And there was a time when wethought, "Well. maybe we should just hang itup and go home. ~ I remember we were on anovernight drive to Atlanta. Georgia. and wewere all real depressed. saying. "Oh, this isnever going to work! What arc we doinghere?" We were still getting a lot of pressurefrom people to commercialize our sound.But we always felt that if your music is interesting.people will like it. It's a very simplephilosophy. We didn't want to try to aim ourmusic at a lowest common denominator. Infact. we felt compelled to do the opposite:Try to make the music more interesting. Andtherefore. if it's more interesting. then it willsucceed.So you thought your individuality wouldbe the key to your success?Yes. We were growing. and we weregoing through changes, becoming a littlemore complex. No matter how raw yourmusic is in its original form. it seems onlylogical for musicians to want to make itbetter and more interesting. The more weplayed. the bettcr we got at playing: and thebetter we got at playing. the better we wantedto become. And that was basically the onlyway that we figured it was worth havingsuccess. And so we sort of aid. "Well. fuckevcryone else! We don't care if they want todo this. We're just going to do what we wantto do! So let's not pack it in: let's kecp going."Just after that tour. we went in and we didour 21 12 album. which was our first real success.And the whole theme of the album wasbased around individualism- it was sort ofapassionate statement saying. "Leave usalone. we're okay. we will still get along."How was 2112 received by the public?It got more airplay than anything we hadever done-it still wasn't tremendous airplayby a lot of people's standards and it didn'tell phenomenally well. but it sold wellenough to keep us afloat. It gave us the leverageto tell the people who were on our backsto sort of go away. We were able to say,"Okay, look. We know what we're doing.Get off our backs. ~Were any ofthe cuts on 2112 particularlydijficult to play?The whole 2112 suite-side one-was areal challenge for us. Parts of it were in oddtime signatures, and were very up-tempo.And it was the first time we ever attempted toplay for 20 minutes around one concept.without breaks. That was our first majorcpic. It was a challenge to play it properlyevery night. so it was real important for ourdevelopment as musicians.Do you think it was one of your mostContinuedIn as little as one eveningPLAY FASIER, CLEANERAND EASIER WIIH IHEMIN'D PICK.John Dougherty - Recognized asThe World's Fastest GuitaristUse the incredible stone pick. You'llnotice the difference immediately. It'slarger and heavier than the commonpick. And for a good reason ­This larger pick gives you greatercontrol. It feels different butin one evening's play you'll beamazed at how it can actually• improve your sound andtechnique. You'll play better... fuller, richer chords ...brighter cleaner lines . . .more power... greater vesatility. . . increased speed.The MIN'D PICK won'twe.r out - ever.Available now at leading musicstores. Just ask for theMIN'D PICK.Created and distributed byDougherty-Miller, Inc., 1219Glenside Ave., Wilmington,Delaware 19803The Editors of Guitar Player Magazinebring you...THEGUITAR PLAYERBOOK400 pages of the mostimportant coverage ofguitar. guitarists. andguitaring. From nearly 13 years of Guitar PlayerMagazine. Packed with photos. plus history. design.tips. equipment. accessories. More than 100 majorperformers who have given guitar its life and expression.Plus a detailed index. Introduction by Les Paul.Send check or money order for just $9.95 to G PI Book,20605 Lazaneo. Cupertino. CA 95014. Or charge toyour Visa or Master Charge by calling Toll-Free:800-821-7700. Ext. 805.(Add 75 .. per book for postage & handling. Calif. residentsadd 65Q: tax.)Allow 8-10 weeks for delivery.Published jointly by Grove Press and Guitar Player Magazine.86 GUITAR PLAYER/JUNE 1980