Appreciation: Alex Lifeson

Rush Co-Founder and Guitarist/Composer Extraordinaire Turns Seventy

Seventy years ago today, Alex Lifeson was born Aleksandar Živojinović in Fernie, British Columbia. (Lifeson is a loose English translation of his Eastern European surname.)

In 1968, he co-founded Rush with future Red Rider bassist Jeff Jones and the late John Rutsey on drums. Geddy Lee replaced Jones shortly thereafter. In 1974, the late Neil Peart replaced John Rutsey, cementing the lineup that would endure for over forty years. (Lee turned seventy on July 29, when I neglected to appreciate it, but that milestone deserves acknowledgment as well.)

In my view, few came closer to capturing the spirit of the long dormant Age of Enlightenment in the late twentieth century—certainly no other rock ensemble did. They integrated lyrics and music in nonpareil ways. The music was melodic, exultant, and skillfully executed; the lyrics celebrated humans, human life, reason, individualism, and liberty at a time when it was modish to denigrate all of the above. (When Peart died, I wrote about these subjects at length here.)

Lifeson is a versatile lead and rhythm guitarist. His innovative, ringing, open, sustained and suspended chords are a trademark (“Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hempispheres I. Prelude” is ringing with examples). One of his most underrated compositions is “Hope”. In his essay in the tour book/concert program for Rush’s 2007-2008 Snakes and Arrows Tour, Peart referred to it as a secular prayer. This performance, from Snakes and Arrows Live, was recorded at the Ahoy Sportpaleis in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on October 16 and/or 17, 2007. Surely, the modern world could use a secular prayer.

Lifeson continues to compose and perform with the band Envy of None. His other work includes the 1995 project Victor. Lee and Lifeson have hinted they may reunite soon. (Together or apart, they are inestimable cultural figures.)

(Coming soon: Background and history of a neglected Monmouth County, New Jersey historic site)