On The Road with Alex Lifeson of Rush Guitarist magazine

[@htbud11]

I have just recently gotten serious about learning to play guitar. Been a huge Rush fan my whole life. I am 55 and have arthritis in my hands. Kids now have no idea how important the internet is and how much easier it is to learn now. I remember obstacles such as not having money or transportation to the nearest city to buy a tab book. Take full advantage kids! Music is wonderful!

[@agentorange2554]

Right on. I used to listen in amazement to YYZ, not having a clue even where to begin. Now you just punch YYZ into a search and you get multiple people showing you how to play it. I bought hundreds of dollars worth of VHS "instructional" videos, which were mostly lacking in the instructional part I was looking for. At 53, I'm in a similar boat, but now life doesn't afford me the time to be the introvert required to master a lot of this stuff. There's a lot of joy found in a guitar, that's for sure. Happy shredding.

[@minisurfbanana]

+Robert Walters omg I use wait monthly for mags to see what songs they had on Tab lol but I learned a lot from ear training...these kids today don't know how to do that....definitely a lot easier

[@agentorange2554]

For sure, you'd wait for months, figure out the tab, then with disappointment figure out it wasn't really anywhere close to exact. Always disappointing. But, it might get you in the ball park and you would have to figure it out on your own. Or if you were lucky you had another musician who knew the piece already to show you how it was played.

[@jamessbca]

Well said. I have played drums my whole life - knew the people to learn from, etc. Guitar has been a mystery. I started learning some 15 years ago. I started again this past summer - with some great online resources. I've learned so much more so fast this time around. Kids these days will never understand... :)

[@khappy1286]

Fyi-Try Turmeric for your arthritis. Not just any brand. Get one like Terry's Naturally. Not kidding. Thousands of testimonies. Blessings

[@richardbullis5830]

I was lucky to play golf and have dinner with Alex one night at a Golfapaloozza event at the Angus Glen G&C quite a few years ago. You couldn't have met a nicer guy! He was fantastic to talk to and answered every question we had about RUSH, guitars, amps and songs etc....He was telling us about an upcoming gig in South America that he had done- a couple of months later the RUSH IN RIO dvd came out. The gift at the door for the tournament was a Takimine acoustic guitar. Alex was very gracious and signed all our guitars. It was a really great experience!.....When I was 11 yrs old in 1975 I got RUSH Caress of Steel for Christmas. It was pretty cool meeting him so many years later and so many great albums/songs later.

[@cclibronegro]

The most underrated guitarist in the history of rock music.

[@daveg4236]

cclibronegro under appreciated as well

[@jeremybrown7470]

@@daveg4236 it's the same thing nowdays, fucker

[@krisiglehart3061]

Alex is the most criminally underrated guitarist in music! The man in an amazing animal on the guitar.

[@commentsCONTENTteeShirts]

His playing is so imaginative and full of life... Truly a master.

[@FreddysFrets]

@3:45 yep, that plate was my work. I had restored Alex's 355 in the mid 90s...it had the same thing, a route for a Kahler bridge. But I patched it and I refinished the 355 anyway so no problem. But with the Howard Roberts fusion, I didn't refinish it and there was no way to patch that route and not make it look obvious (because it's next to impossible to make a repair like that invisible on a burst with gradient dye colours) so I asked Alex what he thought of me installing the chrome plate over the hole and he was cool with that.

[@craigsmith8882]

This guy is fucking amazing. SO much going on. So many choices.

[@knutnskar6796]

Neil, Geddy and Alex are so humble and down to earth. Gotta love Rush 👍

[@smacman68]

LOL. He shows us a dozen custom vintage guitars, 8 full stacks, a monster size switching board and a rack with 20 different electronic modules and he states "...it's really straight forward'. WTF? No, Alex. Stright forward is Angus Young. A Gibson SG plugged straight into an amp. THAT, my friend is the definition of straight forward! Great musician, I love Rush.

[@efremjosecedillo]

This is fascinating. I have loved humble RUSH since 1978 when I was ten. And I bought all their records and had them on display on my old stereo. Ah the memories.

[@CaptSpaulding239]

I want every single one of those guitars.

[@Nigelxman]

+Dr. Emmet Brown It's fun to dream.

[@CaptSpaulding239]

Nigelxman I'll die with a Studio

[@Nigelxman]

Dr. Emmet Brown 4 Track PortaStudio? Kidding. :-)

[@CaptSpaulding239]

Nigelxman no I wish. Saw one for $75 on craigslist. Try to save for a while and see if I can own that piece of golden recording equipment.

[@KDJ1VLOGS]

Alex is the only reason why i want a double neck guitar

[@dean2287]

It's a microcosm of Rush... take everything beyond the impossible, make it casual, then push it forward again. This kit was developed, redeveloped, refined, and expanded over decades of experimenting... constantly working to improve the experience for the audience. Committed professionals without question.

[@supertrippfan]

"...It's pretty straight-forward actually..." he says about a rack of guitar equipment that looks like it could land the space shuttle.

[@vinnykster]

It would be a dream to own any of Alex's guitars. however, if I had to pick one without a doubt it would be the Howard Roberts Fusion. I would love to have that guitar so bad! I also so badly would love to own one of his old signature guitars from The Hold Your Fire and Presto tours :-)

[@DirtyHarry1298]

Geddy, Neil, and Alex are the three most underrated musicians of all time.

[@joyschulz7794]

I love Alex. GREAT GUITARIST AND GREAT GUY.

[@hwy1310]

Don’t even breathe the same air as this guy. Genius.

[@1969DayTripper]

alex lifeson is so amazing

[@nightjammer]

Only a wiz like Lifeson would refer to that NASA rig as "pretty straight forward". Wow. Awesome.

[@robertwhitcomb6105]

love that 345! See him in 79 playing it during La Via Strangiato!!!!!!

[@toolatescissors]

One does not simply have a simple rig when you want good tone, the ability to play 38 years worth of different effects, and activate taurus pedals with your feet all while playing live in front of 10,000 people. I've seen him live 4 times- he knows what he's doing. I feel like it's also a taste thing- a lot of guitar players like a stripped down rig, but others really like being able to play with things to get just the right setting. IT depends on where the artist wants to go with the sound.

[@TheBoonggaboongga]

I have only two guitars. I've got to buy some more!

[@Goodiebar18]

the guy who came up with the PRS Vibrato/Tremlo system lives 20 mins away from me good guy amazing tremolo!

[@RogueReplicant]

I have no idea what you said at the beginning, but I understood those last 3 words VERY CLEARLY LOL! Agreed!

[@nakedchilli]

he's forgotten more about playing than i will ever know. un freeking real!!! love rush!!!!!

[@santanaincubus]

That first guitar he showed is a nice one.

[@gibsonlespaul1320]

Howard Roberts Fusion that previously had a Kahler trem which is why that silver plate is there now.

[@DoomBunnyKiller00]

Those dolls by the footboards...lmao. Such a funny Alex seems to be.

[@richieyyz]

there has to be some kind of story behind the barbie dolls.. Anyone ??

[@jeffboonie3903]

Inside joke about lack of females at Rush shows

[@x.xjustdoitfoolx.x2774]

I thought the intro was Hemispheres at first

[@kennyplay5982]

Question. I would like to see a video like this for the last your R40 show. He used a lot more guitars

[@hrtonslv]

Thanks Jacob. I'm guessing this was a piece of music specifically for the You Tube piece? If not, I'd love to get a hold of it if it is a full piece. It grabbed me instantly.

[@extradutyfelt1]

the gibson´s are cool, great looking, but I quite like seeing alex play the paul reed smith guitars and when he played the fender stratocaster, back in the 80´s..

[@dbrown6451]

Yes!!! His tone and overall playing on that White Strat during ESL is my favorite era. I built a Mex Strat to replicate his white body & blacked out pick guard section

[@LouieCapy]

alex lifeson i want your guitar and i went to your clockwork angels tour in bridgeport ct

[@jpc521]

What is the intro song at the start? It sounds like the spirit of radio reharmonized

[@MegaMixking]

love all of this

[@link8675309]

@Spazmaztic its from Spinal Tap

[@adrian5b]

I really wanted to hear about the PRS guitars he uses...

[@jayschell3841]

ALL MUSIC IS AN ART FORM TO BE ENJOYED BY THOSE WHO ARE REFINED ENOUGH TO REALIZE THE BEAUTY OF IT...BE IT METALLICA OR BACH...SO MISS ME WITH ALL THE BACK & FORTH CHILDISH BEHAVIORS AND GET TO WHATS REAL..."THE MUSIC" PEOPLE !!!

[@Xanaduswells]

@TheElmocambo That kind of setup is a piece of cake and im only 16. you just need to know what your doing and how things work.

[@chaserast7566]

Alex lifeson says there are no girls at rush concerts so he puts them their to look like a bunch of girls cheering him on in the first row

[@allghilliedup21]

Every musician has a gear they'd kept since their debut years. Not too sure about Neil but Ged has his black '72 jazz, Alex with his white ES-335 (339? correct me) Yngwie: his scalloped Strat

[@TomAxl22]

its a 355

[@perspellman]

I'm tired of reading otherwise. Alex Lifeson is my highest rated guitarist!

[@jackcoughlin335]

I don't know why people say he's underrated cause he is really not. When I think of Rush I don't just think of one person I think of all three. So quit saying he's underrated

[@smacman68]

@OliTheGuitarist Some of that gear has only been around a year or two. But your right, the basic rig is probably the same. Still, it may be simple and straight forward for a guy of his talent and experience, but to the average Joe, it's a complex rig. Alex is the best.

[@donottawaguitar]

Stereo ! id love to shred through that stuff on that 58 reissue or the big Al even junior Al

[@SWO4LIFE2]

yea..they are good!

[@renorailfanning5465]

I've never seen a guitarist of his stature give personal tours of his equipment like he does. I wonder if he even has a tech :)

[@MattDLD333]

This kind of reminds me of the guitar scene with Nigel from Spinal Tap.

[@MichaelD8393]

oh thanks so much i was running in circles trying to figure it out.

[@HorsepowerHouse]

Word.....

[@cmath8577]

The Alex rig as a whole is anything but straight forward.I think Alex and his tech tend to downplay the whole set up.Theres guitars...Multiple wireless receivers routed via switcher into a Dunlop rack wah/volume into a Mesa 4 way amp splitter....into ...multiple amps ...the FX sends from each amp have routing options to multiple rack effects...currently sub mixed and routed to the Ax Fx ultra .Each amp has its own Palmer 4x12 emulator.the amps and fx have separate feeds to the front of house mix.There s also a lap top rig and it's back up running into a UA Apollo X2. And who knows what software and what sounds those are set up for.The piezo pick ups for each guitar are fed to a dedicated Ax FX with a simulated acoustic guitar model and that goes to FOH.Whew.

[@minisurfbanana]

Wow did u tech for him

[@FYMASMD]

C Math definitely not a plug straight to an amp guy.😄. I've gone full circle back to my old Roland pedals and Marshall along with a fender. He is at a high level in all areas. Thanks for the info.

[@neilzep]

Whats the Rock and Roll HOF again?

[@Spazmaztic]

@JackBlair2 where does he say that?!

[@rodolfoperalta5180]

whats the song at the beginning?

[@MusicMeanderings]

"This is the Aquarium Series" LOL

[@anthonysaponaro6318]

LMGDAO @ Pretty straight forward !!! My ass!

[@hrtonslv]

What is the name of the tune that is playing in the first 23 seconds of this clip?

[@cmath8577]

"pretty straight forward really"

[@alexm2623]

+C Math Compared to most live artists, it really is. Guitar to wireless pack to amp to effects to cabinets. Noise gate in front of everything to keep it from humming and making noise unless he's playing. He's made it even simpler these days. 2 amps, an AxeFX II, Apple Mainstage, his TC1210, all into Palmer speaker simulators. That's it. No cabinets. 2 amps - 1 clean, 1 dirty, and all the effects from 3 pieces of equipment that run straight to the front of house mixing board.

[@supertrippfan]

I don't have the Palma rack mount units but I got three of the small Palmer boxes couple years ago. I don't mic my amp anymore and every sound guy loves the Palmers.

[@CmathTV]

Well it's relative...It's not the Edges zoo tv rig or dweezel zappas rig..yes...but..With Alex,Its a layered sound and it all has to be programmed and controlled via MIDI. The signal is transformer split 4 ways into 3 amps and the apollo running MainStage .Each amp has its own dedicated palmer feeding its individual dry signal to FOH and Each amps FX send is sub mixed to the AXFX and sent to FOH. Getting rid of the 4x G-FORCE and the 1210 is great//// less stuff but it just means programming the AXFX to do those delay jobs and whatever else...I just want know what was used on the last tour for the last song because that tone was like the old old rush tones of working man etc.Id love to know what was used to duplicate that vibe-Cheers

[@Kirkvanhouten55]

So, you got the opportunity to interview Alex Lifeson and decided to record it on your flip phone?

[@snapascrew]

surprised alex doesn't do somethign as simple as using a dbx gate or isp decimator in the effects loop of the switchblades to get rid of that hum... oh well, I'm sure front of house gates it.

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

So much monies worth of equipment here !

[@seeburg220]

We're not worthy ! We're not worthy !

[@WilsonStoat]

Anyone know what that T shirt is that he's wearing?

[@MrJKMat]

Sounded like the intro to "Cygnus X-1: Hemispheres"

[@MichaelD8393]

3:40 what guitar is that again? i didn't hear it that well.

[@HEADBANGBALLER]

What's with the dolls around his pedal board and the toy dino's on his amps? A little freaky, eh? Oh well, if it keeps him happy and touring, we all win. Long live Geddy, Alex and Neil! One of the most enduring bands in history.

[@justimprovising]

the band used to joke that there were hardly any girls at Rush concerts, so Alex's guitar tech got him the Barbies and wrote signs for them (mostly making fun of the band, like "My Granpa thinks you're cool"). Alex says the dinosaurs are because his grandkids were into them, but I've also heard they were a joke about the bands' age.

[@xBEnglx]

guys whats the intro song?

[@malmstrethai]

I always think i have a lot of guitars until i watch videos like this and see live guitar racks... the problem there being now i think i need 3 or 4 more that i can't afford

[@richardtate5962]

In the 70's the Wawa peddle an Crye- Baby was the Hap's .And now look is well beyond faseshift . WOW that's a upceep on current..👌🙋😎😈

[@normanroofis]

Yeah..its pretty straight forward. I mean, we all have this kind of stuff at home.

[@SWO4LIFE2]

how does this chill you out??

[@snowdog90210]

I so agree with you, man. Rush only has 37 gold/platinum albums, and they've only been selling out concerts for almost 40 years. Total shit. They can only dream of being as successful as someone of your stature.

[@HEADBANGBALLER]

I know it! Tim Mahoney from 311 is another one. If you watch his interview, he has a pedal board with over 100 pedals and a rack that looks like it came from the set of a sci-fi movie, and he states at one point "It looks complicated, but it isn't really"... No Tim, it IS complicated. I guess they really do find it simple.

[@jdexposure]

Long Live Lerxst!

[@timothydukeman7619]

Looking back, it's so funny to see even Alex had to wear a stage pass.

[@ohYew812]

Just... "WOW".

[@Zer0SkiLL789]

Rock was at it's biggest in the 70s and 80s, rap was pretty big in the 90 and probably it's biggest in the 2000s. You should respect all kinds of music and not hate on any of it except maybe Opera or some shit

[@HappyDictator]

where's the axefx?

[@charliehustle141]

That opening song almost sounds like a medley of La Villa, Hemispheres, and Far Cry.

[@SWO4LIFE2]

rush will blow any rapper!!

[@6hec9]

He just showing you all the toys he still plays with.

[@deucesolo]

Dig the Barbie's with their hands up saying "We surrender!".

[@GratefulCarnivor]

Is that a Jerry Garcia shirt he's wearing?

[@davehawk39]

It has a real ballsy sound. My guitar also sounds like testicles.

[@R.R.R.465]

For the tone

[@osukadesu]

Blah Blah, Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah blah BLAH. Alex Lifeson couldn't of said it any better. The man's a genius.

[@DimebagThor]

Can't spell crap without rap, and rush is more iconic than any rap artist nowadays, if you were to say 20 years ago when rap was actually somewhat tolerable, rush will have the longevity, in twenty years from now 2 people will be remembered as great rap artist tupac and eminem because they were unique, fuck lil Wayne and that bullshit or dub step. Rush will always be a band that has had 14 platinum albums and countless other awards rap is a phase rock has and will stand the test of time!!!!

[@brucekirk89]

@JackBlair2 little spinal tap there LOL

[@jayhallman6666]

2:36 I thought that guy in the back was riding by on a horse. lol

[@Spazmaztic]

@link8675309 ahh i'm young.. i've never seen that movie.. but thanks :)

[@bwhitcomb2011]

All that gear, multiple patches, and boxes ad switches in the chain, no wonder the whole thing failed in Boston during the 'Still...no Guitar" world tour.

[@SWO4LIFE2]

it is..

[@MrDavidaso]

shaz says alex lifeson is a rock guitarist god alex rules

[@Rideandlively]

You can go grab a bite and youll still be hearing that one.

[@Zer0SkiLL789]

Anyone that likes Rock music would know it isn't dead though

[@midfingr]

5:20 LOL!!

[@Kidgloves1984]

I personally prefer Alex playing the PRS..think the design of the PRS is cooler than the Gibson Les Paul..

[@winstonlane708]

🎸🐐

[@StrogenZalec9456]

So many les pauls on that rack

[@gearhead2017]

People that rap talk about how angry they are about where they live like shootings and rapes,drugs and other inner city bullshit,rap pisses me off! Rush or any other rock band chills me out that's because its an actual band