Alex Lifeson Tells the Story of the "Limelight" Solo

[@premierguitar]

Watch the full episode here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHatpqiBerGtodE

[@bham311]

I’ve always told everyone that would listen, that Alex is among the greatest of all time. He isn’t underrated but I think he’s under appreciated.

[@Fret-knot]

Rush live were one of, if not the best bands I've ever seen. Three super talented dudes!!

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

So spot on.

[@Mike-fu9hu]

Saw them twice on the clockwork Angels tour and not one sour note between them

[@timorean320]

They were a live jam band. That was wheelhouse. 3 guys, that sounded like 5.

[@CQJR007]

Underrated, and humble.

[@AFloodofSolaceJohnWhigham]

The absolute best of the greats. Both as a player and as a person.

[@kertbert1]

It was probably 1976 the summer time. I was riding my bike and these two guys from town came out and had a ghetto blaster. Fly by night was playing when I approached them. I instantly fell in love with the song and Fly by Night became a big hit back then in my circles. Everytime I hear the song it brings me back to that summer day riding my bike. Oh how I wish I could go back.

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

From the opening guitar chord in Fly By Night I was hooked, I was into Rush when they released their first album, and when I heard the Fly By Night Album I said to myself, man the drummer really got better ... lol then I discovered it was Neil Peart. I can also remember the time and places in my life when that came out, wish i could be back there again.

[@denisrogers4358]

Amen brother

[@paul_domici]

It's so awesome to see Alex getting out there again! I really miss those guys!!!

[@PepeAtreides-s3b]

Alex is a Treasure I’m so grateful I grew up listening to him

[@gatorhkman]

My MAN. SO underestimated by many. The value of his catalogue in guitar is priceless. Humility in his approach in the 70/80's vs artistic value cannot be overstated.

[@GurnBograt1986]

I love Alex's writing solos and playing. Just an amazing song writer and player. His is the complete package!!!

[@JustinSinner3]

A farewell to kings was also an amazing solo that created a mood of chaos and then brought it back to resolution. Alex Lifeson has been a great influence on the world of music

[@michaelfraters831]

Nice to hear Alex talk about the music and be more serious then he usually tends to be.

[@shmulikanglister]

Limelight's solo is the most subtle Alex ever wrote. It's very short and so beautiful.

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

Agreed it has those three separate movements.

[@takamushinagamoto5086]

Gentle, smart, smiling and humble...this is Alex ! Great among the greater

[@ronallen2458]

My favorite artist/player talking about my favorite solo. Awesome.

[@francisconietoguitar9868]

Always great Alex spontaneous and creative with perfect technique.

[@RobJMeronek]

I love his answer to the question at 2:25.

[@Motocicleiros]

I am sure that everybody loved it.

[@adude394]

Fascinating insight into Alex's creative process! The first word that comes to mind when I think of Rush is: "Professionals". Rather than the sex and drugs and rock and roll stereotype, for decades Rush worked their asses off to give their fans the best possible product, whether in the studio or on stage. That shows Rush's respect for their fans, as well as for the music, and I think that is absolutely awesome.

[@listenup7284]

Shiflet caught the Floyd Rose bug. Now we'll be hearing sick dive bombs in the middle of Everlong and times like these. Alex was dropping knowledge of course.

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

Alex strikes me as the neighbor who would try to help you fix your lawn mower but doesn't really know how so he will use it as an excuse to get a new one and give you his perfectly good one just because you are a nice young couple and you need a good lawn mower and he'd just end up mowing it anyway if yours is broken.

[@colinhamilton6493]

And have a Rush beer with.

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

@colinhamilton6493 if you wanted. He also has ice water, tea, and there might be some kombucha in the door. Help yourself you know where it is. :)

[@execatty]

Nobody alive has ever made a better collection of solos.. Gilmour is close but Alex has so many

[@user-otzlixr]

Very odd thread

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

@@user-otzlixr why

[@michaelpjeffries1521]

All three were friend's who built on each others assets. Thoughtful lyrics progressing throughout career. Each a virtuoso.

[@megguardio5676]

Limelight solo on video way back in early 1980s when he was wearing a pale coloured suite….literally jumping across the stage for the pedal changes…..loved it. My go to Rush song….

[@longlost8424]

my first concert, mid 1970s, rush opening for kiss at san antonio college amphitheater....... what memories.... instantly made me a life long rush fan.....

[@OliverAllover-es9ro]

They spoke about the solo in Analog Kid. Watch that solo live in Dallas......Holy Smokes what emotion, what a build up, with frantic high energy, and the resolve with the chords at the end!!!! I have seen people review that solo on that video, and get choked up, and then pausing the video to collect themselves.

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

He always gets a huge crowd applause at the end of that solo.

[@brentj.peterson6070]

What a super human being🇨🇦❤

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Thanks Al. Great insights.

[@derekpierkowski7641]

It truly is the GOAT of guitar slos. I am alittle disappointed learning It was a composite because it speaks to me as a completely sorrowful passage made perfect with the exclamation point at the end. The harmonic struck at the very end that's sustained. Absolute Perfection.

[@terrencedeagle4429]

It's my favorite solo..just soul piercing.

[@lovelacetunes]

Almost all recordings are composed of composites these days. You want live? Go back to Sgt Peppers on 4 track!😃🤘🙂🎄

[@lovelacetunes]

@@terrencedeagle4429may be. But the solo on The Garden is a beaut too

[@derekpierkowski7641]

@lovelacetunes That was 1982 I believe. Hardly these dayz.🤣👍🏻

[@tonyrollman3991]

Limelight never fails to get my blood pressure in the rock zone

[@RobGravelle]

That's my favorite solo of all time.

[@TheFlutecart]

I've played invented solo's in the studio. Hours of it now. Some just happen and some are a task. Honestly, Alex has nailed the freedom in the guitar solo. It truly sounds like he's letting it go full heathen. As a guitar player myself, he has influenced me in ways I will never shake. Jerry Garcia tripped me the same way. And David and Belew and Knophler. Harrison, wow. Guitar is a feeling, ask Frampton.

[@tommynikon2283]

Saw the boys 3x; MAGIC. I don't play guitar....but always enjoy those that do- and can talk about it. Chris....great job.

[@arspook6886]

I was in a band back in the 90's, the drummer was a Neil Peart freak, and the bass player was a Geddy Lee freak. But we had no Rush songs in the set list. So I secretly worked up What You're Doing and YYZ, and started playing them at a practice, of course they fell right and was all excited that I had learned these songs,.....The drummer, of course got carried away, and wanted for us to be a Rush tribute band, but I wouldn't go that far...I like Rush's music, but I was more into EVH and Randy Rhodes,......

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

My favorite Rush solo.

[@Kidgloves1984]

A lot of people say how underrated Alex is as a guitar player and unfortunately it's sad to admit, but true..except I love Alex guitar playing and Rush to death..but John Petrucci said something about Alex playing and how beautifully sounding he approaches to playing the guitar and I totally agree+add acoustic and electric guitar!

[@jablot5054]

Who says Alex is underrated? Anyone who knows music or guitar never says that.

[@Dbunkr55]

Brilliant soloist

[@gregoryg3256]

🌠Lerxst !!!...U Rock ! & Chris also...

[@Mrbimdrummer]

I remember reading an interview in the 80s that Alex stated chemistry was his favorite solo. I guess that's changed over the years

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Limelight and Red Barchetta were the solos I elected to cover by Rush. Aqualung was my first. Always urged students to listen to Miles. Freddy Freeloader would be so fun with the right folks.

[@spydermag5644]

I would never say I can play the guitar but I learned Limelight and Spirit of Radio. It took me 6 months 30 to 60 minutes a day to learn Spirit of Radio. On weekends I would break up my practice and do up to 3 hour sessions just to learn the song. It was the first song I played in front of everyone in the small music store I take lessons.

[@TheRobWay1]

I’m hearing the solo during this interview. It is among the most original and beautiful that I’ve ever heard. It’s up there with Tokyo Dream by Allan Holdsworth (for me)

[@ItsCarlnotCarla]

I want to hear the 5 or 6 solo's

[@scottbubb2946]

Imagine what it would be like to have Alex Lifeson record 5 solos and then say, "Put these together into one solo." If I had to do it, every Rush song would have 5 solos.😅

[@jraelien5798]

Right?!?

[@shanegalang9]

I was so hoping he would suddenly play parts of Limelight solo

[@imikewillrockyou]

I can hear Alex doubled the solo on the record, so the version they settled on he had it down perfectly.

[@stephenmahlstedt7276]

I know what I’m doing next: listening to that solo… with a new perspective ❤

[@andrewcorbett5729]

This guy is the best soloist

[@paulocraice]

The finest and deep solo of rock music. Too bad Neil set a bunch of unnecessary beats over the solo. Missed! Still a beautiful solo... took me years to nail it.

[@BangerangBen]

Analog Kid is one of my favorites also

[@mrcapitalist2285]

You would think Alex would play the solo ?? Limelight is one of my favorites like so many fans , but the first time I heard it my buddies and I was moving some pictures at his apartment complex on the 8th floor !

[@jeffenglish7287]

🇺🇸🇨🇦🥃 most underrated player in the world, so many styles not locked in to one

[@CarmineLombardi-e9f]

My fav solo's from Alex are "By-Tor and the Snowdog, Working Man, Closer to the Heart, Anthem, and of course Limelight.

[@picktheblueone]

"F"in Alex Lifeson!!!!!! Yes!

[@SeanRoberts-my8lh]

great guitar solo

[@rogercardenas111]

Nice background,I'd assume he had auctioned off his guitars. Nice collection.🎸 The Lerxst Guitar should be sold in a music store.

[@stephenedgecock]

he still has his old Gibson ES-335's from the 70's

[@rogercardenas111]

​@@stephenedgecock id assume he had auctioned it off??

[@tim6128]

It is. The Lerxst model from Godin. Retails for $3999. They have a white one and a red one with the chrome pick guard like the one he’s playing in so many old photos from the day. Damn! I cannot afford that for a guita.

[@rogercardenas111]

​@@tim6128 maybe your better of buying a Squire guitar and modifying it your self 🎸

[@dannyreyna2821]

He is the God of Sci-Fi rock!!✊

[@johngraymusic]

Wow that's helpful for me hearing how he comes up with a lead, the first few takes for me seem to be the best on my recordings to except for sometimes I get that one I gotta work at like a road worker with a jackhammer 😂

[@RandyFricke]

GOAT!!!

[@marttini7]

andy summers is indeed an influence, since they recorded an album at the same location where 'the police' did (le studio - canada), iconic scenes at 'limelight' videoclip. both rush (80's) and 'the police' brings the same positive feelings of happiness 😄... but foo fighters isn't different at all!

[@kriskollmar9728]

Listen to the exit stage left solo of la villa strangiato. Itll blow your face off. I never understood why this guy was never in there with all the other well knowns.

[@grife3000]

It felt like he cut Alex off from saying something important at 2:25.

[@Goodtimes523]

Yes! he pissed me off there, buddy need to shut up hard.

[@davelyle3640]

What kind of guitar is Alex holding?

[@dbrown6451]

Looks like the Godin Sportscaster in the design stage.

[@TheKaffeeKlatsch]

La Villa!

[@tommychicago1381]

Let's not forget that some of Alex's best work has been working with Bubbles...

[@SammySalsa]

Shifty ftw

[@josephlamadrid1799]

And he said, what can this strange device be?

[@gregoryhodge9452]

Well I was hoping he would play it.

[@ww7883]

Dude writes sticky, memorable solos which makes for great songs.Gilmouresque in a way, I think.

[@fooddood]

Alex, Jimmy page and Jeff beck approach the guitar like impressionist painters.

[@Y0URD4DDIE]

I equate Lifeson's guitar style to Miles's trumpet style. Tonality alone can carry it, doesn't need lots of notes, but sprinkles them in for flare.

[@dannyg.1562]

Beard looks good. I don't say that often.

[@stephenmartin6733]

Alex always has had unconventional solos. Look at Between the Wheels solo.

[@DarthDookie69]

One of my favorites

[@albertomaury]

YYZ, AFTERIMAGE, KIDS CLOVER...RUSH, THE BEST!

[@dbrown6451]

Kig Gloves?

[@deependguitar777]

Absolutely!!!!!!!

[@stkittsdave1]

Well put. Lonely. Yes the limelight solo conveys the loneliness of being a public figure. Alone on an island. Very good.

[@JefferyHagen]

This reminds me of what David Lee Roth said about Eddie Van Halen when Eddie realized he could take the best parts of a group of solos for a song. Dave said that’s why you’d see Eddie all over the neck for a solo.😂

[@qrs_tuv1925]

Off to listen to analogue kid

[@jraelien5798]

One of their best songs, one of his best solos!

[@stepheniesomerset7231]

I like Alex's Lerxst guitar! ;)

[@denmac19]

Such a well-crafted solo, light years ahead of the EVH tapping shredding type nonsense solos, none of which are even slightly memorable.

[@ytnsanw]

I have no idea how he navigates that tiny neck with those huge hands. He must have an 'Holdsworthian' reach....

[@greensombrero3641]

just two men holding their .....guitars.... just joking huge fan great solo discussion.

[@jelt110]

Frank zappa would love this guy. No greater compliment.

[@Mr1Tanker]

He kept interrupting Alex...👎

[@rareform6747]

Premier is copying this ..Bad

[@DMSProduktions]

DON'T step oot of the limelight! Eh!

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

It may look like a real Strat in disguise with a closer look,No,it’s not a normal Strat by any standard.

[@Shockmozulu]

I never saw them live...never saw the real deal. 😒