Back in late 2023, Geddy Lee wrote a book of baseball stories titled 72 Stories from the Collection of Geddy Lee that he included as part of a package given to the winning bidders in a baseball auction that included much of Ged's extensive collection. He then announced via Instagram back in October of last year that he would be releasing the book for wide distribution sometime in 2025. A special, limited-edition version of the book was briefly made available around Christmas last year at the Rush Backstage Club. That edition is autographed, and comes encased in a red cloth-bound slipcase which includes an exclusive, custom-made Geddy Lee baseball, created specifically for this project. The standard version of the book officially released this past Tuesday (just in time for the MLB playoffs) and is now available to purchase. And if you missed out on the special edition last year, it's been made available again, and you can order one at this location. Geddy recently sat down with his co-writer Daniel Richler to discuss the book in this Instagram video.
Coinciding with the release of 72 Stories earlier this week, Geddy also announced the release of a paperback edition of his second book - his 2023, New York Times best-selling memoir My Effin' Life. The paperback edition is now available to purchase via Amazon and other retailers, and also includes a new, unreleased bonus chapter called My Effin' Appendix as Geddy describes in this Instagram reel:
Another day another book? ? ...Yes! Also out now is the paperback edition of My Effin' Life. Which also includes an additional section of writing and more photos... just colour me shameless, and effin' busy!...
Grapes for Humanity is an organization that helps to raise funds to benefit humanitarian causes around the world with the assistance of the international wine community, and Geddy Lee is a member of the board of directors. Back in April the charity hosted their 5th annual Fine Wine Auction with proceeds going to benefit the Nature Conservancy Canada, Tree Canada and local charities. One item included in the auction was a dinner at Barberian's Steak House in Toronto with Geddy and Alex, and that dinner ended up taking place this past week as described in this Instagram post:
What happens when great friends, great wines, and rock legends meet at a Toronto classic? Pure joy. Our winning bidder Chris Schmidt and friends shared an unforgettable evening with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at Barberian's Steak House-stories flowing, glasses clinking, and a table filled with laughter. As a wine-event-based charity, moments like these remind us that generosity is best enjoyed in good company. Here's to camaraderie, exceptional bottles from Geddy's and Chris's personal collection, and memories that go down as smoothly as the last pour.
Thank you, Chris, and to everyone who supports Grapes for Humanity-together, we turn special evenings into meaningful impact. ...
Rush's Alex Lifeson recently sat down with Guitar Player magazine to discuss his Envy of None project's Western Sunset track - a song inspired by the passing of Neil Peart - that was included on the project's eponymous debut:
That song came about around the time we all found out that Neil was ill. I was visiting with him and I was sitting on his balcony in Santa Monica. He had a little balcony off his office and he'd go out there every so often and have a smoke. There were times in the afternoon where the sun was setting, and there was this particular time when the sun was setting through the trees, filtering through the branches and the leaves, and far off we could see the ocean and the hills of Malibu. It really struck me that there's this closure in a sunset. It's the end of a day, and sure, tomorrow a new day begins. But the sunset marks the end of one day, and that day is not going to be there anymore. That thought occupied me for some time. And I just thought it was such a serene, peaceful moment, at a time when we were dealing with something that was very painful and difficult. That really stayed with me. ...
Alex goes on to describe the recording process of the song in the short interview, which you can read online here. Envy of None released their second album Stygian Wavz back in March via Kscope Records. Last month Kscope announced that the project is back with The Thrill - a 3-track single including an alternative version of Stygian Wavz's 4th track Thrill of the Chase, a demo version, and the album track itself. In addition to a digital release, they will also be releasing The Thrill as a 12" colored vinyl version with all proceeds donated to UNHCR's response to the Ukraine emergency - available exclusively from the band's merch store here. There's also this new lyric video for the song.
FIFA revealed the 2026 World Cup mascots in a video last week, and the Canadian mascot is a moose. In the video, he drives off in a jeep that has license plate YYZ 2112 as seen in this screenshot. It's hard to spot though - it occurs around the 13-16 second mark in the video. Thanks to Portal Rush Brasil for the heads up and screenshot.
Two years ago on the 3rd anniversary of Neil Peart's passing, Rush tribute band YYNOT held a charity concert dubbed Bubba Bash in celebration of The Professor at the Keswick Theatre outside Philly (Glenside, PA). The event was such a huge success that they've made it an annual thing, with Bubba Bash 2026 slated to take place at the Keswick Theatre in Philly on Saturday, January 10th. Tickets for the show go on sale TODAY at 10 AM. Like the previous 3 years, the show will be "In Celebration of Neil Peart", and feature YYNOT along with special guests (TBA) with all proceeds going to support cancer charities. You can check out some of videos from previous events below or on YYNOT's YouTube channel here.
Author Jude Lovell has just released a new book titled Pause, Rewind, Replay: Living It All Again with RUSH - a follow-up to his 2015 book Random Samples as described here:
EARLY IN 2015, close upon the death of his father and the announcement of an historic 40th Anniversary Tour, writer Jude Joseph Lovell set out on a therapeutic writing project to honor his favorite band of all time: RUSH. This idea grew into Random Samples, a book in which Lovell endeavored to demystify Rush's longevity, popularity, and the iron-grip this three-piece from Canada had maintained on his heart and mind throughout his life.
A decade later, still mourning his father and Rush's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame career (now concluded), Lovell discovered he had plenty more to say about the band and their rich contribution to his own story. The result is Pause, Rewind, Replay, a follow-up to Random Samples and an entertaining, freewheeling attempt to "live it all again." ...
Mega pop star Sabrina Carpenter was a guest on a recent episode of Nardwuar's YouTube show, where he takes Sabrina shopping for vinyl at Record Safari in Los Angeles. Towards the end of the episode Sabrina is showing off some of her finds, one of which was a copy of Rush's Exit ... Stage Left:
This is Rush for my dad - I'm also a fan, I love 'The Trees'
22 years ago today the Jack Black film School of Rock was released, and included a great Rush reference. During the scene where Jack Black's character is handing out music CD's to the students for inspiration, he gives the drummer a copy of Rush's 2112 saying, "Rush, 2112. Neil Peart, one of the great drummers of all time, study up." as seen in this video:
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!!
