In an interview from Far Out Magazine’s vault, Geddy Lee, bassist of the legendary rock band Rush, discussed his favourite bassline from their discography and what it means to him as a musician.
Lee’s basslines are a core part of Rush’s sound, known for their complexity and energy. When asked to pick a favourite, Lee chose based on more than just what he enjoyed playing. He considered what truly represented his role in the band. He said, “My job as a bassist in a trio was to somehow create a tone that had enough bottom end to be satisfying. A bass player is supposed to provide the bottom end — it makes you rumble and makes you move.”
Lee wanted his basslines to be more than just a foundation. He wanted them to stand out, explaining, “At the same time, I’m a kind of obnoxious player. I want to be heard. I don’t want to just be satisfied with tickling the bottom of people who are listening.” He wanted moments that demanded attention, stating, “I’m happy to tickle your bottom, but I want to crunch at the top. I want to make a statement.”
Finding the right balance between these elements inspired experimentation within the band. “It led to a lot of experimenting,” Lee mentioned, noting that balance was crucial, especially when playing with other talented musicians. “The trick in Rush was always to be able to find a proud sound for the bass that still worked with the other instruments and didn’t hog too much of the spotlight. We tried to share the spotlight. To be aggressive and stay out of the way when you needed to stay out of the way was always a challenge for me.”
One song, in particular, stands out for Lee in getting this balance right: Red Barchetta. He calls the bassline in this track “quintessential” for how it mixes being noticeable with providing a strong foundation. “I was really happy with the song’s sound because it’s quite an expressive bass part and a dreamy story,” Lee said. He liked how the bass “cuts and punches through with that nice balance of the bottom end and crunchy top that’s so hard to always make work.”
Lee considers Red Barchetta a breakthrough moment where he nailed the balance he was striving for, helping define Rush’s sound. “’Red Barchetta’ for me was an establishment of that tone,” he said, seeing it as a model for what came after.
