My Effin' Life

By: Geddy Lee

Narrated by: Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Cliff Burnstein

Length: 16 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The long-awaited memoir from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and bestselling author of Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass.

Includes two new songs by Geddy Lee, available exclusively in the My Effin’ Life audiobook.

Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll's most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.

Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather murdered in the Holocaust.

As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.

He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.

He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.

He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart—deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing—and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.

This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.

©2023 Geddy Lee (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Thank you, Geddy (and Alex and Neil!)

Certainly, the book is the story we Rush fans have all been waiting for but it is so much more than that.

The depiction of Geddy’s family through the horrors of the Holocaust was deeply moving and made me appreciate even more the dedication, persistence and devotion to his music and little old fans like me!

The narration is impeccable and Geddy, your voice, as always, SOUNDS GREAT!

Thank you, Geddy, for sharing this great effin’ story of your amazing effin’ life with us!

ps, I will always be grateful for that day in 1984, at the Univerity Mall in Provo, Utah, when my late grandmother took me into the Sam Goody music store and just by chance, I noticed the cover of the Signals album, thought it looked cool and perused other titles by this band, Rush. My mother is an actress and I immediately recognized the meaning of "Stage Left". I selected "Exit, Stage...Left", went to Grandma's house, turned on the music and heard Spirit of Radio. 40 years later, dozens of concerts (always in the front and center)! with now 3 Rush-fan daughers (one who named her Prius the "Geddy Lee"), I am left only with greater admiration by this incredible effin' story.


James Samuel Gulbrandsen (twitter: @jamesgbrasil)

Closer to

Love love loved the wrapup of Post-Pratt years of 2020-current. Being WITH your grandson is a perfect reversal of your family’s bad fortune. Congrats Geddy. I will always be comforted by your music and memories that families only get bigger and stronger!!!

Great story!

I have been listening to Neil’s stories for about 7 years now. It was great to finally hear one of geddy’s. Next, Alex?

A grand slam!

A rock and roll memoir for the ages. Heartbreaking, heartfelt, articulate, funny at times when it needed to be.
Geddy Lee highlights his personal drama, recounts the highs and lows of a struggling band, offering us ( the fan, the naysayers) the ultimate backstage pass. An achievement The Professor would have loved to have read.
To the greatest 3-piece rock and roll band of my lifetime, this is my last standing ovation for Geddy, Alex, and Neil: RUSH!!!!!
Sincerely, Working Man

Heartfelt and personal

This felt like a sit down with an old friend. Geddy opens up and recounts so many personal stories and anecdotes throughout his life. Emotional and humorous throughout. A celebration of a life well lived.

A gift to all Rush fans

Geddy Lee’s heartfelt and unflinching look at his childhood and family history as a second generation holocaust survivor is worth the price of admission alone. Of course this memoir is far more than that. A deep journey into the artist’s life reveals the tenacity and resilience required to live an effin meaningful life and have fun doing it. Beyond your typical linear narrative, greatly appreciated how Geddy leaned into his own emotional growth as a musician in a legendary band that has had more than it’s share of ups and downs. Having read all Neil Peart’s memoirs, it was fascinating to hear from Geddy’s vantage point. While there is no closure in loss, there’s an invitation to not only live a life of greater humility but to help others and grow. This is not to imply Geddy’s reading is overtly sentimental, far from it. But it is a truly inspiring and enjoyable story of rock’s great masters read by the man himself. Effin check it out you won’t be disappointed!!

Interesting life… nice guy

Listening it was fun to have him be the narrator.. he has a very interesting story!

Very thoughtful ,polite, he steps back and analyses his and others reactions to various events without negative judgement..

I am a musicians wife.. we have been married more than 30 years. So much of this was relatable to me.. maybe more than others will find it. I can’t wait for my husband to listen .. he is a bass player as well.

I very much related to how his wife must feel and what a strong lady she must be.

And how fun to have two songs included at the end!! Very nice!

The most lovely audio book ever

Since the 70s (when I was but a wee lad, I have been a voracious consumer of all things Rush. Music, concerts, memorabilia, media - everything. Thought I knew the story of Rush pretty well… until this! So many stories filling in the gaps! Some confirming what I had suspected all along and some putting me on the floor with the shear honesty of Geddy reading his own words. To say I loved this book would be an understatement. And the two demos at the end will be cherished.

Brilliant

Loved it.... took a weekend... just could not stop... Great insight to a band I have loved since '77!

From the ferds moyl (horse's mouth)

Geddy Lee's open and honest (and cross-referenced) remembrances and stories give the listener a unique perspective on what made Geddy who he is, and showed his evolution as a player and human being. It's a "warts and all" exposition on what it's like being Geddy. Chapter Three should be read / listened to by everyone. It is a stark, horrifying, terrible account of Geddy's bloodline through WWII and the terrible, inhuman atrocities they and their fellow Jews were subjected to at the hands of the fascist Nazis. Not for the faint of heart. Thankfully, there is plenty of humor throughout the rest of the book, something that came to serve Geddy, Alex and Neil well over their 40 year career. I highly recommend this book for everyone.