Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson shared details about an impromptu jam session with Metallica members in an interview with Sea of Tranquility.
Lifeson described a recent gathering at his Toronto home. He hosted two members of Metallica for dinner and an intimate musical collaboration.
“The guys from Metallica were in [Toronto] last week. And I got together with Kirk [Hammett, Metallica guitarist] and Rob [Robert Trujillo, Metallica bassist]. We went out for dinner and then we got together and jammed afterwards — actually, right here [at my house]. They came over after dinner and we played for a few hours, and it was great,” Lifeson shared.
Lifeson expressed his enthusiasm about the quality of their musical interaction.
“Often in the past, if you jam with a bunch of people, we’d play a 12-bar bluesy thing; everybody can play that: ‘Let’s do that.’ But when you play with great musicians like those guys are, places you go is, it’s just unbelievable. It’s so remarkable. And God, I loved every second that we did that. The three of us just were oozing with enthusiasm, that whole thing. And that’s pretty cool.”
The private session coincided with Metallica’s recent Toronto visit.
The intimate jam session highlighted ongoing connections between the Rush and Metallica camps.
A report from Blabbermouth revealed that Hammett and Trujillo performed Rush’s instrumental classic ‘La Villa Strangiato’ during Metallica’s April 26 concert at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. This tribute demonstrated the mutual respect between the two legendary bands.
The collaboration emerged during a period of musical exploration for both artists. Ultimate Guitar noted Lifeson’s recent switch to traditional wired gear for his stage performances. The guitarist explained that this change enhanced his connection to the performance.
Lifeson’s commitment to authentic musical expression became evident during the impromptu session with the Metallica members.
