Recently speaking to Classic Rock, Rush’s Geddy Lee expressed his concern about maintaining the privacy of his late bandmate, Neil Peart, and his family in his autobiography, ‘My Effin’ Life.’
When asked whether he was worried about sharing too much about Neil’s private life when writing about his last years since he was very private, the rocker replied by saying:
“Yes, of course. And also, Carrie [Peart’s wife] and Olivia [his daughter] are going to read it. So, I didn’t want to betray any confidence, but at the same time, I think it was appropriate to describe the difficulty of that three-and-a-half-year period. It was difficult for me, and I was just his friend; I wasn’t part of his family. And it was a nightmare for them, what they had to live with on a daily basis.”
Portraying Neil’s Struggle With Respect
He added, revealing his wish to portray Neil’s struggle with brain cancer with respect and dignity:
“In the end, I also felt that there was a way to write about his last years that doesn’t embarrass him but instead shows the nobility he maintained throughout those horrible years of fighting with that disease. He remained himself.”
The Genesis Of ‘My Effin’ Life’
Lee’s decision to pen an autobiography came after a period of reluctance. The book, released on November 14, recalls the many highlights of his career with Rush, including his four-decade-long friendship with Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson. The drummer passed away from brain cancer on January 7, 2020.
In a November interview with Rock ‘n’ Radio, the bassist shared that the twin traumas of losing his friend and the solitude of the pandemic lockdown were key motivators in writing his memoir. He noted:
“Being locked down in the pandemic alone with the aftermath of Neil’s passing, all that had transpired in the last few years of his life had left me quite unhappy. I was kind of stuck; needed to find a way to move forward.”
Peart’s death was a closely guarded secret known only to a few, and this concealment took a significant toll on Lee. In a November 2023 conversation with the Los Angeles Times, he recalled the challenging period of concealing Peart’s condition, describing the emotional release that followed the drummer’s death. A trip to New Zealand offered Lee a chance for reflection, though he acknowledged the futility of trying to make sense of death.
