Rush, known for its extensive discography filled with musical masterpieces, has a catalog that offers something special for every fan. Although fans might have their own favorites and what they consider to be the band’s most accomplished piece of work, Geddy Lee has a surprising pick of his own.
During a 2022 interview with Classic Rock, the bassist discussed his career highlights with Rush. After talking about their experience working with producer Nick Raskulinecz on ‘Snakes & Arrows,’ he said:
“‘Snakes & Arrows’ and ‘Clockwork Angels’ were probably the two most fulfilling recording experiences we’d ever had. It was the happiest period for the band since ‘Permanent Waves’ (1980).”
Why ‘Clockwork Angels’ Stands Out For Geddy
Detailing why ‘Clockwork Angels’ was such a remarkable record for him, Lee continued:
“Al [Lifeson, guitar] and I were just talking about this the other night, how, from personal chemistry writing vibe, it was the happiest collaboration we’d had since we were kids. From a songwriter’s point of view, it’s probably the most accomplished piece of work we did in our entire history.”
Lee’s Favorite Rush Album
The musician was in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 2019 for a book signing event promoting ‘Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book Of Bass.’ During a Q&A session, a fan asked him about his favorite Rush album, and he said ‘Clockwork Angels.’ Then, he opened up about why he chose that album, noting:
“The album is very dear to my heart for a lot of reasons, but I really feel like we brought so many things we learned through 40 years of making good records and questionable records. It sort of felt like the music all matured at the right time. I used my jazz bass on 100% of the tracks. It’s hard to choose one record from all the albums we made, but that one is close to me.”
From Album To Paperback
In 2012, Kevin J. Anderson, a friend of Neil Peart, announced he’d write a novel based on ‘Clockwork Angels.’ He described the story as a young man’s journey through a world of order and chaos, filled with steampunk, alchemy, pirates, and a strict Watchmaker. The novel was released on September 4, 2012, followed by a related book, ‘Clockwork Lives,’ on September 15, 2015, and a graphic novel in 2018.
Rush also released The ‘Clockwork Angels Tour’ as a live album and film. It captures their performances from shows in Phoenix, Dallas, and San Antonio in November 2012. The DVD release achieved Platinum status by the RIAA on May 14, 2014.
You can listen to the whole album below.
