Geddy Lee Goes Solo With Anthem's 'headache'

The Nov. 14 release of "My Favorite Headache" (Anthem/Atlantic) is a milestone in the notable musical career of Geddy Lee. The album marks the solo debut of Rush's vocalist/bassist/keyboardist, as well as the first real breath of music from any of its members in three years.

"I never felt I was stifled or frustrated in the context of my band. The three of us have always had a very good creative arrangement," Lee explains. "But, on this long hiatus, I found myself itching to write."

Lee is referring to the indefinite break the progressive hard-rock trio has been on since last performing in its native Canada in 1997. Sadly, that year, drummer Neil Peart lost his 19-year-old daughter. Her passing was followed by the death of his wife in 1998.

The time off was quite an adjustment for a band that has consistently pushed the boundaries of music for more than 30 years and sold more than 35 million copies of its 22 albums worldwide. The work ethic which fuels that kind of success doesn't diminish during a leave of absence. So Lee got together with Ben Mink (known for his work with k.d. lang), an old friend who often joked with him about writing together. They collaborated on a few songs and sent them to Val Azzoli, co-chairman/CEO of Atlantic Records, who suggested making a record. They were joined in the studio by Pearl Jam's drummer, Matt Cameron, and several other guest musicians.

Lee's compositions strongly mimic Rush's catalog in terms of structure and lyrical content. They unite rock, blues, techno, classical, funk, and punk into progressive masterpieces accentuated by clever sound effects and his signature, rapid-fire bass pickings. Their words tell stories that intertwine throughout the album and contemplate the human condition. Standouts are "Window To The World" for its lyrical ambiguity, "Working At Perfekt" for its desperate urgency, and "Slipping" for its wistful sorrow.

The title track showcases an intense bassline, hard-rock guitar work, and dramatic time changes. It describes a man enduring a rough time in his life but denying to himself that anything is really wrong. Lee describes this character as "a glutton for his own punishment."

"It's very easy for smart people to justify their problems, to rationalize them so that they're not problems," he observes. "I think that's just a way of hiding from life. The song is tongue-in-cheek, but it really addresses something I see is common with people. When things aren't going their way they love to indulge their inability to grab life." The song was shipped to active and heritage rock, alternative, metal, and college radio stations; at least 100 spins were detected the week of Oct. 2.

Lee operated as a jack-of-all-trades on "Headache." His contributions include