In a recent chat with Classic Rock, Geddy Lee opened up about the tribute shows held for Taylor Hawkins in September 2022 and Dave Grohl’s thoughtful approach to the event. Lee recalled how Grohl reached out to him unexpectedly, inviting him and Alex Lifeson to participate in the tribute concert.
“Dave [Grohl] just called me out of the blue and said, look, we’re going to put together a tribute, two shows, and Taylor would have loved you and Alex to be part of it,” Lee shared.
While Lee was immediately on board, Grohl had a clear vision for how the show should unfold. “He’s very wise, and he’s a very smart guy, Dave. He said, look, one thing we have to do is make sure it’s not just one drummer because you don’t want people thinking this is Rush 2.0,” Lee explained.
To ensure the show felt unique, Grohl enlisted the talented drummer Omar Hakim to join the lineup. Both Grohl and Hakim flew to Toronto to rehearse with Lee and Lifeson, making the entire process smoother and more comfortable for the duo. “They made everything so easy for us,” Lee recalled. “Al and I were pretty nervous about doing that show, about being Rush again, and he did everything he could to put us at ease.”
Lee later shared his emotions in an Instagram post, reflecting on the tribute concert and the parallels it drew to his own experience of losing Neil Peart. He wrote, “So that happened! What a week it was in London. An incredible gathering of diverse and brilliant musicians from so many branches of the tree of rock and roll.”
Lee continued, praising Grohl’s leadership: “Bonded by a single goal, to honor Taylor Hawkins. Led by the immeasurable talents and generous soul of ‘Super’ Dave Grohl, who wrapped us all in the welcoming warmth of the Foo’s and Hawkins’ family, despite the obvious pain that they are understandably still enduring.”
The tribute concert was especially poignant for Lee and Lifeson, as it also brought back memories of losing their own bandmate, Neil Peart. “And for Alex and myself, it was also an important moment to reflect on the loss of our own brother Neil. Truly an experience I shall never forget.”
