Alex Lifeson | |
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_(52334835950)_(cropped).jpg) Lifeson performing in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Lerxst |
| Born | Aleksandar Živojinović (1953-08-27)August 27, 1953 (age 72) Fernie, British Columbia, Canada |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of | Big Dirty Band |
Spouse | |
| Website | alexlifeson |
Aleksandar Živojinović (born August 27, 1953), known professionally asAlex Lifeson (/ˈlaɪfsən/), is a Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist for the rock bandRush. In 1968, he co-founded a band (which later became Rush) with drummerJohn Rutsey and bassist and lead vocalistJeff Jones. One month later, Jones was succeeded byGeddy Lee and in 1974, Rutsey was succeeded byNeil Peart, at which point the lineup remained unchanged until the band's initial dissolution in 2015; Lifeson and Lee eventually reformed Rush in 2025, withAnika Nilles as a live drummer.[1] Lifeson is the only member of Rush to have stayed in the band throughout its entire existence and, alongside Lee, the only member to appear on all of the band's albums.
With Rush, Lifeson played electric and acoustic guitar, and other variousstring instruments such asmandola,mandolin, andbouzouki. He also performed backing vocals in live performances and select studio recordings, and occasionally played keyboards and bass pedal synthesizers. Each band member sometimes performed real-time on-stage triggering ofsampled instruments.[2] They became Officers of theOrder of Canada on 9 May 1996, as the first rock band to be so honoured as a group.[3] In 2013, he was inducted with Rush into theRock & Roll Hall of Fame.[4] Lifeson was ranked 98th onRolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time[5] and third (afterEddie Van Halen andBrian May) in aGuitar World readers' poll listing the 100 greatest guitarists.[6]
Though the bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with Rush, he has also contributed to a body of work outside the band, including a solo album titledVictor (1996), and two albums withEnvy of None, a band that Lifeson formed after Peart's death in 2020. Aside from music, Lifeson has been a painter,[7] a licensed aircraftpilot, an actor, and the former part-owner of aToronto bar and a restaurant calledThe Orbit Room,[8] which closed in 2020.[9][10]
Lifeson was born Aleksandar Živojinović[11] (Serbian: Александар Живојиновић) inFernie, British Columbia. His parents, Nenad and Melanija Živojinović, wereSerb immigrants fromYugoslavia. He was raised inToronto.[10][better source needed] His stage surname of "Lifeson" is acalque of his birth surnameŽivojinović, which can be literally translated into English as "son of life".[12] His formal musical education began on theviola, but he abandoned it in favor of the guitar at the age of 12. Lifeson recalls what inspired him to play guitar in a 2008 interview:
My brother-in-law played flamenco guitar. He lent his guitar to me and I grew to like it. When you're a kid, you don't want to play an accordion because it would be too boring. But your parents might want you to play one, especially if you're from a Yugoslavian family like me.[13]
His first guitar was a Christmas gift from his father, a six-string Kent classical acoustic which was later replaced by a red 1967 Canora hollowbody.[14] During his adolescent years, he was influenced primarily by the likes ofJimi Hendrix,Pete Townshend,Tony Iommi,Jeff Beck,Ritchie Blackmore,Hank Marvin,Eric Clapton,George Harrison,Jimmy Page,[15]Steve Hackett,Alvin Lee,Billy Gibbons,Johnny Winter,Denny Laine, andAllan Holdsworth;[16] he explained in 2011 that "Clapton's solos seemed a little easier and more approachable. I remember sitting at my record player and moving the needle back and forth to get the solo in 'Spoonful.' But there was nothing I could do with Hendrix."[17] In 1963, Lifeson met future Rush drummerJohn Rutsey in school. Both interested in music, they decided to form a band. Lifeson was primarily a self-taught guitarist with the only formal instruction coming from a high school friend in 1971 who taught classical guitar lessons. This training lasted for roughly a year and a half.
When Lifeson was 17, he had an argument with his parents about his future; he wanted to drop out of high school to pursue his dream of becoming a professional guitarist. A video of the argument was part of a 1973 Canadian documentary,Come On Children, about the struggles of 10 adolescents. The argument was also included in two documentaries about Rush,Beyond the Lighted Stage (2010) andTime Stand Still (2016).[18]
Lifeson's first girlfriend, Charlene, gave birth to their eldest son, Justin, in October 1970. The couple married in 1975; their second son, Adrian, was born two years later. Adrian is also involved in music, and performed on "At the End" and "The Big Dance" from Lifeson's 1996 solo project,Victor.[19][20]
Lifeson's neighbourJohn Rutsey began experimenting on a rented drum kit. In 1968, Lifeson and Rutsey formed The Projection, which disbanded a few months later. In August 1968, following the recruitment of original bassist and vocalistJeff Jones, Lifeson and Rutsey founded Rush.Geddy Lee, ahigh school friend of Lifeson, assumed Jones's role soon after.[21]
Instrumentally, Lifeson is renowned for his signature riffing, electronic effects and processing, unorthodox chord structures, and the copious arsenal of equipment he has used over the years.[22]
Rush was on hiatus for several years starting in 1997 owing topersonal tragedies in Neil Peart's life, and Lifeson had not picked up a guitar for at least a year following those events.[23] However, after some work in his home studio and on various side projects, Lifeson returned to the studio with Rush to begin work on 2002'sVapor Trails.Vapor Trails is the first Rush album since the 1970s to lack keyboards—as such, Lifeson used over 50 different guitars in whatShawn Hammond ofGuitar Player called "his most rabid and experimental playing ever." Geddy Lee was amenable to leaving keyboards off the album due in part to Lifeson's ongoing concern about their use. Lifeson's approach to the guitar tracks for the album eschewed traditional riffs and solos in favour of "tonality and harmonic quality."[23] Rush continued to record and perform until Peart's retirement in 2015. Lifeson and Lee announced a reunion of the band on October 6, 2025, withAnika Nilles filling in for Peart.[1]
During live performances, he used foot pedals to cue various synthesizer, guitar, and backing vocal effects as he played.
His first major outside work is his solo project,Victor, released in 1996. It was attributed as a self-titled work, where the nameVictor is attributed as the artist and the album title. This was done deliberately as an alternative to issuing the album explicitly under Lifeson's name (although the rerelease on vinyl attributes the album to his name). The title track is from theW. H. Auden poem, also entitled "Victor". Both son Adrian and wife Charlene also contributed to the album.
Lifeson has also contributed to a body of work outside his involvement with the band in the form of instrumental contributions to other musical outfits. He made a guest appearance on the 1985Platinum Blonde albumAlien Shores performing guitar solos on the songs "Crying Over You" and "Holy Water". Later, in 1990, he appeared onLawrence Gowan's albumLost Brotherhood to play guitar. In 1995, he guested on two tracks onTom Cochrane'sRagged Ass Road album and then in 1996 onI Mother Earth's "Like a Girl" from theScenery and Fish album. In 1997, he appeared on theMerry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas album. Lifeson played "The Little Drummer Boy" which was released as track 9 on the album.[24]
In 2006, Lifeson founded theBig Dirty Band, which he created for the purpose of providing original soundtrack material forTrailer Park Boys: The Movie. Lifesonjammed regularly with the Dexters (the Orbit Room house band from 1994 to 2004). Lifeson made a guest appearance on the 2007 albumFear of a Blank Planet by UK progressive rock bandPorcupine Tree, contributing a solo during the song "Anesthetize". He also appeared on the 2008 albumFly Paper by Detroit progressive rockersTiles. He plays on the track "Sacred and Mundane". Outside band related endeavours, Lifeson composed the theme for the first season of the science-fiction TV seriesAndromeda. He also produced three songs from the albumAway from the Sun by3 Doors Down. He was executive producer and contributor to the 2014 album "Come to Life" byKeram Malicki-Sanchez - playing guitar on the songs "Mary Magdalene", "Moving Dark Circles" and "The Devil Knows Me Well," and later on Keram's subsequent singles "Artificial Intelligence," (2019), "That Light," (2020) and "Rukh." (2021). Alex Lifeson is featured onMarco Minnemann's 2017 releaseBorrego, on which he played guitars on three songs and co-wrote the track "On That Note". In 2018, he played lead guitar onFu Manchu's 18-minute mostly instrumental track "Il Mostro Atomico" from the group'sClone of the Universe album.[25] In 2019 he was featured on the song "Charmed" from theDon Felder solo albumAmerican Rock 'n' Roll.[26]
On 15 June 2021, Lifeson released two new instrumental songs, "Kabul Blues" and "Spy House" on his website alexlifeson.com.[27] The songs were released as a self titled project.Andy Curran played bass on both songs, and drums on "Spy House" were done by David Quinton Steinberg.
Following Rush's dissolution in 2018 and Neil Peart's death in 2020, Lifeson formed the supergroupEnvy of None with himself on guitar, mandola and banjo, Alfio Annibalini on guitar and keyboards,Andy Curran on bass, guitar and backing vocals andMaiah Wynne on lead vocals and keyboards.
The first single, "Liar", from Envy of None's debut album was released on 12 January 2022. Envy of None's self-titled debut album, which includes "Liar," "Kabul Blues," and "Spy House," was released on 8 April.[28]
Envy of None issued their sophomore effort,Stygian Wavz, on 28 March 2025.
Lifeson has many cameos in many TV shows and films, includingTrailer Park Boys media.
His debut is as himself under his birth name in the 1973 Canadian documentary filmCome on Children.[29]
In 2008, Rush played "Tom Sawyer" at the end of an episode ofThe Colbert Report. According to Colbert, this was their first appearance on American television as a band in 33 years.[30]
Rush has a cameo in the 2009 comedyI Love You, Man.[31]
The role of Dr. Funtime inThe Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour was originally written with Lifeson in mind, but due to scheduling conflicts the role was given toMaury Chaykin instead.[32]
Lifeson has written forewords to four books:Behind the Stage Door by Rich Engler in 2013;[33]Shredders!: The Oral History Of Speed Guitar (And More) by Greg Prato in 2017;[34]Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass by Geddy Lee in 2018;[35] andDomenic Troiano: His Life and Music by Mark Doble and Frank Troiano in 2021.[36]
In Rush's early career, Lifeson used aGibson ES-335 for the first tour. In 1976, Lifeson bought a 1974Gibson Les Paul. He used both guitars until the late 1970s. He had aFender Stratocaster with aBill Lawrence humbucker andFloyd Rose vibrato bridge as backup "and for a different sound."[17] For theA Farewell to Kings sessions, Lifeson began using aGibson EDS-1275 for the song "Xanadu"[37] and his main guitar became a whiteGibson ES-355.[17] During this period Lifeson usedHiwatt amplifiers.[38] He played atwelve-string Gibson B-45 on songs like "Closer to the Heart."[17]
From 1980 to 1986, Lifeson used four identically modified Stratocasters, all of them equipped with the Floyd Rose bridge. As a joke, he called these Hentor Sportscasters – a made-up name inspired by Peter Henderson's name, who was the producer ofGrace Under Pressure.[39] He would start using them again twenty years later.[40] He also played a GibsonHoward Roberts Fusion and anOvation Adamas acoustic/electric guitar.[17] By 1987, Lifeson switched to Signature guitar, though describing them as "awful to play—very uncomfortable ... had a particular sound I liked."[17] He primarily usedPRS guitars in the later-half of the 1990 Presto tour, and again during the recording ofRoll The Bones in 1990/1991.[41] He would continue to play PRS for the next sixteen years through the recording and touring ofCounterparts,Test for Echo, andVapor Trails, and in the R30 tour. During this period, he also played severalFender Telecasters.
In 2011, Lifeson said that for the past few years he "used Gibson almost exclusively. There's nothing like having a low-slung Les Paul over my shoulder."
In early 2011, Gibson introduced the "Alex Lifeson Axcess", a guitar specially designed for him. These are custom made Les Pauls with Floyd Rose tremolo systems andpiezoacoustic pick-ups. He used these two custom Les Pauls on theTime Machine Tour. These guitars are also available through Gibson, in a viceroy Brown or Crimson colour. Lifeson used these two guitars heavily on the tour.[17]
For the 2012-13 "Clockwork Angels" tour, Gibson built an Alex Lifeson Axcess model in black which became Lifeson's primary guitar for much of the show. For all acoustic work, he played one of his Axcess guitars using the piezo pick-ups; no acoustic guitars were used at all in the Clockwork Angels show.[42]
Gibson introduced an Alex Lifeson R40 Les Paul Axcess signature guitar in June 2015.[43] This is a limited edition with 50 guitars signed and played by Lifeson, and another 250 available without the signature.
At the 2017 WinterNAMM Show, Gibson representative Mike Voltz introduced an Antique White Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson Signature ES Les Paul semi-hollow guitar, a hybrid of a Les Paul Custom & an ES 335, with only 200 made. Voltz also introduced the Antique White as a new color from Gibson for this Custom (note: Gibson names this color as 'Classic White' on their web site which may be an error due to other Gibson reps labeling it as Antique White). Alex played this Custom on the last Rush tour.
In 2005,Hughes & Kettner introduced an Alex Lifeson signature series amplifier; Lifeson donates his royalties from the sale of these signature models toUNICEF.[44]
Foreffects, Lifeson is known to usechorus,phase shifting, delay andflanging. Throughout his career, he has used well-known pedals such as theEchoplex delay pedal,Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress flanger, theBOSS CE-1 chorus and theDunlop crybaby wah, among others.[45][46][47]
Lifeson and his guitar technician Scott Appleton have discussed in interviews Lifeson's use of Fractal Audio's Axe-FX,Apple Inc.'sMainStage, andNative Instruments' Guitar Rig.[48]
In addition to acoustic and electric guitars, Lifeson has also playedmandola,mandolin, andbouzouki on some Rush studio albums, includingTest for Echo,Vapor Trails andSnakes & Arrows. For hisVictor project andLittle Drummer Boy for theMerry Axemas album, he also played bass and programmed synthesizers.
During live Rush performances, Lifeson usedMIDI controllers that enabled him to use his free hands and feet to trigger sounds fromdigital samplers andsynthesizers, without taking his hands off his guitar. (Prior to this, Lifeson usedMoog Taurus Bass Pedals before they were replaced by Korg MIDI pedals in the 1980s.) Lifeson and his bandmates shared a desire to accurately depict songs from their albums when playing live performances. Toward this goal, beginning in the late 1980s the band equipped their live performances with a capacious rack of samplers. The band members used these samplers in real-time to recreate the sounds of non-traditional instruments,accompaniments, vocalharmonies, and other sound "events" that are familiarly heard on the studio versions of the songs. In live performances, the band members shared duties throughout most songs, with each member triggering certain sounds with his available limbs, while playing his primary instrument(s).[2]
Many guitarists have cited Lifeson as an influence, such asPaul Gilbert ofMr. Big,[49]John Petrucci ofDream Theater,[50]Steven Wilson ofPorcupine Tree,[51]Jim Martin ofFaith No More,[52]Denis "Piggy" D'Amour ofVoivod,[53]Parris Mayhew formerly ofCro-Mags,[54] andJohn Wesley.[40]
James Hetfield fromMetallica named Lifeson one of the best rhythm guitarists of all time.[55]Marillion guitaristSteve Rothery has expressed his admiration for Lifeson's "dexterity" as a live performer; he also described Rush as a "fantastic live band".[56] Jazz guitaristKurt Rosenwinkel, after citing him as an influence, praised his "incredible sound and imagination".[57]
| Year | Title | Alias |
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| 1996 | Victor | Victor |
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Envy of None | Album |
| "Liar" | Single | |
| "Look Inside" | ||
| "Enemy"/"You'll Be Sorry" | ||
| 2023 | That Was Then | EP |
| 2024 | "Not Dead Yet" | Single |
| "Under the Stars" | ||
| 2025 | Stygian Wavz | Album |
| Year | Title | Collaborator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda | Matthew McCauley | Released on GNP Crescendo |
| 2019 | Lovers Calling (single) | Marco Minnemann | Featuring Lifeson on guitar, Minnemann on drums,Mohini Dey on bass andMaiah Wynne on vocals |
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Universal Juveniles | Max Webster | On the track Battle Scar, Lifeson along with fellow Rush band members,[60]Geddy Lee andNeil Peart play their respective instruments with Lee performing co-lead vocals.[61] |
| 1985 | Alien Shores | Platinum Blonde | Features Lifeson's guitar solos on two tracks[62] including "Crying Over You" single.[63] |
| 1988 | Serious Business | Greenway | Album by fellow Canadian Brian Greenway (of bandsApril Wine,Mashmakhan andthe Dudes), featuring Lifeson on guitar on the first track and single "In The Danger Zone"[64][65] |
| 1989/1990 | Smoke On The Water | Rock Aid Armenia | Charity single re-recording song by British rock bandDeep Purple organised by frontmanIan Gillan, Lifeson played alongside many other musicians including members of Deep Purple,Pink Floyd,Yes,Queen,Iron Maiden,Black Sabbath,Led Zeppelin andELP.[66] |
| 1990 | Lost Brotherhood | Gowan | Lifeson plays guitar on this album[67] by fellow Canadian Lawrence Gowan ofStyx and also on the albums self titled single.[68] |
| 1995 | Hip To The Tip - Live At The Orbit Room | The Dexters | Album by Canadian band The Dexters (house band ofThe Orbit Room, a bar in Toronto), the band featured Lifeson[69] (under the pseudonym "Alex Dexter") and other members where called Lou, on Hammond B3, Peter on bass, Bernie on guitar and Mike on drums (all members were under the surname "Dexter.")[70] |
| Ragged Ass Road | Tom Cochrane | Lifeson is credited with guitar and guitar solo on this album by fellow Canadian musician, Tom Cochrane.[71] A frequent collaborator with Cochrane is early Rush bassist and vocalistJeff Jones.[72] | |
| 1996 | Scenery And Fish | I Mother Earth | Lifeson played additional guitars on one track on this album by Canadian rock band I Mother Earth.[73] |
| 1997 | Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas | Various | Lifeson played a version of "The Little Drummer Boy"[74] on this Christmas oriented tribute album organised by fellow guitaristSteve Vai,[citation needed] also featured guitarists Joe Satriani, Joe Perry, Steve Morse, Jeff Beck and Eric Johnson.[74] |
| 2006 | Born4 | Jakalope | Lifeson (credited as Alex Liefson under Jakalope 2) is credited as a performer on this album by Canadian group Jakalope and also co-wrote one track.[75] |
| Have You Seen Lucky? | John Kastner | Lifeson is credited on this album by fellow Canadian John Kastner,[76] Kastner is most famous for being a former member ofhardcore punk bandAsexuals.[77] | |
| Better Days | Edwin | Lifeson plays guitar on two track on this album by alternative rock singer Edwin,[78] who also participated in Lifeson's solo projectVictor 10 years prior.[79] | |
| 2007 | Fear Of A Blank Planet | Porcupine Tree | Lifeson plays a guitar solo on the first movement of one track of this album by English progressive rock band Porcupine Tree.[80] His solo would later be re-imagined and performed by touring guitaristJohn Wesley in live shows.[81] The album also features a contribution byKing Crimson guitaristRobert Fripp.[80] |
| 2008 | Fly Paper | Tiles | Lifeson plays various guitars on one track on this album by American prog rock band Tiles, including assorted textures, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and 12-string acoustic guitar.[82] The album also features artwork and design from frequent Rush collaboratorHugh Syme.[83] |
| 2014 | Disconnect | John Wesley | Lifeson plays guitar on one track on this album by American guitarist John Wesley,[84] Wesley had performed with Lifeson on the previously mentioned song by Porcupine tree (when Lifeson contributed guitar and Wesley contributed backing vocals). |
| Come to Life | Keram | Lifeson is credited, alongside 4 other guitarists, with electric guitar on this album[85] by Keram (full name Keram Malicki-Sánchez), who is a member of bandBlue Dog Pict.[86] | |
| 2016 | RES 9 | Rik Emmett & RESolution9 | Lifeson is features on two tracks on this album by Rk Emmett of the Canadian rock bandTriumph, one track on his own and on another withDream Theatre frontman and fellow CanadianJames LaBrie. |
| 2017 | Borrego | Marco Minnemann | Lifeson is featured on guitars on this album by German rock drummer and musician Marco Minnemann, who has performed withSteven Wilson,U.K. andJordan Rudess, Lifeson plays guitars on 3 tracks (including one bonus track), and wrote one. He is credited with acoustic guitar, guitar reverse, and FX and guitar solos.[87] |
| 2018 | Clone Of The Universe | Fu Manchu | Lifeson is credited with additional guitars on one track on this album by America stoner rock band Fu Manchu.[88] |
| Walking In The Wild Land | Jim McCarty | Lifeson is credited with lead guitar on one track onYardbirds member Jim McCarty. The album also features keyboards from Rush collaboratorHugh Syme.[89] | |
| A Holiday Greeting From West End Phoenix | Various | Christmas release featuring vocals from Lifeson and Lee.[90] | |
| 2019 | My Sister | Marco Minnemann | Lifeson is credited as a special guest on this album by German drummer Marco Minnemann, he is credited with writing and with electric and acoustic guitars on two tracks and additional guitars on one.[91] |
| Nobody Told Me | John Mayall | Lifeson is credited (along with other guitarists, includingJoe Bonamassa,Todd Rundgren andSteven Van Zandt) on this album by legendaryblues and rock singer and musician John Mayall. He plays guitar on one track.[92] | |
| American Rock 'N' Roll | Don Felder | Lifeson is credited with rhythm acoustic and solo electric on one track on this album by former Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder. The album also featuresChad Smith,Slash,Mick Fleetwood andJoe Satriani.[93] | |
| Atheists And Believers | The Mute Gods | Lifeson is credited with 12-string guitar, ambient guitar and mandolin on this album by The Mute Gods,[94] a progressive rock project formed ofNick Beggs (bass, chapman stick, guitar keyboads and vocals known for performing withSteve Hackett andSteven Wilson), Roger King (keyboards and guitar, known for performing withSteve Hackett) and Marco Minnemann (drums and guitar) | |
| 2020 | II | McStine &Minnemann | Lifeson performs on this album by musicians Randy McStine (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals) and Marco Minnemann (drums, perucussion, guitar, keyboards and bass). He performs guitar on the final track.[95] |
| Eternity Now | Big Sugar | Lifeson performs guitar on the first and self titled track on this album by Canadian rock band Big Sugar.[96] | |
| 2021 | The Atlas Underground Flood | Tom Morello | Lifeson plays guitar and wrote (alongsideKirk Hammett ofMetallica) on one track on this album byRage Against the Machine member Tom Morello.[97] |
Q: Who were your guitar influences?
Paul Gilbert: Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Lifeson [...]
[...] When they played the song 'La Villa Strangiato,' the solo that Alex [Lifeson] played really had a huge influence on me. I think I remember every note to this day. [...]
[...] They are very Voivodian and we can tell the influences of Piggy more than (his work for) Voivod. He was an Alex Lifeson fan [...]
Q: People may be surprised that a prog band like Rush was a major influence on you.
Parris Mayhew: "[...]The songSigns of the Times. On [Rush's 1976 live album]All the World's a Stage, on the songAnthem, there's this 'restart riff' that is so cool, but he's just playing an A chord. I was like, 'That is such a cool riff… but so simple. What can I do to make a riff like that? I'll play it backwards!
Q: The name James Hetfield is frequently mentioned on a short list of the greatest rhythm guitarists of all time, alongside people like Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, and Malcolm Young. How do you feel about that?
James Hetfield: It's awesome. I would include Alex Lifeson in there, because he's an amazing rhythm player—although some people don't notice.
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