I’ve never reviewed a spoken word show before, but this In Conversation performance by Rush frontman Geddy Lee felt like rather more than just chat and readings from his terrific memoir My Effin’ Life. For a packed house of aficionados at Wolverhampton Civic Hall (old habits die hard) it was a chance to get to know their idol a bit more intimately (in every respect – Rush haven’t played venues this size since the 70s), as well as get a glimpse behind the curtain of the Canadian power trio’s near 50-year career.

They were rewarded in every respect, right down to a typically homely stage set (Rush performed in front of clothes driers, popcorn machines and even rotisserie chicken ovens), with armchairs and a bookcase containing goofy pictures of fellow bandmate and best friend Alex Lifeson. Drummer Neil Peart also appeared in one poignant group shot, and it was his death from brain cancer in 2020, coupled with Lee’s mother’s worsening dementia, that inspired the virtuoso singer, bassist and keyboard player to finally pen the autobiography he’d long been encouraged to write.

As per a recent run of shows in North America, the evening took the form of an interview by a celebrity supporter, a couple of readings from the book and a fan’s Q&A session. Across the pond guest interviewers ranged from comedians (Paul Rudd, Jack Black) to rock royalty (Chad Smith, Les Claypool, Krist Novoselic) to both (Lifeson), and the theme continued here, with Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers kicking things off with a cheery chat that demonstrated his genuine love of the band, even if the questions occasionally felt a little too scripted and designed purely to lead Lee into specific anecdotes.

Rush obsessives will no doubt have known many of the answers – not least because Lee has addressed many of the topics in recent times – but the duo provided a thoroughly enjoyable ramble that may have got a little geeky at times but this was entirely the right forum and crowd for that level of indulgence. A little more about Lee’s fascinating family history – his parents were Holocaust survivors – might have been nice, but if you’re gonna let a bass player interview a bass player then I guess you have to accept the outcome.

Lee then read a couple of sections of his book either side of an interval – discussing the bizarre variety of names he’s had, as well as the origins and development of his unique singing voice (once described as “a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit” and the sort of acquired taste that many critics didn’t acquire) – before being joined by journalist and radio producer Phil Wilding to conduct the fans’ Q&A. But while screening the questions in advance helped avoid banality or repetition (for the audience as well as Lee), the choice of Wilding was virtually the opposite. A self-confessed egotist, his persistent namedropping of previous encounters with the band (“of course when Neil took me out in his Aston Martin…” etc) came across as bragging, and most of his attempts at humour were simple (“hasn’t he got a nice shirt?”), often patronising (“isn’t that a nice shirt?”) and mostly puerile.

Mercifully he could neither spoil the evening nor wrestle the spotlight from Lee though, who was delightful, humble and hugely entertaining company throughout, eminently worthy of the standing ovations he received on taking and leaving the stage. Gershon, Gary, Lorne, Deke, Dirk, Dekey, whatever name he goes by, you can’t help but effin’ adore Geddy Lee.

4 stars

Reviewed Steve Adams at The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton on 10 December.