The song that Geddy Lee said he would love to have recorded

The Canadian power trio Rush sold an estimated amount of more than 40 million records worldwide, which makes them one of the best-selling Progressive Rock bands in history. The bassist, singer and keyboardist Geddy Lee was a fundamental part of the group’s sound, complementing the amazing talent of Alex Lifeson (Guitar) and Neil Peart (Drums and lyrics). During their career the group released praised and successful songs like: “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight”, “The Spirit of Radio”,”Closer to The Heart” and many more.

Although most of these tracks are some of the most important Rock songs of all time, there is one song by another band that Geddy Lee said he would love to have recorded.

The song that Geddy Lee said he would love to have recorded

One of Geddy Lee’s favorite bands was the British progressive rock group Yes. He once said it was the only band for which he waited in line all night to get tickets when he was a kid.

“Roundabout”, released on their 1971 album “Fragile”, is the track that Geddy told uDiscover music that he said he would love to have recorded.

“If I could play the bass on anyone song, of all the songs that I love is very hard to choose one. But in particular I guess I would say ‘Roundabout’ by Yes. Because I have now played with them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Playing that song) many years later, put in my mind how much that song meant to me.”

“(Also) how rare it is to find a song that A) Was a big hit single. B) Was a complicated song by a complicated band. C) Was led by the drive and sound of that bass part. So to me it is one of the greatest bass parts ever written for Rock songs. I’d be very pleased if that had been me,” Geddy Lee said.

As the Rush frontman said, he was the one who played the bass with Yes during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. The band’s bassist Chris Squire passed away two years before, in 2015 at the age of 67.

It was Geddy and his bandmate Alex Lifeson who inducted the British band.

Chris Squire was one of his biggest heroes

The late Yes bassist was one of Geddy Lee’s biggest heroes. The musician said it was a little bittersweet to play with the band during the Rock Hall induction. “I really did love playing that song with them. It was bittersweet for me, because Chris Squire was such a huge hero to me. The fact that he wasn’t there was a vacuum that no one can fill properly. I felt for his family, because I know that’s all that was on their mind that day. (So) I felt a real weight to pull it off. I practiced, as I usually do, like a crazy person. (I wanted) to make sure I didn’t embarrass Chris by my performance,” Geddy Lee said during a Q&A with fans to promote his “Big Beautiful Book of Bass” in 2019.

Curiously, Chris Squire once revealed he was a candidate to produce a Rush album back in the 80s. The bassist, guitarist and singer Trevor Horn was also a candidate and was present when Chris had the chance to meet Geddy.

“I have met Geddy Lee a long time ago at Wembley Arena when Rush played there. In fact, I was a possible candidate to produce a Rush album. But when I showed up there, Trevor Horn was sitting next to me.”

“[laughs] I said to Trevor ‘What are you doing here?’ He said ‘Oh, I’ve been asked to come and meet the band. Because I might be producing them’. I said ‘so have I!’. That was quite a long time ago – the early 80’s, I think. He cites me as a big influence? Well, that’s very nice of him. They do good work, that band. Chris Squire said in an interview with John Price.