garce

Not Geddy. The "old man" in question was (at the time) recently retired, and came to Toronto with his young bride to hang out with a certain band that was rehearsing at the Masonic Temple, and to catch his old mates at Sunnyside Pavillion. The night I first met him, my band was playing at The Stone's Club on Queen St. West. A very corrupt bar ran by a wealthy, pathetic, drug-addled poseur. Used to rip us off for the door by letting people come in through the basement while we were on stage. Ended up costing him a lot of money.

I heard Rush for the first time when they played my high school - R.H King. I first met Geddy and Alex at The Orbit Room in the mid-nineties - I had a freind who used to grab illicit substances from the boozecan that Fat Rick ran above the plumbing store at College and Dovercourt.

As for Neil Peart, the guitar player I worked with for over 20 years (and still one of my best friends) is married (common law) to Neil's cousin. Or maybe she's his sister-in-law. I'm not getting that specific. There was a LOT of heartache in that family when Neil's life fell apart. So much undeserved tragedy.

The Toronto music scene is very incestuous - which is a sad way to fail. Everyone knows everyone but no-one makes any real money. Best decision I ever made was to stop touring.

The band I used to play with is now running a show called Classic Albums Live. A great show - great guys. I had no interest in learning classic albums note for note, so I passed on the invitation. That concept was created at The Left Bank on Queen St. I had to pass.

I didn't realize it would be so successful

P.S. Although this piost is already overly long, you'll find that most of Toronto's real musically and comedic talent was born in ar around Scarborough - the rock and roll capitol of Canada.