What Is Your Opinion of Alex Lifeson?

[Sox]

Underrated ,, but he will always make my top 20 list a real great IMO.

 

[Kuaizi]

I dunno, I think he gets his proper respect. Rush still sells out shows, still has a huge following with plenty of people who hold Lifeson (and his bandmates) at the tops of their lists of favorite musicians. Lifeson has made a nice living out of playing guitar, so I think he has gotten his proper dues.

 

[Gabble Ratchet]

I think he's a rarity, because there's not many lead guitarists in rock n' roll who end up less notable than the bassist AND the drummer!

But seriously, Lifeson is an integral, irreplaceable part of a world famous band with a 40+ year career and that's enough credit any musician can hope for IMO!

 

[That 70s Guy]

Gets His Proper Respect

 

[fielding]

Underrated. When you have two other awesome musicians playin along side you, it's not a surprise that you might get overlooked a little. I voted underrated, I'd place him in my top 20 guitarists...

 

[Manic Monkey]

I think he's a rarity, because there's not many lead guitarists in rock n' roll who end up less notable than the bassist AND the drummer!

LOL very true.

 

[Garrett]

Underrated!

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Underrated

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

I think he's a rarity, because there's not many lead guitarists in rock n' roll who end up less notable than the bassist AND the drummer!

This right here is a very valid point. I look at it like this....Alex gets less notoriety for his playing than Geddy and the Professor do because there are a lot fewer visibly outstanding drummers and bassists than there are lead guitarists and since guitarists usually stand out so much in bands Alex has more competition to rank among the greats for his selected instrument.

 

[TheWhalerfan]

I voted underrated. If I had a dollar for every time I heard or read "Lifeson sucks" I could probably spend this winter in the Caymans. While he isn't the fastest, cleanest, or flashiest player out there, almost everything he made sounded good and fit the songs perfectly, even when he was handicapped in the late 80's during Rush's softer synth period. His quality isn't his speed or stage persona, but rather (as one other poster mentioned) his uniqueness. Rush has changed quite a bit over the years and through every stage he has always managed to play fresh riffs and solos..over an almost 40 year period it is not easy to continually come up with an interesting sound. On a final note, for a long time I never liked the song "A Passage to Bangkok" but loved the solo. I would often hit FF on my Chronicals CD until the solo, then gradually I just listened to the whole song and now it is one of my favorites. For me that says says alot about his playing.