My Effin’ Life

Love it or hate it, the singing voice of Rush’s lead vocalist, Lee, is certainly distinct. It’s irreplaceable in the overall sound of his legendary band and a big part of their success. One of three affable Canadian men who all just happen to be maestros at their instruments, Lee, age 70, is a hero among bass guitar players and has had a thrilling career in music. His memoir, which grew out of a series of emails with cowriter Daniel Richler, provides a glimpse into his distinguished life and openly shares details about his formative years. As a child of Holocaust survivors, he dedicates a whole chapter to telling his parents’ stories and how their endurance influenced his own childhood. He also discusses the prejudice he faced as a Jewish kid in the 1950s and ’60s. Finding a release in music, his rise from suburban rock and roll dreamer to one of the top-selling bands in history is palpably exciting. The close longtime friendships with his two bandmates, guitarist Alex Lifeson and the late drummer Neil Peart, are the most enjoyable parts of the book.