Acting
Aug 26, 1953
Fernie, British Columbia, Canada
Alex Lifeson
Acting
Biography
Best known as the broadly-skilled guitarist for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy Lee. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records and videos, behind only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Lifeson's ability to pull double-duty as both a melodic rhythm-guitar player and a searing soloist has earned him a reputation similar to that of his bandmates. All three share the distinction of being among the most highly influential virtuosos in their crafts. Alex has a passion for studio production, and is the only member of Rush to compose and produce a television theme (Andromeda (2000)). But his live performances are where his spontaneous side really shows. During live performances, Alex deftly switches from rhythm guitar to soloing, while simultaneously triggering his own pre-recorded accompaniments. Being the soul of spontaneity in the band, Alex is the member of Rush who most frequently contributes comedy to the show. This side of Alex can be seen during the performances of "La Villa Strangiato" on two of Rush's concert videos, Rush in Rio (2003) and Rush: A Show of Hands (1989), and to an even greater degree on the documentary "The Boys In Brazil" (2003), part of the bonus material included with Rush in Rio (2003). Alex's prowess can be heard on a few non-Rush recordings, primarily his solo album, entitled simply "Victor" (1996), and the soundtrack album for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999). After their longest break from recording and touring, a highly successful 2002 tour brought Rush back to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to the great anticipation of fans. Rush ended their 2002 tour with their first-ever shows in Brazil, where they played to 125,000 fans in three nights. The final performance of the 2002 tour was captured on DVD as Rush in Rio (2003), which was certified double-platinum within weeks of its release. Alex has fostered several younger groups, such as The Dexters, who he often guests with during their live performances at The Orbit Room, a Toronto club that Alex owns in part.
Feature Films (52)
Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto was a benefit rock concert that was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2003. It was also known as "Toronto Rocks,""Stars 4 SARS," "SARSStock,","SARSfest," "SARS-a-palooza," the "SARS concert," or, more descriptively, "The Rolling Stones SARS Benefit Concert." Estimated to have between 450,000 and 500,000 people attending the concert, it is the largest outdoor ticketed event in Canadian history, and one of the largest in North American history.
Toronto Rocks
Following the success of Rush: Cinema Strangiato - Director's Cut in movie theaters worldwide, Anthem Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing give Rush fans around the world the opportunity to experience it again – this time from the comfort of home. In celebration 40 years of Moving Pictures, this global streaming release features the “director’s cut” of 2019's R40+ event that was just shown in cinemas, giving audiences a special look into R40 LIVE, with a setlist including this year’s new additions of bonus tracks "One Little Victory" and “Red Barchetta” as well as "Cygnus X-1 / “The Story So Far” featuring Neil's final recorded drum solo masterpiece.
Rush: Cinema Strangiato - R40+ Director's Cut
Legendary rock band Rush plays the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the final night of the band's 2002 Vapor Trails tour, in front of 40,000 fans.
Rush in Rio
The Super Deluxe package features an elaborate 40th anniversary cover treatment by longtime Rush creative director Hugh Syme, who has created a new artwork for each of the album's six songs, and an extensive 12,000-word essay by Rock historian Rob Bowman. Also included are several exclusive items: a unique King's Ring (with custom velvet pouch and neck chain); two lithographs with original artwork by Hugh Syme; a special 12-inch turntable mat (with distinctive artwork by Hugh Syme); a reproduction of the 1978 A Farewell To Kings tour programme.
Rush: A Farewell To Kings (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Television & Series (5)
Follow the booze-fueled misadventures of three longtime pals and petty serial criminals who run scams from their Nova Scotia trailer park.
Trailer Park Boys
That Metal Show is a talk show hosted by Eddie Trunk with co-hosts Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. It premiered on VH1 Classic on November 15, 2008. New episodes air on VH1 Classic on Saturday nights and are rebroadcast throughout the week. Discussions on the show focus on "all things hard rock and heavy metal", past and present. Among the regular segments are round table discussions between the three regular hosts, top-5 debates, interviews with heavy metal musicians, "Stump the Trunk," where audience members ask provided trivia questions of host Eddie Trunk in hopes of acquiring prizes, and "The Throwdown," where the hosts and guests vote on and debate great moments and figures in metal history. The guitar & bass-heavy theme song, "Day to Remember" was co-written by co-host Jim Florentine and Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal and performed by Thal. The intro to "Stump the Trunk" was composed by Mark Fain.
That Metal Show
The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Funtime Hour is a Canadian television comedy series, airing in the 2011 television season on Action. Described by its producers as "Curb Your Enthusiasm after it got smashed in the head with a hammer and force-fed liquor and drugs", the show stars former Trailer Park Boys actors John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells and Mike Smith as fictionalized versions of themselves. The fictional trio are starring in a new sketch comedy series, Happy Funtime Hour, but their production goes awry when a mad scientist named Doctor Funtime forces them to ingest a hallucinogenic substance he created. The actors must go through unpredictable events while constantly meeting different characters.
