Alex Lifeson

Aleksandar Živojinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Aлександар Живојиновић, OC, born August 27, 1953) better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, is a Canadian musician, best known as the guitarist of the Canadian rock band Rush. In the summer of 1968, Lifeson founded the band that would become Rush with friend and drummer John Rutsey, and bassist/lead vocalist Jeff Jones, who would be replaced by current front man Geddy Lee a month later. He has been an integral member of the band ever since.

For Rush, Lifeson plays electric and acoustic guitars as well as other stringed instruments such as mandola, mandolin, and bouzouki. He also performs backing vocals in live performances, and occasionally plays keyboards and bass pedal synthesizers. During live performances, Lifeson, like the other members of Rush, performs real-time triggering of sampled instruments, concurrently with his guitar playing. The bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with Rush, although Lifeson has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as well. Aside from music, Lifeson is part owner of the bar and restaurant known as The Orbit Room located in Toronto, Canada, and is a licensed aircraft pilot.

Along with his bandmates Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, Lifeson was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio was the first rock band to be so honoured, as a group.

He currently ranks 98th in Rolling Stone Magazines list of 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Read more about Alex Lifeson:  Guitar Equipment, Other Instruments Played, Awards

Famous quotes containing the word alex:

    My smiling child
    Named for a noble ancestor
    Great hunter or warrior
    You will be one day.
    Which will give your papa pride
    But always I will remember you thus.
    —African Lullaby. As quoted in Roots, by Alex Haley (1976)