In this guide, we’ll explore Geddy Lee’s main sources of income and document his rise to stardom.
Geddy Lee is a commercially successful musician whose work has inspired many rock artists including Lay Claypool, Primus, and John Myung. Geddy Lee net worth is nearly $50 million.
In this guide, we’ll look at the major sources of income for Geddy Lee.
Table of Contents
Geddy Lee Net Worth: $50,000,000
Geddy Lee’s Income Sources
Like most successful musicians, Geddy Lee has a massive presence on social media with millions of followers from around the world. He made it on Hit Parader’s list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of all time, ranking 13.
His sources of income can be summarized as follows:
- Album sales (sales figures are currently unknown)
- Touring
- Merchandising (mostly from Rush)
Income Source 1: Album Sales
Geddy Lee has enjoyed major commercial success under Rush. The band has collectively sold over 40 million records worldwide and many sold-out tours. His album called “All the World’s a Stage ” reached 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart. It is rare for his work not to finish somewhere in the top ten of the billboards chart.
Income Source 2: Touring
Live touring is a major source of revenue for commercially successful musicians like Geddy Lee. It is not uncommon for Lee to play out to sold-out venues. Rush, in particular, is known for performing to sold-out crowds.
Lee’s biggest source of touring income is the Netherlands because music is an important part of the country’s culture.
Income Source 3: Merchandising
Geddy Lee merchandise is available for sale across numerous online stores, including the official Rush band store at rushbackstage.com. Popular collectibles include gift cards, officially licensed music, and books [1].
Geddy Lee’s Personal Life
Geddy Lee was born in Willowdale, Toronto on July 29, 1953, to Morris Weinrib and Mary “Manya” Rubinstein. His father and mother were from Poland and went through the Jewish holocaust in the ghettos of Starachowice.
His parents were imprisoned at Auschwitz, Dachau, and Bergen-Belsen during the war. They were still in their teens at the time. Lee describes how his father used to bribe guards to bring shoes for his mother. After the camps were liberated by the allies, Morris looked for Manya and found her at the displaced persons camp in Bergen-Belsen [2].
The couple married and migrated to Canada. Lee learned his musical skills from his father who was skilled at the craft. Unfortunately, his father died at a young age, forcing his mother to work to support their three children.
Lee’s mother worked at the variety store that was owned and managed by her husband. According to Lee, a major reason why he chose music as a profession was because his parents were never at home.
For Lee, music was a source of getting the most out of life.
Geddy Lee’s Career
Geddy Lee began producing rock music under the stage name “Geddy”. It is worth noting that his first name was pronounced “Gary”, but his mother’s heavy Polish accent resulted in the pronunciation of “Geddy”. Lee was often bullied for this at school but chose to stick with the pronunciation.
Another accent-related mistake was made when Geddy started School. His name was wrongly registered as Lorne, making him believe that his real name was Gary Lorne Weinrib, instead of Gary Lee Weinrib.
Lee started to play music at the age of 10. It wasn’t until 14 that he would get his first acoustic guitar. He practiced with drums, clarinet, and trumpet at school. Lee didn’t like the lessons at school and took piano lessons independently.
He drew heavily from John Entwistle of “The Who, Jeff Beck”, Jack Bruce of “Cream”, and Procol Harum. Lee played at various recreational events in coffeehouses, high school, dances, and bars. He held down a 9-5 job during the weekdays and practiced playing music on the weekends.
The rock band decided to play at venues such as Victory Burlesque Theater and slowly gained recognition over time. His band, Rush, began to perform opening acts for more commercially successful groups such as Kiss, Aerosmith, and Blue Oyster Cult.
Lee told his parent’s story to the group’s drummer, Neil Peart, who was their lyricist. Peart dedicated a few lyrics to Lee’s parents and the ordeal they went through because of the holocaust.
The song, which is titled “Red Sector A”, was inspired by their experiences in the holocaust and was released as part of Grace Under Pressure in 1984.
Over the years, Geddy Lee’s rock band, Rush, would prove to be one of the most popular rock groups in the world. They had 12 top 10 albums that made it to the Billboard 200.
The group has disbanded due to various reasons, including the death of former members [3].
Geddy Lee Controversy
Geddy Lee has steered clear of controversy during his 50-year career. He continues to be a stalwart of the music industry and a reliable performer who has inspired thousands of musicians.
Geddy Lee’s solo performance drawing millions of views on YouTube.
Geddy Lee Quotes
“For me, how I feel about what I wrote downturns into a song”
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Geddy Lee’s Biography
| Legal Name | Gary Lee Weinrib |
| Net Worth | $40m to $50m |
| Source of Wealth | Album sales, tours, and merchandising |
| Date of Birth | 29 July 1953 |
| Place of Birth | Willowdale, Toronto, Canada |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5’ 10” |
| Weight | 135 lbs. |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Straight Marital Status | Married |
| Partner | Nancy Young |
| Children | 2 |
| Names of Children | Kayla Avril Lee, Julian Lee |
| Nationality | Canadian |
Frequently Asked Questions Geddy Lee
Why Did Geddy Leave Rush?
Geddy Lee wanted to pursue a solo career and decided to part ways with his band of several years. A few personal tragedies, such as Peart’s death, eventually led to the entire band getting dismantled.
Is Lee Still Married to Nancy?
Lee is married to Nancy Young. The couple has stayed together for over 35 years and has 2 children
Who is Still Alive from Rush?
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are surviving members of Rush.
References
[1] https://rushbackstage.com/ – Official merchandise.
[2] https://www.timesofisrael.com/rush-rockers-mom-an-auschwitz-survivor-was-his-biggest-fan/ – Geddy Lee’s personal story.
[3] https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rush-break-up/ – Why Rush eventually broke up.
