Alex Lifeson Explains Why John Rutsey Was Excluded From Rush's Induction Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

John RutseyFounding Rush Drummer John Rutsey Excluded from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
It was back in April when the news broke that Rush's original drummer and co-founding member John Rutsey would be excluded from the band's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Most fans found the news incredulous, citing that without John, there may very well never have been a band to induct.

However some fans assumed Rutsey would be mentioned during the band's acceptance speech. Unfortunately, at least explicitly, that wasn't the case.

Now, during an Alex Lifeson conversation with Chad Smith, the reasoning behind Rutsey's exclusion is somewhat explained:
Lifeson: Yeah, I think if John was still around, I think an invitation would have gone to him, for sure. He's not, and it's nothing really to do with his family or anything. We did have another guitar player in the band.
Smith: When?
Lifeson: '71?
Smith: What?!
Lifeson: Yeah, Mitch Bossi.
Smith: Mitch Bossi?
Lifeson: Yeah, he was in the band for …
Smith: The Mitch Bossi?
Lifeson: [Laughs] Yes – the teacher. He was in the band for, I don't know... I think it was three or four months. We were playing clubs and high school dances and stuff like that.
Smith: Was this in your movie? I don't remember that.
Lifeson: I think. Yeah, Mitch was mentioned in it. There were some photos with the four of us. He was a friend of John's. Mitch was not that great of a guitar player.
Smith: You're being nice.
Lifeson: He was OK, but not that great.
Smith: He could play.
Lifeson: He could play.
Smith: Chords.
Lifeson: John really wanted to go to more of a Bad Company kind of, Small Faces, er, Faces sort of thing. That's the kind of music that he was really into.
Smith: Bluesy?
Lifeson: Yeah, the English bluesy kind of thing.
Smith: He had more of that vibe?
Lifeson: We went for a while, for a few months. I remember we were at a rehearsal, and we told Mitch that it wasn't really working out. [Smith laughs] He picked up his stuff, and he left.
Smith: Spinal Tap. Was John part of that decision as well?
Lifeson: Yeah, John actually made that decision. I remember him saying, "This isn't working out. I'll talk to Mitch." It was at a rehearsal. We were all there. I guess John did the talking.
Thanks to Eric from Power Windows for the news.

Related News Stories
[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Featuring Rush Airs Saturday, May 18th - May 14th, 2013]
[Time Stand Still: Rush Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Tonight - April 18th, 2013]
[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Live Online Coverage Details - April 17th, 2013]
[Rush Articles on their Upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Now Online - April 15th, 2013]
[Founding Rush Drummer John Rutsey Excluded from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction - April 11th, 2013]
[Rush Donates Items for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees Exhibit - April 3rd, 2013]
[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Ticket Information Now Available - January 19th, 2013]
[Rush Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2013 - December 11th, 2012]
[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees to be Announced on December 11th - December 5th, 2012]
[Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Comment on Rush's Nomination into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - October 22nd, 2012]
[Rush Finally Nominated for Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - October 10th, 2012]

Comments

  1. Well I'm glad Alex actually remembers Mitch. Mitch actually got better and started his own band to some success and a few albums ala "Bad Company" style. Pretty okay.

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