The Ultimate Bass Performance: Geddy Lee's Eternal Inspiration
(Image: Far Out / YouTube Still)
January 17, 2026, 9:12 PM, UK
As one of rock's most captivating bassists, Geddy Lee, renowned for his masterful skill with the instrument, still holds a special place in the hearts of many. But even the greatest musicians have their heroes, elevating them to a pedestal of admiration. For Lee, his musical journey began with a deep appreciation for the likes of Chris Squire from Yes, Jack Bruce of Cream, Jeff Beck, and the psych rock/proto-prog band Procol Harum. In his own words, Lee revealed in the 1993 book Bass Heroes, "That's how I learned to play bass, emulating Jack Bruce and people like that."
However, one of Lee's most significant influences was John Entwistle, the legendary bassist of The Who. Lee's introduction to Entwistle's revolutionary playing style in The Who was through the iconic album My Generation. In a 2016 interview with Team Rock, Lee reminisced about his early music exploration, "I used to go up to Sam The Record Man in town to get my music. That's where I got Live at Leeds one Saturday morning."
Live at Leeds, The Who's first live album, immortalizes their electrifying performance at the University of Leeds Refectory on Valentine's Day, 1970. This album, released in May of that year, featured the classic lineup of Entwistle on bass, Roger Daltrey on vocals, Pete Townshend on guitar, and Keith Moon on drums. It followed the success of their legendary rock opera Tommy, which had established The Who as one of the world's greatest live rock 'n' roll acts.
However, The Who faced a challenge with Tommy's reputation as 'high art,' promoted by their manager, Kit Lambert. They sought to make their stage show match the album's rock-opera format. After returning to England in 1969, the band initially planned to compile recordings from US concerts. But Townshend, not wanting to sift through hours of recordings, rejected the idea and even asked their sound engineer, Bob Pridden, to burn the tapes, a decision he later called a mistake.
Undeterred, The Who scheduled two shows with the intention of recording a live album. Despite technical issues at their Hull show, the Leeds performance stood out, with Entwistle's 'Heaven and Hell' setting the tone. Lee was in awe of Entwistle's performance, exclaiming, "The bass in 'My Generation,' I mean, John Entwistle, my God, he was such an absolute influence on me. His playing on Leeds is unsurpassable!"
On Live at Leeds, 'My Generation' transforms into a 15-minute masterpiece, featuring improvisations and a song medley, including excerpts from 'See Me, Feel Me' and 'Sparks' from Tommy. Another standout performance is 'Summertime Blues,' an Eddie Cochran tune originally released in 1958, which Lee admires, stating that Rush covered it "to a large degree because of their version."
The Who's rendition of 'Summertime Blues' featured power chords, a key change, and Entwistle's deep bass voice, singing the iconic line, "Like to help you son, but you're too young to vote."
Lee's admiration for The Who extends beyond their music. He laments never witnessing their live performances with the iconic drummer Keith Moon, who passed away in 1978. Lee praises Townshend's songwriting, stating, "No matter what they do, Pete Townshend’s writing has always been at the very top of his craft. [It is] the quintessential combination of heavy and melodic."
Despite The Who's extensive discography, Live at Leeds remains at the forefront of Lee's musical memories. He reflects, "Even today, Live at Leeds sounds so alive; it’s a real piece of that period of rock. It’s like a bootleg, the artwork, the tone; that was their attitude, I think. It was raw: 'Here it is.'"
