Musicians and the law don't seem to mix well. Michael Jackson's facing pedophile claims, Meat Puppets bassist Cris Kirkwood faces assault with a deadly weapon charges, White Stripes singer/guitarist Jack White's up on battery charges and now Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson may just join him.Alex Zivojinovich, better known by his stage name Alex Lifeson, was arrested for what deputies described as drunken, violent behavior at the Naples Ritz-Carlton hotel.…
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— go to most recent comments26 - johngalt
he beat up a bitch cop!!! Hilarious! I think it's funny when bitch cops get beat up.
27 - VE
His nose was bleeding because the cops broke it. The moral of the story? People don't hurt people, cops hurt people.
28 - ve
And I really dont think he beat up a cop. I really think the cops beat him up. I am sure that the officers injuries were minor. At least she had the luxury of being able to have decent medical attention.
29 - Tom Johnson
I think it's far too early to tell who beat up who first, but it's clear now that there's more to this story than we've seen.
30 - Mac Diva
It is kind of depressing, Tom. I haven't thrown any blows since junior high school. It would be a shame if I have to start again when I reach 50. And, a bloody nose? That's not the Diva's style at all.
31 - Jim Carruthers
Aren't swanky hotels supposed to have security to prevent their patrons from being assaulted by the po-lice?
I've never been to Florida (read too many Carl Hiaasen novels), but I was picked up by the pigs in Charleston for "walking in the wrong part of town". I thought they would give me a lift back to where I was staying, but they just dropped me at a cab stand.
Obviously there is going to be a gbh lawsuit against the cops and more fodder for Rush's libertarian lyrics.
But dude, how embarrassing is it to be in your 30s and stopped by the pigs for being drunk on New Years (quel surprize! like there was nothing else happening that night), and then your 50ish dad gets beat up?
32 - Jim Carruthers
While I think about the Rush to judgement, if Alex had spent New Years in Las Vegas, he could have woken up married, one more time.
It probably would have been better since you can't annul getting your nose broke by the filth.
33 - earl-eye
In 1985 Jaco Pastorius -- the only bass player who can be mentioned in the same sentence as Geddy -- was beated to death by a thug rent-a-cop nightclub bouncer in, you guessed it, Florida. The murderer ended up serving FOUR MONTHS!! Lerxst was lucky to get away with a broken nose. There seems to be an open season on musicians in Florida.
34 - VE
I think it is real easy to tell what happened. Alex's nose was bleeding before they tazered either Justin or Alex, before he 'spit blood' on a cop, and before some stupid ass fell down the stairs. Why hasn't ANY story explained exactly how his nose was broken? I will tell you exactly why. Because the truth would not paint a very pretty picture for the militant jackboots that did this. 'Police Brutality' is a term that has lost almost all meaning. I have seen a lot of people deal with a lot of cops. It is NEVER the cops fault. They NEVER do wrong. The only help people, with understanding and compassion. Right? Right? Right? WHATEVER! God forbid you should try to stand up for yourself. That just gives the police an open licence to do what ever they want.
Anyway, an open season on musicians in FLA? How about an open season on citizens of the US?
What about the cop in Indiana that shot an unarmed kid four times in the chest? Murder? NO! 4 weeks suspension, here's your gun and your badge, back to the street! A guy in Indiana died after he arrested. Not the cops fault, it was a heart attack. If you saw the video, you would know why he had a heart attack. The cops beat the living crap out of him, because he was too big to lie face down with his hands behind his head. They didn't even give him a chance. As soon as they saw that he couldn't get all the way on the ground, the jumped him. Clubs, boots, fists and all. Were any of those cops penalized? Of course not.
Cops don't do wrong, get it? They 'Serve and Protect'....their own best interests.
35 - Mark
I met Alex and Geddy on their Signals tour, they were both perfectly nice guys. Rush is far and away my favorite rock band. That having been said, the guy probably messed up,he's human. His son wouldn't leave the stage?? If that is what started it perhaps the police were overdoing it.
36 - BitorAndTheSnowDog
RUSH is my all-time favorite band. In fact, I got the RUSH in RIO DVD and had just finished watching it when I saw the story on CNN.com. (the DVD is great, the CD is not very good sound wise). I love to hear Alex interviewed, he seems like a lovable guy. BUT, Even Really nice people are capable of some Really bad behavior when Really drunk. Who knows if he has a problem with alcohol or not? Either way, probably, if he was not drinking, this would not have happened. To me it was shocking and brought up some bad memories. Reality is tough to handle and I feel bad for what he has to now face.
37 - swpurist
Needless to say they are going to have to release Alex. All of us mortals would have to do the time but they will have to release the guitar god due to fear of retribution of Rush fans. I've been to 2 concerts in my life, rush and aerow smith / kiss. Surprisingly rush fans were far more crazed tehn the other bands.
38 - Starslookdown
I'm a little surprised that you are not waiting to hear Alex' side of things before deciding to feel disappointed. Perhaps when you hear it you will decide that 'Hell, if someone had gotten rough with my son that way just because he was singing into a mic, and I had a few drinks in me, I'D have gotten mad too!' It sounds like some anal retentive bozo took things way too seriously when Justin got up onstage and started singing happy new year. I'm guessing at what followed because let's face it: some people think wearing a Security uniform gives them licence to do things most cops would never do! (Again, this is what I call an educated guess, but that would also explain why Justin's wife got involved, too.) Alex and his family could have been pretty badly mistreated and pissed off well before the cops showed up, and on top of New Year's Eves drinks....
39 - Eric Olsen
I agree with this aspect of the story: people get pretty crazy when their children - regardless of age - are involved. I am jolly and friendly but I have a bad temper and if I felt someone was threatening my son unduly I would not hesitate to do something violent upon yonder face, especially to a security guard, but it is crucial to have the presence of mind to be more effective in your assault than it appears poor Alex was. It should be the security guard with the bloody nose, not the other way around. And fighting with actual police is idiocy - you cannot win and you may get killed.
40 - Jeffrey S Stratton
I would like to see Alex release an legitemate interview on Fox News and nowhere else!
41 - Drew
I've seen Rush 100+ times, dropped out of school to follow them in 1980, met them many times, met and spoke to the B-man, know their friends and family, they are NOTHING but gentlemen...this just smells like SnowDog droppings! Florida cops are thugs and don't let anyone tell you differently...I USED to be one of them...then I woke up!
42 - Wil
Alex's son looks "arab" (I saw the photo) and when they saw Alex intervene they probably thought he was one of those liberal "arab lovers" and jumped on his ass extra hard. Like that one dude said, "Florida is Jeb Bush country" and with all that shit going down in Iraq...it just didn't go down the way it should have. Nonetheless, RUSH is my favorite band and I'm standing up for my boy, BIG AL, King Lerext, Alex Lifeson.
"Save water, drink beer!"
43 - My Name is Mudd
Ever since my first memory of Florida, I have heard nothing but brutal stories about cops/bouncers etc over-using they're power and basically beating the crap out of vacationing people... especially Canadians and famous musicians it appears (how bout Jaco Pastorius?).
Florida doesn't need tourism I guess?
Ok, so let me get this straight.... first Florida messes up the vote and elect Bush--who especially likes beating people up (indirectly with bombs of course)...and now their beating up people for singing "old ang syne (sp?)". Far as I can see, Florida in general has some serious agression issues. I vote to move Disney World to another state before Mickey Mouse gets his ass kicked by Florida Police.
Peace!
44 - Brian
I think this is bull crap, i've been to florida and the cops are crawling around like ants and looking for people to punish. I'm with my boy alex on this one, f**k da pooolice!
45 - MyPetDuck
Funny, eh, how a band totally igonored by the press is suddenly splashed across the headlines due to sensation? And sadder still how a total R&R gentleman is tarnished by an otherwise human moment. We've--many of us--have been there before. We fans love Alex, and we love him because he is and has been a gentleman in a field sorely lacking gentlemen--but he is human. Let's allow him this, and I hope he is aquitted--but he is still the Alex we believe in. Because he is the person we wish we could believe ourselves in the same moment.
46 - D. Myers
I met Geddy & Alex, after a concert down here at Corpus Christi,TX These
guys, Alex & Geddy are great guys,
most of us have had one drink to many,
maybe these cops should have had a drink or 2, Alex give these cops free
tickets to a Rush concert and show them
what your really made of, Alex Rock's
47 - chris
hi there I have never been on this site before I was just looking for info on alex and his arrest, I am in the uk and we dont get much info on rush, I have to say I was a little suprised at alex going and getting himself arrested as he always comes over as so cool and funny.
I think alex is up there with the likes of eric clapton and jimmy page and to quote the last persons thread, he sure as hell rocks.
48 - jim
I live in FL....I hope this crap doesn't scare them out of playing here on the 2004 tour!!!!
By the way...What previous arrests does His Lerxstness have?...I Read something about pot use or possession...If so big deal...if true..Join the club.
Oh yeah..one more thing..Naples is some rich, high class hoity toity shithole..I'll bet the cops overreacted just looking for a reason to crack some skulls....Typical cop move.
49 - rick d
Cmon everyone knows alex wouldn't do something like that. The hotel security is to blame here I am sure of it.
Just wannabe cops,going too far
50 - ARP MAN
I was a huge Rush fan for decades since my days in high school. After listening to their latest (yawn) dust collecting CDs and reading about Alex's antics, I'm quickly becoming an unRush fan. As for Alex being a "nice guy" and "gentleman" as others on this page have commented, you don't just go through decades of being a level headed nice guy and then all of a sudden out of the blue behave as he did on New Year's Eve. I don't care how many drinks one has had; this type of behavior is indicative of part of his personality. How a famous musician comes across to the public and how they really are often two different things. It's called public relations. Don't try to make excuses for his behavior. Pushing a women down a flight of stairs is not something that a "gentleman" and "nice guy" would do. Perhaps Alex is going a little nuts; perhaps he is going through some type of, "Hey, I'm old and fat, and according to Rush lyrics, there is no God, life has no ultimate purpose, and I'm getting closer to death." Who knows. It's too bad that this action by Alex will be a blight on Rush's otherwise postitive public image.
51 - Ramrusher
ARP MAN, how can you be so wrong. Have you ever been in contact with female cops? They are far worse than the male cops and love to push thier wieght around and swing the sticks. She probably fell while hitting Alex with a billyclub or he might have accidentally shoved her while trying to get away from the pain of being tazered. RUSH pride themselves on not acting the way other rock band members do. No one but the cops and Alex know what really happen, but my money says the cops over reacted. As for the last few CD's, you just haven't listened to them long enough. Why don't you give your RUSH CD's away to a "real" Rush fan and go buy a Britney Spears album, maybe that will wake you up.
52 - Josh
It sounds to me like the police took things out of perspective. First of all, it's New Years Eve. Most people are going to be drinking, and yet they are trying to charge Alex with public drunkeness? I'm sorry but if you're going to charge somebody for drinking and having a good time, you may as well have done that to everybody on New Years. Besides New Years only comes once a year. Let them have a good time. I agree with what most people said about cops and security thinking they have the right to do anything b/c they wear a uniform. I'm a firm believer in the phrase, "Whatever goes around, comes around." From interviews I've seen with Mr. Lifeson, he seems to be a pretty nice guy. Think about this too, since when have you ever heard of him being violent? He's never been arrested before for anything like that. Just sounds to me like the police went too far. Guess these days no good deed goes unpunished. If my son were getting beat up, I sure as hell wouldn't just be sitting there.
53 - Johnny p
Let's face it, cops for the most part can't handle the authority vested to them. For whatever reason it is, that they don't like you, they will cross every line, break the law they're supposed to protect, just to satisfy there stupid, petty, power trips. I have been on the receiving end of that kind of intelligence insulting, push you're little button crap several times. Rush is good people, Alex and his loved ones are human and deserve to be treated decently. Gee, I wonder how jacked up the authorities like to get during their little party down sessions. More than likely fueled with confiscated alcohol from some underage high school keg party. Rush rules and they always will.
54 - Bob Robertson
I wasn't there, but I would bet everything that it was the police who caused the blowup in Florida. Some right-wing fanatic ASSHOLES seem to think it is their duty to harass anyone who disagrees with them, say, for instance, an intelligent, talented, liberal-minded rock musician and his family? Maybe they thought Alex was a terrorist or something.
At the very least the police proved their incompetence by thier inept mishandling of the situation. I'd bet it went further than that, though.
As a US citizen I want to apologize to Alex, his family and Rush for what the Florida police did to them (and how that Blue brotherhood will try to lie their asses off to protect their own in the coming days).
FOREIGN AMBASSADORS AND THEIR FAMILYS CANNOT BE PROSECUTED FOR ANYTHING THEY DO IN THE US, EVEN MURDER. And some dumbass cop thought it was a life and death situation to stop someone from singing Happy New Year? Give me a break.
I am not at all anti-police. I have a great respect for what police have to put up with. But I am anti-dumbass!
Of all the bands out there, Rush has always been one of the most positive, intelligent, educated, talented, progressive and cleanest bands of all time. I'm 46 and my son is 19, and we both love Rush's music. How many other musical groups can bridge the generations the way Rush has?
Alex and his family could not have deserved the treatment they recieved in Florida. Oh, yeah, and WHOSE BROTHER happens to be the governor in Florida, anyway......?
55 - Rob Dougal
Hey everyone,
Well, I've been a rush fan for a very long time and I'm a drummer myself and have played for over 20 years now.We all Love Neil right? :)
The whole thing with Alex is just unbelieveable, but we all must remember that Alcohol can change someones personality very quickly. Of course, in ways we would rather not remember afterwards.
I watched the RUSH IN RIO Dvd and while Alex is on the phone in his hotel room he mentions that he was a complete wreck the night before and that he was singing to the porcilin god for a while :)Even mentioned how many drinks or shots he may have consumed.
His son probably jumped on stage without permission and so they put the cops on there to pull them off, Alex didn't like it so he confronted them while exstremely intoxicated. The rest is obviously hear-say ...
That's what I think probably transpired.
Take care all of you musicians out there and keep rockin... I'm sure Alex wil be rocking with the band in 2004 as they have already annouced the TOUR, can't wait to see them again. He'll get a slap on the wrist for this one I think. Hefty fine too I think.
No Jail time, though, I would guess.
Your Bud
Rob
56 - Rob Dougal
CHeck out my webpage sometime :)
Ciao
Rob
57 - Travis
If there was anybody who should be arrested out of the three (Alex, Ged, Neil), it should be Neil! Alex seemed like one of the nicest guys to know. Neil on the other hand, with Neil being so private, you can't help to wonder what he is hiding??? Though Alex, after a few drinks, could probably be a bit agressive, especially if COPPERS are 'attacking' family members. Alex just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time! Too bad for Alex - if there is any blame, it is that stupid, bastard of a son that should be left in jail. If it wasn't for his stupid antics of singing on stage and causing problesm for hotel staff and his father, his father, Alex wouldn't be in this mess!
58 - MyPetDuck
Travis, that's rather, er, curious logic you're putting forth.
59 - MyPetDuck
Travis, that's some rather, er, curious reasoning and theory you're putting forth.
60 - BDH2112
I have been listening to RUSH since I was 13, I have seen them at least 25 times in concert. Alex may have messed up there in Florida but I can not believe it's all his and his family's fault. By the way wouldn't a high class hotel like that have some sort of securty cameras or the like? Think about why has no body brought this up?I would love to see the tape, might be that someone doesn't want them seen?!!!
In The Camera Eye
61 - Judy
I was in the Ball Room at the Ritz the night of Alex's arrest. I assure you the Ritz and the Sheriff were way out of line. Justin did nothing that night that should have caused any trouble. He was just doing a Michael Jackson Moon walk to the music. Now, the word leaked out that this was Alex's son, people began to applaud and cheer. The Ritz band was being upstaged. The piano player asked security to have Justin sit down. Justin agreed to stop dancing, but on his way back to his table he spoke into the microphone and wished everyone a Happy New Year. Alex and his family were quitely sitting at their table when the 6 foot 6 inch deputy arrive. As they were removing Justin from the table, many party attendees tried to tell the deputy that Justin did nothing wrong. I saw this very large deputy man handle a older lady who was calmy trying to talk to him. I am almost 60 years old and can tell you that I have never seen anything so innocent turn out to be such a mess for this nice family. I met this family that night.Their table was directly next to our family table. I have never heard of the Rush band before. This is an unbiased report of what went on. There were many people attending the event that can back up what I saw. I am sure Alex and Justin will be cleared of all charges
62 - Eric Olsen
The power of the web - thanks so much Judy, fascinating information and I hope you are right on the result.
63 - BB
Judy I hope you will consider coming forward as witness on their behalf.
64 - MyPetDuck
Why would a 60-year old woman who never even heard of the band seek out a Blog to defend them? Treat the account with skepticism.
65 - Eric Olsen
Gee, I don't know - you're at a club on New Year's Eve and a huge fight breaks out with cops, blood, people flying down stairs - and the other people in the club say that a famous rockstar is in the middle of the melee, and then the press reports don't coincide with what you saw? And then you Google the name and this site comes up? Doesn't sound that farfetched to me.
66 - BB
Especially a web site as popular as BC - right Eric?
67 - MyPetDuck
I'm just suggesting that we curb our optimism. Don't let your desire to hear what you want to hear, nor your presumptions or perceptions, get in the way of reason. I'm a 22-year Rush fan, since the release of Signals, and am just as surprised as everyone about this. But I wasn't there. If you're skeptical of the press reports, then you should also be wary of an anonymous post to a Blog. That's all I'm saying.
68 - Eric Olsen
Okay, good point.
69 - Judy
Thanks for all the comments. My family and I have already talked to a PA. As far as I know, they have at least 20 to 30 people that they interviewed.
Eric is correct, I found this sight while looking for information on Alex's hearing that was schedule for 1/26/03. We may all have to testify at his trial. You will soon see what I have said is true. If Atty. Barry calls us to testify you will see my name on the list.
70 - Tom
WTF does Jeb or George Bush have to do with what happened to Alex? Where they there swinging batons? Leave politics out of this! This story is about Alex and his family and the unfortunate turn of events that occured on New Year's Eve. "WHOSE (sic)BROTHER happens to be the governor in Florida, anyway......?" Jeez buddy, did they forget to give you your tax refund check last year or something?
71 - MyPetDuck
On 1/26/04, the Naples Daily News published an article on the "spotless" records of the cops involved in Lifeson's arrest; just over a week earlier the newspaper's editor had this to say.
I ask: Why hasn't the paper looked into Lifeson's life, so to speak, and his, so far as we know, spotless record? I emailed the editor and the managing editor offering to write such a story, since I am a journalist myself, or else suggested they should assign someone to it, for Lifeson as we all know is no typical rock musician; they never got back to me. I urge all fans to politely email the editor and ask for a story on Alex.
72 - Frank
I am somewhat of a biased opinion on this being that Alex is my favorite
musician of all time but I think it's
pretty clear what happened. and to all
you skeptics who think drunk Dad alex
pulled a shitfit they came to arrest his
family you dorks his FAMILY !!!!!
the man is a prince
and Florida cops suck
the mugshot says it all
73 - TomM
Good ol' Southun' justice. Florida brought about the NEED for the Miranda Act folks. Hopefully the judge isn't part of the Good Ol' Boy Network. If Alex is guilty, then let the punishment fit the crime. But that goes double for the cops. But I doubt that will actually happen as cops protect their own, especially if they're in the wrong. They will tell the truth, but just ommit certain crucial details, like one of them hitting and breaking noses first. Speculation on my part, but too much coincidence points to the cops.
74 - NeilM
As for the editor doing a story on Lifeson, I would doubt it. I've noticed that newspapers are involved politically. They quickly came out to say the cops had spotless records. Maybe the editor is friends with the police chief- who knows what goes on behind the scenes? I just hope Alex has lots of witnesses to defend himself because you know "the police are always right".
75 - sanjay gautam
UK satirists and entertainment subversives are on the case. The scurillous but fantastic weekly site www.popbitch.com this week published the email address of the cops in question: sheriff@colliersheriff.org. Please send polite messages to them etc..If you want to read this go to the above site and click "subscribe", but be quick as a new edition appears every week. I really hope the guy is innocent. (I don't know anything about Florida cops so it would be wrong for me to comment on them).Someone must be able to do a t shirt/ with his mug shot www.mugshot.com/Music/Alex_Lifeson.htm with "Free the Rush one" or something. I'll happily wear it, I nominate myself as the UK branch secretary. Together we can do this, and maybe someone with a bit of tech know how can set up a "free Alex Lifeson" campaign or something. He looks a bit like a smarter version of The Big Lebowski. Come on ladies and gents - duty calls.