Posted on 06/10/2005 10:49:03 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Rush Guitarist Alex Lifeson Breaks Silence on Arrest and Trial
Douglas Maher-All Headline News Staff Reporter
June 9,2005 1:47 EST
Toronto,Canada (AHN)-The guitarist for the rock trio Rush has responded to the events leading to his arrest on New Years Eve 2003 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples,Florida.
Lifeson issued the following statement today appearing on Blogcritics.org:
"In like a lion, out like a lamb. These words appeared in a Naples Daily News editorial on April 27, describing the outcome of the criminal charges against my family and myself. After fifteen months of living in fear and anxiety, and the enormous physical and emotional toll that it took from all of us, the prosecution's case began to crumble as the truth emerged and witnesses came forward to expose the behavior of these Collier County Sheriff's Deputies and certain employees of the Ritz Carlton, a resort hotel reputed to be one of the finest in the world.
"As that part of this ordeal came to a close, I thought to myself that more than anything, I wanted to get my life back on track. I thought I could accept the fact that I was punched in the face so hard it ripped the cartilage from my nose, fracturing the bone and shattering my septum. I thought I could accept the incredibly painful nasal surgery and weeks of recovery, and the discomfort I feel every night when I go to sleep. I thought I could accept the fact that I was Tasered six times, twice while lying face down in a growing pool of my own blood, and so severely that it burned bloody holes in my back. I thought I could accept watching my son get electrocuted numerous times as well, and erase the memory of his screams of pain and terror.
"I thought I could accept being imprisoned for two days without a phone call for over fourteen hours. I thought I could accept the innuendo of those who don't know me and believed I was just some spoiled, drunken rock star. I thought I could accept watching my daughter-in-law, through a crack in the prison door, as tears streamed down her face because she was unlawfully jailed and separated from her two months old son. I thought I could accept the deep depression my wife, the woman I love without measure and who shares my soul, struggled through for months, fearing for her husband and son ... what was I thinking?
"Out like a lamb. All of that for nothing. All because of the bitterness of a few Ritz Carlton hotel employees on the most festive night of the year and their incredibly discourteous, arrogant and aggressive behavior of which I had never experienced in thirty years of travel. All because of three confrontational, intimidating, enraged deputies who wouldn't even consider dialogue, who were so quick to reach for their Tasers and handcuffs when no crime was committed. All because of a prosecutors' office blind to the reality of instances of excessive force by police and the horrendous destruction of innocent lives forever changed...what were they thinking?
"In like a lion. The legal action we are embarking on now will hopefully bring attention to the fact that people cannot and should not be treated this way. I was fortunate to have the resources and will to fight to the end, but there are many who don't and they will forever suffer from the forced compromise of an unfair plea bargain or the threat of sentencing guidelines that demand imprisonment, that hang over one's head like the sword of Damocles. If some good is to come of this, then let it be that the actions of a tiny minority of aggressive, Taser wielding police officers don't tarnish the reputation of the vast majority of officers who proudly serve their communities with honor and sacrifice. I sincerely believe they deserve our utmost respect, but respect is something that must be earned and not demanded with a closed fist or an electrifying weapon ... that's what I'm thinking."
Lifeson will do his first televised interview relating to the arrests on the Canadian music network MuchMoreMusic with Bill Welychka on Saturday June 11th at 1 pm EST.
Oh, he pled guilty. I guess he is innocent then.
One of the Rush members has been treated for alcoholism. I don't remember which one.
Slow down and consider reading the articles that came before this one. They explain in detail what happened that night. It's not a matter of Lifeson's arrogance or fame going to his head....
Great. Thank you for posting this.
Ping
thanks. At work and many sites are blocked. No good guys in this one. Looks like they are all to blame. Alex is just lucky they didn't have the hells angels for security.
God,lololol..can you imagine? ala The Stones? Hahahahaa...
Thanks. I guess he ran into a few of those cops who are not our friends, and I hope to hear how his lawsuit turns out.
At first I was outraged, but then I thought of every teen aged kid with a guitar, like my son for example. Ask any of them if they'd take this guy's talent, fame, and money if it came with a punch in the nose and a couple of tazerings. I bet you get 99.99999 percent F'n A dude from them.
Mighty nice of you to wait.
Too bad the jackboots here could'nt wait to praise the cops when this was first reported.
Yeah, I doubt this has Alex Lifeson wishing he could have been someone other than Alex Lifeson, Rush Axe-man.
Damn rock stars.
Uh, yeah, sure, troll-boy.
It might be a good idea to wait a few days after signing up before posting your first moronic comment.
This way, you likely won't last till sundown.
/.02
LMAO..first day posting and look at the screen name you chose...safe money is on a short stay here at FR for ya.
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