Battery Charges Against Rush Guitarist Diminished — But He's Not Off The Hook

MTV News ^ | 3.22.2004 | Jon Wiederhorn

[NYC GOP Chick]

A circuit court in Collier County, Florida, has charged Alex Lifeson (a.k.a. Alex Zivojinovich), the guitarist for Canadian power trio Rush, with two third-degree felony counts of battery against a law-enforcement officer.

The charges stem from a New Year's Eve incident in which Lifeson became enraged after security personnel at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel restaurant in Naples, Florida, prevented Lifeson's son Justin from joining the house band onstage to sing to his wife. Police became involved and Lifeson allegedly elbowed one in the face, pushed a female officer down a staircase, and ripped an officer's radio from his uniform (see "Rush Guitarist Considers Suit Alleging Police Brutality").

The third-degree battery charges were knocked down from two first-degree charges of aggravated battery against a law-enforcement officer. Four additional charges against Lifeson were dropped: resisting/obstructing an officer with violence, resisting/obstructing an officer without violence, disorderly intoxication and depriving an officer of the protection of a communication device.

The rocker will appear before a judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court in Naples on May 17. If convicted, Lifeson could face a fine of $500 or more and/or jail time. In the New Year's Eve fight, cops allegedly broke Lifeson's nose and zapped him four times with a stun gun to restrain him. The guitarist spent two nights in jail before he was released.

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I love Junior Wells and actually saw him in concert. It was an Alligator Records 20th Anniversary show. He was in a lineup with Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Katie Webster, and bunch of other people.

That show was awesome, from what I remember. It got fuzzy around encore time.

[Petronski]

Oh, I sure wish I had. I also missed seeing his History Channel series, which seemed like it would be great fun.

[dead]

No, I missed Daltry on that 70s Show. He's usually a funny actor.

And Who's Next is a great album, but my favorite Who album has to be Quadrophenia. What a masterpiece.

[Petronski]

Koko Taylor....

I'm still kicking myself. Damn! She appeared at a nightclub about two hours from me, on a Wednesday night, but although I could have gone, I decided against it.

I hope she hangs on long enough for me to catch her live.

Stop watchin' your enemies
Keep your eyes on your so-called friends....

[Clemenza]

but my favorite Who album has to be Quadrophenia

"Girls of 16 sexually knowin.' The Ushers are sniffin' o-de-colgn-ne!"

There is a bar in my neighborhood that blasts Quadrophenia every sunday afternoon. Great album, although the movie was lame.

[endthematrix]

Koko is great. I see you live in PA....Lonnie Brooks will be there May. 15, 2004 at Moondog's in Pittsburgh, PA!

[endthematrix]

Re: Alligator Records

Shows in PA

[NYC GOP Chick]

Kajagoogoo! LOL! Don't forget Men Without Hats and Falco!

Let me guess: you have VH1 Classic, doncha? ;)

My tastes are pretty eclectic, but the Who are my absolute favorite!

[NYC GOP Chick]

Anyone see Daltrey as the stuffy music teacher on That 70s Show?

I have just about every Daltrey TV appearance on video!

[spodefly]

You forgot Journey.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Well, that helps me understand where they're coming from, but hey, although "Fooled Again" is the gold standard, the others aren't chopped liver. I don't mean to imply you meant that, but I believe I like it all...for differing reasons.

Right, I wasn't implying that the others are inferior, just very different than what most people think of when they think of the Who.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Oh, I sure wish I had. I also missed seeing his History Channel series, which seemed like it would be great fun.

Oh, that series was great -- he was really into it, and has *such* a perverted sense of humor! ;D

[NYC GOP Chick]

And Who's Next is a great album, but my favorite Who album has to be Quadrophenia. What a masterpiece.

Two of my 3 favorite Who albums. The third is "Who Are You" -- especially the guitar at the end of "Trick of the Light."

[NewRomeTacitus]

Rush (the band) is an aquired taste in a Neil Young sort of way. They contributed greatly by their meticulous attention to production, marketing and tour support. For a long time rock musicians toying with new technology would call a member of Rush first, confident that they were already up on it.
They became wealthy by overseeing their own finances and risked losing it when they became bored with overly commercial product. Love 'em or hate 'em, they did more things right than any three average rock bands.

I had misgivings about Rush after recieving a copy of "2112", believing they might be alternate-lifestyle communists from Canada (insert joke here) due to the cover featuring a nude guy under a red star. Only after a fair listen did the fact sink in that 2112 was the harshest railing against communist tyranny I had ever heard. Their sentiments were even plainer in "The Trees" from the Hemispheres album, where bullies and complainers recieved equal treatment "by hatchet, axe and saw".

Yeah, laugh all you want. I heard the popular anti-Bush song "Megalomaniac" 20 times now and still can't find a rational point.

[RightOnline]

Love the Who.........have since the '60's.....but let's face it; since "Live at Leeds" and, of course, "Who's Next"........by FAR their best album........they hadn't done squat in years. Shame, that.

[Fledermaus]

I guess "living in the limelight" hasn't done him much good! he he he

[Fledermaus]

HEY...I met a fox and got laid after a Rush concert! lol

[Fledermaus]

Not many people appreciate or like Joe Jackson. I have all of his stuff.

[Fledermaus]

Was that the album with "Working Man" on it?

[Fledermaus]

FALCO! Gotta love "Rock Me Amadeus"!