by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson shared his thoughts on Taylor Swift in a recent interview with AllMusic.
“I’m not familiar with her music – I know a few songs. I know a Taylor Swift song as soon as it comes on, which is great,” Lifeson said.
“But she’s a player, and she’s a writer, and the way she took care of her crew, like, what was it, $90 million in bonuses or something for her crew? [The figure was reported to be $197 million] A long tour – it was a couple of years,” he continued. “But she thinks like we always thought.”
“I’m not a fan of that kind of music – I think it’s well done, and I give her credit for it,” Lifeson stated. “But I give her tons of credit for being the person that she is, and handling herself the way she does, and the enormous influence that she has. Very, very positive influence she has on her so loyal audience. It’s incredible. I have total respect for her.”
Lifeson made these comments during a broader discussion about his current project, Envy of None, and Rush’s musical legacy.
His praise for Swift coincides with the unprecedented success of her ongoing Eras Tour. The tour has set new industry standards for both financial success and artist generosity.
People Magazine revealed Swift’s remarkable bonus distribution of $197 million. The amount covered everyone from truck drivers to dancers and choreographers. This gesture demonstrated an unprecedented level of appreciation for touring staff.
Taste of Country documented the tour’s historic achievement. It became the highest-grossing tour of all time with over $2 billion in ticket sales.
The massive production attracted more than 10 million attendees worldwide. This success established new standards for live entertainment and artist-fan engagement in the music industry.
Swift’s approach to touring and crew management has created a new industry benchmark. She proved that commercial success can coexist with genuine care for support staff.
