05/09/2026
When Rush bassist Geddy Lee stopped using traditional amplifier stacks on stage, he ran his bass straight through custom rack gear and in-ear monitors. This left a huge empty space on his side of the stage. Rather than leave it bare, Lee filled the space with coin-operated Maytag washing machines.
Technicians mic'd the appliances for humor, loaded them with Rush T-shirts, and dropped in Canadian quarters to keep them tumbling throughout the show. Roadies would even walk out mid-concert to do laundry or toss fresh T-shirts into the crowd.
Over the years, Lee swapped the washers for rotisserie chicken ovens and sausage steppers—turning a missing piece of music gear into one of the most famous running gags in rock history.
