Police use stun gun on violent rock star

That's what the headlines said. I can safely say that this was the last thing I ever expected. When I was growing up I loved rock & roll. The faction called "power trio" was my favorite. I started with Hendrix and continued with Led Zeppelin. After that it was Rush. They dropped the bluesy party aspect of it and focused on the musicanship and abstract song structures. They were also nice guys. Nerdy Canadian kids who liked Tolkien, Monty Python's Flying Circus, and smoked alittle weed. They also played the most unfashionalbe music and they came to my city on every tour. Alex Lifeson became my favorite guitar player because he some wrote beautiful songs and his solos were just insane. So I was shocked when the news came of his rock & roll brawl. I began getting emails from other fans giving updates and trading mugshots. Maybe this will make Rush sexy? Stun gunning a fifty year old.

Rush Guitarist Spits Blood on Police NAPLES, January 2, 2004 - The lead guitarist for the rock group Rush was released on bond from the Collier County jail late Friday afternoon. The sheriff's office says Alex Zivojinovich, known on stage as Alex Lifeson, assaulted a deputy New Year's Eve at the Ritz Carlton hotel. Zivojinovich was reportedly hit with a taser and spent two nights in jail after he and his 33-year-old son, Justin, got in a confrontation with deputies. The younger Zivojinovich's wife, Michelle, was also arrested. The rock star, who says he spends six months a year in his Bay Colony home, was bloodied and sporting a broken nose when he left the jail. He didn't want to talk about the incident. "My lawyer has asked me not to talk about it until we've determined a course of action," Zivojinovich said as he left the facility.

He said he loves Naples, but he's now rethinking things. Deputies say he never would have landed in jail if his family didn't get out of control. Authorities say Zivojinovich, his son and daughter in law were out of control New Year's Eve and threatening the safety of the other guests. A female deputy also says he pushed her down a flight of stairs. She was hospitalized with head and back injuries. Zivojinovich says his family was arrested for no reason. "We were just... having dinner," he said as he left the jail. Fans showed up at jail Friday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the guitar hero. They were surprised to hear of the arrest, noting the Alex Lifeson they follow isn't known for violence.
The sheriff's office has opened an internal investigation because Zivojinovich was injured during the arrest. The internal investigation is standard procedure. Zivojinovich's next court date is January 26th. He faces four felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer. Rush plans to kick of its 30th anniversary tour this spring. Zivojinovich formed the band when he was a 15-year-old high school student. The group has been nominated for two Grammy awards.

To see the family mug shots, click here. To hear the monster speak, click 01 and to hear 60,000 crazed Brazillians sing along with an instrumental, click 03 YYZ.

I don't know why sheriffs were waiting around a exclusive hotel. I don't know why singing "Happy New Years" with a house band on New Frigging Year's Eve leads to getting your nose broken and throw down a set of stairs. When the deputies found out that Alex was a famous musician I bet they regretted getting so violent. From my personal experience, sheriffs have hassled me, illegally searched my car, called me a liar, and accused me of being a burglar. Even if the whole family was drunk on New Frigging Year's Eve, don't fuck with Alex when he's been drinking, ok?

Comments

[Steve]

I am a naples resident and a recent victim of police brutality and I can honestly I will be relocating.