Ten things Geddy Lee can’t live without

My Norwich terriers They’re entertaining little friends. We christened them Stanley and Lucy Wasserman because they nag and bicker like an old married couple—“the Wassermans” just seemed to fit.

My pickled herring It’s something my dad used to eat when I was growing up, with his friends and cousins from the old country (my parents were Jewish Polish immigrants). After he passed away, it became a soul food for me. I get it at Pisces, the fish market on Yonge.

My perfect rib-eyes There aren’t many things I cook well, but I do grill a fine steak. I buy my meat at Cumbrae’s, and if my buddies are over, I’ll serve it with a few potatoes. I usually try to avoid carbs, but I won’t ignore food that’s homemade and fabulous.

My 1972 Fender Jazz Bass I bought it for $200 in the late ’70s at a pawnshop in Kalamazoo. There’s something about its tone that’s just perfect for me. It’s irreplaceable.

My granny glasses I discovered them at Josephson Opticians 10 or 15 years ago. They’re just the right size for my face—not too big and not too small.

My favourite wine I love red burgundy, but it’s an elusive grape—you have to drink it at exactly the right moment. There are a lot of disappointments when you’re a burgundy nut.

My travel books Being on tour is dull—endless airplanes and hotels. Travel books are the perfect escape. I’m reading a fascinating trilogy by Patrick Leigh Fermor. He walked from Holland to the Middle East in the 1930s, right as the dark cloud of the Nazi regime was descending.

My New York Times crosswords I’m addicted. Sometimes, if it’s a tough Friday or Saturday puzzle, I’ll let myself cheat by googling clues.

My fantasy baseball team I’ve been playing with the same league for 20 years. It’s a wonderful distraction. You build a special kind of friendship with people, doing baseball deals and chit-chatting on email every day.