Toronto

The iconic Canadian band behind hit song YYZ — now has a key to it.

Hundreds of Rush fans waited hours in the heavy downpour Saturday afternoon to watch founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson accept the key to the city from Mayor John Tory and to officially open an art park in Willowdale, named after the pair, who grew up in the neighbourhood.

“It’s amazing, we grew up right around here, we skipped school right around here,” said vocalist, bassist and keyboardist Lee while being interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulos. “I think we were obviously thrilled (about the park) and amazed that somebody would want to do something like this and put our names on it for the community.”

Rush joins a long line of stars and prominent Torontonians who have a key to the city — including Drake and Paul Beeston.

Tory said he was presenting the musicians with the honour for not only their four decades together, selling millions of albums worldwide, but for their willingness to help Hogtown when it was facing the SARS crisis in 2003, by playing a benefit show alongside The Rolling Stones and AC/DC.

“They’ve done credit to this city,” said Tory. “We’re proud of them and that’s one of the reasons they’re getting a park named after them. Any artist that can claim to affect an entire genre — music or any kind of art — we don’t have that many who come right here from Toronto.”

Located in the Sheppard and Bayview Aves. area, Lee Lifeson is an “art park” that includes installations and design features with a musical theme, including one called, “the horn of reflection.”

“This park will still be here weeks after we’re gone,” joked Lee, on Rush’s legacy. “We have deep roots in Toronto. You’ll see Alex and I asleep over there, with a paper bag with some rye whisky. Art is the thing that elevates out of whatever situation you’re in. Art is a thing you put your heart into ... and (art) heals.”

And while Rush — which includes drummer Neil Peart who hails from St. Catharines — have already played their final tour in 2015, Lifeson said never say never to more performances from the band sometime in the future. But for now, Lee enjoys travelling with his wife and Lifeson is going through some “adjustments” this year as he ages.

“We’ve been following up on some interests we both have,” Lifeson said. “We’ve been learning to get used to the idea. I feel confident about a lot of things. Music is definitely still one of them. You can’t just stop writing and playing music.”

Strapping her RUSHGIRL licence plate, to the fence, mega-fan Beverley Wintjes, 49, drove from Mount Albert and had been waiting since 7:30 a.m. for the 1 p.m. ceremony.

“I’ve been a fan since I was 12,” she said. “I’ve got five visible tattoos. I wanted front row. I’m really proud of them. They’re my heroes. They’re very Canadian-like. They’re polite, they’re good guys, there’s never any scandal with them. Their music was always the number one thing and it never wavered.”

jyuen@postmedia.com