Today I had the pleasure of meeting with and having a short interview with PGA Tour Pro, Rocco Mediate.
Rocco has 5 PGA Tour Victories, 1991 Doral-Ryder Open, 1993 K-Mart Greater Greensboro Open, 1999 Phoenix Open, 2000 Buick Open, and 2002 Great Greensboro Chrysler Open.
Rocco has also won the 1999 Calloway Pebble Beach Invitational, 2002 Franklin Templeton Shootout, and 2003 CVS Charity Classic.
You might be asking where the connection to the Canadian Music Scene is, Rocco is also a close friend to RUSH's ALex Lifeson, himself a avid if not obsessed golfer and part owner of the Coppinwood Golf Course located in Uxbridge, Ontario.
TCMS: In a previous interview you had mentioned that your middle son was interested in playing the guitar and Alex had given him some tips, how has that progressed?
Rocco: He is not as serious but he plays a little bit the fact that Alex has helped him is a lot of fun.
TCMS: You also mentioned that besides golf you would have liked to be a musician, have you learned to play the guitar?
Rocco: I have absolutely no musical talent at all and haven’t done anything.
TCMS: A few years back you did a “Personal Lessons” show with Alex on the Golf Channel, what was that like?
Rocco: That was a lot of fun, we had a ball, a really good time. Alex loves golf. The thing that impresses me the most about all three of the guys in the band is they still love what they do, the way they sing and play, the way they are and it’s been forever, they’ve been around for a long time. In my opinion one of the top and most successful Rock and Roll bands in history, period!
TCMS: They just seem to get better and better
Rocco: They get better, Geddy’s voice hasn’t lost anything, Neil, they all have gotten better musically, it’s a joke, it’s ridiculous, it’s really cool to know them.
TCMS: Have you had a chance to see any of the Time Machine shows?
Rocco: I was in LA with them during the rehearsals, I got to watch them rehearse at Sony Sound, the whole show twice and then I went to Chicago, I saw them live in Chicago. It’s been a lot of fun, because their my favourite by far. I’ll be out for a few more for sure.
TCMS: When your on tour with Alex do you get any rounds in?
Rocco: Oh yeah, when I’m out there we will play, he couldn’t play in Chicago he was too busy, he plays all of the time, he plays more than me probably. I’ll tell you what, Coppinwood is very special, it’s was my first time to play it yesterday, it’s a very special place, you can see why it’s successful, the people were fabulous we had a ball. I told Alex, we were texting yesterday, "I'm going to wear the Coppinwood stuff and the RUSH stuff this week", he said, “Oh that’s great, cool”. I'm just on my own thing right now no sponsors when it comes to hats.
TCMS: Last Question, it has been a long time goal of your's to visit Italy, has it happened?
Rocco: No I have not, one of these days when I can find the time…
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