Will Rush ever play live again? Alex Lifeson speaks out

nme.com:

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has spoken about the prospect of the band ever playing live again.The band last performed together for a farewell tour in 2015 playing 35 headline shows across North America, having formed over four decades prior.

Drummer Neil Peart died from brain cancer in early 2020, aged 67.In 2022, Lifeson and bassist Geddy Lee reunited in public to perform as part of the tribute shows in Los Angeles and London for late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.Despite that show, Lifeson has now said in a new interview with Classic Rock, that he is now satisfied where Rush left there tour in 2015 and ruled out any chance of the band getting back together.“The energy was fantastic around that show, I know, and some days I wake up wanting to go out and tour again and some days I don’t,” Lifeson explained. “For forty years Rush included Neil, and I don’t think putting some new version together would have the same magic.”He continued: “After those two gigs and the months of prep Ged and I went through, I was excited by the response and to be in the dressing room again with so many fellow artists in Wembley and LA I respected and felt a kinship towards.“But after a few weeks that wore off and it occurred to me that despite all the pain of loss, Rush went out on a high note playing as well as ever with one of our best stage shows on R40.

I guess I’d rather be remembered for that legacy than returning as the top Rush tribute band.”In the same interview, despite that Lee reflected on their 2015 farewell tour, saying that they “let our British and European fans down” by not giving them the chance to say goodbye.He added:”I really felt like I let our British and European fans down.