Alex Lifeson says he and Geddy Lee currently sound like a “really bad Rush tribute band”
Some bands are simply unable to continue when a member dies. While Led Zeppelin are perhaps the most famous example after bringing the curtain down following the passing of drummer John Bonham, their Canadian disciples Rush are another prominent act that called it a day when their own rhythmic powerhouse, Neil Peart, died.
In January 2020, the trio’s longtime drummer, Peart, died at the age of 67 following a three-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer. Following the tragedy, frontman Geddy Lee made it clear that the group, which at that point comprised of him and guitarist Alex Lifeson, could not go on without their late friend, who was not only their drummer but their primary lyricist, too. This demonstrated just how vital Peart was to the band outside the drum kit.
Notably, the trio performed their final concerts in 2015, with Peart retiring from music later in the year. Then, in 2018, it was revealed by Lifeson that Rush had disbanded in part due to Peart’s health.
Since then, Rush fans have been dreaming of a day when the ‘Spirit of Radio’ group will reform. While Lee and Lifeson did appear onstage together at the duo of all-star tribute shows to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, that has been their only public appearance onstage together. This was followed in late 2023 by the Rush vocalist saying the surviving duo “could” play under the band’s name if they wanted to after the success of their appearances at the tribute concerts.
Lifeson has now revealed that he and Lee have been jamming Rush songs together, but fans shouldn’t get excited about seeing anything outside their rehearsal space. Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, the guitarist said they’ve been playing their old songs like a “really bad Rush tribute band”. Of course, many haven’t seen the light of day in nearly a decade.
“We decided that we would play some RUSH songs,” he said. “Because, you know, we haven’t played these songs in 10 years. We started that a couple of weeks ago. We get together one day a week over at his place.”
“We just picked some RUSH songs and we started playing them and we sound like a really, really bad Rush tribute band,” the guitarist continued. “Trying to figure out the songs, I’m thinking, ‘Why did we write that so difficult? Why is this so hard to play?’ After about three run-throughs of all of these songs, muscle memory kicks in and your hand just goes to where it goes. You sort of get out of the way and you play and you go, ‘Thank God, I did make this simpler than it felt.'”
Echoing his past statements about the band’s status, Lifeson maintained that there’s no reason for them to get back together. He said: “We’re not planning on going back on the road, finding a new drummer or anything like that. It’s just fun to do it.”
Although a reunion isn’t likely to happen in the near future, Lee and Lifeson remain bonded by music, which is shown by their recent jam sessions. Furthermore, it’s heartwarming to see the pair reunite for the right reasons rather than a lucrative payday.
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