Rush lift lid on why they decided to reunite: “I just fell in love with the idea of playing again”
After announcing plans to reunite for an arena tour across North America in 2026, Rush duo Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have explained why they are getting the band back together.
The prog-rock icons last hit the road in 2015 for a world tour that celebrated 40 years together. However, drummer Neil Peart sadly became ill with an aggressive form of brain cancer and died in 2020.
As recently as January, Lifeson had remained adamant that a reunion was a non-starter following Peart’s passing. He explained how he gets together with Geddy Lee for a jam on a weekly basis for a jam, but didn’t foresee it going any further.
The guitarist explained to Classic Rock: “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.”
The duo have now had a change of heart and recruited Anika Nilles, who previously worked with Jeff Beck, as their new drummer. Rush also hope to have “one or two” more members in the fold for their forthcoming live shows in 2026.
Their reunion was officially announced on October 6th. However, a day prior, they unveiled their plans at an invite-only event at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame’s Foster Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.
In Cleveland, Lifeson reflected on their career (per Blabbermouth): “We had 40 years. I’m tired of hanging around a hotel, being away from family and all of that stuff.’ And I felt that way for most of the last 10 years, really. I thought we had a great legacy, and it’s okay.”
He then revealed that Lee “came along and had some big ideas”, which eventually gave him the urge to play live as Rush once again.
The guitarist added, “When you’re away from it and you are a little more objective about the intense complexity of the music and the feel and the nuances and all the things that go into making a Rush song and performance, to be challenged with that again was really, really exciting. And the more we started rehearsing and playing, the more I just fell in love with the idea of playing again.”
Meanwhile, Lee said it was a “very difficult decision on many levels” before describing the passing of Peart as “devastating”, and noting, “it was a very sad time”. He added, “I mean, this is a relatively recent decision. And I would say it was kind of out of the question for the longest time because of those circumstances. And how do you replace someone who’s irreplaceable?”
While they were hanging out on a regular basis, playing Rush songs together was never up for conversation, until one day, when that all changed. “We were laughing so hard and we were enjoying it so much. And it was almost like playing those songs dispelled the dark clouds,” Lee shared.
The tour, titled Fifty Something, will take Rush across arenas in North America, beginning in Los Angeles on June 7th at the KIA Forum. They will also play in Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto and Cleveland.
Rush tour dates 2026:
June
- 07 – Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
- 09 – Los Angeles, CA,Kia Forum
- 18 – Mexico City, MX, Palacio de los Deportes
- 24 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
- 26 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
July
- 16 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 18 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 28 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
- 30 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
- 07 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 09 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 17 – Cleveland, OH, Rocket Arena
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