Why Rush Won’t Return: Band Chooses to Preserve Their Musical Legacy
After the passing of their legendary drummer Neil Peart in 2020, iconic rock band Rush has decided against any future reunions. The band’s guitarist Alex Lifeson recently opened up about why they won’t continue without their late bandmate.
The band’s last tour together, known as R40, took place in 2015. While the shows were amazing, they were limited in number due to Peart’s wishes. “Ged and I were disappointed that Neil [Peart] demanded playing only a limited number of dates… I think a dozen or so more dates would have made us a bit more accepting,” Lifeson explains.
Preserving the band’s legacy
In a recent interview with Cygnus-x1, Lifeson shared his thoughts about preserving the band’s legacy rather than becoming what he called “the top Rush tribute band”. Though he and bassist Geddy Lee performed at the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows in 2022, they believe continuing as Rush without Peart wouldn’t be right.
Lifeson expressed deep appreciation for his time with the band, saying, “For forty years, Rush included Neil, and I don’t think putting some new version together would have the same magic. It was an incredible experience working together and making so much music. It was beautiful how much we loved and respected each other and how much we laughed, but everything, amazing or not, dies eventually, and we are left with the memories.”
Battle with brain cancer
The decision came after Peart’s battle with brain cancer, which sadly ended with his death in January 2020. Earlier plans to extend the R40 tour had already been affected when Peart developed a painful foot infection.
