In a recent interview with Classic Rock magazine, Alex Lifeson, guitarist of the legendary band RUSH, confirmed that he has been jamming with his longtime bandmate, bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, at Lee’s Toronto home. Lifeson shared his thoughts on staying musically active, saying, “It’s good to jam with friends as you get older. I need to play. Once a week I go to Ged’s — it’s in the calendar — keep my fingers moving, play RUSH stuff, new jams. We do record it, but I couldn’t even begin to tell you where it’ll go.”
Lifeson also reflected on his experience reuniting with Lee for 2022’s star-studded tribute concerts to honor late FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins. The two were joined by a lineup of high-profile drummers, including TOOL’s Danny Carey, Omar Hakim, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS’ Chad Smith, and FOO FIGHTERS’ Dave Grohl. The tribute shows, held in London and Los Angeles, brought back fond memories for Lifeson, especially considering the L.A. venue where RUSH performed their final concert in 2015.
Looking back at the experience, Lifeson said, “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. For forty years RUSH included Neil [Peart, late RUSH drummer], and I don’t think putting some new version together would have the same magic.”
Despite the excitement of performing again, Lifeson admitted that after the tribute concerts, he realized that RUSH had already left a remarkable legacy. “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 L.A. 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.”
Lifeson’s reflections highlight his contentment with RUSH’s final chapter, emphasizing that their musical journey concluded at its peak and that he’s not eager to revisit the past. Instead, he’s focused on maintaining his musical passion with Lee in a more personal and relaxed setting.
