Fans of Rush received thrilling news last week when Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced a reunion for a series of North American concerts, featuring Anika Nilles on drums, stepping in for the late Neil Peart. This marks a long-awaited moment for the band’s followers, as it has been nearly a decade since their last performance together.
In a recent conversation at the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame, Lifeson shared insights into the process leading to their reunion. He described it as a gradual journey filled with challenges, especially when it came to revisiting the band’s iconic songs. “I love playing so much,” he stated, reflecting on his ongoing musical projects over the years. However, he realized that playing Rush’s complex compositions required a different level of engagement after stepping back for a while. “When you do it every day for 40 years, it’s not a big deal, really. You’re used to it,” he said. Lifeson found the renewed challenge of those intricate pieces exhilarating and shared how the rehearsal sessions rekindled his passion for performing.
The decision to bring a new drummer into the fold was not an easy one, according to Lifeson. He emphasized the difficulty of replacing Peart, considering both the impact of his absence and the profound history the band shares. “It was a very sad time,” he noted, acknowledging the emotional weight of Peart’s loss. Initially, the idea of continuing without him seemed inconceivable, but the warmth of their musical camaraderie prompted a change of heart.
Earlier this year, Lifeson revealed that the duo began jamming together casually. They would spend time together, share coffee, and ultimately found joy in playing Rush songs for fun. “God, we were laughing so hard, and we were enjoying it so much, and it was almost like playing those songs dispelled the dark clouds,” he recounted, leading to the conceptualization of their reunion tour.
The “Rush Fifty Something Tour” is set to include 23 shows across the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer. At this time, there are no announcements regarding any potential extension of the tour to Europe, but the excitement surrounding the reunion indicates a hopeful revival of the band’s beloved music. Fans can look forward to experiencing the camaraderie and talent that made Rush a legendary name in rock music once again.