Rekindling the Fire: RUSH’s Alex Lifeson Reflects on a Legacy of Progressive Rock Grandeur
RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson recently sparked a flame of nostalgia in the hearts of fans worldwide. In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Lifeson revealed he’s been revisiting RUSH‘s extensive catalog with his longtime bandmate, bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee.
“We decided that we would play some RUSH songs. Because, you know, we haven’t played these songs in 10 years,” Lifeson said. “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.”
While this might sound like a hint of a looming reunion of sorts, Lifeson tempered expectations, acknowledging his advancing age.
“I’m 70. It’s not as easy to get my fingers to do what my brain tells me to do,” Lifeson said. “They’re much lazier than they used to be and they have a poor memory. Doing this really helps a lot, and it’s fun. That’s it. The whole thing was that in the beginning, it was just fun. We’re having a riot together doing that. There’s no rhyme or reason. 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.”
That being said, back in January, Lifeson spoke with Ultimate Guitar and said that he hadn’t closed the door completely on playing with Lee again in some musical capacity: “There’s certainly a lot of interest in us doing something. I think for a lot of RUSH fans, they’ve been hoping for… Geddy had his book tour. I went out on a few of those dates with him. I think that’s kind of sparked more interest in us working together.
“Ged‘s a very busy guy,” Alex continued. “He’s written a couple of books over the years. He has a lot of stuff that he’s into. This is my studio in my apartment. I’ve been working on the ENVY OF NONE stuff as well as a few other projects. So I’ve been playing and recording for all these years.
“When he’s ready, he always says, ‘Come over for a coffee and we’ll go down to the studio and bash around a few notes.’ Yeah, call me. And so far he’s been so busy, but I think maybe in the new year — or this is the new year — maybe soon we’ll find the time to sit down and see what happens,” Lifeson added. “Maybe nothing happens. Maybe it’s not there anymore. Maybe it’s gonna be amazing. I don’t know. We’ll see.
“Honestly, it’s not a priority for us. We’re happy in our lives. So, it’s not like we need to go back to something. And that’s my fear. That if we — that would be the expectation, this is like RUSH 2. But by necessity it has to be something different. And it can never be RUSH. Without Neil [Peart, late RUSH drummer], it can never be RUSH. That’s it. It’s over. But you never know what can happen. So we’ll see.”
RUSH drummer Neil Peart‘s death, after a private battle with brain cancer, sent shockwaves through the music world. RUSH, known for their fiercely loyal fanbase, waited three days before announcing the news, a testament to Peart‘s desire for privacy. In 2022, Geddy Lee revealed the lengths they went to in order to honor Peart‘s wishes, even resorting to being “dishonest” with fans who suspected something was amiss.
But the music endures. The band is one of Canada’s most successful bands ever, has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and continues to inspire legions of musicians. Lifeson, a pioneer in progressive rock guitar, has been at the heart of this legacy for over 50 years. His innovative riffs, adventurous use of effects pedals, and unconventional chord voicings earned him the affectionate nickname “The Musical Scientist” from his bandmates.
Lifeson‘s influence extends far beyond RUSH. He’s a respected collaborator, lending his talents as a guitarist and producer to various projects. His 1996 solo album, “Victor,” showcased his versatility as a musician. The accolades speak for themselves: Lifeson was ranked third in Guitar World‘s “100 Greatest Guitarists” poll and secured a spot in Rolling Stone‘s prestigious “100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time” list.
While a full RUSH reunion may be off the table, Lifeson‘s comments reignite a love for a band that pushed boundaries and redefined what rock music could be. Their music, a potent blend of technical mastery and emotional storytelling, continues to resonate with fans both old and new. So, crank up a classic album, marvel at Lifeson‘s groundbreaking guitar work, and celebrate the enduring legacy of a band that truly earned its place in rock and roll history.
