Alex Lifeson Reflects On Rush’s Final Tour: ‘A Little Bitter That It Ended That Way’

Guitarist Alex Lifeson recently discussed Rush’s final tour and other topics during an interview with Tom Power. Lifeson revealed he felt “a little bitter that it ended that way” when reflecting on the band’s final shows.

Rush’s last live concert was on August 1, 2015, when Lifeson, bassist Geddy Lee and drummer Neil Peart shared the stage together for a final time at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Peart was diagnosed with brain cancer shortly after that final performance and died in 2020 at age 67.

Appearing on the CBC’s Q with Tom Power, Lifeson was asked about the conclusion of Rush’s 40th anniversary R40 Tour. Lifeson reiterated Peart’s retirement, which was confirmed in 2018, was a non-starter with the late drummer, which brought an end to the band’s touring, despite the guitarist feeling they still had “a lot of gas in the tank.”

Lifeson speculated that Rush could have played an additional 20 to 30 shows, revealing he “desperately” wanted to tour in Europe.

“I think Ged [Geddy Lee] and I were very disappointed,” Lifeson told Power. “I’d say we were, to be honest with you, maybe a little bitter that it ended that way. But what could we do? Neil did it for 40 years. He absolutely had the toughest job in the band. And he felt like if he couldn’t play a hundred percent, then he was done.”

While Rush never again performed publicly after the 2015 L.A. show, Lifeson still maintains a close relationship with Lee, with whom he still plays Rush songs when the two jam together at the bassist’s studio. Transcribed by Blabbermouth, Lifeson told Power:

“Geddy’s my best friend. We do so much stuff together. We play tennis together. Often, we drink a little too much wine together. He definitely drinks too much coffee sometimes. So I’ll go over to his place, and we’ll just hang around. Invariably, we’ll go downstairs into his studio and we’ll play and for fun we play some Rush songs — just the two of us, just jamming, really. In fact, just playing. And it’s so much fun for the two of us to play.

“We’ve been writing music together for 50 years. And honestly, he’s my best friend. Why wouldn’t I wanna hang around with him? So that’s our relationship. And the rumors fly and all of that stuff — of anything, a new album and whatever. But we just really, really enjoy each other’s company. I talk to him almost every day and have forever.”

Watch Alex Lifeson’s full interview on Q With Tom Power below: