Rush Reveals the No. 1 Regret They Had About Their Farewell Tour 10 Years Ago

Mar. 15, 2025

Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of Rush in May 2013.Photo:Frederick Breedon/Getty

Frederick Breedon/Getty

The remaining members of Rush are reflecting on their farewell tour 10 years later.Speaking toClassic Rockin an interview published on Sunday, Jan. 5, the “Tom Sawyer” group’s bass playerGeddy Leeand guitarist Alex Lifeson spoke about their R40 Live Tour, which took place in the spring and summer of 2015.Lee, 71, said they wanted to play more shows on the farewell tour that made stops in the U.S. and their native Canada. He claimed that the lateNeil Peart, however, wasn’t interested.“I really felt like I let our British and European fans down,” Lee said of the decision.Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of Rush in July 2015.Mat Hayward/Getty"It felt to me incorrect that we didn’t do it, but Neil was adamant that he would only do 30 shows and that was it," Lee continued. “That to him was a huge compromise because he didn’t want to do any shows. He didn’t want to do one show.“Lifeson, 71, said that he and Lee were “disappointed” that Peart “demanded playing only a limited number of dates which precluded a UK and European run.” He said that Peart considered extending the tour at one point, but then suffered a toe infection that left him unable to walk.““They got him a golf cart to drive him to the stage,” Lifeson recalled. “And he played a three-hour show, at the intensity he played every single show.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Things became tangled between the three musicians in the band’s final years. “This is how complicated the whole world of Rush became since Aug. 1, 2015 until Jan. 7, 2020 when Neil passed,” Lee noted.He added: “Those were very unusual, complicated, emotional times. Fans invested their whole being into our band and I thought they deserved a somewhat straight answer about what happened and how their favorite band came to end.“Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee of Rush in November 2012.Robert Knight Archive/RedfernsRush formed in 1968 and released their debut album,Rushin 1974. Throughout their tenure, they released songs such as “Limelight,” “YYZ,” “Time Stand Still” and “La Villa Strangiato.” They shared their final album,Clockwork Angels,in 2012.Peart died in January 2020following a brain cancer diagnosis, at which time Lifeson and Lee decided it was the end of the band.

The remaining members of Rush are reflecting on their farewell tour 10 years later.

Speaking toClassic Rockin an interview published on Sunday, Jan. 5, the “Tom Sawyer” group’s bass playerGeddy Leeand guitarist Alex Lifeson spoke about their R40 Live Tour, which took place in the spring and summer of 2015.

Lee, 71, said they wanted to play more shows on the farewell tour that made stops in the U.S. and their native Canada. He claimed that the lateNeil Peart, however, wasn’t interested.

“I really felt like I let our British and European fans down,” Lee said of the decision.

Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of Rush in July 2015.Mat Hayward/Getty

Mat Hayward/Getty

“It felt to me incorrect that we didn’t do it, but Neil was adamant that he would only do 30 shows and that was it,” Lee continued. “That to him was a huge compromise because he didn’t want to do any shows. He didn’t want to do one show.”

Lifeson, 71, said that he and Lee were “disappointed” that Peart “demanded playing only a limited number of dates which precluded a UK and European run.” He said that Peart considered extending the tour at one point, but then suffered a toe infection that left him unable to walk.”

“They got him a golf cart to drive him to the stage,” Lifeson recalled. “And he played a three-hour show, at the intensity he played every single show.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Things became tangled between the three musicians in the band’s final years. “This is how complicated the whole world of Rush became since Aug. 1, 2015 until Jan. 7, 2020 when Neil passed,” Lee noted.

He added: “Those were very unusual, complicated, emotional times. Fans invested their whole being into our band and I thought they deserved a somewhat straight answer about what happened and how their favorite band came to end.”

Alex Lifeson, Neil Peart and Geddy Lee of Rush in November 2012.Robert Knight Archive/Redferns

Robert Knight Archive/Redferns

Rush formed in 1968 and released their debut album,Rushin 1974. Throughout their tenure, they released songs such as “Limelight,” “YYZ,” “Time Stand Still” and “La Villa Strangiato.” They shared their final album,Clockwork Angels,in 2012.

Peart died in January 2020following a brain cancer diagnosis, at which time Lifeson and Lee decided it was the end of the band.

source: people.com