Alex Lifeson Thinks Rush Could Have Continued Touring

In a new interview with Ultimate Guitar, Alex Lifeson talked about the retirement of Rush and confessed that the band didn’t necessarily have to stop touring.

Rush has been a part of the rock and roll world since its formation in 1968. The band is known for its classic power trio, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and the late Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020. Two years before Peart’s death, the group had disbanded, which marked the ending of their live performances.

Before their break up, the band had gone on their The R40 Live Tour in 2015, which was their last. They would continue making music, but this was their last major tour. Neil Peart’s illness made it difficult for the band to continue creating new things and naturally brought their end.

Alex Lifeson apparently wasn’t happy with the decision because he would have loved to continue touring if they had the physical strength. According to him, the band was still performing well with their instruments. He is driven and determined to continue making music despite the disbandment of Rush.

Here is what he stated about Rush’s retirement:

“I mean, I get it, and I think for a lot of people, it’s great. They reached that point in their lives after a long career in whatever it is that they do. It’s weird in this line of work, and I guess it’s the same thing with athletes in professional sports when you come to the end, especially with us, and we still have gas in the tank. We could have continued touring. If we had the strength, we could have continued touring. I think we were playing great. On the last tour, I thought we played really, really well. I thought the show looked fantastic, and you could argue that that’s the best way to go out.

That’s where your legacy is intact, and that’s how people remember you. They remember you at that show where you played that song that they’ve listened to for 40 years, and it was the best version they’ve ever heard of that song, and that’s what they’re left with. They’re sad that it’s over, but at least they have that memory. Unlike some artists who end up in a chair on a stage singing. I would never, ever, ever want to be like that. For what purpose? Is it money? Is it some egotistical drive? Get over it. Get over yourself. You know, it’s just, I don’t know. I’m just not like that.

So I’d rather be productive, and I’m going to continue working. I’m not going to play Rush songs, I’m not going to try and be what I was when I was 25 years old, or 30 years old. I’m a different person now. I’m still the same person, but I think differently. I’m sitting and playing acoustic guitar before I go to bed every night for a couple of hours now, and I am loving it. No one’s in the room, my wife’s not even in the room, and I’m having so much fun. My fingers are really hurting, which is a good sign. I just shake my head, and I just thank the gods that I’m able to do this, and I’ve been able to do this, and I hope to continue until the very last big open E chord I play.”

The musician said he would not play like he was younger with Rush. He is determined to be the same musician as a different person thanks to years of experience but made it clear that if the appropriate circumstance were achieved, Rush could’ve kept on touring.