Dave Grohl recently discussed how the Taylor Hawkins tribute concert helped inspire Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to reunite and tour again. He shared his insights in an interview with Planet Rock.
When asked about Rush crediting their performance of “2112” with him as one of the reasons for their return to touring, Grohl explained the emotional journey that led to their reunion.
“When Taylor Hawkins passed away and we had the tribute concert that we put together for Taylor, we just called all of his friends and heroes and obviously Rush were both of those things to Taylor and to us,” Grohl said. “And so when I first called Geddy about doing something for the show, he said, you know, Alex and I haven’t really played together since Neil Peart passed away. I wanted to help make it as easy as we possibly could on them.”
The Foo Fighters frontman described how they arranged for legendary drummer Omar Hakim to perform “YYZ” and traveled to Toronto to rehearse with the Rush members before the London tribute show.
“We had so much fun. I mean, they’re the loveliest people in the world. It’s both just the sweetest, sweetest people,” he continued. “And I think that maybe that experience, that rehearsal, kind of broke the ice for them a little bit, not just in terms of Rush or anything musical, but just the joy of the two of them playing together again.”
Grohl reflected on witnessing the rekindled connection between the longtime bandmates and friends.
“And you could see it, like, I mean, they’re best friends. They’ve grown up together. So when you see them together, as nervous as they might have been, the love and the connection between the two of them is still there,” he said. “And so I think when he mentioned that, I think maybe it had something to do with the two of them experiencing playing music together again and how did it feel.”
The tribute concerts proved to be a pivotal moment for Rush’s surviving members. They marked their first significant performances together since the death of drummer Neil Peart in January 2020.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that the London Wembley show on September 3, 2022, featured Lee and Lifeson performing alongside Omar Hakim on drums for a set that included “YYZ” and other Rush classics. The performance honored both Taylor Hawkins and Neil Peart. It created an emotional bridge between past and present for the Canadian rock legends.
The success of the London tribute led to an extended performance at the Los Angeles show on September 27, 2022. Loudwire noted that Lee and Lifeson expanded their tribute set, performing the same tracks with three of modern rock’s most respected drummers: Dave Grohl, Danny Carey of Tool, and Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers rotating on drums throughout the performance.
Geddy Lee later reflected on the significance of these performances, particularly the London show. Alternative Nation revealed that Lee said the London tribute was “the first intense time we had spent any time playing our material with other people.” It reminded them that “those songs are still alive.”
The tribute concerts not only honored Hawkins’ memory but also demonstrated the enduring power of Rush’s music and the unbreakable bond between Lee and Lifeson. The performances served as a catalyst for the duo to consider returning to the stage. They showed that their musical chemistry remained intact despite the profound loss of their longtime bandmate and friend Neil Peart.
