Much like the band's legions of dedicated fans, Alex Lifeson struggled to come to terms with the end of Rush.
In a new interview on The Rockman Power Hour, the guitarist — and founder of new project Envy of None — admitted that it was "difficult to accept" that the band would never play together again after their final tour: the R40 Tour wrapped up in at the Forum in Los Angeles in August 2015, celebrating 40 years since the addition of late great drum mastermind (and Rush's primary lyricist) Neil Peart.
"It was difficult to accept that was over, even though it was 41 years — and there's no shame in ending after that period of time," Lifeson told host Jason Rockman [via BLABBERMOUTH]. "And Neil didn't feel he could play a hundred percent — it was just getting too difficult to play this kind of music for three hours a night. So it is what it is; that was the end. And then within a year we found out he was sick. So it was quite a turbulent period," he said, referring to Peart's brain cancer (Glioblastoma) diagnosis.
"But I have all this music in me," Lifeson added of the genesis of Envy of None. "I think I'm more a songwriter than a guitarist, and I always thought of myself as a guitarist first. But realizing that I have so many ideas, and they're all over the place, and they're more about melody and about harmony and about space and mood and colour and tone rather than just playing."
Last June, the musician shared more reflections on that final tour during an appearance on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk.
"We were in our early 60s when that tour ended," the musician said. "After the number of dates that we did do, which was about half of what we would normally do — we were all starting to feel the fatigue, as you normally would."
He added that Rush had been really excited about the show's presentation and concept, as well as how they were executing everything, but Peart's health issues were becoming increasingly prominent for him.
"I thought we were all playing really, really well, and I probably could have continued to do another 30 shows, and I think Geddy [Lee] felt the same way," Lifeson explained.
He continued:
But it was becoming really difficult for Neil to play at that level, and unless he could play 100 percent at that level, he really didn't wanna do any more shows, and he didn't wanna be that person that should have taken it. And it was hard for him — a three-hour show playing the way he played. It's a miracle that he was even able to play. And he had some issues through that tour: he had an infection on his feet and he could barely walk, never mind playing the bass drum the way he did. And he never complained or anything like that.
"So, it was time," the singer-songwriter concluded. "And in retrospect, it couldn't have been better, because we were playing great, and we finished on such a high note."
Peart announced his retirement in late 2015 before his death in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the music industry and Canada.
While Lifeson doesn't plan on touring with Envy of None, the project's self-titled debut is set to land this Friday (April 8).
Watch Lifeson's interview on the podcast below.
Between auctioning off some of his most iconic guitars and running contests to win his signature axe, Lifeson is generously giving fans the opportunity to be the envy of all. Meanwhile, Lee is guest-starring on Murdoch Mysteries — sure to become a future Heritage Minute.
In a new interview on The Rockman Power Hour, the guitarist — and founder of new project Envy of None — admitted that it was "difficult to accept" that the band would never play together again after their final tour: the R40 Tour wrapped up in at the Forum in Los Angeles in August 2015, celebrating 40 years since the addition of late great drum mastermind (and Rush's primary lyricist) Neil Peart.
"It was difficult to accept that was over, even though it was 41 years — and there's no shame in ending after that period of time," Lifeson told host Jason Rockman [via BLABBERMOUTH]. "And Neil didn't feel he could play a hundred percent — it was just getting too difficult to play this kind of music for three hours a night. So it is what it is; that was the end. And then within a year we found out he was sick. So it was quite a turbulent period," he said, referring to Peart's brain cancer (Glioblastoma) diagnosis.
"But I have all this music in me," Lifeson added of the genesis of Envy of None. "I think I'm more a songwriter than a guitarist, and I always thought of myself as a guitarist first. But realizing that I have so many ideas, and they're all over the place, and they're more about melody and about harmony and about space and mood and colour and tone rather than just playing."
Last June, the musician shared more reflections on that final tour during an appearance on SiriusXM's Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk.
"We were in our early 60s when that tour ended," the musician said. "After the number of dates that we did do, which was about half of what we would normally do — we were all starting to feel the fatigue, as you normally would."
He added that Rush had been really excited about the show's presentation and concept, as well as how they were executing everything, but Peart's health issues were becoming increasingly prominent for him.
"I thought we were all playing really, really well, and I probably could have continued to do another 30 shows, and I think Geddy [Lee] felt the same way," Lifeson explained.
He continued:
But it was becoming really difficult for Neil to play at that level, and unless he could play 100 percent at that level, he really didn't wanna do any more shows, and he didn't wanna be that person that should have taken it. And it was hard for him — a three-hour show playing the way he played. It's a miracle that he was even able to play. And he had some issues through that tour: he had an infection on his feet and he could barely walk, never mind playing the bass drum the way he did. And he never complained or anything like that.
"So, it was time," the singer-songwriter concluded. "And in retrospect, it couldn't have been better, because we were playing great, and we finished on such a high note."
Peart announced his retirement in late 2015 before his death in January 2020 sent shockwaves through the music industry and Canada.
While Lifeson doesn't plan on touring with Envy of None, the project's self-titled debut is set to land this Friday (April 8).
Watch Lifeson's interview on the podcast below.
Between auctioning off some of his most iconic guitars and running contests to win his signature axe, Lifeson is generously giving fans the opportunity to be the envy of all. Meanwhile, Lee is guest-starring on Murdoch Mysteries — sure to become a future Heritage Minute.