Alex Lifeson says he's finally come to terms with Rush’s demise
Three-and-a-half years on from the Rush’s final show, guitarist Alex Lifeson says he has come to terms with the band’s demise.
Drummer Neil Peart battled chronic tendonitis, a foot injury and shoulder problems throughout Rush’s swansong R40 Live Tour and he duly announced his retirement after their final show at The Forum in Inglewood, California on 1st August 2015.
With Rush always vowing “not do a thing” without any of their three core members on board, last January Alex Lifeson officially confirmed what we secretly (and reluctantly) all knew – Rush was over.
He wrote in a blog post for Globe and Mail: “We have no plans to tour or record any more. We're basically done. After 41 years, we felt it was enough.”
Now, in an exclusive wide-ranging chat in Issue 13 of Planet Rock Magazine, Alex told us: “It wasn’t until a year later (after the final gig) that I started to feel better about it all. I realised we’d gone out on a high note.”
Reflecting more upon that final concert, Alex called it a “very powerful” experience, explaining: “I remember looking around the whole arena and trying to take it all in. The lighting. The crowd. The people around me. It was very emotional for us.
“I loved the way we presented those shows, starting with ‘Clockwork Angels’ and then working our way back to the very beginning. But had we done a typical-length tour of about 80 dates, I think I would have been more satisfied with it.”
Asked if he has since come to terms with Rush being over, Alex said: “Yes, I think so. I don’t want to be in a band and tour any more. I don’t feel the need to carry on with what I did for almost half a century. I’m fine with it now. And I’m as busy as I would ever want to be.”
Last November acclaimed German multi-instrumentalist and composer Marco Minnemann confirmed he’s working on new material with Alex Lifeson, telling his Facebook followers: “Working on a new collaborative release together with Rush’s Alex Lifeson. Watch this space for more details to follow soon.”
You can read the full rare and exclusive interview with Alex Lifeson in Issue 13 of Planet Rock Magazine, which is on sale now.
Rush grace the front cover of the new issue where we also take an in-depth look at the making of the band’s biggest album, Moving Pictures.
Issue 13 also features interviews with Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx, Rival Sons’ Jay Buchanan and Suzi Quatro, the story of Cream’s 1967 masterpiece ‘Disraeli Gears’ and Deep Purple, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Status Quo, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, The Wildhearts and much more.
Order issue 13 online here for just £5, with free UK delivery straight to your door, or pick it up from your favourite newsstand from 15th March!
You can also subscribe to Planet Rock Magazine for 12 months and get 6 issues delivered straight to your door (or someone else's, it makes a great gift). SUBSCRIBE HERE!