Geddy Lee on Rush’s future after Neil Peart: ‘There’s always hope’

Run leader and bassist Geddy Leeauthor of the excellent new autobiography My damn lifetalks about many things in his new Rolling Stone Music Now interview, from his childhood as the son of two Holocaust survivors to his early musical influences (including the Hollies, Motown hits, Cream and Rhinoceros) and the highs and lows of his band’s synth period. But Rush fans will be most eager to hear Lee’s thoughts on the possible future of his work with the guitarist. Alex Lifeson in the wake of Neil Peartin 2020. Here’s that interview segment with Lee, who is currently on a movie theater book tour with surprise interviewers in each city: Paul Rudd was the debut guest in New York this week. To listen to the full interview, log in here for the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts either Spotifyor just press play below.

You said the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Performances They were, in a way, almost like the end of your shiva for Neil.
Yeah, I didn’t realize it at the time. It was only in retrospect because she was so absent from the Los Angeles show. I wasn’t myself. At the London show, the Wembley show, I was celebrating. I was honoring Taylor at the same time he was playing, again, songs that he loved and playing with new people. The atmosphere at that concert was simply magical. There was so much love. I know it sounds cheesy, but there really was a lot of love in that Wembley building. In that sense, I think it was the most special concert I have ever done in my life. All the artists, even the ones I didn’t know, were there for the same reason. There was no ego, no trace of competitiveness. And I found it really rejuvenating. I filled. I realized I had missed this. I miss playing. I love being in this atmosphere where each musician supports the other musician.

But when I got to Los Angeles, I didn’t feel the same. There was something about being in that building that really disturbed me and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I couldn’t understand it until I got on stage and realized it was about returning to the crime scene.

Rush’s last show with Neil in 2015.
Yes. And everything fell into place and I realized, okay, this is the end of this period for me. The pain has to end and something else has to replace it. What do you replace it with? Remembrance, respect and tribute.

So Paul McCartney Did he come up to you and congratulate you and tell you that you should get back on the road?
David [Grohl] It was so sweet. He comes up to us at rehearsal and says, “Paul McCartney is next to rehearsal and he’s outside, and he said to me, ‘Dave, he’s never met anyone from Rush before.'”

And I said, “I’ve never known him! Please bring it.” And he entered. He’s just a very lovely man. A very positive person.

Did you have the feeling that he knew your music?
No, but I had the feeling that he knew who we were and had heard of us. She had never listened to us. So, at the show, he was there. He watched the set. I think he was very curious because people had probably mentioned him.

But after the show, he was amazing. It was so warm, welcoming and positive. He came, sat and drank with us. We all get drunk. And he was very emphatic, talking about, “You know what Ringo always says: ‘It’s what we do.'” And I said, “He talks to Al, because he’s the stubborn one.” And then he was lecturing Al about how wonderful it is to be on tour. “You gotta do it, man. You gotta get back out there, man.” And Alex was like, “I’ll do it, if you’re our manager.” “I’ll handle you, buddy!” It was very funny, very funny, but he was right. That’s how he sees life. He is ageless because he truly believes that he was born to do this. That’s what you do. And you just do it. Don’t question it. And I think we all forget that sometimes.

What’s up with Al? I know he had those stomach problems and had another surgery, right?
Yeah.

Is your stubbornness based on that?
No. He has some health problems, he also has arthritis. It’s harder for you to play those solos the way you want. But he wasn’t very happy on the last few tours either. I think that’s why he played so much golf, because he gets bored very quickly. For me, I would lock myself in my room and work on photo albums, like playing with my bird photographs.

So I was busy. I’m very happy because I knew I had to stay quiet. I could not speak. So all day I worked on my photo albums and my photography. And in the evening I would meet with Al after he had played 14 rounds of golf. And we dined and drank too much wine. And then the next day was the day of the concert. But I think being away and on tour is harder for him to be happy. So that’s a hurdle and at this stage of his life, considering he has some concerns about his health, it’s very difficult for him to wrap his head around the idea of ​​touring, you know? So I keep working on it.

You said something that I thought was interesting, which is that it’s conceivable for you guys to go out and call yourselves Rush.
I don’t know if that’s 100 percent true. I don’t know how comfortable we would be doing that, calling ourselves Rush, and it’s all speculation because… Honestly, it’s unlikely to happen. That’s probably a conversation for another time, but we may not feel very comfortable. But we could always call each other some other stupid name, or Rash. [Laughs.]

Lee and Lifeson sounds good.
“Lee and Lifeson play Rush songs”. It really sounds like an old band from the eighties.

That sounds like sold-out stadiums to me, though. I guess I’d say maybe it would be an opportunity to finally, in theory, get a keyboard player.
Oh yeah.

And break all the rules you have set for yourself.
Yeah, I think if we did it again, for sure, it wouldn’t just be a threesome because we’d have to find a way to make it more fun, less work, and give some credit to the fact. that now we are a little older.

It would be a lot of pressure to put a drummer on that stage. He could be a drummer and a percussionist. It could be two drummers. There are many things you can try to do to take the pressure off of whoever that person is.
Brian, there are endless possibilities. I agree. Everything is hypothetical.

And then, how about two other things? How about new music from you and Alex in some form? either with or without tour — and if not, how about a solo album?
Both things are possible. I read recently that I plan to make another solo album. I never said I planned to make another solo album! I haven’t planned anything. I’m planning to survive this book tour and then I plan to go on vacation with my wife. Beyond that, I have nothing planned. Would I like to write some more music? Now yes, I would do it. I’m ready for that. Does Alex want to write more music with me? Yes he does. He has made it very clear. And that’s something I’m going to try to do with him over the next year. Would I like to write some songs on my own? Yes, I would. Again, it’s something I’d like to try over the next year. And that’s all I know. That’s all I have planned. There is nothing in the works, but this glorious possibility exists.

I think Al and I owe it to each other to seriously sit down and play together and see what happens, and maybe all this hypothetical crap we talk about…. Maybe that will go away if we get too excited or maybe it won’t, but I don’t bank on it, and Rush fans certainly shouldn’t count on it. There’s always hope.

Are your skills up to par? Have you been playing?
My skills are not up to par right now. I’m sorry to admit it. I’ve been talking, I’ve been using this to talk, this throat of mine, and I haven’t played enough, and I’m sorry to say my fingers are getting soft. But that’s going to change.

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