Alex Lifeson dominated the Rush news cycle this past week, as he went on the interview circuit to promote his many side projects, including Envy of None and Lerxst Amps. But the portions of the interviews that garnered the most attention were when he addressed the possibility of making music with his Rush bandmate Geddy Lee. In his interviews with Rolling Stone and Ultimate Classic Rock, Lerxst revealed that he and Geddy have started getting together to jam in recent weeks. From Rolling Stone:
... Ged and I are hanging out a lot - and we always do - but now we're hanging out at his place and we're playing. And we're actually playing a lot of Rush songs. ... It's funny because we sound like a really bad tribute band for the first three or four run-throughs on these things. It's "Oh, my God, what did I play there? Why did I play that so hard?" And then muscle memory kicks in, and we're having a ball doing it. It's good for the fingers. We're together in a room like we've always been. That's been really good, but there's no chance that we're going to get a drummer and go back on the road as the rebirth of Rush or something like that. And if we wanted to write new material, nobody cares about new material anymore. They just want to hear the old stuff from guys like us. ...
Unfortunately it also sounds like there's little to no chance that the pair would consider touring due to Alex's recent health issues:
... we've talked about it in depth, and I was waffling between maybe considering it and not. And then my health issues came up. I know if we went on the road, it couldn't be like we used to do it. You need to go out for five or six months. You can't just go out and play on the weekends. It just doesn't work that way, especially if it's going to be a big production. I don't know. We talk a lot about it. We're in different worlds. I've been working on this Envy of None stuff for four or five years now. He's been busy writing his books and he travels a lot and he does all those things that are important to him. He hasn't been playing on a regular basis, and that's why he really loves it when we're together like this. And this is where we came from when we were kids. This is not about putting something together for a possible tour or a record or something. This is the joy of those two teenagers sitting in a room looking at each other and trying to learn how to play an instrument better. ...
In his ClassicRockHistory.com article Lerxst addresses Rush's legacy:
... "I'm proud of [Rush's] body of work," ... "I don't think that every record was great all the way through; I always felt that there was a song or two that maybe was a weaker addition to record, but that happens. Moving Pictures is probably the only one that I didn't feel like that with." ... "But there's so many people that ask about us getting back together, if we'll find a new drummer, or continue with Rush, and honestly-I'm proud of the fact that we haven't, and that it was over when it was over. We toured for 41 years, and Neil was done. He couldn't play like he did ten years earlier, and it was very difficult; he did not want to play even one percentage less than perfect. That was understandable ... And it was sad when it was over, and all of that, but in retrospect, we went out on a high note, and that's the legacy of Rush. So many people remember us, and there's sadness amongst our fans that it ended, and they want more, but you can't go back. We can't just go and get another drummer, and go out and play concerts, and make new material; it just would not be the same; it would just be a money ploy."... "I think that the fans, as sad as they may feel, would respect that and that we wouldn't do something like that just to take advantage of a money grab."... "I'm really proud of our legacy, and what we created as a bunch of kids living in the suburbs of Toronto in the '60s to being old men who did this thing. Especially for a Canadian band, to do what we did on an international scale is quite remarkable. So, I'm very, very proud." ...
Alex also conducted interviews with Guitar World, Guitarist, and Ultimate Classic Rock.
Back in March Rush beer partners Henderson Brewing Company announced the upcoming release of a new vintage of their Moving Pictures Ale, which first debuted in the fall of 2021 as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic Rush album. The new, limited-edition 2024 vintage is now available to purchase and pre-orders have begun shipping out. This Belgian Dark Strong Ale with Riesling Must pours a gorgeous deep, ruby colour with a fine, tan head. The taste is complex, with notes of dark fruit pudding, toffee, dates, cherries, honey, bread crusts and a slight booziness. Although Henderson aren't allowed to sell beer over the border to the US, their partners at Halftime Beverage are happy to take US customer orders here.
Guitarist Aldo Nova is currently on tour, and is using a custom Alex Lifeson Epiphone from FU Tone which can be seen in this IG post. Aldo Nova showed off the guitar in this Facebook post prior to hitting the stage at the M3 Rock Festival last week (thanks RushFanForever).
Def Leppard recently released a special box set celebrating the 40th anniversary of the band's breakout album Pyromania. The set was first released in March, but they are also making a Super Deluxe version available which releases officially next week. In the booklet that comes with the Super Deluxe edition, Rick Savage mentions Rush (thanks Ed B):
... where Pete [Willis] would play one part of the chord and Steve [Clark] would play a slightly different inversion, and it would create what's actually called a fifth. We used to listen to a lot of Rush and their guitarists Alex Lifeson could create that sound on his own. That's how good he was! We needed two guitar players to achieve it. ...
Speaking of Def Leppard, frontman Joe Elliot was recently interviewed to address accusations that his band is using backing tracks during live performances (thanks Will C). He claims they don't, and when defending these claims he brings up Rush's Geddy Lee:
... the beginning bit of 'Love Bites', [drummer Rick Savage] just plays it on a keyboard, the way Geddy Lee plays bass pedals. [Rick] uses a drum loop on 'Rocket'. I mean, Christ, a two-armed drummer couldn't play that. But every word is sung. Every guitar chord is played. We don't cheat. There's not one word on tape. There's nothing. We've got some keyboard sounds, but they're just keyboards that Sav plays with his foot. ...
Last week, Louder.com posted their list of the 20 best classic rock albums to own on vinyland Rush's Moving Pictures was included at #7 (thanks RushFanForever):
Rush fans might argue what the band's best album was, but Moving Pictures serves as a great intro to the band and an essential listen for rock fans. It marked an exciting new chapter for Rush and features stone cold classics Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Limelight and the menacing Witch Hunt.
Over the past decade or so, Rush fans have become familiar with Geddy Lee's canine friends, Dr. Lucy and Stanley Wasserman, due to their regular appearance in Geddy Lee's Instagram posts. In a bit of sad news, Geddy reported via Instagram this past week that both dogs recently passed away. From the post:
Life is complicated and at times, stressful, so it's important to stop and say thank you to those who help you get through it all.
The ones that are there for you.
Human or not.
For over 13 years these the two furry pals, Dr Lucy and Stanley Wasserman, have given my family and I, an incredible amount of laughter, love and loyal affection, and it is with great sadness that I share the news that they have both recently departed this planet. To say that they are sorely, sorely missed just doesn't quite cover it. So all I can say is thank you.
RIP Dr. Lucy and Stanley Wasserman. Condolences to Geddy and his family on behalf of all RIAB readers.
Tomorrow, May 11th, is the 16th anniversary of the passing of original Rush drummer John Rutsey, who died back in 2008 at age 55. Here's video of Rush with Rutsey on drums performing on TV at Laura Secord Secondary School in St. Catharines back in 1974:
That's all for this week. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Sadly, Geddy Lee has reported via Instagram that his pair of Norwich terriers, Dr. Lucy and Stanley Wasserman, both passed away recently....
Alex Lifeson talks "Envy of None", Lerxst Amps, and jamming Rush songs with bandmate Geddy Lee in new Ultimate Classic Rock interview ...
Rolling Stone has posted a new interview with Alex Lifeson where Lerxst talks about a number of subjects including his health, "Envy of None", his new line of signature gear at Lerxst Amps, and more ...
A new interview with Rush's Alex Lifeson is featured in the May 2024 edition of Guitar World magazine where Lerxst talks about his current offering of signature gear at Lerxst Amps, "Grace Under Pressure", and the possibility of making new music with Geddy ...
Friday Rush updates! Alex Lifeson talks Lerxst Amps and "Envy of None" in new Guitarist magazine interview, tix on sale for Geddy's one-off "My Effin' Life: In Conversation" spoken word show in Quebec City July 13, Ben Mink granted the "Order of Canada", and more ...