When Neil Peart passed away in January 2020, it felt like the closing of a door. For millions of fans, the loss of "The Professor" didn't just mark the end of Rush; it felt like a grim overture for the years that immediately followed. Looking back, it is hard not to draw a parallel between the silencing of his drums and the moment the world seemingly spun off its axis. A pandemic isolated us. The country fractured as we retreated into our own corners, and the simple human decency we used to take for granted seemed to get lost in the shuffle of a chaotic, increasingly angry world. Peart, a lifelong champion of reason and thoughtful connection, would have likely watched the growing divides with a heavy heart. Neil died, Rush ceased to exist, and we collectively slipped into a deep, dark hole. For over a decade, the idea of a Rush tour felt impossible, and after 2020, it became unthinkable. We had accepted that the music was relegated to our stereos and our memories. Bu...

The wait is finally over. Forty-five years after three guys from Willowdale first staked their claim on the world's most famous arena, the boys are back in town (and it's finally my turn to see the return of Rush live!) When Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson take the stage tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden for the first of four sold-out shows on the "Fifty Something" tour, it will be more than just a triumphant return to New York City. It’s the continuation of a 45-year legacy at the venue that mirrors the evolution of the band itself. This week’s four-night stand (July 28, 30, August 1, and 3) will push Rush's total number of MSG performances to 17. But before we look at what Anika Nilles and Loren Gold will bring to the rhythm and synth sections tomorrow night, let's look back at the history Geddy, Alex, and the Professor built in this legendary room. May 18, 1981: Moving Pictures Tour The debut. After years of grinding it out on the road, Rush finall...

Tonight marks the long-awaited kickoff of Rush’s highly anticipated four-night residency in the Windy City. After a stressful few weeks of uncertainty following the brief tour hiatus due to Geddy’s recent illness, word from soundcheck is that the boys are back in rare form, fully recharged, and ready to tear up the stage. Chicago has always held a legendary status in Rush touring lore, and this week’s stand only cements that bond. Tonight’s opener marks the band’s 31st performance in the city. That rich history makes Chicago the third most visited city in Rush’s entire touring career; sitting just behind Atlanta at number two, and, of course, their beloved hometown of Toronto holding down the top spot. For those of you holding tickets to any of these four consecutive dates, expect an absolute masterclass. If the early legs of this tour were any indication, the energy in the room tonight is going to be electric as the community welcomes them back to the stage healthy, loud, and firin...

After a brief, stressful hiccup that forced a temporary pause on the Fifty Something run, Rush officially returns to the road tonight, Saturday, July 11, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. As you all know, the original June 30 date had to be pushed back after Geddy contracted both bronchitis and laryngitis. Thankfully, his recovery was quick, the gears are well-oiled, and the band is ready to resume what has already been an incredibly emotional, triumphant tour. If you’re holding tickets from the June 30 postponement, they are fully valid for tonight’s show. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the magic starts at 7:30 PM sharp. For those of you who haven't caught a show on this tour yet, seeing Geddy and Alex back on stage together is everything we hoped it would be. While no one will ever replace the Professor, the band has done a phenomenal job honoring Neil’s legacy while keeping the sonic power of these tracks alive. The expanded live lineup has been firing on all cylinders, bri...

Rush have just announced that the final two Texas dates that were to take place tonight (June 30th) and July 2nd have now been postponed due to Geddy contracting both laryngitis and bronchitis. Here's the full message from the band: To our fans, We are deeply sorry to share that we must postpone our June 30 and July 2 shows. Geddy has been diagnosed with laryngitis and bronchitis. After being evaluated by his doctors, he has been advised that he needs additional time to rest and recover before returning to the stage. This is incredibly disappointing for all of us. We know many of you have made travel plans and have been counting down the days to these shows. Please know this decision was not made lightly. After more than 50 years of touring, we’ve always believed that if we’re going to step on stage, we owe you the very best performance we can give—and right now, that simply isn’t possible. We’re grateful to everyone involved for helping us quickly find new dates to celebra...

The highly anticipated "Fifty Something" tour has officially launched last week in grand fashion, with Geddy, Alex, drummer Anika Nilles, and keyboardist Loren Gold taking over the Kia Forum in Los Angeles for a massive four-night opening run. It had been 11 years since the band graced that same stage to conclude the R40 tour, and the production pulled no punches for this momentous return. Delivering the kind of visual spectacle fans have come to expect, the light and stage show were truly impressive, proving that the band’s legendary live production remains as sharp as ever. Musically, the opening run kept the faithful constantly guessing. Rather than settling into a static routine, each night presented a significantly different setlist, with less than 50% of the songs repeating across the four shows. Fans were treated to astonishing deep cuts and tour debuts with the sheer variety of the setlists during this LA residency set an exhilarating tone for the rest of the tou...

Tomorrow night, June 7, 2026, the impossible becomes reality. For the first time in 11 years, the lights will go down, the crowd will roar, and Rush will step onto an arena stage at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. When the R40 tour concluded in 2015, we all quietly accepted that the book on our favorite band had closed. When we lost "The Professor," Neil Peart, in 2020, that closure turned into a profound, permanent grief. The idea of hearing these songs echoing through the rafters of an arena ever again seemed completely, definitively out of the question. But as Geddy Lee recently shared, after years of deep soul-searching, he and Alex Lifeson realized they simply missed playing the music they poured their hearts into for over half a century. After Alex successfully sought treatment and overcame recent health hurdles, the stars aligned, giving them the confidence to hit the road for one more run. We all know this tour is going to look and feel different, and that is exact...

Fans of Richard Houghton’s excellent 2020 release RUSH: The Day I Was There will be happy to hear that the author is returning to familiar territory with a brand-new Rush-focused volume arriving later this year. Titled Vanished Time: A People’s History of Rush , the book is scheduled for release on November 3, 2026. Like Houghton’s previous music-history projects, Vanished Time takes a fan-centered approach rather than presenting a traditional biography of the band. The book is said to feature more than 500 firsthand accounts from Rush fans, chronicling concert experiences, personal encounters, road trips, unforgettable performances, and the many moments that helped define the Rush community over the decades. The stories reportedly span the band’s entire live history - from the early club shows of the 1970s through the arena tours, concept-heavy productions of the 1980s, and ultimately the R40 era. In addition to the fan recollections, the book will also include rare and previous...

This is The Spirit Of Piano... RUSHfest Scotland have released 'RUSH FOR SOLO PIANO' by David Sanderson, a new album offering exciting, unique and fresh interpretations of music by Canadian rock band Rush which transforms their complex, high-energy rock compositions into evocative solo piano arrangements. Stripping away the amplification to focus on the core melodic DNA, these arrangements distill familiar, intricate works into a singular voice. Sanderson reveals new emotional depth and nuance within essential tracks such as "Closer To The Heart," "Xanadu," and "A Farewell To Kings," offering a fresh perspective on the music we’ve known and loved for decades. The album artwork is created by HUGH SYME, the longtime collaborator behind all of Rush’s iconic album artwork since 1975. His distinctive aesthetic has been integral to the band’s visual identity for decades and his work on 'RUSH FOR SOLO PIANO' continues that legacy. ...

Update: Rick Beato also sat down with Alex Lifeson and, separately, Terry Brown for interviews as well. You can watch them below. If you aren't already familiar with him, Rick Beato is a veteran record producer, audio engineer, and university music professor who has become one of YouTube’s most respected voices for music analysis. Through his massively popular channel, he breaks down the music theory and production behind classic songs and hosts long-form, deeply technical interviews with some of rock's greatest legends. His background allows him to speak with artists on a musician-to-musician level, eliciting studio secrets and creative insights you rarely get in standard press junkets. He recently brought that expertise to a fantastic, hour-long sit-down with Geddy Lee, delivering a conversation that is a must-watch ahead of the upcoming " Fifty Something " tour. In the interview, Geddy opens up about the monumental task of preparing for the band's first...

The July 2026 issue of Guitar World features Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson on the cover, offering an in-depth look at the upcoming Fifty Something tour. Keeping this highly anticipated reunion a secret was no small feat, but in the magazine's extensive piece, "Re-Enter ... Stage Left," the duo finally details exactly how it all came together. The Inside Scoop on the Reunion The piece explores the early, private jam sessions that sparked their return. Alex admits he was initially hesitant due to his health, but notes that once they started playing together again, "we were laughing and smiling and really enjoying it". Of course, the most significant hurdle was sitting someone behind the drum kit. While it is well known that German virtuoso Anika Nilles is handling drumming duties on the tour, the article provides an emotional behind-the-scenes look at that decision. Geddy summarizes the daunting reality, asking, "How do you ask someone to replace a guy who’...

In a new feature for The New York Times , journalist Hank Shteamer takes fans inside a small Toronto studio where Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are doing something they haven't done in over a decade: rehearsing for a tour. The article provides a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the preparations for the upcoming "Fifty Something" tour and the emotional process of returning to the stage without Neil Peart. Here are the key takeaways from the piece: The Rehearsal Vibe is Light and Comic: Despite the immense pressure of living up to the Rush legacy, the atmosphere in the studio is incredibly positive. Between running through 11 of the 38 songs they are currently relearning (the titles remain a closely guarded secret), Geddy and Alex are leaning heavily into their trademark rapid-fire comic banter. Geddy noted their M.O. remains unchanged: "pay attention to detail, and then the minute the song is over, get as ridiculous as you can be." Integrating Anika Nil...