“I don’t know what some of these people were thinking.”

Following the tragic passing of Neil Peart in January 2020, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson says the band was immediately inundated with e-mails from drummers eager to audition—despite the impossibility of replacing their legendary bandmate.

In a new interview with Q104.3 host Jonathan Clarke, Lifeson opened up about the relentless speculation surrounding a potential RUSH reunion and the immediate responses they received after Peart’s death from brain cancer.

“It didn’t take more than a few minutes before we started getting e-mails from drummers wanting to audition for the band, thinking we were just going to replace someone we played with for 40 years—who also wrote all the lyrics for our music. I don’t know what some of these people were thinking.”

Would Lifeson and Geddy Lee Ever Play Together Again?

Despite shutting down any notion of a RUSH reunion, Lifeson acknowledged that he and Geddy Lee have discussed making music together again—but on their own terms.

“We can’t avoid the conversation,” Lifeson admitted. “But honestly, Ged is my best friend. We talk every day, we have dinner together, we play tennis, we do charity work. I go over to his place to play, but half the time we just sit, drink coffee, and laugh the whole day.”

While fans continue to speculate about a return, Lifeson made it clear that his relationship with Lee extends beyond music:

“It’s not just RUSH, RUSH, RUSH. I have a deep, loving relationship with this man, and it’s not all about recreating the past. You never know what life brings, but right now, I’m super happy doing what I’m doing.”

Lifeson’s Current Musical Endeavors

Although a RUSH reunion isn’t on the table, Lifeson remains musically active with his current band, Envy of None. Their new album, Stygian Wavz, drops this Friday, March 14th.