Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee recently opened up about why he and guitarist Alex Lifeson are planning to hit the road in 2026 using the Rush name, even though longtime drummer Neil Peart is no longer alive.
Lee said the decision was heavily debated inside the Rush camp, but ultimately came down to representing what audiences will actually hear on the shows: a night built around the band’s catalogue.
In an interview with U.K.’s Classic Rock magazine, Lee argued that performing around 40 Rush songs across a short run of dates makes it hard to justify presenting the project as anything else, adding that he and Lifeson were “twisting ourselves into a pretzel” trying to avoid the name they’ve used for decades.
“What else do you fu**ing call it? When the band ended, we said it’s only Rush with Neil in it,” he continued. “Which, of course, is true. Rush as most people know it. But, you know, over five gigs we will be playing forty Rush songs. So what the f**k should we call it, Iron Maiden?”
Lee also said the pair have the blessing of Peart’s family to tour again under the Rush banner, calling it a more direct and honest approach than branding the concerts as “Lee and Lifeson present the music of…” He maintained that the name reflects who they have been for more than 50 years, even acknowledging that the band as most fans know it included Peart.
“We were twisting ourselves into a pretzel to try to avoid using the name that we have had for fifty years, and even before Neil came,” Lee said.
“It just seems silly to go on as ‘Lee And Lifeson Present The Music Of…'” Lee concluded. “Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Let’s just be who we are and have been for over fifty years.”
The upcoming dates will mark Lee and Lifeson’s first official shows under the Rush name in 11 years, beginning in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the site of Rush’s final concert on the “R40” anniversary tour.
They are set to be joined by German drummer Anika Nilles, who has rehearsed with them ahead of the run, and keyboardist Loren Gold, known for touring with The Who and Chicago. This follows earlier Alternative Nation reporting on Lee outlining expectations for Rush’s new drummer as the project took shape.
The 2026 “Fifty Something” leg is reported to have expanded significantly after sellouts, and additional South America and Europe dates are slated for early 2027. Lee and Lifeson most recently performed publicly with Nilles at the Juno Awards in Canada, underscoring that the new era is focused on celebrating the Rush body of work while moving forward with respect for Peart’s legacy.
