Alex Lifeson Details Health Issues That Delayed Rush Return
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has opened up about why a potential return to the road with Geddy Lee didn’t happen sooner, saying lingering health problems left him unable to commit to touring after the band’s 2022 performances at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts. Lifeson described how the shows reignited his musical momentum, but added that he ultimately had to step back until he felt physically ready.
In a new statement reflecting on that period on his website, Lifeson said a second surgery “left me nauseous for a year,” prompting him to seek treatment at a clinic in Austria last January that specialises in digestive issues.
Lifeson said the post-tribute run initially had both musicians feeling like they were “on a definite roll,” and he recalled a backstage conversation with Sir Paul McCartney, who encouraged Lee to get back out on tour despite the loss of drummer Neil Peart. Lifeson said his excitement lasted about a month before he “cooled on the idea,” with Lee accepting that he wasn’t ready.
After returning from the Austrian clinic, Lifeson said he felt “reborn” and was able to seriously consider touring again, which led him and Lee to expand their song choices and play more intensely. That period also raised the difficult question of who could step into Peart’s role as they explored what a future lineup might look like, a process that echoes how Dave Grohl played a role in the Rush reunion conversation around the Hawkins tributes.
While no full-scale Rush return has been formally announced by the band, Lifeson’s comments underline how personal health realities shaped the pace of any discussions—and why, for him, the decision wasn’t simply about desire or legacy, but about being well enough to handle the demands of performing complex material at the level fans expect.
