Geddy Lee Says Alex Lifeson Collaboration Is ‘Certainly Possible’
Some positive news for Rush fans hoping to see their rock idols collaborating once again.
During an interview with the Toronto Sun, frontman Geddy Lee confirmed that the former bandmates remain good friends, adding that he and guitrarist Alex Lifeson “see each other quite a lot. And we visit with [drummer] Neil [Peart] quite often.”
While Lee admitted that any new material featuring all three Rush members would be unlikely, he stated, “It’s certainly possible that Alex and I would do something down the road.”
One possible drawback? A grueling tour schedule. “I’m reluctant to leave my family again,” Lee confessed when imagining future music endeavors. “So for me to do another musical project that would involve touring etc., it would have to be something I feel really strongly about. I’m not saying I wouldn’t do it. But I would have to be so charged up about it, it’s worth that separation.”
Rush’s final show together took place on Aug. 1, 2015. Even though Peart has insisted it was his last performance, Lee initially doubted the drummer. “We should have known it was the last show," he said. "But I think being eternal optimists, we hoped that after a break we would be back out there. That never materialized.”
Even though Lee said he misses “those three hours onstage with [his] buddies,” he’s remained busy since Rush retired. He’s currently on a book tour, promoting Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.
Released last year, the 400-page book features photos of the Rush frontman’s bass collection, along with interviews with fellow famous bassists, including Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo and U2’s Adam Clayton.
As for new music, Lee says he routinely “put[s] some ideas down." Still, any new material, with or without Lifeson, will have to wait until after his book tour is complete. “They’re going to keep me busy until next Christmas," he explained. "And then I’ll be free as bird, and probably next spring I’ll start looking at some serious musical ideas.”