Alex Lifeson Struggled to Come to Terms with the End of Rush

[Swede]

"It was difficult to accept that it was over, even though it was 41 years — and there's no shame in ending after that period of time"



https://exclaim.ca/music/article/alex_lifeson_struggled_to_come_to_terms_with_the_end_of_rush

[Wingus Dingus]

1. I guess I would have to say Lifeson is my favorite guitarist.

Sad to read about Peart's struggles at the end--when someone prides himself on flawless musicianship, as all three of them probably did, it must be so difficult to go onstage not feeling your best and wonder if you are not going to sound good to a concert hall full of people who don't know you are falling ill or are fatigued. He either wanted to do it right or not at all--I understand that sentiment.

[Zambero]

2. Keith Emerson struggled as well

One of his playing hands was no longer fully functional. It affected him personally to the point that he took his life.

[Wingus Dingus]

3. I didn't know that, geez. I often wonder if Chris Cornell

killed himself before his voice got too ragged or unreliable to perform. It must be hard to publicly lose what has defined you for so long.

[exboyfil]

4. I am glad they decided to pack it in

unlike certain other bands (The Who). Major props to Led Zeppelin to know when the music was over.

We do have 40+ years of incredible music we can turn to anytime we want. I do hope that Lifeson and Lee play together again just not Rush songs. Create something new.

[highplainsdem]

5. Some bands can continue at a very high level. Golden Earring, for

instance, with band members a bit older than Lifeson and Peart, disbanded only last year, and only because founder, lead guitarist, songwriter and sometimes lead vocalist George Kooymans was diagnosed with ALS.

This is how well he was still playing guitar in his 60s:

[Dr. Strange]

6. Blah blah blah :)

and there's no shame in ending after that period of time

Especially when you're ending by going out still at the top of your game. They were still selling out large venues, leaving the fans wanting more. I'd be hard-pressed to think of another band that retired at the top of their game like Rush.