Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson recently chatted with Chile's Radio Futuro about the enthusiastic response to their Fifty Something tour. Here's Alex Lifeson:

"I don't know that we were quite prepared for the reaction. We thought that coming back after 11 years, being away, there were a lot of RUSH fans that were maybe unhappy with the way things sort of ended, and never thought they'd see us again. And then we started the tour, and the response has been - you go online and it's crazy. People are so excited and so happy. And looking out at our audience night to night, everyone is so joyous. Everyone is having such a good time. There's such happiness in the air, and it's a beautiful thing to experience. People are crying, and they're laughing, and they're high-fiving, and they're just getting an escape for a few hours from this crazy world. I mean, things are so nuts in the world right now, and this affords them an opportunity just to get away from that and to be together, like a community. It's really more of a family reunion than it is a concert. And we're just having a riot. We feel so comfortable and happy, and we feel well-prepared. I think we're playing as well as we can, and we're also having a riot on stage and goofing around. And Anika is so open to our craziness and really has become a part of it. And Loren is the same; Loren has a great sense of humor. So the unit is very happy. The four of us are very happy, and I think the audience feels it and really, really appreciates it."

Here's what Geddy had to say:

"I'm just having a ball. I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life. Preparation for this tour was intense and years in the making. People think you can just walk up on stage and play three hours' worth of those songs. I've got news for you - even the guys that wrote those songs have to work really hard to perfect them. And there was no way I was gonna hit the stage unless I knew that we could play at the top of our game. I mean, that's something Neil used to always say, and that's the reason he stopped playing, was because he no longer felt he had the energy to play at the top of his game. And it's very difficult, especially for a drummer - and a singer, I might say. So, yes, I'm ecstatic that we're playing so well and that the musicians that we've chosen to join us on stage have jelled the way they have. And every night out there is - for me, I just can't wipe the smile off my face. I'm not pretending, when you see me smiling up there. It's a joyous moment for me, and I know there're only so many gigs left in my body, so I'm gonna enjoy them while I can."

They were also asked if they are thinking about possibly working on new music with the current lineup, and Geddy responded as follows:

"No. We have enough to do. We're still trying to remember the old songs and play them."

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net for the heads up and transcripts.