Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are currently in the middle of their 4-night run at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena, and took some time out to chat with the Toronto Star on how their Fifty Something tour is going so far, their surprise at the overwhelming response from fans, and how they are dealing with the grind of touring. Here's Ged:
... [touring again] feels amazing. Any preconceptions I had about going back on tour were not a tenth as powerful as the privilege of being up there every night with fans that have been so loyal and steadfast. ...
And Alex adds the following:
... It's incredible to see how joyous everyone is. They're laughing, they're crying, they're high-fiving. Everybody is just so connected. When Ged and I first talked about this, I had to be really sure that I wanted to do it again. I knew there would be a lot of work involved - 14 months of rehearsals - and we had our heads down through that whole period. It wasn't until we actually got on a stage and played the songs that it hit home. It's more of a family reunion than a rock show. I didn't expect to love it as much. ...
Here's Geddy Lee talking about how well Anika Nilles and Loren Gold have fit in with the band:
... She's a marvel behind the drums. Yes, of course, she's gaining a lot of popularity, but she's also living a dream where she's learning from the master by being faithful to him. At the same time, she has enough confidence to add her own flourishes. We've talked about this with her. I said, "Listen, once you know the material, there will be plenty of room for you to be you." Like us, she loves to play, and she's learned that when you tackle a complex song, there is no greater feeling. As well, the addition of Loren Gold on keyboards and vocals really freed Alex and I up to focus on our playing. He's been a huge bonus. We've got a nice little quartet going on right now. ...
Geddy also addressed the difficulty of keeping their emotions in check while honoring the late Neil Peart:
... It's been very emotional. We know the fans come out of respect for us and Neil, but they're also grieving more than a little bit. It hits you when you least expect it. Like, the fourth show at Madison Square Garden, I was introducing "The Garden" and it just got me. I had a hard time getting through the intro and singing the song became very difficult. I can't let it interfere, but sometimes it's just unavoidable. There are so many moments where I think that guy would be laughing his ass off at Al and I for doing this. I think he would approve. ...
Here's Alex discussing how he's dealing with his health issues while on tour:
... Six months ago, I wasn't sure if I could do it. We all have issues as we get older. And so the question was, how do I prepare for physically being on that stage? Never mind making sure my fingers are working in the right way. You reach a stage in your life where you're on the back side and you slow down - retirement and all of that stuff. But when you come out of it, knock that down, and turn it right around, it's an amazing feeling. My target was to be better than I've ever been. At this age, it's tough to achieve that, no matter how much willpower you have. But I'll tell you, it works if you spend the time and make the effort. Once you're there, there's an enormous sense of accomplishment. And it really raises your self-confidence. For me, I feel half my age just because everything is so exciting. It's a fantastic place to be. ...
You can read the entire interview online here (bypass paywall here).
