sun dog Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 (edited) I've been reading this sort of flag-planting in the land of never again, and while I do think there are compelling arguments to be made for a retirement from live outings, I think that it's vitally important to remember how little we have to go on at this point. What do we know for sure? We know that there's been some discussion about health and family, which are of course not small things, but we also know they've made some comments about residency shows. And we know that they decided to use open-ended terminology to describe the R40 tour, though it was also transitory, and may have been weightier than it sounded. Then of course there was Saturday. Clearly, it was something different from what we've seen in the past. But what do we really know? We know that Neil's playfulness and photo shooting and coming out front was out of character, and there were certainly wisps of finality about that. But we don't know precisely what it meant, and one could argue that the end of the show, while unusual, was not particularly drawn out, and could well have been a sort of hedge; that is, they don't know what lies ahead, and maybe they thought it prudent to do something, just in case it was the end of performing live. I would posit that we have almost nothing to work with. We know that they've had a very long career and we can speculate that they're ready for a new phase, or that at least that some of them are, but what's really important is that we don't know what they're going to be feeling a little farther down the road. They're playing so beautifully now, and we can guess as some have that they would want to go out on top. But couldn't we also think about that exceptional playing in different way? Would you be inclined to quit something when you can do it so well? And for decades they've had this consistently wonderful outpouring of positive energy at the shows. Though they’ve more than earned the right, can we be so sure that they'd be happy to let that go? As long as we're speculating, I believe that great performers are more likely to be reluctant to close that door for good, unless they have to. Maybe I'm too optimistic. To be honest, Saturday hit me like a ton of bricks, and I'm sure that that pain is coloring my outlook. This band has meant so much to me for so long---35 years---and it's been difficult for me to come to terms with any level of transition. I know it's coming, and I do feel an enormous sense of gratitude for what we've been given. It's amazing to think that the one band that has been more important to me than any other, since I was 12, has been going strong for all of this time. I've had so many opportunities to see them live, and I enjoy each new album more than the last. I know full well that anything that happens after this is, as my Rush bud describes it, "gravy on top of gravy". If this was indeed the end, I'd be devastated, but I'd also be incredibly grateful. I would however like to put off that devastation until we hear something more definitive. Perhaps we could keep the door cracked ourselves. I think there's a good chance that we'll hear some new music, and for me that's huge. As to anything more, I think about the documentary, when, in talking about their return in 2002, and that first show in Hartford, Neil says that "I remember saying to Ray afterwards, it would have been a shame if that never happened again". Is it possible that he just doesn't feel that way anymore? Maybe... but I wonder. :) Edited August 7, 2015 by 1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Fixed typos at OP's request 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 We know they won't tell us it's the end. Geddy told us that much. So any more than that we have to speculate. Right now I figure they're just enjoying some rest. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSHHEAD666 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I love your topic title.The boys deserve to retire.I'm sure Neil wants to be a dad now. Be thankful he has a second chance at a family life!! They will probably play live again. My gut tells me three nights in Toronto. Then they will end it. Maybe some more East Coast dates. But that's it. I'm sure Geddy will get antsy since he is the healthiest of the three and put out a solo record. Alex will still sell his guitars. Neil will still be involved with Pro Mark and DW. Easy money baby. Rush went out on top at the LA Forum. Glad I was there to see it. Everything else is extra icing on the cake. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.D Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Almost forgot this with all the craziness at the end Sat. I was wandering around the soundboard preshow, waving at Howard and such, Ray Daniels responded "it ain't over" to a person near me I assumed asking about the band's future. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSHHEAD666 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I'm sure they will play again. It will just be set target city dates. The 25 to 34 city tours are over. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyfriar Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I'm sure they will play again. It will just be set target city dates. The 25 to 34 city tours are over.What about 21 shows in 12 cities? :haz: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 One thing I know for pretty darn sure I will be forced to travel much farther and make much more effort if I ever want to see them again and I am ok with that. They deserve to play where and when they want and it's up to us to get there. They did the hard time and made it relatively easy for most of us to see them for so long and now its their time... :codger: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sun dog Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 One thing I know for pretty darn sure I will be forced to travel much farther and make much more effort if I ever want to see them again and I am ok with that. They deserve to play where and when they want and it's up to us to get there. They did the hard time and made it relatively easy for most of us to see them for so long and now its their time... :codger: Totally agree with that... btw, I grew up in Greenbelt/Silver Spring, and the first song I heard was TSOR, on, fittingly, a little portable radio tuned to DC101. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narps Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 One thing I know for pretty darn sure I will be forced to travel much farther and make much more effort if I ever want to see them again and I am ok with that. They deserve to play where and when they want and it's up to us to get there. They did the hard time and made it relatively easy for most of us to see them for so long and now its their time... :codger: Totally agree with that... btw, I grew up in Greenbelt/Silver Spring, and the first song I heard was TSOR, on, fittingly, a little portable radio tuned to DC101.I did notice your first show was at the Baltimore Civic Center as was mine. Mine was just 7 years earlier however. The rest of the 6 shows I saw while living in PG county were all at the Capital Centre of course. One of the best shows I ever saw in my life was in Baltimore at Towson State U in October of 79'. AC/DC (the Bon one) and Pat Travers Band. Never forget it... :cheers: Spent the first 40 years of my life in Maryland.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleMoon Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I can't see them doing only Canadian shows. So many of their fans are from the U.S. Not everyone has a passport and they're not cheap. It was so much easier back when you could just drive over the border with an ID. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexMike Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Seems like there should be a whole new sub-forum here at some point just for speculation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GabesCavesOfIce Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Seems like there should be a whole new sub-forum here at some point just for speculation. Or please just rename the entire site... The Rush Retirement Speculation Forum . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sun dog Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 I'm sure Neil wants to be a dad now. Be thankful he has a second chance at a family life!! Of course, that goes without saying. Just think it's a tad early to be categorical, that's all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst6 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Well none of them have said "Rush is done" and that's a good thing. They will all continue to work on something creative. Neil's writing, Alex producing, Ged solo project or film scoring? They may not even know yet. I've read a few interviews with Alex discussing how much he loves playing acoustics, alternate tuned guitars, etc. I think a solo instrumental from him would be great. And Neil aside it seems Alex and Geddy don't spend too much time apart, so maybe they would do something together without Neil - it certainly wouldn't be Rush but would still be interesting. And we hope they will eventually reconvene as Rush again. I think they will. Ray Danniels thinks they will too. Read an interview where Ray said it would be impossible to get 65 yr olds out on tour, and I think that's true - both for health reasons and it seems they are all active with their families, not just Neil having a young kid. Tours may be done, but I really think they will still write and record. Maybe they do 5 song EPs instead of full albums? Or just a few songs here and there. Safe to say we won't know for a while though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sun dog Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 I think a solo instrumental from Alex would be wonderful. I've often thought about that. Peke's Repose really got me, particularly the very first version in Manchester, and it was so interesting to hear the evolution through the tour. And O'Malley's Break and Hope were lovely. His acoustic work reminds me in many ways of Michael Hedges, who was similarly inventive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersyl Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Seems like there should be a whole new sub-forum here at some point just for speculation. Here's the new way to post thread titles: "Blah, blah blah... *****MAY CONTAIN SPECULATION***** :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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