Bard

You're too young to care. :) I'm roughly the same age as him (21) and I agree with you. We're acting all entitled and as I have posted before, watch the first half of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNaEEj7gCqM People here are going on about the very specific word choices the band chooses in interviews about very open ended topics. Some are declaring statements of doom and hopelessness while others are a bit more optimistic. I don't understand why it's so hard for people to just accept that the future is open ended. Don't expect anything, be happy if they do. They owe all of us nothing at all. They've given us 40+ years of entertainment. Anything after 1997 is just a bonus considering the band could still be dead. I once made peace with the idea that I'd never see them since I lived too far away. I've now seen them 3 times and I'm very happy that I have. I'm not depressed at the idea that they may hang it up after this, but happy to at least see them off, something denied to many people this tour. If they record again, great. If they choose to settle down, also great. If they're happy and doing what they want to, that's the only thing we should want from them. I'm not even sad about the possibility (emphasis)of Rush breaking up after this tour anymore. But it's exactly that, a possibility that we won't see them anymore, Bard is just too thick skulled to admit that absolutely nothing is set in stone yet. Hell, Alex Lifeson himself said that he was open to performing again after this tour in a David Gilmour short tour style or a residency, why would Alex lie? If Alex thought Rush was done, that possibility wouldn't even be entertained. I mean, Alex says Rush isn't done but Bard still denies it? That's a special kind of thick skulled right there. You're just a kid. You know nothing yet about possibilities. But someday you will. :) That is not precisely what Alex said. Some of you fanboys are taking certain statements as actual hardline projections, when all they are in truth is answers to interview questions 'nicely' redirecting an outright proclamation of retirement. You're young. Thick skulled is thinking they should carry on just for your own sake, not theirs. Enough information has been given to clearly indicate pending retirement. It's up to the individual to hope for otherwise, of course. But it's a fool's errand in this particular case. Time will show all, won't it. Nope, nothing is set in stone, the only thing in life that is, is we all get to die. Short of that, anything's possible. But it's not likely. I dunno how a 21 year old Rush fan would lament such a thing anyway. We all get to miss flashpoint events that happened before our time. You are no different. Get over it and yourself.

You're too young to care. :)

But I'm not. :) Still, the point holds. There's no money in albums anymore. It's extremely unlikely that they'd drop an LP and skip the touring behind it. It's far more likely that Geddy will possibly work on another solo album.

Seriously? You got PO'd and retaliated by stealing her beer because some "bitch" near you said the name of a song?? It's pretty ridiculous, isn't it?

There is no mandated requirement or directive that dictates in what manner a band should say good bye, or how they should conduct their interview responses with exact specifics. Geez, some of you are entitled.

Only problem is that Al explicitly said that he's open to short tours and limited performing. That's just interview talk. They're not the kind of band that's going to officially announce retirement. No matter how many of you insist it should be otherwise. Sometimes people just want to head into retirement without fanfare. What makes any of you think that the members of Rush, given their humility to date, aren't like this? LOL, the only way some of you are going to accept their retirement is when one of them is absolutely no longer able to play, apparently. Why the f**k would he even entertain the f***ing idea then? I swear, you're more of a downer than me. Think about it for a while, Geddy and Alex are both super sweet dudes, Neil's nice too but his shyness gets in the way. How f***ing douchey would it be for all three of them to dissapear off the face of the goddamn earth after this tour with not as much as a goodbye after explicitly stating that this is not "the end" of Rush as a band? No. They would NOT do something as low as that and I believe Alex on this, (Why wouldn't I, he's kind of A MEMBER OF THE BAND) LOL, I dunno if I"m more a downer than you, skip. Why do you believe quiet and humble retirement is a douchebag way to go? They're not going to disappear, they're going to stop playing live. Why do you feel like Rush 'owes' you an explicit good bye? Do you feel that's necessary for anyone who stops what they've been doing for years, or are you holding a higher standard to three men you've never met? You sound pretty worked up over the idea. It's a rock band, dude. Focus all those energy reserves on something more important than the retirement of Rush. Like a better world, helping the less fortunate. Not crying and whining about a band who's lasted far longer than most. Appreciate what you have received. You look ungrateful and greedy if you expect more than what they've already shared with the world. I'm not saying Rush owes us shit, but it would be a classier move if their next tour was an official farewell world tour so everybody from NYC to Rome to London and to Rio can all say goodbye to Rush as a touring band all together, YYZumbi, Segue Myles, and everyone else from Europe won't be left out and I can say I saw them more than once. Yeah, that's simple fan greed. They've toured Europe a lot over the years. You saw them once. Which is better than not at all. Sometimes things pass before we get a chance to fully embrace all that we would, given a choice. Acceptance is easier than lament. I myself WISH I'd gotten to see the Doors or Zeppelin live. But I didn't. Things passed before I was able to do so. C'est la vie. The band owes you nothing, and if you don't like the way they're saying 'good bye', well...there are worse things in the world. Like genocide in Africa. Priorities, man. Make some. So appreciate what you've gotten.

Only problem is that Al explicitly said that he's open to short tours and limited performing. That's just interview talk. They're not the kind of band that's going to officially announce retirement. No matter how many of you insist it should be otherwise. Sometimes people just want to head into retirement without fanfare. What makes any of you think that the members of Rush, given their humility to date, aren't like this? LOL, the only way some of you are going to accept their retirement is when one of them is absolutely no longer able to play, apparently. Why the f**k would he even entertain the f***ing idea then? I swear, you're more of a downer than me. Think about it for a while, Geddy and Alex are both super sweet dudes, Neil's nice too but his shyness gets in the way. How f***ing douchey would it be for all three of them to dissapear off the face of the goddamn earth after this tour with not as much as a goodbye after explicitly stating that this is not "the end" of Rush as a band? No. They would NOT do something as low as that and I believe Alex on this, (Why wouldn't I, he's kind of A MEMBER OF THE BAND) LOL, I dunno if I"m more a downer than you, skip. Why do you believe quiet and humble retirement is a douchebag way to go? They're not going to disappear, they're going to stop playing live. Why do you feel like Rush 'owes' you an explicit good bye? Do you feel that's necessary for anyone who stops what they've been doing for years, or are you holding a higher standard to three men you've never met? You sound pretty worked up over the idea. It's a rock band, dude. Focus all those energy reserves on something more important than the retirement of Rush. Like a better world, helping the less fortunate. Not crying and whining about a band who's lasted far longer than most. Appreciate what you have received. You look ungrateful and greedy if you expect more than what they've already shared with the world.

There are a vast array of indicators giving quite clear evidence that this is the last run. I have no idea why people want to stick their heads in the sand about it. I get that the passing of eras is difficult for some, but it's a natural part of life. Nothing lasts forever. :) The thought of Rush retiring makes a lot of people uncomfortable because it makes them look at their own mortality. Exactly right. It's a strange thing, the 'Net and social media literally allowing us to watch our own era pass before our eyes.

Well, some folks are going to be pretty disappointed after August 1st, I think.

There are a vast array of indicators giving quite clear evidence that this is the last run. I have no idea why people want to stick their heads in the sand about it. I get that the passing of eras is difficult for some, but it's a natural part of life. Nothing lasts forever. :)

Only problem is that Al explicitly said that he's open to short tours and limited performing. That's just interview talk. They're not the kind of band that's going to officially announce retirement. No matter how many of you insist it should be otherwise. Sometimes people just want to head into retirement without fanfare. What makes any of you think that the members of Rush, given their humility to date, aren't like this? LOL, the only way some of you are going to accept their retirement is when one of them is absolutely no longer able to play, apparently.

He won't do that.

No.

Could that be because it was a hastily put together tou,r and Neilm, or whoever, insisted they tour THIS summer so the venues in Nashville, Charlotte and some other major cities weren't available? I'm not saying this is right, but it's just a thought that crossed my mind. I doubt that would be the strategy. My feeling is that there was a limited number of shows they wanted to do and the rest is up to the promoters to figure out where they would be. Alex talks in an interview before the tour started of trying to do something for Cleveland, as it turned out it didn't work in the plans. I'm still hanging on to hope that a few more dates in N. America will be added but it's getting less likely now at this late time in the schedule. During the planning stages, King Neil gave the OK for only a certain number of shows - take it or leave it, it didn't really matter to him. That number will NOT change and I seriously doubt that any future "one off" shows will take place either. He has been ready to tap out for years now and his dream is finally coming to fruition. See 'em now or never see 'em again... What he said. One-off gigs are only a possibility, def not a probability. This tour is the last run. It's been a good run. Far better than most bands. Appreciate it for what it is.

It's not speculation. :)

It's not that they're not enjoying themselves. But 2 of the 3 are having to soldier through significant discomfort.

There won't be any added dates, guys and gals. Not only is it too late to book venues for the fall, it's not what Neil agreed to do. Certain markets had to be skipped. It's pretty much a miracle we are getting what we're getting .

This is it. Make peace with it. It's all good. They've given more than most bands do.

Chemistry is an epic song. Signals is Rush's best album. :) Yeah, I know Here Again is virtually universally derided. I think it's got some bluesy Alex mojo in it. Love it. Nobody gives the debut much kudos except for Working Man and once in a great while, Finding My Way. Too bad. It's solid from start to finish.

I totally agree with you about S&A and RUSH. I love their debut. Like you said, the lyrical content of S&A is very powerful. It's really weird, most of the Rush nerds hereabouts really hate the debut. I guess it's a Knights of the Peart Table thing. It friggin' rawks. The S&A tour was probably the best show I've seen. Helped that I had front row Hollywood Bowl, granted, but...the setlist was awesome and they were on fire.

As a rule, I just assume the opposite of what you say is right. In this case, I'm batting 1000. As a rule, you're just a kid and your opinion doesn't matter quite yet. :)

Chemistry is underrated? And Entre Nous? Yikes, I'd hope not. Most of Snakes and Arrows is underrated, by my estimate. It's a powerful album overall. Far better than its predecessor and its followup. But by a country mile, the debut is constantly and unfairly underrated. Imma just go ahead and say Here Again is criminally underrated. :)

Music is more important to some people than others Dude, you need to get laid. I'll get to that......eventually I'd fast track it if I were you. Some things are more important than even music. Like true real life contact between human beings.

Music is more important to some people than others Dude, you need to get laid.

You missed the point. :/ I didn't miss anything, kid. Yep, you sure did, punkin. :) nah. So what was the point then? :) there isn't one. I was responding to zumbi's post. I can assure you his post was also pointless. wasn't really thinking about you or what "point" you had in mind, seeing as how you're a colossal prick and all. Well, in reality there is one, and since you claim there isn't one, you did indeed miss it. Sorry, no prizes for you. :)