Bard

I've been trying to politely say it. There really isn't a great place within walking distance of the Forum. There never has been. Unless someone has an RV in the parking lot. :) There are, conversely, a large number of less than appetizing soul food joints nearby. There are no bars worth a damn near the Forum. Believe me. I'm a frequent Forum attendee. :) Plenty of GREAT spots within 5-10 miles of the Forum, however. :) But the best bet is still the VIP mezzanine bars. :)

Truth is, EVH is probably the best rhythm guitarist on the planet. He's far more efficient and offers max tone when he's in the groove with the band than when he solos.

I'm not in denial, I just happen to think your posts remind me of this woman: I don't know who that woman is. :) You're the kinda guy that takes what Alex says verbatim, but ignores what Neil has repeatedly said over the years and what both Ray and Geddy have subtly said this year. You either look at the evidence or you don't. Doesn't matter to me. :) She's a well known psychic. So by literally saying I don't know, I'm taking what Alex says verbatim? I think you claiming to absolutely know will make you look like an idiot should they ever prove you wrong. There are only 3 people who do know and they don't even know for sure. There are folks who know if Neil is done touring for good this time. Neil himself is certain, LOL. But hey, you don't have to believe me. You'll find out soon enough for yourself. The question you should ask yourself is, why do you insist otherwise? You want more Rush? Or you just want a press release stating exact retirement intentions? Because either way, you're not going to get what you want. :)

Why feel awful? 40 years of great tuneage. More than most artists ever even come close to. It's all good! We Rush fans are a spoiled lot. I feel awful not because they are going to take a well deserved retirement, but because I am watching them come to an end. The same way I feel awful when I see anything that I grew up with come to an end. As you said yesterday, facing my own mortality. Psst. I know a secret. Buck up, kiddo. Nothing truly ends. ;) Right. I'll be with Rush for all eternity. An endless Rush concert. Ugh, an endless concert does not sound appealing. :)

Why feel awful? 40 years of great tuneage. More than most artists ever even come close to. It's all good! We Rush fans are a spoiled lot. I feel awful not because they are going to take a well deserved retirement, but because I am watching them come to an end. The same way I feel awful when I see anything that I grew up with come to an end. As you said yesterday, facing my own mortality. Psst. I know a secret. Buck up, kiddo. Nothing truly ends. ;)

Why feel awful? 40 years of great tuneage. More than most artists ever even come close to. It's all good! We Rush fans are a spoiled lot.

I'm not in denial, I just happen to think your posts remind me of this woman: I don't know who that woman is. :) You're the kinda guy that takes what Alex says verbatim, but ignores what Neil has repeatedly said over the years and what both Ray and Geddy have subtly said this year. You either look at the evidence or you don't. Doesn't matter to me. :)

De Nile. :)

Right back at ya,spud. For the record, you were hashing on me first. You can't read between the lines, that's your problem.

I'll bet I'm older than you. Or at least, as old. :) Nah, there's better Signals tracks for this tour. What remains of it, anyway. Two more gigs and Rush is done. It's the end of a long era. LOL...there you go, I bet you could be having a completely normal conversation in the real world like, "so thats where I found the varnish for the baseboards and man 2 more gigs and Rush is done forever...for-ev-errrrrr". It really shouldn't bother you this much. If you're as old as you claim, you shouldn't be all wonky about old men retiring after 40 years of a grueling career. Try to dial down the narcissism a bit and act your age, sir. :)

Chemistry is a GREAT track! So is Countdown. Wish they'd have rehearsed one of those over Losing It.

I'll bet I'm older than you. Or at least, as old. :) Nah, there's better Signals tracks for this tour. What remains of it, anyway. Two more gigs and Rush is done. It's the end of a long era.

No way they play something new on the very last show- maybe ever- that they haven't practiced the bejesus outta' first. They wouldn't want to risk a train wreck on that last day :( I am unsure that Rush has ever officially played a 'train wreck.' I suspect this board will be pleasantly surprised come Saturday night 1030 pm PST. :)

stop being such a bard. Losing It is SO overrated. Rush nerds. :) for you the blind who once could see the bell tolls for thee... Reaction making impact, invisibly Elemental telepathy exchange of energy Reaction making contact mysteriously :)

stop being such a bard. Losing It is SO overrated. Rush nerds. :)

I would imagine quite a few rock stars of their own accord will be in attendance as well. Anybody who's anybody in the industry and respects Rush's place in history will almost certainly be at the Forum Saturday night. Maybe Dave Grohl will be headbanging front row after he picks up those $10K tickets that are still sitting out there. Unless they're on tour, I'd expect several members of Metallica, Guns n' Roses, the Eagles, Tenacious D, and a number of famous drummers to be in attendance. :) Dave will definitely not have to pay 10k to get good seats - or backstage - to the last Rush gig. ;)

I would imagine quite a few rock stars of their own accord will be in attendance as well. Anybody who's anybody in the industry and respects Rush's place in history will almost certainly be at the Forum Saturday night.

Countdown or Chemistry would be much better Signals choices than Losing It, LOL.

Likelihood does not seem to play for some folks. Long shots pay off sometimes. But not this time. But it's no big deal. The world will keep spinning. :) Being a realist about aging and 40 year rock star careers is not being a killjoy, I might add. I will bet solid money 99.9% of the Rush fans at the Forum on Saturday night will know damn good and well it's Rush's last show. Figure the house will be brought down accordingly. Should be a blast. :)

Ah, immortality. That awful illusion. :) At least artists leave behind a semblance of that illusion. In several deep and fortified bunkers around the world, Rush's music will exist long after the apocalypse. :)

Oh, definitely we can expect to see some celebs in the first ten rows at the Forum.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self. And I'm not a teenager anymore either. :codger: No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket. The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling. Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer. :) Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice. Plant still brings the goods for an older fella. Catch him live, see what I mean.

Now I'm trolling? Sayz the girl who hashed on everyone's signed items, LOL. Not nice, chica.

It's not the same thing for most aging guitarists, man. Look it up. Plenty of info about that via google. But there's little need to tit for tat how much Alex's arthritis can be tolerated for fans, I think.

As usual he is talking out his arse. I'm curious though to see if he's got this one right. Overall he's being a real killjoy here on the forum :( Am I? Well, the good news is, we only have a few days left before these premises become a lot less crowded. I won't be coming back after Friday evening. No need for visits to a fan forum after Saturday. So breathe easier, ye keepers of the flame. Your online hopes will soon be unfettered with nasty realists. :) Bard, I know you think you know it all, but sometimes you state things so bluntly without really telling what you (may) know. Let those of us who still want to dream in your opinion just dream :) That's also what being a fan is about. I know that sooner or later they'll 'quit their jobs'. But if two out of three are not completley done yet who knows what might be in store. With or without Neil in tow :) And, what you're leaving TRF after Friday evening? You just give up? It's still fun to hang around here :cheers: Yes, even when they're done (touring). Alex is playing in pain. Rest assured, he'll be taking a nice long break from playing the guitar. It's not just Neil that wants to gracefully step out of the spotlights. 1 of 3 will be interested in recording. A solo record from Dirk is very probable. There may even be a humble club tour behind it. I don't really see it as blunt. It's simple realism. Admittedly, I get impatient with the fanboyism, that's on me. But after reading so much self gratuitous opinions (these 'hopes' are often founded in seemingly base human greed - i.e., "I want more Rush and I don't care if they want/need to retire or not"), it gets old. Wish the Canucks well and if they decide to come out in a few years for a couple nights at Madison Square Garden, great. But expecting more touring is pretty selfish, given what they've already given to the fanbase. Far more than the usual. Rush fans are a spoiled lot. You want to be a really frustrated fan? Try heralding Van Halen. Or the Police. Or the Kinks. Or Guns n Roses. One might rightfully say that the only two bands on the planet who've consistently given to the fanbase time and time again consistently for the last 30 years are Rush and U2. I definitely don't know much. Much less know 'it all.' But I know Rush's last official touring show is on Saturday. And no, I don't stick around message boards when bands are retiring. Two of my three favorite bands are retiring this year. It's a sign of the times. My era is passing. That's why so many people are resistant. Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year. I'm not hoping or dreaming that they'll do more big / full scale tours. I'm not like those fans you describe in your post. I'm hoping that they'll do is what Al & Ged have already mentioned themselves: some one-off show here and there. And maybe just maybe surprise us European fans with 4 of 5 nights at the O2 in London ;) That's no real tour, just a return trip across the Atlantic. Bottom line is I just hope that not all of them are done being a (performing) musician and that they will perform every now and again. Solo, as a duo or as a three piece band. I'd love to see a Ged solo show one day btw :hail: And why say goodbye to a forum like this? Yes, it may be a less crowded house in the future, but look at how many folks are still active fans of Zappa for instance. Here in The Netherands a Zappa day has been organized twice recently and it's been a succes. Just sayin' ;) Neil is done touring. You can wager on that. It's possible he might be talked into a one night stand here and there - almost certainly Los Angeles more than anywhere else, but even that is an outside chance at best. Alex is near done. It hurts his hands to play at the arena level. For obvious reasons. He'd certainly come back for a one-off here and there. Ged will record. In what capacity and manner, we will find out soon enough. All good things, my friend. It's the way of the world.