upstateNYfan

Some of you guys are cruel and silly. Aside from the unglamorous nose issue there is absolutely nothing to report. We're all human - and if you're anything like me, I've taken plenty of just OK or unflattering pics. For dozens of possible reasons, he seems to have lost weight - personally, I think he looked healthier with some weight on him, but have you seen 60-something endurance athletes like runners? Oh, and that car is ridiculously badass.

Great to see them together again! And pretty sweet ride too! (Wonder if it's a Cobra or a kit - either way, fun, expensive and rare.) He looks pretty darn good for almost 66 after an incredibly full life. I have to admit that for a moment I hoped they talked shop, but something tells me the did not. I'm OK with that.

I would estimate their bandwagon fans make up about 10-20% of each audience, with the biggest bumps right after MP (Signals), RTB (from big airplay), then around Time Machine Tour (documentary, movie appearance, and retrospective setlist). They've been so successful live for many reasons, but bandwagon fans are only a small part.

I'd put serious money on a vinyl release, and am guessing it will be a 40th Hemispheres. No way it's a tour... Neil's tech is on tour with Steely Dan later this year. Among 100 other reasons.

Yes it's wrong. They decided to go out on top while they physically could perform at their typical very high level. It was arguably a clunky departure by Neil, yes, but there will be no new albums. There's no money in them, they have nothing to prove, and Neil decided it was time to retire.

Because Rush isn't Rush without any one of the three. They are greater than the sum of their parts.

I disagree. The Synth Era started with Grace Under Pressure and ended with T4E. Just listen to the synth that kicks off Subdivisions on Signals in 1982 - Counterparts in 1993 was punchy bass and loud guitar and drums with minimal synths. I say the synth era ended after Roll the Bones and began with Signals.

For the most part, it was the fact that they gave us mixed signals until Alex finally confirmed that they were done. For me, I knew they were never going to tour again when I heard the rumors that Neil threw a hissy fit and threatened to quit halfway through R40 after Alex and Geddy proposed more dates. Sigh..................just...... Mick “...that Neil threw a hissy fit...” The pot calling the kettle black Neil "threatened to quit"? I've never seen or heard anything of the kind. He committed to those limited North American dates and didn't want more. That's not "threatening to quit."

I never knew either one of them, that's right, but I've read a lot about them (and from Neil) and watched a lot of their performances. Regarding personality, in the Burning for Buddy liner notes, Neil wrote how buddy was a lover of fast cars and driving according (Neil! - and also read the Rolling Stone cover article). You hear Buddy talking about diner food and coffee (Neil always). You see intensity and impatience, and a love of music (Neil's Traveling Music and mocking Country on Snakes intro vid). Etc. etc. And when Cathy Rich acknowledged her father and Neil's work on Burning, she said Neil is "cut from the same cloth." I think they would be fast friends. And learn from each other. And laugh like hell.

He was an excellent drummer but a real douchebag. I think you're right that Buddy would have thought that! I disagree. I think they would have been fast friends. Quick wit, fast driving, lots of coffee, some booze - and endless music.

Is that pronounced “shitty”? :P The performance was very high-school, and then trotting out the Rush drum solo wasn’t a good move. He should’ve keep it sweet and simple, but no, there had to be a double-bass pedal. Neil can't win it seems. He has admitted many times he's not a jazz drummer. He was also sick that night. The truth is that he drew a lot of people into seats for that show, and for the 2008 concert as well. Jazz and Big Band aren't very popular anymore. They're a dying art. For a rock drummer to even try something new, let alone do it for years on multiple fronts is unheard of. Give the guy a break. The audience loved the classic Neil solo.

I will definitely miss them dearly. Honestly though, most of me felt it was over in 2015, and even more so after the movie. Given Father Time, the difficulty of their music (especially as a 3 piece). and outside interests, it was a good time to bow out. The recording idea always seemed highly unlikely, only because it's tremendous work for very little payoff. CA was a perfect capitulation. Let's also not forget the stock market run over the last year. They would have less and less motivation. A Farewell To Kings indeed.

Anything is possible, but I think it's extremely unlikely. Every indication is that Neil is happily retired. And skip Toronto, NYC, Cleveland, Buffalo or Chicago? That's about as guaranteed a draw as it gets. I love the idea, but is it feasible?

I was at this gig. I was there too. You could see how pissed he was but of course held himself together. For some reason I felt the band felt tense and forced for the first set. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. However, I doubt Rush mistakes or glitches would even be noticed at others' concerts.

So basically, Geddy and Alex toured for the fans, Neil toured for the money. So now, I'm wondering if the rumor that he threw a temper tantrum halfway through R40 and threatened to quit the band is actually true. No, they all toured for the money. That's their job. Who wouldn't? Tantrum? Come on. All indications are he was convinced, begrudgingly, to do those last 35 shows for R40. Management and Geddy and Alex wanted more. Neil said no. That's that.

Motorcyling that far and that often is hard under any circumstances. Doing that and then playing world class hard-hitting drums is nuts. I like to fantasize about them going out again, even if for a 10 song hits show. No reason he couldn't fly with the other guys and even bring family on the bus. But alas - and who knows if any of it would make sense now. I miss Neil horribly - what a legacy. ...And I think the ONLY way we'll see them again is if his daughter pushes him and keeps pushng him because she wants to see him play.

Oh I agree. While in a practical sense the motorcycling is going to irritate his tendinitis, the only reason they got him to tour at all was because he was able to do it between shows. So it's a big likelihood they might have quit touring all together after Vapor Trails if they had put their foot down about that. I've always thought that Neil touring on a motorcycle was incredibly risky. If he wants to do it on his own time, fine. But doing it while on tour with the band put his own life and safety at risk, not to mention the band not absolutely knowing where Neil was at all times, or that he was safe and accounted for. Just imagine if anything happened to Neil between shows or on the way to a city or venue of a show! Why even risk it? I can't imagine that Alex or Geddy enjoyed the fact that their drummer and equal member of the band was doing this to himself, to them, the crew and to their fans. It definitely was risky - but it sounds like the only way he would have been on the road. On "his own time" or "for work," the risk is the same. He actually did a top notch job in managing that risk; in fact, he couldn't have done more as a rider. The best clothes, GPS, a partner, the best bike, lots of insurance... The big question to me was if he traveled by bus or plane would he have FELT better?

I agree that Neil should not of done that, but it's his choice. He has been touring non stop for over 40 years, so of course he wanted to stop, but still, that was a bit rude of him to do. I still respect his choice, but imo, he could of stuck around longer. He can do whatever he likes - if he "stuck around longer" people would STILL complain. No one has given more to drumming or for a longer time than Neil. The only thing I think that was "missed" was the definitve farewell. The execution was subpar with many insiders and fans left hanging. Nothing is perfect, I know, but to play secondary markets instead of huge cash cows on a tour that was presumably the last - and Neil knew it - was sily.

The Stones are fun and still entertaining live - but they have a ton of backing and their music isn't in the same universe of difficulty as Rush. Totally different animals.

No doubt the voluntary motorcycle travel is hard - it would be hard even without master level drumming for 3 hours in front of thousands of people every other night. Hell, it's very hard if you're 30. I'm sure it's multiple things. On some level (and Howard suggests this) he knows he can't physically play at the level HE demands of himself, so rather than phoning it in, he's decided to leave on top. Neil is also highly intelligent and has multiple interests. He knows we only go around once. And more money by touring doesn't change this - it only buys more stuff.

Ticket prices are dictated by the market. Seeing top acts is very expensive. Why? People will pay. And business. Promoters and managers know the band's demographic. Those who grew up with the band should be able to see them when they tour as they would have jobs and assets in most cases. Album sales for 90% of acts are very low, so ticket prices for every major act have skyrocketed. It's how they make their living - another reason why Rush will almost certainly not record anything now without playing it live.

I love the idea and your optimism, JD. But WHY would they? There's so little money to do that and it takes a lot of effort. What I mean is, it's not like Neil's just going to show up and "play along" to a song for 12 minutes and call it a day. So why would he (they?) prepare and stretch so much for basically nothing? I can't see them doing anything unless they decide to play live, which unfortunately seems a very unlikely thing right now.

Unless they have materal ready to go or are just restless, they're not going to record anything. I might be wrong, but there's no incentive to do that without touring. And they all have so many interests outside the band. Basically it would be a lot of work for very little - what 60-something star wants to do that? Now, instead of full tours, why not mini-residencies? Like 2-3 nights at Radio City Music Hall. 2 at Air Canada Centre. 2 at Red Rocks. 2 in LA. And space them, say, a month apart. Maybe the logistics would not work - the crew would be a wild card. Maybe their music is simply too tough to just go in cold and do that. They're not 25. Hell, they could call it Rush; The Radio Hits of the Spirit of the Airwaves or something fun and catchy like that. Play a 12 song show with a local opener. I miss them.

Alex also said he hadn't heard from Neil in quite a while. So if they will work together again that's curious. Neil doesn't seem like the type, however, to make retirement statements and write essentially a farewell book without meaning it. I do hope...

I wasn't saying you are, Tony. It seems so brazen, that's all. And I asked when he did, as he was with them on TFE.