Geedy and Alex virtually ignoring each other on this tour.

[TexMike]

It's just age.  These setlists (pick a night) are brutally tough for Alex at his age and with arthritis.  It's not as effortless as it once was for him, so he seems to really be focusing on his guitar to try to limit mistakes.  I think that's why he's not coming to the center with Geddy as much as he used to.  And I think Geddy understands and is trying not to distract him.

[Timbale]

On 7/18/2026 at 9:53 AM, snowdog212 said:

Heres what I noticed since the start of the tour.Geddy has a unhealthy obbsession with Anika.

He cant go a song without constantly walking back to her.Hes doing bass parts in songs that fans would love to see but hes always facing her when 

playing them.I showed my GF some songs and she not that big a fan and she noticed something was off with him about her

I think "obsession" is a very loaded word to use.

 

It is totally natural for a bass player and a drummer, particularly when they haven't played together that much, to make eye contact and interact.  Nilles is also playing way more freely than Peart ever did - Geddy didn't really have to "check in" on Neil because it was basically like playing to the recorded version of the tracks.  I believe it was revealed at some point around S&A that Peart barely had the other two guys in his in-ear monitors - he was basically listening to himself and playing his parts as he knew them... Anika, on the other hand, is making different choices in the moment, which is probably exciting for Geddy, but also something that draws him in to focus on the drummer more than he did in the past.

[snowdog212]

26 minutes ago, Timbale said:

I think "obsession" is a very loaded word to use.

 

It is totally natural for a bass player and a drummer, particularly when they haven't played together that much, to make eye contact and interact.  Nilles is also playing way more freely than Peart ever did - Geddy didn't really have to "check in" on Neil because it was basically like playing to the recorded version of the tracks.  I believe it was revealed at some point around S&A that Peart barely had the other two guys in his in-ear monitors - he was basically listening to himself and playing his parts as he knew them... Anika, on the other hand, is making different choices in the moment, which is probably exciting for Geddy, but also something that draws him in to focus on the drummer more than he did in the past.

Checking in on her yea. But it's to much I just watched APTB from last night he stood in front of her with back to audience during Alex lead only turned around when he had to go back to sing.Im telling you it ain't right sorry interact and jam to the paying audience not your lady drummer

[J2112YYZ]

I think some of you are remembering things wrong. Alex has always been pretty stationary on stage. He usually never drifts over further than the drum kit the times he does do it. I can't recall him coming over to Geddy's side much at all over the years. Geddy has always been the roamer of the two. Him and Geddy would often meet in the middle. I'm guessing that age and not having toured in over a decade is probably why there's less interaction.

[WY Man]

Who died and made you GEEDY?

[Timbale]

3 hours ago, snowdog212 said:

Checking in on her yea. But it's to much I just watched APTB from last night he stood in front of her with back to audience during Alex lead only turned around when he had to go back to sing.Im telling you it ain't right sorry interact and jam to the paying audience not your lady drummer

What does the drummer’s gender have to do with it?

[jacobsbladder]

Alex ain't moving around like he used to.  Some shows he seems to be more agile than others.  Remember when they would chase each other around during By-tor?  

[Sir Lerxst]

Yea - there is still plenty goofing around.

 

Alex using a prop pigeon as a guitar pick is my new favorite.

 

[WonderDude]

On 7/18/2026 at 11:53 AM, snowdog212 said:

Heres what I noticed since the start of the tour.Geddy has a unhealthy obbsession with Anika.

He cant go a song without constantly walking back to her.Hes doing bass parts in songs that fans would love to see but hes always facing her when 

playing them.I showed my GF some songs and she not that big a fan and she noticed something was off with him about her

You guys can dissagree with me.  But I still think Geddy is giving Anika queues.  I don't think that she needs many.  And it will probably eventually no longer be needed.  But remember how amazingly complex this material is for someone who didn't grow up listening to it.

As for Al and Ged.  I think they are more than fine with each other.  However, I think Al is in a lot more pain than we know.  I think he is struggling with his arthritus.  

[Union 5-3992]

Forget the clickbait title, they're still f***in around:

 

[TheHonestMan]

1 hour ago, WonderDude said:

You guys can dissagree with me.  But I still think Geddy is giving Anika queues.  I don't think that she needs many.  And it will probably eventually no longer be needed.  But remember how amazingly complex this material is for someone who didn't grow up listening to it.

As for Al and Ged.  I think they are more than fine with each other.  However, I think Al is in a lot more pain than we know.  I think he is struggling with his arthritus.  

It does seem like Geddy wants to make eye contact with Anika whenever there is an entrance or big moment between the bass and drums. I also suspect he's trying to encourage a certain playstyle or feel from her drumming during those moments when he stands with his back to the crowd. It's possible that they had a few mishaps during rehearsals or maybe he's just being overly cautious. But I agree that the amount of cues will probably decrease over the tour.

 

We need to remember that as difficult as playing these songs is for Anika, Geddy is also having to adjust after 40+ years with the same drummer. It's possible the increased interaction is helping him feel more comfortable as well.

 

And you might be right about Alex being in quite a bit of discomfort. During the intro video for Sat's show, I could see him offstage. He spent nearly the entire video rubbing his knuckles and hands. Maybe that's always been part of his warm up routine right before taking the stage, but it did make me wonder how much pain he's having to push through. He played absolutely fantastic though! I just feel bad for him if his arthritis is really flaring up.

Edited July 20 by TheHonestMan

[Blue J]

On 7/18/2026 at 12:19 PM, TheHonestMan said:

No one is bothered by you having a difference of opinion. In fact, I'd welcome viewpoints that demonstrate my experience may have been a one off thing.

 

But we were discussing perceieved changes to their interaction on stage. Yet you decided to instead make a condescending and sarcastic rebuttal against a totally made up claim that Ged and Al were no longer getting along.

 

Look, if you just meant it as a joke to get your point across - fine. But it came across as flippant and snarky.

 

Snarky, in a forum on the internet? Shocking!

[Todem]

Ok....I will weigh in here.

 

My first show was June 26th....I think I talked about it somwhere here that Alex was not very active....he definitely took it real easy and I think it was a couple of things.

 

1. Very annoyed about the border issues and having to reschedule the opening night of Fort Worth. They were really upset about all of that.

 

2. He was sitting around for days....he even talked about that during the show at one point LOL

 

Contrast that to the July 13th show.

 

Totally having a great time with Geddy, joking around a lot, laughing, making faces....it was Alex and Geddy again like I always remembered them. 

 

There are going to be one off shows on an 80 plus date tour where one or both may not seem as energetic or playful or what not. They are both pushing 73 years young.....and have not toured for 11 years. 

 

I have zero concerns. Especially after that July 13th show which was downright incredible. The playing, the energy, the stage banter, the playfulness on stage between Alex and geddy....it was all there. 

Edited July 20 by Todem

[chemistry1973]

They’re fine I think but I sense tension between Al and Annika.

Edited July 20 by chemistry1973

[gornhay]

10 hours ago, Sir Lerxst said:

Yea - there is still plenty goofing around.

 

Alex using a prop pigeon as a guitar pick is my new favorite.

 

 Could have been a lot worse than a pigeon 

[JARG]

On 7/18/2026 at 8:24 AM, James Bond said:

 

Yeah, they sure can't stand each other on this tour.

Said nobody.

[JARG]

On 7/19/2026 at 4:11 AM, gornhay said:

I think Alex has to concentrate a lot more now, hence the aversion to leaving his post.

I think this is likely. When I watched the vids from opening night, I thought to myself, "OK, new drummer, maybe he's just more nervous than usual", but now watching him play I can see his hands actually reveal the mental hesitation he seems to be experiencing. Thirty years ago how the notes would flow, but now he seems to be having to think about what to play. He has always been my favorite guitarist and was an absolute beast for years. I pity him now, even though he can still play circles around me.

[JARG]

7 hours ago, WonderDude said:

You guys can dissagree with me.  But I still think Geddy is giving Anika queues.  I don't think that she needs many.  And it will probably eventually no longer be needed.  But remember how amazingly complex this material is for someone who didn't grow up listening to it.

As for Al and Ged.  I think they are more than fine with each other.  However, I think Al is in a lot more pain than we know.  I think he is struggling with his arthritus.  

I wonder when Neil was new to the band if Geddy also spent more time locking in with him than he did in later years? I don't think it's actual cues, but Anika is someone with whom Geddy hasn't spent decades playing, so there may be a desire on Geddy's part to visually lock in with her more until they get to the point where they can practically read each other's minds.

Edited July 20 by JARG

[XanaD.E.W.]

Agreed with what someone already said, as Anika is relying on Ged for certain cues/transitions in the song. I mean to learn these songs without any previous connection to it is daunting enough, let along 40 of them. It's like me trying to learn Tool songs without hearing any song from them.

 

As for Alex, I've seen a few videos where, if there is a slight break in the song, he will shake his hand to 'loosen' it up, perhaps. I can only imagine how hard that is to play with arthritis. 

[PAFHumbucker]

My Rush concert experiences started with the Vapor Trails tour, so maybe I missed another era of interaction, because I could swear they did some goofing around, but it wasn't all the time.  There were the songs where they would converge on the stage like TSOR, but I don't remember them goofing around a whole lot.

 

I do remember Geddy giving Alex a pork chop on a stick at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010!

[TheHonestMan]

Currently at the Monday show. Alex is much looser tonight and looks to be having a blast. Not to mention he's just absolutely tearing it apart. Fantastic show so far.

[TheHonestMan]

Alex is in a RARE mode tonight. He is being absolutely hilarious.

[78jazz]

I am sorry I didn't go (tonight wasn't my first choice, but it was the choice of the crew I was going to go with until they changed their mind about 3 weeks ago). It sounds like it is a good time.

[WonderDude]

9 hours ago, TheHonestMan said:

Alex is in a RARE mode tonight. He is being absolutely hilarious.

Hopefully someone captured this concert and it will be posted on YouTube.

[WonderDude]

BTW, I just watched the finale of last night's show in Chicago.  The big difference that I noticed was Geddy's closing remark.   So far of all the finales I've seen, he says something as to the effect of, "Hope we see you again".  But last night he said, "See you again".  So I guess they are feeling a lot less likely to call it quits after this.  Maybe they finalized the Spere.  Hmmm?  Makes me wonder.