Neil torn about touring

[condemned2bfree]

Peart doesn't owe anyone anything that's for sure

 

None of them do.

 

But, we are getting mixed messages here. I thought that in early December Geddy said that he and Alex were waiting for Neil to come up to Toronto so they could discuss their next step - tour or not. Then, a meet and greet for their next tour gets auctioned off for charity for $14,000. Then, we get two tour dates listed by Ticketmaster last week. Now, this brief Neil interview.

 

What is going on?

 

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way. He's also probably sending the message that the others shouldn't assume that he's going on with the cycle as usual.

 

Good point Lorraine.

Maybe they're creating confusion so we'll be all the more surprised/relieved when the do announce it.. !

 

yep nothing like a bit of chaos.

[Narps]

Well, they've been leaving their families behind for decades now. Why does it disturb him now?

 

I hope this isn't a serious question. His first family died. He is now 61 (I think) and is starting over again. Why make the same mistake, knowing that there is a good chance that he will be dead by the time his 5-year old is the same age as the daughter who already died.

Yes, it was a serious question. I know his history, which is why I am surprised that he takes the road trips he does and spends any amount of time away from home.

Great points on both sides of this one. His actions indicate he hasn't changed in regards to his seemingly loner ways. Seems he wants some cake and wants to eat it too in this case....

[condemned2bfree]

Well, they've been leaving their families behind for decades now. Why does it disturb him now?

 

I hope this isn't a serious question. His first family died. He is now 61 (I think) and is starting over again. Why make the same mistake, knowing that there is a good chance that he will be dead by the time his 5-year old is the same age as the daughter who already died.

Yes, it was a serious question. I know his history, which is why I am surprised that he takes the road trips he does and spends any amount of time away from home.

 

Two things:

1. He values his personal trips more than his time touring;

2. His personal trips are completely under his control and usually far shorter than the touring times.

 

1. exactly the constraints of his vacations are of his own making.

2. the contstraints of work are not.

[Lorraine]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

[MMCXII]

I would never begrudge any one of them their retirement. As much as I want to see them in concert, if they chose to call it quits right now, that's fine with me.

 

And you've never seen them live, correct?

That's mighty big of you to say! I've seen them 10 times and I'm barely that strong :P

Edited January 6, 2015 by MMCXII

[Narps]

I would never begrudge any one of them their retirement. As much as I want to see them in concert, if they chose to call it quits right now, that's fine with me.

 

And you've never seen them live, correct?

That's mighty big of you to say! I've seen them 10 times and I'm barely that strong :P

She's cool like that... :)

[LedRush]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

He likes the playing. He doesn't like the touring. He says he puts everything he can into it when he's onstage.

[hammerofthor]

He never was excited about. He was more excited to tool around on his motorcycle with his pals.

[ReRushed]

Hey, if they do end up touring a lot of members of our beloved Rush Forum will start to bitch about the setlist and how Geddy can't hit the high notes anymore.

 

Old Rush rocks, new Rush sucks....

[Snaked]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

 

 

Neil hasn't enjoyed touring since the early 80's but he understands that that is what you do when you're in a working band.. you play live. No, he isn't excited about leaving his family and his little girl for long periods of time but it's his job and he is able to schedule things so that the time away is as brief as possible.

 

When Neil is on the road with RUSH he gives every show 100%.

He doesn't slack off just because he'd rather be anywhere but here... it's just a fact of life he'd rather be home.

[Lorraine]

I would never begrudge any one of them their retirement. As much as I want to see them in concert, if they chose to call it quits right now, that's fine with me.

 

And you've never seen them live, correct?

That's mighty big of you to say! I've seen them 10 times and I'm barely that strong :P

No. I am ashamed to say that I have never seen them in concert, and am filled with more regret than you could ever know.

 

But I am sixty, and I was so worn out this morning that I had a hard time pushing my shopping cart around the store. i can't imagine what it must be like for Rush doing three hour shows every other night and constant traveling from city to city to country to country.

 

I do understand where Rush is coming from. Touring takes a lot out of men younger than they are. I can't imagine how it must affect them.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Lorraine

[EagleMoon]

He has talked about his thoughts on touring in his books before. I remember him mentioning not liking to be away from Olivia for extended periods of time. But I agree that if he didn't do all the motorcycling he could fly home. I would think all of the riding would just add to the arm tendinitis. Personally I think he just doesn't like the rigidity of the schedule on tour. It's probably different in his mind if he's out driving/riding on his own terms and can go home whenever he wants.

[Narps]

I would never begrudge any one of them their retirement. As much as I want to see them in concert, if they chose to call it quits right now, that's fine with me.

 

And you've never seen them live, correct?

That's mighty big of you to say! I've seen them 10 times and I'm barely that strong :P

No. I am ashamed to say that I have never seen them in concert, and am filled with more regret than you could ever know.

 

But I am sixty, and I was so worn out this morning that I had a hard time pushing my shopping cart around the store. i can't imagine what it must be like to for Rush doing three hour shows every other night and constant traveling from city to city to country to country.

 

I do understand where Rush is coming from. Touring takes a lot out of men younger than they are. I can't imagine how it must affect them.

:codger: :goodone:....

[Disk98]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

 

Neil hasn't enjoyed touring since the early 80's but he understands that that is what you do when you're in a working band.. you play live. No, he isn't excited about leaving his family and his little girl for long periods of time but it's his job and he is able to schedule things so that the time away is as brief as possible.

 

When Neil is on the road with RUSH he gives every show 100%.

He doesn't slack off just because he'd rather be anywhere but here... it's just a fact of life he'd rather be home.

Was that an intentional Double Agent reference?

 

Anyway, I ttake this as a definite sign that they are touring. Why else would all this buzz be all over the place?

[Lorraine]

In light of all of this, I guess it would be safe to say then that if they do one more tour, this is it for Rush?

 

In that case, for those of you who are financially able, you better see them as much as you can.

[antiquark]

Well he didn't rule out touring. He didn't even say it's unlikely to happen. Just that he doesn't like some aspects of it.

 

So, in my opinion.... the tour will happen!

 

:Neil:

[Disk98]

In light of all of this, I guess it would be safe to say then that if they do one more tour, this is it for Rush?

 

In that case, for those of you who are financially able, you better see them as much as you can.

Oh, please, no! Goodness forbid it!

 

I will say, though, that if this is indeed the end, Clockwork Angels was a magnificent way to go.

 

But i sure hope they've got another album and tour in them.

[antiquark]

But i sure hope they've got another album and tour in them.

 

If they are in better physical shape than the Rolling Stones, (and how could they not be???), then they have at least another decade of touring left in them.

 

Also, retiring doesn't really fit in with the "Rush philosophy." They don't have many songs about just quitting or giving up. If they practice what they preach, they will keep going until they need attendants to push them on stage in wheelchairs.

[MMCXII]

I would never begrudge any one of them their retirement. As much as I want to see them in concert, if they chose to call it quits right now, that's fine with me.

 

And you've never seen them live, correct?

That's mighty big of you to say! I've seen them 10 times and I'm barely that strong :P

No. I am ashamed to say that I have never seen them in concert, and am filled with more regret than you could ever know.

 

But I am sixty, and I was so worn out this morning that I had a hard time pushing my shopping cart around the store. i can't imagine what it must be like to for Rush doing three hour shows every other night and constant traveling from city to city to country to country.

 

I do understand where Rush is coming from. Touring takes a lot out of men younger than they are. I can't imagine how it must affect them.

:codger: :goodone:....

 

I don't feel so bad now, I got into Rush hardcore back in like 1980 or so but Didnt see them until 2002!

I was only interested in their music but for shows I was into Alice Cooper, Motley Crüe etc..

 

[dtpoet]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

 

 

Neil hasn't enjoyed touring since the early 80's but he understands that that is what you do when you're in a working band.. you play live. No, he isn't excited about leaving his family and his little girl for long periods of time but it's his job and he is able to schedule things so that the time away is as brief as possible.

 

When Neil is on the road with RUSH he gives every show 100%.

He doesn't slack off just because he'd rather be anywhere but here... it's just a fact of life he'd rather be home.

 

Agree with that 100%. We all hate certain aspects of our jobs especially when it involves being away from our families. Doesn't mean we don't go to work and do our best. I think we are reading a little too much into his statements.

Edited January 6, 2015 by dtpoet

[Mara]

Well, they've been leaving their families behind for decades now. Why does it disturb him now? And how about all of his extended trips he takes with his friends? How is touring any different? He is gone a couple of weeks, and gets to go back home for ten days.

Yeah, seems he writes frequently about all these road trips he takes, without his family, when he is not touring. That always seemed odd to me. Seems being away from the family only bothers him when its touring related.

 

As much as I'm a Neil fan, I have to agree. Whether he's touring or vacationing - "away" is "away" to a five year old kid. Older kids understand the concept of work-related absences better, and in fact probably accept and understand that OK. And he writes about how he has weeks of "solitary time" in his Quebec house every winter. So being away from the kid is OK and the kid should understand that Daddy just wants to be in "hermit mode", but she can't grasp that Dad's out earning her inheritance?

 

If he doesn't want to tour and they don't tour - I certainly understand that. I can deal with that just fine.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Mara

[Detonator]

Please stay home, Neil. I've been wanting to see a different drummer take your spot in the tours for years.

 

I like your sense of humor. :D

[JARG]

Please stay home, Neil. I've been wanting to see a different drummer take your spot in the tours for years.

 

That's not an option. It's a choice of Neil or nothing. Perhaps you'd like to choose nothing, but I see nothing so bad in his performances that makes me even approach this feeling. Only Geddy's voice moves the needle for me, and even that isn't a close call for me.

 

He's an extremely skilled drummer, but I find his performance lacking.

[Lorraine]

Please stay home, Neil. I've been wanting to see a different drummer take your spot in the tours for years.

 

That's not an option. It's a choice of Neil or nothing. Perhaps you'd like to choose nothing, but I see nothing so bad in his performances that makes me even approach this feeling. Only Geddy's voice moves the needle for me, and even that isn't a close call for me.

 

He's an extremely skilled drummer, but I find his performance lacking.

JARG, what do you mean by you find his performance lacking?

[JARG]

They're touring, but Neil is putting some conditions on it, and isn't super excited either way.

If that's the case, why bother? I don't know about anyone else here, but who wants to watch a band perform that isn't enthusiastic about doing it and is only doing it reluctantly?

 

Which is why I want Neil to stay home during the tours.