I had a bad feeling that this last tour would be it and it was.

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/1...ed-from-music/

Geddy's vocals have been pretty bad for the last ten years, so this doesn't bother me so much.

I hope Neil continues to play in other(jazz) projects.

Totally expected. Just a matter of which ball dropped first and used for the tipping point. One only had to look at the terminology they were using so often just before and during the tour.

IMO they played the end perfectly. Put out one of the strongest albums in their catalog as their swan song and capped it off with an incredible live show that literally covered their entire career.

It all comes to an end at some point. At least I was able to see RUSH live, 6 times over my 42 years and every show was awesome. Watching Neil drum was amazing. Sometimes I would look for another drummer in the back because he made it sound as though there were two kits up there ... well maybe there was and he was playing both!

Not surprising.

Neal is 63, and has a new family after losing his companion and daughter a few years ago. I can understand why he would want to spend time with his family.

I didn't think he sounded too bad when I saw them back in June. Sure, he didn't have the high pitch he used to have, but he still sounded ok. He sounds terrible in the R40 clips they've released though.

Glad they went out on their own terms.

Yet another discussion about Geddy's voice.

He certainly did sound better in Seattle compared to the recording for the official CD and BD. Thankfully the playing is just as solid, if not better. I guess you can rule out any post-processing to correct the voice issues.

I feel like this is the end of an era. Even though I don't really listen to Rush, I liked knowing that they were out there doing their thing. This band seemed to me like one of the constants that held rock together. It will be sad to see them go.

Rush defines "class act". They always gave the fans what they wanted, they successfully stayed away from controversy and they didn't seem to let their success go to their head. They are professionals in every sense of the word. Even if you don't like their music, it's hard to not like the band themselves and what they represented to their fans. This was an endlessly positive and thoughtful band (despite the sometimes ropey lyrics) and one that gave a lot of hope to a lot of people.

Also, it's worth celebrating that they managed to carve out a completely unique space in rock history both in terms of what they sounded like and how they presented themselves and became (as they said) "the biggest cult band in rock".

This band actually lived that.

When they did that little clip with Levy just before the encore about being a trio, and opening for KISS, they completely nailed it. An incredible career all on their own terms.

Same. I think his vocals on Vapor Trails were phenomenal, but I can't say the same for the albums since then. Luckily, I saw them on that tour as well as the Clockwork Angels tour.

That would definitely be cool.

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Hitting those high octaves in songs like Freewill have become quite a chore.

Playing a very physical instrument like drums which incorporates all of your limbs for 2.5 hours almost every night takes its toll, especially at that age. Add to that the technicality of the music and the fact that it is mostly uptempo rock.

I was never a huge Rush fan, liked probably a dozen songs or so - but appreciated their musicianship, work ethic and honesty. As mentioned "class act" is definitely a way to describe this trio.

I generally like the short era the most... when they moved away from the very hard rock sound to a more progressive sound.... basically Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures and Signals era. After that is a lot more miss than hit - though there are some songs I still liked.

My favourites of the non-popular songs are Losing It and Time Stands Still (mainly because it was refreshing to hear a woman in their music - especially since romance/women wasn't something they sang much about... plus I'm a big Aimee Mann fan).

I really think they should end it with one final show though. Go out in a big bang.
A final show where it all started - in Toronto. Play it at Skydome so it's a big-ass event. And it would be fitting since Geddy is a huge Blue Jays fan.

Somewhere Mike Portnoy's dick is itching.

If this is supposed to be saying they would consider replacing Neil, they have previously stated many times that is not an option.

This is one of those bands where replacing any one of the members is not an option. Each member is integral.

A man (Portnoy, not me) can dream!

I wouldn't be surprised to see Lee and Lifeson do something else with a different drummer and not call it Rush.

Including not playing Rush material.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they both basically call it a career as well. Maybe guesting on recordings by other progressive bands as musicians. As others have posted Geddy will probably stay away from doing vocals full time.

Glad I got to see them this year.

I can't stand Geddy's live singing anymore. It isn't about what notes he can or can't hit anymore, it is his singing style. It is hard to describe, but he runs vocal lines together, doesn't enunciate the words completely, and warbles.

Yeah that's what I meant. I certainly wouldn't expect them to go out and play Rush material under a different name.

I read recently Geddy was interested in doing another solo album. Perhaps he could do one as the instrumentalist of the band and not necessarily the vocalist.

Geddy gave an interview today implying that Neil hasn't actually retired and just meant that he is retired from touring, and that the band may continue on as a studio only entity.

But he did go on to say that the future is uncertain until they reconvene to discuss the band's future after this post-tour break.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rus...-hasnt-retired

This is one of those things where I'm not sure if this is a case where Geddy is being honest, or Neil just decided to do this and didn't talk it over with Geddy & Alex yet, or if Geddy is just being optimistic that Neil will change his mind when they do talk, or if he's just denying it until the band can make a more formal announcement.

IMO is the best case scenario is them possibly doing one last studio recording (if they think they have some great songs that are worthy of recording) and do a couple one off event shows rather than tours. Which is exactly what i thought would happen when they started the R40 tour and started implying this was it when it comes to normal tours.

I also think a one off studio project where Geddy and/or Alex work with a drummer and vocalist could be cool. So far these numerous progressive music side projects have rarely included any Rush members, but more should.

I'm not a big fan of Rush, but I agree with all of that there. I don't know much about the band, maybe they'd just be a studio band? Put out an album every so often without touring.

The options :

Solo artists
Guest musician(s)
Members of a supergroup(s)
Producers

John Paul Jones makes a living out of all that.

I'm fine with the band calling it a day. They've more than earned it, and after R40+ are easily going out at the top of their game.

That said, the door is still open for recording and studio work, at their leisure. I'd be cool with that. A track here, an EP there, etc.