Rush came close to extending the bye

Rush came close to extending their 2015 farewell tour beyond the 35 shows drummer Neil Peart agreed to, guitarist Alex Lifeson recalled.

The band’s R40 road trip was negotiated at a time when Peart already wanted to retire. In a new interview with Classic rockbassist Geddy Lee said the situation was representative of the “very unusual, complicated, emotional times” leading up to Peart’s death in 2020.

“I had pushed really hard to get more gigs,” said Lee, “and it didn’t work out. I really felt like I let our UK and European fans down.

READ MORE: Geddy Lee admits he resented Neil Peart after Rush’s last show

He continued: “It felt wrong to me that we didn’t do it, but Neil was adamant that he only wanted to do 30 shows and that was it. It was a huge compromise for him because he didn’t want to do it any shows. He wouldn’t do one show.”

Lee’s feelings were why he gave some details about Peart’s death in his 2023 memoir My Effin’ Life. “I just felt like I owed them, the audience, an explanation. … That it wasn’t a straight line.

“Fans invested their whole being in our band and I thought they deserved a bit of a straight answer about what happened and how their favorite band ended.”

Lifeson added: “Ged and I were disappointed that Neil only insisted on playing a limited number of dates, which ruled out a run in the UK and Europe. I think a dozen or so more dates would have made us a bit more accepting.”

Neil Peart motorcycle comes with a pair of used drumsticks

He continued: “And there was a time when I think Neil was open to maybe extending the run … but then he got this painful infection in one of his feet. I mean, he could barely walk to the stage at some point.

“They got him a golf cart to drive him to the stage. And he played a three-hour show, with the intensity he played every single show.”

Meanwhile, one of the motorcycles that Peart used to travel between Rush shows will be auctioned off on February 1st and is expected to fetch $40,000-$50,000. The BMW R1200GS comes complete with the original purchase receipt, signed by the drummer, a pair of his used sticks, a set of bags and a tank bag. Potential bidders can register online.