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Legendary Canadian prog rock band Rush is returning for a would tour for the first time in over 10 years beginning in June 2026. The seven cities listed on the tour include four shows in Fort Worth, expanded from their original two due to high demand.
The Hall of Fame rockers who performed for more than 40 years as a power trio garnered massive fan support despite being generally dismissed by critics. Their final tour in 2015 was an emotional one because both bassist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson knew drummer Neil Peart wanted to retire before they did. Less than five years later, Peart died from cancer. Lee and Lifeson seemed adamant that there was no replacing their long-time friend and musical partner.
That changed when they announced their new “50 Something” reunion tour with German drummer Anika Nilles filling Peart’s shoes. Like them or not, their influence on rock music is deep and wide ranging. The return of the two septuagenarians to the road is a big deal for fans and here’s why.
Lee and Lifeson can still play.
This isn’t two guys holding onto their youth. If you saw them perform in 2015, they can still bring it, night after night. Lee, in particular, remains one of rock music’s most accomplished musicians and it was clear even then that neither of them were ready to hang it up. While Lee completed three separate books, Lifeson formed another band but they still lived near each other in Toronto and continued to jam.
These are master musicians who still have the chops to perform some of the most complex rock songs ever recorded. Rather than comparing them to dad rockers backed up by a cadre of youngsters or a “band” with only one remaining member, think of Lee and Lifeson like jazz musicians, many of whom continue to perform at a very high level well into their 80s.
The songs are still relevant and beloved.
While not reflected in popular music charts, there has been a surging groundswell of support for rock music recently driven by Gen Z and Gen Alpha artists just discovering and/or influenced by rock music, much of which came out before they were born. That includes pop star Sabrina Carpenter, who mentioned how much she loves Rush in a video where she picked out vinyl at a record store, and Chappell Roan, who routinely plays “Barracuda” by Heart live (here with Nancy Wilson).
Even if guitar-based rock isn’t making a massive comeback in the world of popular music, it is clear that there is a love of it that exists among younger audiences — note all the artists who have paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne after his death earlier this year. Rush has always had a ravenous cult following among both fans and fellow artists. That hasn’t changed.
These guys really love each other and performing is a tribute to Peart.
The surviving members of the band have such a fondness for one another, it’s downright charming. They even put out their own brand of beer together. It was no secret that the two continued playing together regularly in Lee’s home studio. But, playing without their longtime bandmate and close friend, Peart, was always a stumbling block. Now with his death five years past, it feels like they feel more free to get back to what they love.
Unlike one of their heroes, Led Zeppelin, Lee and Lifeson are genuinely best friends. As explained in the recent documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin, after the death of drummer John Bonham, the remaining members didn’t see a good reason to continue, partially because they weren’t super close to begin with. Rush is different and being able to both re-form a 50-year partnership while simultaneously paying tribute to their friend seems like the right moment.
A new generation of fans will get introduced to their music.
As mentioned, a long of younger people have a fondness for rock music, probably at least in part because of its general scarcity in today’s popular culture. This will give many of them an opportunity to experience it firsthand and their parents, many of whom will likely be Gen X, a chance to see it with them.
The world needs great music that people love. It seems like Rush fans will finally get some of that again.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
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Jeff Balke
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