Slash Weighs In on Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee Reuniting to Tour as Rush Again
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 16: Guitarist Slash, founding member of Guns N' Roses perform onstage at Hollywood Palladium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
A Legendary Reunion for Rush
In a recent interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash shared his thoughts on the news that Rush will reunite for a tour in 2026. The announcement marks the first official shows by bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson under the Rush name in over a decade.
The tour, titled Fifty Something, will begin in June 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles — the same venue where Rush played their final concert during the R40 anniversary tour. Joining Lee and Lifeson will be German drummer Anika Nilles, known for touring with guitar icon Jeff Beck in 2022. She has reportedly been rehearsing with the duo for months in preparation for the tour.
Slash’s Connection to Alex Lifeson
Slash recounted his personal experience meeting Lifeson, which happened while producing the 2022 film The Breach. “Alex, who I’d never met before, just a couple years ago, he did a cameo in a movie that I produced called The Breach,” Slash explained. “It was shot in Ontario. My producing partner knew somebody that knew Alex… and he called me up and goes, ‘What do you think about Alex for this character?’”
Although Slash was in Los Angeles at the time due to COVID restrictions, Lifeson filmed his part remotely from his home. “When we were doing a screening of the movie, Alex was there, and I flew in. We hung out and had a great time,” Slash said. “We went to dinner and talked about all kinds of different stuff. But I could tell that he was really itching to go out and play. He didn’t wanna go out and play in just whatever throw-together thing. He wanted to do something.”
Slash continued, “With this announcement, I thought, ‘Man, that’s so cool, that they’re gonna go out there and they’ve got a great drummer and they’re gonna go out there and play.’ She is going out there and honoring [late Rush drummer] Neil [Peart]. And I think it’s wonderful.”
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Remembering Their First Collaboration
Slash had previously spoken about his collaboration with Lifeson during a 2023 interview with Banger TV, also promoting The Breach. “Rodrigo [Gudiño, the director] called me up, and he goes, ‘What do you think about Alex Lifeson?’ I was, like, ‘Are you kidding? That would be fucking awesome.’ So I was really happy that he came in and did that,” Slash said.
He added, “I know Alex, but I’ve never jammed with him or anything. I don’t know him that well, but he’s a really nice guy, and the fact that he’s in this is really cool.”
Rush’s Long-Awaited Return
The upcoming Rush tour will feature multiple stops across North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The first show is scheduled for June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum. Each “Evening With” concert will include two sets and a rotating setlist drawn from a catalog of 35 songs, spanning their greatest hits and fan favorites.
When Lee and Lifeson first announced the tour in early October, tickets sold out almost immediately. Due to overwhelming demand, the band doubled the number of shows and later expanded the schedule again. The Fifty Something tour is now set to run through late fall and early winter, with sold-out performances in cities like Chicago, Cleveland, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto, as well as additional stops in Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Honoring Neil Peart’s Legacy
Rush’s return comes after a difficult chapter for the band. Drummer Neil Peart passed away in January 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67. The band waited three days to announce his death, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians worldwide.
Since Peart’s passing, Lee and Lifeson have avoided performing under the Rush name, though they confirmed that several drummers had reached out about continuing the band’s legacy. With Nilles now behind the kit, the reunion represents both a tribute to Peart and a new chapter for one of rock’s most respected acts.
