THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Geddy Lee told Guitar World that multiple drummers contacted him and Alex Lifeson immediately after Neil Peart died, pitching themselves as replacements *. Lee called the timing "most distasteful" *. This is the first time either surviving member has publicly addressed the audition attempts that apparently started before Peart was even buried.
THE DETAILS
- Lee confirmed "many drummers reached out" in the days following Peart's January 2020 death *
- The approaches came from drummers hoping to step in for Neil in RUSH *
- Lee described the outreach as distasteful given the timing *
- The comments appeared in a recent Guitar World interview *
- Neither Lee nor Lifeson has ever suggested RUSH would continue without Peart
WHY IT MATTERS
SKIP IT — not because Lee's frustration isn't valid, but because this is old grief dressed up as news: Peart died over five years ago, and RUSH ended the moment he did. What's surprising is that Lee is only now publicly shaming the drummers who thought a resume and a phone call could replace one of the greatest to ever sit behind a kit.