Rush's Geddy Lee: 'I don’t want to make guarantees I'll do something again musically'

Since the Canadian rock legends wrapped up what ultimately proved to be their swansong R40 Live Tour in 2015, Geddy has immersed himself in writing his “fully illustrated love letter” to the bass guitar; Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.

Aside from guest performing with Yes at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2017, Geddy has largely been quiet on the music front – something he’s unsure will change.

"I really can't predict what I'm gonna do next musically,” Geddy explained to SiriusXM. “Invariably, I think I will find myself in my studio. It's really about, now that the book is done, I need to get back in touch with the musical side of myself and see if there's something that's motivating me to… Do I have something to say? And we'll see how it goes.

“But I don't wanna make any guarantees that I'll do something again musically. But I would say that having those basses staring at me is a good motivation to get back on the horse.”

Asked whether he might work with Alex Lifeson again, Geddy replied: "Well, I certainly wouldn't count it out. I joke that he's my BFF, but he pretty much is. I mean, we talk all the time, and we're still as close as we ever were.

“I'm sure there'll come a moment where we'll at least jam, if nothing else. So, who knows? I wish I could tell you for sure, but I can't."

Geddy also said he was surprised at the reaction to his recent comments that Neil Peart had retired from drumming altogether.

"I notice that people seem to glom on to certain phrases that come out of our mouths and make a lot of it," Geddy said. "But I thought that was understood from the day that Neil left the band.

“He wasn't leaving the band to pursue other musical instruments; he was retiring because the rigors of the job were too much for him. And now he's not playing at the moment and he's spending more time teaching his daughter how to play than anything.

“So, yeah, it really wasn't a big clarification to me, and I think people have sort of over-exaggerated the reaction to that, 'cause that's sort of how it's been."

Geddy continued that Neil’s nine-year-old daughter has really taken to the drums and quipped “God forbid there'll be another drummer in that family."

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will both attend a Rush Fan Day on Saturday 19th January at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

The former band mates will take part in a Q&A session, which will be live streamed on Facebook.

Lee will also be signing copies of his Big Book of Beautiful Bass and he’ll also be hosting a bass guitar exhibition.