“Living in the limelight, the universal dream, for those who wish to seem,” goes the Rush classic “Limelight.” A song with all the Shakespearian weight the Canadian rockers have become beloved for — not to mention some musical pyrotechnics — “Limelight” considers life “on the lighted stage.” It borrows from the Bard to remind that while all the world’s a stage, we are merely players.
Now breaking the hearts of Stephen Colbert and Rush fans everywhere, guitarist Alex Lifeson says that Rush won’t mount that stage again. The enduring trio, which had earlier come back after tragedy stuck, won’t bask in the limelight anymore after having lived the universal dream for four decades. Lifeson confirmed what Rush fans knew was imminent after drummer (and lyricist) Neil Peart said last year he couldn’t take life on the road anymore. Those lucky enough to see the R40 Tour last year — where the band played 40 years of tunes in reverse chonological order — saw the last of Rush on stage.
