Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Rush returned to Chicago for the first time in 11 years, revisiting the United Center—home of the Bulls and Blackhawks—for a four-night run on their aptly titled Fifty Something Tour.
The band—guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee—last performed together as Rush on August 1, 2015, at the Forum in Los Angeles, alongside drummer Neil Peart. Just four and a half years later, the world lost Peart, widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time. In the years that followed, it remained uncertain whether Lee and Lifeson would ever take the stage together again under the Rush name.
In 2022, however, the duo reunited for the South Park 25th Anniversary Concert at Red Rocks with Primus, followed by appearances at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts at Wembley Stadium and the Kia Forum in 2023. (Hawkins, alongside Dave Grohl, had inducted Rush into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.) Later that year, Lifeson joined Lee on his book tour, where a rotating cast of guests interviewed the frontman each night. Then, in October of last year, came the announcement fans had been waiting for: Rush would return to the road.
Joining Lee and Lifeson on this new chapter are drummer Anika Nilles—known for her work with Jeff Beck—and, for the first time in Rush history, a fourth touring member: keyboardist Loren Gold, whose résumé includes The Who and Chicago. The band’s March 29th kickoff marked their first performance without Peart in over five decades, dating back to his arrival following original drummer John Rutsey’s departure after the band’s 1974 debut.
Originally planned as a series of double-night residencies in select cities—including Los Angeles, Fort Worth, New York, Chicago, Mexico City, and Toronto—the tour quickly expanded after instant sell-outs. Those runs became four-night stands, Mexico City gained an additional show, and the itinerary ultimately ballooned into a global trek stretching into April 2027, totaling over 100 dates. It also marks Rush’s first time playing outside North America since 2013’s Clockwork Angels Tour.
True to form, Rush leans into humor and theatrics with their signature intro and outro videos. This time, the show opens with a comedic short featuring three teenagers searching a castle for Lee and Lifeson, only to stumble upon Jason Segel and Paul Rudd reprising their I Love You, Man roles. Animated appearances from South Park’s Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny—returning as “Lil’ Rush”—tie back to earlier tour visuals, blending nostalgia with new absurdity. The video even features Lee as a sausage salesman and Lifeson as a soldier, alongside animated crows and a tongue-in-cheek look at what the band has been up to over the past 11 years.
Rush takes the stage with “Xanadu,” a consistent opener throughout the tour. The setlist rotates nightly, giving each show its own identity. On the third Chicago date (July 20), the band performed Moving Pictures in full during the second set—a tradition carried through each city—while alternate nights feature a complete performance of “2112.”
After “Xanadu,” Lee addresses the crowd, introducing the band and acknowledging Peart’s enduring presence in the music. His legacy is woven throughout the show via video tributes, including photo montages and performance clips, particularly surrounding “Bravado” and “Time Stand Still.” These moments land with emotional weight, reminding the audience that while the lineup has changed, the spirit of Rush remains deeply intact.
Clocking in at roughly three hours (including an intermission), the set spans the band’s vast catalog: “Subdivisions,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Limelight,” “Tom Sawyer,” and “Closer to the Heart” all make appearances, alongside selections from “2112.” The encore delivers fan favorites “By-Tor & The Snow Dog” and the traditional closer “Working Man,” complete with an animated tribute to Rutsey.
The show ends as it began—with humor. Segel and Rudd return in the outro video, debating the pronunciation of “Peart,” a long-running inside joke dating back to the Time Machine Tour in 2010.
Following a pair of makeup dates in Fort Worth, Rush now heads to Madison Square Garden for another four-night stand.
Photos by Alex Kluft
