Rush's surviving members say the band is over after Neil Peart's death

It's the end of an era as the surviving members of the legendary Canadian rock band Rush, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, confirm it's over a year after the death of drummer Neil Peart.

Peart, who joined Rush in 1974, died after a lengthy battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in Southern California on Jan. 7, 2020. He was 67.

Lifeson and Lee paid tribute to Peart as part of a new Rolling Stone cover story honoring the legendary drummer and explained how tough it's been getting back to the music.

"I love playing, and I never, ever wanted to stop," Lifeson told the music mag. "And I thought, you know, 'One day, when I'm just sitting around s---ing my pants, I'll still want to play guitar.' And that's kind of gone now. After he died, it just didn't seem important. But I think it'll come back."

Lee also shared his hope that even though the band as it was known and loved for decades won't return in the same way, there's still a chance he and Lifeson could continue making music together.

"For the longest time, I didn't have any heart to play," added Lee. "I still feel there's music in me and there's music in Big Al, but there's no hurry to do any of that."

Throughout their reign, Rush earned seven Grammy Award nominations and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Related content:

• Jack Black, Brian Wilson, more pay tribute to Neil Peart
• Rush share stories behind their iconic songs
• On the scene: Rush embrace cool factor at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction