RUSH singer-bassist Geddy Lee has spoken about a “spooky” experience he had with a bird that felt symbolically tied to late drummer Neil Peart. The incident came right after RUSH kicked off their current “Fifty Something” reunion tour in Los Angeles in early June.
The posters for RUSH’s “Fifty Something” tour feature two birds on a wire symbolizing Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson, with a third departing midflight, representing Peart, who passed away at 67 in 2020 after a private battle with brain cancer.
Lee was asked by Q107 Toronto radio host Joanne Wilder if he’s felt Peart’s presence on the current tour, to which Lee responded as follows:
“Spooky question! Well, it’s funny. I’ll tell you a little story. After the opening night, we were staying in L.A., and I was texting Al. We were in the same hotel, but we were texting each other.
My door to my room was open a crack, and I don’t know if you’ve seen the posters that have two birds on a wire and the one bird is flying away. I looked in front of me, on the floor, and there was a bird on the floor that looked just like that bird in the poster.
I was kind of shocked. And, you know, I love birds, so I approached it, and it flew by me and flew into my bedroom and sat on the edge of my bed. And when I approached it, it was like it was looking at me, and then it flew out the door. So, I quickly ran to the computer and was texting Al this crazy story that had just happened.
Now, I’m not a guy who believes in all that mumbo jumbo. But it was a kind of a remarkable moment, and as I was texting him, the bird returned and just stuck its head in the doorway, like to give me another nod. And then I said, ‘Okay, bye,’ and it flew away. It was crazy, crazy.”
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After hearing Lee’s story, Wilder remarked, “Okay, well I will believe for you. If you don’t want to believe, I will believe for you. That was Neil.”
RUSH are in the midst of a four-night run in their hometown of Toronto, with the shows being captured for a future concert film. Their North American run extends all the way into December, with tickets available here.
A new documentary titled Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple is set to air on CBC on September 23rd. The film features Lee and Lifeson jamming on RUSH songs with drummers Chad Smith, Danny Carey, and Stewart Copeland.
Watch the full clip from the radio interview, and see the RUSH tour poster with the three birds, below.
