R40 Live (2015)
Disc One
1. The Anarchist
2. Headlong Flight
3. Far Cry
4. The Main Monkey Business
5. How It Is
6. Animate
7. Roll the Bones
8. Between the Wheels
9. Losing It
10.Subdivisions
Disc Two
1. Tom Sawyer
2. YYZ
3. The Spirit of Radio
4. Natural Science
5. Jacob's Ladder
6. Hemispheres:Prelude
7. Cygnus X-1/The Story So Far
8. Closer to the Heart
9. Xanadu
10.2112
Disc Three
1. Lakeside Park/Anthem
2. What You're Doing/Working Man
3. One Little Victory
4. Distant Early Warning
5. Red Barchetta
6. Clockwork Angels
7. The Wreckers
8. The Camera Eye
9. Losing It
In the 2012 documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage, Geddy Lee famously referred to Rush as “the biggest cult band in the world.” It was a self-effacing line, delivered with typical Canadian modesty—but ironically, it may have marked the precise moment the cult became a movement. The film was widely praised, unexpectedly popular, and served to reintroduce the band to an audience who, in many cases, had either forgotten them or never paid close attention in the first place. Soon after, Rush were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and then, in a final flourish, delivered one of their finest studio works in years—Clockwork Angels.
So when, three years later, the band announced what would be their last major tour, it came as little surprise that tickets were among the most sought-after in the industry. Billed as R40—a natural sequel to their earlier R30 anniversary outing—the tour was a celebration not only of the band's 40-year recording career but of the fans who had followed them through it all. As had become custom, the release of a live CD and DVD followed shortly thereafter, thus completing the now-familiar cycle.
This time, however, there were fresh conceits. The most notable was the show’s reverse chronology. Instead of building to the latest material, the band started with it—winding back through time until the encore, which landed squarely in 1974. The stage design mirrored this regression, evolving over the course of the performance from sleek digital scaffolding to a makeshift high school gymnasium setup, complete with mirrored ball and battered amps perched on folding chairs. Equal parts gimmick and tribute, it was a theatrical touch that struck just the right balance between clever and sincere.
The real highlight for many was the setlist. Known for their forward-thinking approach and an almost allergic aversion to nostalgia, Rush had typically limited their retrospection to a few token early tracks. But not here. More than half the performance drew from the band’s first seven years—a gift to diehards and, arguably, the most fan-friendly set they’d ever delivered.
And yet, there was a shadow over the proceedings. Geddy Lee, always a polarizing vocalist, was now clearly struggling with the demands of the earlier material. His falsetto—once shrill, sinewy, and unmistakably his—had softened into something more strained. In the older songs especially, he compensated by yodeling or altering his phrasing entirely, sometimes to unintentionally comic effect. The final encore, though thrilling on paper, was difficult to listen to in practice. It’s a credit to the band’s professionalism—and to the strength of the production—that the show still sounds as good as it does.
Watching the DVD, some of this vocal frailty is forgiven. Rush shows have always been visual feasts, and the staging, lighting, and archival flourishes go a long way toward softening the sonic imperfections. In some respects, the visual distraction is a kindness.
There was some talk that R40 would be the “last tour of this magnitude,” a phrase that left the door ajar—just enough to allow for hope. Fate would have other ideas. Neil Peart passed away in 2020 due to brain cancer to the shock of the rock world. Although Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson would hint at working together at some point, the duo made clear that Rush was now finished. As it should be.
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