Alex Lifeson Says Quitting Marijuana at 72 Sharpened His Focus Before Rush’s Fifty Something Tour

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson has told Rolling Stone that he stopped smoking marijuana at age 72, about four months before the band’s Fifty Something tour launched in June. He said the choice came after he noticed the habit was clouding his concentration and hurting his performance on stage.

• Lifeson quit weed roughly four months before the June start of the Fifty Something tour.
• He said THC typically stays in the system for about 30 days, which led him to test whether he could go without it for longer.
• Rush is touring with founding members Lifeson and Geddy Lee alongside drummer Anika Nilles, the band’s first tour since 2015.
• Upcoming European dates include two nights each in Glasgow and Manchester and three shows at London’s O2 Arena.

Why Alex Lifeson Decided to Quit Marijuana

Lifeson explained that he recognized the drug was working against the mental sharpness he wanted heading into the tour. “I thought, this is interfering with the way my brain should be working, and the kind of focus and discipline that all of a sudden I really wanted to have in my life,” he said, according to the interview, prompting him to clear out his stash entirely.

He described weighing how long THC lingers in the body before deciding to extend his break well past the standard month. “THC stays in your system for typically 30 days. I got to the month and I thought, ‘Oh my God, maybe I’ll just try it for two years then, for the whole tour,'” Lifeson said.

How Quitting Has Changed Alex Lifeson

Lifeson said the results surprised him. “I’m so much clearer. I don’t procrastinate like I used to. My memory is so much better. It’s all the stuff that they tell you about cannabis. I never believed it,” he said.

He summed up the shift as an unexpectedly welcome one. “It’s really been a positive experience. I didn’t expect it, and I was hoping it wouldn’t be,” Lifeson said.

Geddy Lee Addresses ‘Tribute Band’ Comment

The same interview touched on tension between Lifeson and bandmate Geddy Lee stemming from remarks Lifeson made last year likening a Rush reunion to a tribute act. Lee said he understood where his longtime friend was coming from but pushed back firmly on the comparison. “I know how he feels and how he’s felt for a long time. We’re friends first. But… when I heard this thing about the tribute? It’s like, ‘They’re your songs, motherfucker!’ It’s not a tribute band!” Lee said.

The conversation also revisited the difficulties the band faced in getting back on stage, including the loss of original drummer Neil Peart in 2020.

What’s Next for Rush’s Fifty Something Tour

Once the current North American leg wraps, Rush is scheduled to head to South America and Europe next year. The European run includes two shows apiece in Glasgow and Manchester, followed by three nights at the O2 Arena in London.

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• Rushs Alex Lifeson reveals how he gave up smoking weed aged 72: A positive experience | Far Out Magazine