Rush’s Alex Lifeson Talks Creating Western Sunset After Neil Peart’s Passing

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson recently discussed the deeply personal song “Western Sunset,” which he composed as a tribute to his late bandmate Neil Peart, during an interview with Guitar Player.

Lifeson shared that the song was inspired by a profoundly emotional moment while visiting Peart after learning about his illness. “That song came about around the time we all found out that Neil was ill. I was visiting with him and I was sitting on his balcony in Santa Monica. He had a little balcony off his office and he’d go out there every so often and have a smoke,” Lifeson recalled. “There were times in the afternoon where the sun was setting, and there was this particular time when the sun was setting through the trees.”

The guitarist reflected on how that experience became a symbol of closure and acceptance. “It really struck me that there’s this closure in a sunset. It’s the end of a day, and sure, tomorrow a new day begins. But the sunset marks the end of one day, and that day is not going to be there anymore,” he said. “That thought occupied me for some time. And I just thought it was such a serene, peaceful moment, at a time when we were dealing with something that was very painful and difficult. That really stayed with me.”

Lifeson went on to describe the personal nature of composing the song. “As for the song itself, it’s a very personal thing, obviously. It was something that [sighs] … I don’t know if I felt I needed to do it, but I felt I wanted to do it. And I’m glad that I did,” he said.

“Western Sunset” ultimately became more than a tribute—it marked a turning point in Lifeson’s creative path after one of rock’s most heartbreaking losses.

According to Guitar Player, the song was featured on Lifeson’s 2022 debut album with his new group Envy of None, representing a new chapter following Peart’s death in early 2020 from brain cancer. The album was Lifeson’s first major musical project since the conclusion of Rush’s historic four-decade career.

Peart’s passing not only closed that chapter for the band but also left Lifeson initially unable to pick up a guitar or engage in music at all. Metal Injection noted that he was inundated with unsolicited offers from drummers hoping to audition for Rush within minutes of Peart’s death being made public—an insensitivity that underscored the shock of the loss.

Replacing a bandmate who had been more than a drummer—Rush’s lyricist and a creative equal for over 40 years—was unthinkable. Despite outside pressure, Blabbermouth reported that Lifeson remains in close contact with fellow Rush member Geddy Lee, preserving their friendship and shared memories rather than attempting to continue without Peart.

In this way, “Western Sunset” stands as Lifeson’s final musical farewell to Neil Peart—capturing both the tranquility of their last shared moments and the deep sense of finality that comes with losing a creative partner and lifelong friend.