Some thoughts on bands that have been around quite a while

I splurged, bought a flight, a hotel, and a very expensive concert ticket to see Rush at Ball Arena in Denver, CO, on October 5th, 2026. The last time I had seen Rush was when I was 18, in 1984. Between the cost and the simple fact they (and I) have less time ahead of us than behind, I’m 98% sure this will be the last time I get to see a band that defined my youth. That alone got me thinking about various things related to bands that have been around 40-plus years or significantly more. Three specific things come to mind: Bands who have replaced members who have passed on. Bands that have one, or in a lot of cases, no original members left but tour under the band’s name. Bands who, quite frankly, should probably hang it up. So, starting with the first one, I will use my recent Rush show as a starting point. Rush has always been a power trio from the beginning. When Neil Peart decided to retire from the band in 2015 and then passed away in 2020, both points seem to indicate that Rush…