In a new essay penned for Drumhead magazine, Rush’s Neil Peart made comments implying he was now retired, but his band mate Geddy Leethinks the legendary drummer’s remarks were taken out of context.

Lee tells Prog magazine he believes what Peart wrote in his Drumhead piece is in line with what he’s been telling other media outlets with regard to his feeling about not wanting to do major tours anymore.

“There’s really nothing to say.  I think Neil is just explaining his reasons for not wanting to tour, with the toll that it’s taking on his body,” explains Lee.  “That’s all I would care to comment on it.”

The Rush frontman adds that the band, which wrapped its 40th anniversary tour in the summer, still hasn’t discussed their future plans.

“We’ll get together eventually and chat about things,” Lee tells Prog.  “But in my view, there is certainly nothing surprising in what [Peart] said.  Neil just feels that he has to explain with all the thousands of people asking, ‘Why no more tours?’  He needs to explain his side of it.”

In the Drumhead essay, Peart noted that his daughter Olivia had been introducing him to her friends as “a retired drummer,” adding, “True to say — funny to hear.”

Neil went on to point out, “[I]t does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to…take yourself out of the game.  I would rather set it aside then face the predicament described in our song ‘Losing it.'”

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