Mike Portnoy's Answer To The Rumors Of A Tour With Two Rush Personnel

Mike Portnoy (@mikeportnoy)

JAKARTA - Mike Portnoy has again dismissed rumors that he will go on tour with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson as a replacement for Rush drummer Neil Peart.

Portnoy responded to a false report from a Spanish website posted on Día De Los Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents' Day), which takes place on December 28 and is celebrated as a kind of Spanish April Fool's Day.

A few days after the article was published, Portnoy provided clarification via his Twitter and Instagram by writing: "Hahaha so everyone sent this to me ... Apparently some metal websites posted fake articles saying I will be joining @rush in 2020 for 40th Anniversary Tour Permanent Waves! Even to the point of making fake Twitter posts from me!

Apparently some metal website posted a fake article saying I'll be joining @rushtheband in 2020 for a 40th Anniversary Tour for Permanent Waves (Even to the point of creating a fake Twitter post from me😳) While that's a pretty awesome dream..it's not true! 😂 Just clearing it up pic.twitter.com/WN3XyPr36c

- Mike Portnoy 🤘 (@MikePortnoy) December 29, 2019

Even though it's a really awesome (totally hypothetical) dream ... and I will definitely do it with my heart ... sadly that's not true !! (But it's a cool idea). Anyway, just want to clarify this news for anyone who has got their wish thought that this might be real! "

Portnoy previously discussed a possible collaboration with Lee and Lifeson in an interview with Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" in January 2019.

"The reality is, look, those guys are my heroes and Neil too, of course. I would do that immediately if hypothetically asked. But I don't think in a million years, that (Rush) will ever appear without the three of them." And I love and respect and respect Neil so much, I would never have wanted to do anything without his blessing. But that being said, in a hypothetical world, if that call came, yes, it would be a dream show for me. Of course, "Portniy explained. . Launch Blabbermouth, Monday, January 6.

Rush has been inactive since completing the "R40 Live" tour more than four years ago. Peart struggled with excruciating physical pain for most of his career, including a foot infection that made it difficult to walk.

Lifeson and Lee have repeatedly said Rush would never put on a show unless the three musicians agreed to take part. They haven't performed as Rush without Peart since he joined the band in 1974.

During Rush's first six years of existence, John Rutsey was behind a drum kit and he played on their self-titled debut album.

"I grew up with (Rush) and I went through the big Rush phase in the mid '80s, early' 80s when I was a teenager," Portnoy continues.

"Neil was always my hero then, and since then I am honored that we have become good friends and I value that relationship. And I have remained a Rush fan for many years."