Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, the founding members of the legendary rock band Rush, are making ready for his or her first tour for the reason that loss of life of drummer Neil Peart. You may as well take a look at how Neil Peart’s daughter reacted to Rush’s reunion.
The Canadian rockers made the announcement on October 6 by way of a video and assertion, revealing plans for a 2026 world tour , their first in additional than a decade.
A New Period for Rush
The tour, titled the “Fifty One thing” Tour, will kick off on June 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. It would have a good time Rush’s decades-long legacy — together with iconic hits like Tom Sawyer and New World Man, whereas honoring Peart, who handed away in 2020 from mind most cancers at age 67.
Becoming a member of Lee and Lifeson will probably be Anika Nilles, a German drummer taking up what they described because the “close to unimaginable position” of changing the “irreplaceable” Neil Peart. Each Lee and Lifeson, now 72, stated the tour just isn’t solely a return to performing but additionally a heartfelt tribute to their late bandmate.
Following the announcement, Anika Nilles, 42, shared the video on her Instagram story, writing:
“It’s actually an honor! Large sneakers to fill! Thanks, Geddy and Alex, for trusting me and welcoming me on this unimaginable journey with you!”
Nilles is obviouly removed from an unknown title within the drumming world. A revered composer and performer from Germany, she has earned reward for her technical talent and creativity. Her official Instagram account, stuffed with drumming movies, boasts over 377,000 followers.
Throughout an October 5 occasion on the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame in Cleveland, Lee and Lifeson revealed how Nilles joined the band. They quietly invited her to Toronto to see how it might really feel to play Rush songs together with her , and have been blown away by her means to rapidly grasp their advanced preparations whereas capturing Peart’s signature really feel.
Lee defined that it was really one among his assistants who first beneficial Nilles.
“My bass tech, Skully, was working with Jeff Beck,” Lee stated. “He would come house and rave about this unimaginable drummer named Anika Nilles — how proficient she was, and what an incredible particular person she appeared to be. So when Alex and I began speaking about taking part in once more, I stated, ‘Test her out. Perhaps that’s an attention-grabbing option to go.’
We began speaking about taking part in once more, so I stated, verify her out. Perhaps that’s an attention-grabbing option to go. And so one factor led to a different, and after we made the choice, we wished to see if it might work.”
