Geddy Lee says new Rush drummer Anika Nilles is shining in what have to be one of the crucial tough roles in rock – even supposing she did not develop up listening to the band.
Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson lately introduced they had been taking Rush again out on the street for the primary time for the reason that dying of iconic drummer Neil Peart.
And whereas she was conscious of precisely what a activity she was taking up when she agreed to fill in for Peart, the truth that she wasn’t introduced up on Rush’s music could have helped her ease into the seat vacated by one of the crucial beloved and revered drummers of all time.
Talking to the CBC, Lee says: “When she first came visiting right here, we began enjoying among the songs, attempting to translate Rush music to somebody who did not actually develop up as a Rush fan – she was not a Rush fan.
“She knew, in fact, of Neil’s enjoying – each drummer is aware of who Neil is, or Neil was, I ought to say – so it was a little bit of a frightening activity. And we needed to undergo every track and clarify the nuances of the track and the idiosyncratic nature of how our songs are put collectively.
“So at occasions she was a bit overwhelmed, however she’s an extremely exhausting employee. She’s acquired nice technical facility and he or she’s simply acquired a very constructive angle, and that is actually good for Alex and I to be round proper now.”
Requested once more how they got here to search out Nilles and the way they needed to wrestle with the emotion of touring with out Peart, Lee provides: “Nicely, in fact it was a really tough resolution to return on the street, and that was the principle stumbling block, clearly. How will we change the irreplaceable, so to talk?
“We’ve been lucky to have been launched to the title Anika Nilles by means of one among my street crew. My bass tech Skully, who was on tour with Jeff Beck, and he or she was the drummer for Jeff Beck on his final tour.
“And he got here house from that tour raving about her. And so after we made the choice to see what it is wish to play with one other drummer, we contacted her, and he or she’s only a implausible particular person.
“She got here to Canada and we very surreptitiously snuck right into a studio and labored out for a few week. And by the top of it, we had been satisfied that this may be a go for us. Yeah, she’s only a super participant.”
Toronto native Lee additionally speaks about his beloved Toronto Blue Jays, who’re at present enjoying in baseball’s World Sequence in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The winner of the seven-game sequence can be topped Main League Baseball (MLB) champions.
Lee is an everyday face at Blue Jays house video games on the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Rush: Fifty One thing 2026 tour dates
Jun 07: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 09: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 11: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 13: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 18: Mexico Metropolis Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico
Jun 24: Fort Value Dickies Enviornment TX
Jun 26: Fort Value Dickies Enviornment, TX
Jun 28: Fort Value Dickies Enviornment, TX
Jun 30: Fort Value Dickies Enviornment, TX
Jul 16: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 18: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 20: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 22: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 28: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 1: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 3:: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Jul 30: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 07: Toronto Scotiabank Enviornment, ON
Aug 09: Toronto Scotiabank Enviornment, ON
Aug 11: Toronto Scotiabank Enviornment, ON
Aug 13: Toronto Scotiabank Enviornment, ON
Sep 17: Cleveland Rocket Enviornment, OH
