All articles tagged with #anika nilles
German drummer Anika Nilles explains she was recruited to Rush to succeed Neil Peart and prepared for the reunion tour by learning his parts through listening and chunking, prioritizing feel over notation, as the band reconnected after years apart.
Rush’s Night Three on the Fifty Something Tour in LA delivered a full Moving Pictures performance, including a rare Camera Eye arrangement; the night featured the first New World Man since 2002, Aimee Mann’s return for Time Stand Still, and a dramatic 2112 moment when Geddy Lee’s bass cut out—quickly rectified as Lifeson and Nilles kept the groove going and Lee returned with a replacement bass. Anika Nilles impressed on drums, Lifeson was more energized onstage, and Lee’s vocals sounded stronger thanks to coaching, making the setlist of staples (Xanadu, Tom Sawyer, YYZ, Dreamline, Red Sector A, etc.) land with renewed vigor.
Rush delivered a complete performance of the 2112 suite on the second night of their Fifty Something tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, marking the first full 2112 rendition since 1997, with about 18,000 fans in attendance and fan-shot multicam footage circulating online; the piece also notes the band’s new drummer Anika Nilles and includes the North American dates that followed.
Fraser Lewry highlights Anika Nilles’s emotional Rush comeback in Los Angeles, pointing to two defining moments: a nerve-wracking yet seamless stick drop recovered during Xanadu and a flawless Tom Sawyer closer that showcases her mastery and the crowd’s roaring celebration of the band’s return with a new drummer.
Rush’s Fifty Something Tour kicks off in Los Angeles with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returning to the stage in a emotionally charged comeback that honors Neil Peart. New touring drummer Anika Nilles nails Peart-like fills and bravura moments on classics like Xanadu, Freewill, 2112 and YYZ, as the band blends tribute with high-energy performance to reaffirm Rush’s enduring legacy.
Rush opened its comeback tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, six years after the death of drummer Neil Peart, with German drummer Anika Nilles making her debut with the band. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson—both 72—delivered a explosive 22-song set on the Fifty Something tour, mixing high-energy rock with emotional tributes to Peart and eye-popping visuals and pyrotechnics as they embark on stops in South America, Europe and Washington, D.C.
Aimee Mann joined Rush for a Neil Peart tribute at the Fifty Something Tour opener in Los Angeles, performing her vocal on Time Stand Still 40 years after recording the studio version, with new touring drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold. The show featured multiple Peart tributes on video, and included surprises like Xanadu and a rare return of By-Tor and the Snow Dog.
Rush opened the 2026 JUNO Awards with their new drummer Anika Nilles, performing the band’s 1974 classic Finding My Way. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson delivered an energized set from a massive kit, with Loren Gold on keyboards joining for the tour, signaling a return ahead of the Fifty Something run and marking Rush’s first onstage as a unit since 2015.
Anika Nilles, a German musician, has stepped in as the new drummer for Rush to honor Neil Peart's legacy, expressing gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead, with Geddy Lee praising her understanding of Rush's music and Neil Peart's drumming nuances.
Geddy Lee revealed that Rush's new drummer for their upcoming reunion tour is Anika Nilles, recommended by band assistant Skully after he raved about her skills while touring with Jeff Beck, and she was chosen to fill the challenging role following Neil Peart's legacy.
Geddy Lee revealed that German drummer Anika Nilles will be Rush's new drummer for their upcoming tour, after praising her skills and work with Jeff Beck, highlighting her as a talented and fresh addition to the band.
Rush is returning to the stage after over a decade with a 12-date tour in 2026, featuring Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and new drummer Anika Nilles, to celebrate their legacy and Neil Peart's memory. Tickets go on presale in October, with general sales starting later that month, and the band will perform a mix of hits and fan favorites across North America and Mexico.