Last year, Rush announced that they would be reuniting and going on tour for the first time since the death of drummer Neil Peart, with Anika Nilles stepping in behind the kit. In a new interview with Classic Rock, Nilles reflected on the challenge of stepping into Peart’s shoes.
“[Neil’s] playing was very energetic, and I really like that,” she said. “That’s something I feel very comfortable with. I also love playing in a very energetic way. That’s the first thing that comes to mind, and something I really appreciate about his playing. He also had an incredible range of tonal colors. He had a very melodic approach to drumming and used a wide variety of sounds to achieve that. That set him apart and made him stand out to many drummers, for whom he was — and still is — a role model.
“He had a very distinctive way of playing the ride cymbal. When you listen to the music, that cymbal always stands out prominently. He had a very distinctive snare sound as well. There are certain signature sounds that come directly from his playing — not from the equipment, but from him. You recognize him immediately. Adapting to his way of playing is a challenge.”
“Neil rarely repeated himself. He kept bringing something new into the song,” Nilles continued. “Even if a section repeated in terms of songwriting, his drumming the second time was different from the first. That makes it exciting and is part of what gives the songs their identity.
“At the same time, it’s a challenge to remember all those details, because they’re important. It’s a composition; you can’t just ignore certain parts, they’re all essential and have to be played. That’s challenging.”
