Rick Beato reacts to Rush reunion
Rick Beato discussed Rush’s reunion with their new drummer in a new video.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said he opened his phone, saw a notification on Instagram, and was surprised to read the news.
Saying it out loud felt strange but exciting. He reflected on how special Rush’s music is, noting that after being away from it for a while, he realized how difficult it is to play and how rich it is in both sound and meaning.
Rick Beato Shares Exciting News About Rush Reunion Tour
Beato said it feels great to finally see news of the tour, which will feature around 35 songs and last a couple of hours each night. The band plans to change things up from show to show, with every concert including a special section dedicated to honoring Neil Peart and his legacy.
He admitted that the biggest question among fans is how to replace someone as iconic as Neil. Beato explained that his bass tech, Scully, told him about drummer Anika Nilles, who had toured with Jeff Beck and was known for her power and skill. When the band rehearsed with her, it reignited their energy and confidence that they could bring the songs back to life while staying true to Rush’s spirit.
Beato praised Anika, saying she’s an incredible drummer who combines technical mastery with her own creative style. While no one can replace Neil, he believes the band should continue performing to celebrate his music and share it with fans.
He also mentioned that a new keyboard player will join the tour, a major change for the band, allowing Geddy Lee to focus on vocals and bass. Beato said he’s excited about the reunion and can’t wait to see Rush perform live again. Alternative Nation transcribed his remarks.
“So, I opened my phone up just a bit ago and saw I had a notification on Instagram. I opened it and saw this: ‘Hi, we’re going back on tour.’ Isn’t that weird saying it out loud? Yeah, it totally is. You know, we’re musicians and players, and our music is special. It really is special. Being away from it for a while and revisiting it, I realized how difficult it is to play, but also how rich it is in its music, lyrics, and everything it represents.” “It feels great to finally say out loud that we’re going on tour and that we’ll be playing a lot of these songs. One of the cool things about how this is coming together is that we’ve got around 35 songs so far for a set that’ll probably run a couple of hours. We’ll change things up each night, but every show will have a part that pays tribute to Neil, his memory, and everything he meant to us. It’s going to be beautiful to celebrate him every single night.
But the biggest question is, how do you replace someone who’s irreplaceable? I heard from Scully, my bass tech, who had toured with Jeff Beck and worked with this drummer named Anika Nilles. He said how impressive, talented, and powerful she was. When we played with her, it brought our songs back to life. After those rehearsals, I felt like, yes, we can do this and do it justice. This is going to be fun.
Anika is an amazing drummer. I’ve featured her in videos before, and I saw her play with Jeff Beck in 2022. She blew me away. You can never replace Neil, but these guys should be out there playing Rush’s music. It’s a great way to honor Neil and let people experience those songs live again. I imagine Anika will play some of Neil’s parts while adding her own touch, the key fills you expect, but also her own energy and groove. She’s incredible at odd time signatures and has such an exciting style.
I also love that they’re bringing in a keyboard player so Geddy can focus on singing and playing bass without splitting duties. This whole thing is exciting. I think it’s great news, and I’m really supportive of it. I’d love to interview Geddy or Alex about it someday. For now, I just wanted to say I’m thrilled and can’t wait to see them live again.”
On Reddit, the announcement and Beato’s analysis started a big discussion among Rush fans. Many people are wondering how Anika Nilles will play Neil Peart’s famous drum parts. Some fans think putting her own spin on it is a good idea, while others worry that changing Neil’s drumming might not feel right.
One fan said Rush concerts are like “air-drumming conventions,” but he wouldn’t mind hearing Anika’s version of the songs since he has already seen the band perform many times before.
Quite an interesting dilemma though, as Rush shows are practically air drumming conventions. Personally I wouldn’t mind seeing her take on the songs, but I’ve also seen them a few times before.
