Rush Debuts Anika Nilles At Juno Awards
Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson returned to the stage on Sunday, March 29, making their first live appearance with new touring drummer Ms. Anika Nilles at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario. The surprise opening performance marked the first time the pair have played live under the Rush name with Nilles, and it offered an early glimpse of the lineup that will take the band back on the road later this year.
During the broadcast, the group opened with “Finding My Way,” the first track from Rush’s 1974 debut album, and keyboardist Loren Gold also joined the performance and is set to be part of the upcoming touring band.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Lee said the song choice came down to practicality: management suggested the first song from the first album, while Lifeson joked it was “the only song we know how to play.” The appearance also served as a public warm-up ahead of Rush’s first official shows in 11 years, which are scheduled to begin in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the venue where the band last played during the “R40” anniversary run.
The new lineup arrives as Rush prepares for what is being billed as the “Fifty Something” tour, with dates across North America in 2026 and additional shows planned for South America and Europe in early 2027. In discussing Nilles’ selection, Lee credited his bass technician Mr. John “Skully” McIntosh with first flagging her work, and said a quiet Canada rehearsal stretch helped seal the decision; in recent Alternative Nation coverage, Lee has also spoken about setting expectations for Rush’s new drummer as she steps into an unusually scrutinised role.
Rush have not released new music since drummer Neil Peart’s death in 2020, and the band’s return to touring is being framed as a carefully rehearsed celebration of the catalogue rather than a full-scale reunion built around new recordings. With rehearsals said to be stretching close to a year, the next few months should clarify how expansive the live set will be and how the band balances fan favourites with deeper cuts.
