Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, the founding members of the legendary rock band Rush, are preparing for their first tour since the death of drummer Neil Peart. You can also check out how Neil Peart’s daughter reacted to Rush’s reunion.
The Canadian rockers made the announcement on October 6 through a video and statement, revealing plans for a 2026 world tour , their first in more than a decade.
A New Era for Rush
The tour, titled the “Fifty Something” Tour, will kick off on June 7, 2026, in Los Angeles. It will celebrate Rush’s decades-long legacy — including iconic hits like Tom Sawyer and New World Man, while honoring Peart, who passed away in 2020 from brain cancer at age 67.
Joining Lee and Lifeson will be Anika Nilles, a German drummer taking on what they described as the “near impossible role” of replacing the “irreplaceable” Neil Peart. Both Lee and Lifeson, now 72, said the tour is not only a return to performing but also a heartfelt tribute to their late bandmate.
Following the announcement, Anika Nilles, 42, shared the video on her Instagram story, writing:
“It’s truly an honor! Big shoes to fill! Thank you, Geddy and Alex, for trusting me and welcoming me on this incredible journey with you!”
Nilles is obviouly far from an unknown name in the drumming world. A respected composer and performer from Germany, she has earned praise for her technical skill and creativity. Her official Instagram account, filled with drumming videos, boasts over 377,000 followers.
During an October 5 event at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Lee and Lifeson revealed how Nilles joined the band. They quietly invited her to Toronto to see how it would feel to play Rush songs with her , and were blown away by her ability to quickly master their complex arrangements while capturing Peart’s signature feel.
Lee explained that it was actually one of his assistants who first recommended Nilles.
“My bass tech, Skully, was working with Jeff Beck,” Lee said. “He would come home and rave about this incredible drummer named Anika Nilles — how talented she was, and what a great person she seemed to be. So when Alex and I started talking about playing again, I said, ‘Check her out. Maybe that’s an interesting way to go.’
We started talking about playing again, so I said, check her out. Maybe that’s an interesting way to go. And so one thing led to another, and when we made the decision, we wanted to see if it would work.”
