Who is Rush’s new drummer? This is the German musician who will be behind the drum kit on their 2026 tour
After “serious soul searching,” Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson will hit the road again to pay tribute to the band’s late drummer Neil Peart.
It’s been over five years since legendary Neil Peart of Rush passed away. The group’s drummer and lyricist died in early 2020 after a battle with brain cancer.
Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson recently announced that they are finally ready to hit the road again after “some serious soul searching” with their ‘Fifty Something’ tour set to kick off 7 June 2026. Along for the ride playing the drums will be Anika Nilles, who Rush knows their dedicated fanbase “will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role,” of filling Peart’s shoes.
Who is Anika Nilles, Neal Peart’s replacement?
Nilles, who comes from a family of drummers, is a 42-year-old German drumming virtuoso. She has released two full-length albums, ‘Pikalar’ in 2017, and ‘For a Colorful Soul’ in 2020.
When promoting the former, Nilles appeared on Modern Drummer in June 2017. Since the early 2010s, she has also been a prolific YouTuber uploading clinical instructional videos along with her music.
Currently, she is the head of the drums department at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg. This will be the most prominent gig of her career after touring in 2022 with Jeff Beck’s live band European tour.
“We all know Neil was irreplaceable,” said Lee in a statement about the upcoming Fifty Something tour. “Yet life is full of surprises, and we have been introduced to another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician who is adding another chapter to our story while continuing her own fascinating musical journey.”
“Lerxst, Anika and myself, along with many of our longstanding crew members have been hard at work rehearsing and designing the kind of RUSH show you’ve grown accustomed to expect from us,” Lee added. “We dearly hope you will come along and help us celebrate our history together.”
The 12-date 2026 tour will visit seven cities beginning with the Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, which was the last stop on 1 August 2015 of their RUSH’s R40 Tour, “bringing it full circle… to embark upon these special shows,” stated the band.
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