A New Era for Rush: Anika Nilles Steps Into the Spotlight
Anika Nilles, the new drummer for the legendary rock band Rush, made her live debut with the group at this year’s Juno Awards show at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. Her performance marked a significant moment for the band and its fans, especially as she stepped into the shoes of the late, great Neil Peart. In an interview featured in the new issue of Classic Rock, Nilles shared her thoughts on the iconic drummer and the challenges of carrying on his legacy.
“His playing was very energetic, and I really like that,” Nilles 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.”
Peart’s drumming style was known for its energy and creativity. Nilles highlighted his unique tonal range and melodic approach. “He had an incredible range of tonal colours. 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.”
She also noted the distinctiveness of Peart’s cymbal work. “He had a very distinctive way of playing the ride cymbal. When you listen to the music, that cymbal always stands out prominently. He also 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 Peart’s style was no small task. “Adapting to his way of playing is a challenge,” Nilles admitted. “Neil rarely repeated himself. He kept bringing something new into the song. 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, Nilles emphasized the importance of precision. “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.”
In a separate interview in the same issue of Classic Rock, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee revealed that they had doubts about Nilles’ place in the band after their first rehearsals together. However, the band has since moved forward with the Fifty Something Tour, which will begin on June 7 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA—the same venue where Rush played their final show with Peart in 2015.
Rush’s Fifty Something Tour Dates
The tour promises to be a celebration of Rush’s rich history and musical legacy. Here are the full dates for the 2026 leg of the tour:
- Jun 07: Los Angeles, Kia Forum, CA
- Jun 09: Los Angeles, Kia Forum, CA
- Jun 11: Los Angeles, Kia Forum, CA
- Jun 13: Los Angeles, Kia Forum, CA
- Jun 18: Mexico City, Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico
- Jun 20: Mexico City, Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico
- Jun 24: Fort Worth, Dickies Arena, TX
- Jun 26: Fort Worth, Dickies Arena, TX
- Jun 28: Fort Worth, Dickies Arena, TX
- Jun 30: Fort Worth, Dickies Arena, TX
- Jul 16: Chicago, United Center, IL
- Jul 18: Chicago, United Center, IL
- Jul 20: Chicago, United Center, IL
- Jul 22: Chicago, United Center, IL
- Jul 28: New York, Madison Square Garden, NY
- Jul 30: New York, Madison Square Garden, NY
- Aug 01: New York, Madison Square Garden, NY
- Aug 03: New York, Madison Square Garden, NY
- Aug 07: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena, ON
- Aug 09: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena, ON
- Aug 11: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena, ON
- Aug 13: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena, ON
- Aug 21: Philadelphia, Xfinity Mobile Arena, PA
- Aug 23: Philadelphia, Xfinity Mobile Arena, PA
- Aug 26: Detroit, Little Caesars Arena, MI
- Aug 28: Detroit, Little Caesars Arena, MI
- Sep 02: Montreal, Bell Centre, QC
- Sep 04: Montreal, Bell Centre, QC
- Sep 12: Boston, TD Garden, MA
- Sep 14: Boston, TD Garden, MA
- Sep 17: Cleveland, Rocket Arena, OH
- Sep 19: Cleveland, Rocket Arena, OH
- Sep 23: San Antonio, Frost Bank Center, TX
- Sep 25: San Antonio, Frost Bank Center, TX
- Oct 05: Denver, Ball Arena, CO
- Oct 07: Denver, Ball Arena, CO
- Oct 10: Seattle, Climate Pledge Arena, WA
- Oct 12: Seattle, Climate Pledge Arena, WA
- Oct 15: San Jose, SAP Center, CA
- Oct 17: San Jose, SAP Center, CA
- Oct 25: Washington, Capital One Arena, D.C.
- Oct 27: Washington, Capital One Arena, D.C.
- Oct 30: Uncasville, Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
- Nov 01: Uncasville, Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
- Nov 05: Hollywood, Hard Rock Live, FL
- Nov 07: Hollywood, Hard Rock Live, FL
- Nov 09: Tampa, Benchmark International Arena, FL
- Nov 11: Tampa, Benchmark International Arena, FL
- Nov 20: Charlotte, Spectrum Center, NC
- Nov 22: Charlotte, Spectrum Center, NC
- Nov 25: Atlanta, State Farm Arena, GA
- Nov 27: Atlanta, State Farm Arena, GA
- Dec 01: Glendale, Desert Diamond Arena, AZ
- Dec 03: Glendale, Desert Diamond Arena, AZ
- Dec 10: Edmonton, Rogers Place, AB
- Dec 12: Edmonton, Rogers Place, AB
- Dec 15: Vancouver, Rogers Arena, BC
- Dec 17: Vancouver, Rogers Arena, BC
The tour will continue into 2027 with stops across South America, Europe, and other international locations. Fans can find tickets through official channels.
