by Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee has opened up about the band’s decision to bring drummer Anika Nilles on board for their reunion tour. He explained how they found the right person to honor the legacy of the late Neil Peart. The revelation came during an interview featured on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame YouTube channel.
Lee explained that the band’s approach was focused on celebrating their music rather than attempting to recreate the past.
“Well, our idea was not to try to be Rush 2.0, just to pay homage to our music, pay homage to our lost brother and represent the songs and celebrate the songs,” Lee said. “I haven’t talked about this before, but… So, my bass tech Skully [John McIntosh] was working with Jeff Beck. He was on tour with him for a few years. And on the last tour he was playing with this drummer named Anika Nilles — an incredible drummer.”
Lee described how he first learned about Nilles through his bass technician’s enthusiastic recommendations.
“And he would come home, he would rave about her, what a brilliant player she was and great person, and blah, blah, blah. So I kind of looked her up. And she’s all over YouTube. She’s fairly well known in her own world of music. And then we started talking about playing again. I said to Al, I said, ‘Check her out. Maybe that’s an interesting way to go,’” he continued.
The band took a careful, experimental approach to working with Nilles before committing to the tour.
“So one thing led to another, and when we made the decision we wanted to see if it would work, what’s it like to play with another drummer — we’d had that experience, of course, at the Taylor Hawkins tributes [in September 2022]. So we know how difficult it is — no matter who the drummer is, they all have their own perception of what it’s like to play a Rush song, and they may not line up with the way we play Rush songs.”
“So whoever we were going to choose was going to be difficult and there’s going to be like a translation. And so we very secretly brought Anika to Canada. And it wasn’t an audition, ’cause at that point we weren’t really sure that we were going to tour. It was all an experiment. Anyway, I’m very happy to say that she is fantastic to play with. And we’ve had now a number of sessions with her and we are going to go on the road with her,” Lee explained.
Lee emphasized what makes Nilles special for this role and the work involved in capturing Neil Peart’s distinctive feel.
“I think she’s a remarkable story. And she’s much younger than us… And I like that, that she came to Rush music without any preconceptions. It also made it very difficult, ’cause we had to explain nuances and work on subtleties, and she had to really try to get into Neil’s headspace and his feel. A lot of drummers can play Neil’s drum fills, but to combine that with the feel of those songs, so that it feels the way you guys wanna hear those songs, that’s work — that requires work. And so she’s winning,” he said.
The decision to reform Rush represents a significant shift for Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. They initially found the idea of continuing without Peart unthinkable. Rush Is A Band reported that their perspective changed after positive experiences playing Rush songs with different drummers during the South Park 25th anniversary concert and the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows in late 2022. Alex Lifeson’s health improvement following stomach surgery in 2023 also played a role in making the reunion possible.
The selection of Nilles was not a hasty decision. Lee’s bass tech introduced her to the band after working with Jeff Beck on his final tour where Nilles played drums. The band held jam sessions in the studio to test the chemistry. Rush Is A Band noted that the band was highly impressed with her exceptional skill and felt the chemistry worked well, making her the right fit to carry Neil Peart’s legacy on drums.
Neil Peart’s legacy remains a powerful presence for the band. Their music is known for its complexity and technical challenges. The reunion tour and rehearsals have helped lift the emotional weight surrounding Peart’s passing. This has allowed Lee and Lifeson to reconnect joyfully with Rush’s music. Rush Is A Band stated that this process has reignited their passion for performing together, underscoring Peart’s enduring influence on their sound and identity.
The reunion tour marks Rush’s return to the stage with Nilles stepping into one of rock music’s most iconic drum positions. She brings a fresh perspective while honoring the band’s legendary legacy.
