Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee has opened up about the band\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Lee explained that the band\u2019s approach was focused on celebrating their music rather than attempting to recreate the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, 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,\u201d Lee said. \u201cI haven\u2019t talked about this before, but\u2026 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 \u2014 an incredible drummer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee described how he first learned about Nilles through his bass technician\u2019s enthusiastic recommendations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd 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\u2019s all over YouTube. She\u2019s fairly well known in her own world of music. And then we started talking about playing again. I said to Al, I said, \u2018Check her out. Maybe that\u2019s an interesting way to go,’\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
The band took a careful, experimental approach to working with Nilles before committing to the tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo one thing led to another, and when we made the decision we wanted to see if it would work, what\u2019s it like to play with another drummer \u2014 we\u2019d had that experience, of course, at the Taylor Hawkins tributes [in September 2022]. So we know how difficult it is \u2014 no matter who the drummer is, they all have their own perception of what it\u2019s like to play a Rush song, and they may not line up with the way we play Rush songs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo whoever we were going to choose was going to be difficult and there\u2019s going to be like a translation. And so we very secretly brought Anika to Canada. And it wasn\u2019t an audition, \u2019cause at that point we weren\u2019t really sure that we were going to tour. It was all an experiment. Anyway, I\u2019m very happy to say that she is fantastic to play with. And we\u2019ve had now a number of sessions with her and we are going to go on the road with her,\u201d Lee explained.<\/p>\n
Lee emphasized what makes Nilles special for this role and the work involved in capturing Neil Peart\u2019s distinctive feel.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think she\u2019s a remarkable story. And she\u2019s much younger than us\u2026 And I like that, that she came to Rush music without any preconceptions. It also made it very difficult, \u2019cause we had to explain nuances and work on subtleties, and she had to really try to get into Neil\u2019s headspace and his feel. A lot of drummers can play Neil\u2019s 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\u2019s work \u2014 that requires work. And so she\u2019s winning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s health improvement following stomach surgery in 2023 also played a role in making the reunion possible.<\/p>\n
The selection of Nilles was not a hasty decision. Lee\u2019s 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\u2019s legacy on drums.<\/p>\n
Neil Peart\u2019s 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\u2019s passing. This has allowed Lee and Lifeson to reconnect joyfully with Rush\u2019s music. Rush Is A Band stated that this process has reignited their passion for performing together, underscoring Peart\u2019s enduring influence on their sound and identity.<\/p>\n
The reunion tour marks Rush\u2019s return to the stage with Nilles stepping into one of rock music\u2019s most iconic drum positions. She brings a fresh perspective while honoring the band\u2019s legendary legacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee has opened up about the band\u2019s decision to bring drummer Anika Nilles on board for their reunion tour. He … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n