by New Rush drummer Anika Nilles has shared her first public comments about joining the legendary rock band for their reunion tour with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The statement was posted on Instagram stories.
Nilles expressed her excitement and gratitude about being chosen to fill the role previously held by the late Neil Peart, one of rock’s most celebrated drummers.
“It’s truly an honor! Big shoes to fill!” she said. “Thank you, Geddy and Alex, for trusting me and welcoming me on this incredible journey with you!”
The announcement marks a significant moment for Rush fans as the band prepares for their reunion tour with a new drummer at the kit.
This reunion represents Rush’s first tour since the death of Neil Peart in 2020. It brings the band back together after nearly a decade of hiatus. The band’s touring career had seemingly ended after their R40 tour finished on August 1, 2015, when Peart retired due to physical ailments.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Nilles is a renowned drummer who released her first solo album, Pikalar, in 2017. She has won numerous awards from various drum magazines and gained wider recognition after playing on Jeff Beck’s last tour.
Rush’s Geddy Lee praised her drumming as “terrific” in a November 2023 interview. He highlighted her as part of the current rich era for great drummers.
Neil Peart was known as a perfectionist who struggled during the latter part of the R40 tour in 2015 because of physical ailments. He wanted to retire on his own terms, maintaining the high standards expected by fans. Loudwire noted that his death marked the end of an era for Rush and led to the band’s hiatus until the recent reunion with Nilles as drummer.
The band members felt confident to reunite with Nilles filling the drumming role after Peart’s retirement and passing. This signals a new chapter for one of rock’s most influential progressive rock bands.
