Geddy Lee recently shared his thoughts on Rush’s new drummer Anika Nilles following the band’s first live performance together at the Juno Awards. The comments were reported by 92.9 The Grand.
The Rush frontman expressed his satisfaction with the band’s collaboration with Nilles. He praised both her musical abilities and personal qualities.
“We’ve been rehearsing with her, on and off, for about a year now. And now it’s very comfortable, and she’s expressing her personality, which is nice to see, because she’s a fantastic person, lovely, easy to work with and really deeply talented,” Lee said.
Lee emphasized how fortunate the band feels to have found Nilles. He noted the seamless nature of their partnership.
“So we consider ourselves so fortunate, because she was really the only drummer we tried to work with, and she’s just been perfect for us. And she fires us up too. She’s a bonus,” he continued.
The bassist also reflected on the legacy of late drummer Neil Peart. He explained how the band’s decision to continue honors his memory.
“Neil is irreplaceable. And if he had something to say to us right now, he’d probably say, ‘You guys are idiots.’ But music lives beyond tragedy, beyond anything that can happen in your life,” Lee explained. “One thing we’ve learned over the last 10 years is that music is still a part of us, and so to play it now with someone as young and exciting as Anika, it’s just another tribute to him. I think he’d be very pleased with our choice of drummer, and I think he would have a bit of a smirk on his face. A thumbs up, I hope.”
Lee’s comments came after what marked a historic moment for the Canadian prog-rock legends. They returned to the stage for their first live performance in over a decade.
Guitar World reported that Rush featuring Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson debuted their new lineup with drummer Anika Nilles on March 29, 2026, at the Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario. They performed “Finding My Way” from their 1974 debut album. This performance marked their first live show together in 11 years under the Rush banner.
The song choice held special significance for the reunion. Lee explained the decision-making process post-performance. He stated they consulted management who suggested the “first song, first album” due to the vast catalog making selection difficult. “You really can’t ask us what song to play. If we have to choose one song, it’s almost impossible. We have so many. So we just asked management, and they said first song, first album,” Lee said.
The performance at Hamilton’s TD Coliseum also featured keyboardist Loren Gold, who will tour with the band. It included a video tribute to late drummer Neil Peart displayed on screens behind the stage. Revolver Magazine noted that the beloved prog-rock act kicked off the broadcast at the TD Coliseum. This marked both the beginning of the show and their 2026 reunion.
This debut performance served as a preview for Rush’s highly anticipated “Fifty Something” reunion tour. Live for Live Music revealed that what was originally announced as a 12-date run of reunion shows in seven cities has since grown into a 50+ worldwide tour stretching into the spring of 2027. The tour is set to begin June 7 at the Forum in Los Angeles. Later extensions are planned for the UK, Europe, and South America.
