Primus frontman Les Claypool shared his thoughts on Rush’s return with new drummer Anika Nilles, who has stepped in to replace the late Neil Peart, in comments reported by TotalRock.
Claypool, a longtime fan and friend of the band, was asked directly about his feelings on Rush’s 2026 comeback given the challenge of replacing such a well-known drummer.
Claypool was asked, “I know that you, Les, are a big Rush fan, and I just wondered what your thoughts are, given that they have to replace a very well-known drummer. What you make of Rush in 2026? Because you’re a big fan of the band, right?” He responded with a mix of personal history and support for the band’s new chapter.
“Well, that was my, you know, that was my first concert,” Claypool said. “It was actually Larry LaLonde’s first concert as well, different year because I’m a little older than Larry. But my first concert was Hemispheres with Pat Travers and Rush at the Capitol when I was 14 years old. I drank three warm beers and threw up in the parking lot, and it was one of the greatest nights of my life.”
He went on to describe the band’s deeper influence on his career and personal relationships with its members.
“But yeah, so they were a huge part of our upbringing and our early experiences with music,” Claypool continued. “But also, we toured with them quite a lot in the early ’90s, so they’re very dear friends. So when they came back to do this, and, you know, it’s the year of drummers. There’s so many drummers have switched positions and done this, that, and the next thing.”
Claypool then drew a parallel between Rush’s situation and his own band’s experience with lineup changes.
“And I text with Geddy quite a lot, and they’re in a very similar boat here,” he said. “They have Anika, who’s very excited to do this and is breathing a new life to their whole thing. You know, and it’s very similar to what’s happened with us. So I think it’s very exciting.”
He also recalled a missed opportunity to see the new lineup perform in person.
“And we were supposed to actually base our last U.S. tour around getting to see one of their shows, and we were down in Texas, and of course their gear got stuck at the border in Mexico, and the show got canceled,” Claypool said. “So we didn’t actually get to see them, but we went and had dinner with them and hung out and met Anika, and she was great. So I’m anxious to see it.”
Claypool’s comments come at a significant moment for Rush, whose return to the stage marks a major milestone for the band and its fans alike.
Rush officially introduced Anika Nilles as their touring drummer in October 2025, confirming her role ahead of the band’s 2026 reunion run. The dates mark Rush’s first shows since Neil Peart’s death in 2020, ending an 11-year gap since the group last toured. The trek, billed as the “Fifty Something Tour,” spans nearly 90 performances worldwide and kicked off on June 7 near Los Angeles.
Nilles, 42, is a German drummer, composer, and producer who comes from a family of drummers. She built her reputation as a session and touring musician well before joining Rush. She previously toured with guitarist Jeff Beck, work that helped establish her as one of the most sought-after fusion drummers in the industry. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have described her arrival as adding a new chapter to the band’s story rather than simply filling a vacancy.
Peart is widely regarded as one of rock’s most technically demanding drummers. Stepping into his drum chair was no small task for Nilles. She has spoken candidly about the pressure of adapting to his style while still making the role her own. She has said that challenge comes with performing songs as intricate as “Tom Sawyer” night after night.
Nilles reflected on her first show with the band. She admitted the nerves were real in the moments leading up to one of Rush’s most iconic drum fills. “Five seconds before, I was, like, ‘Don’t f*** it up,'” she said, describing the tension of nailing the “Tom Sawyer” fill in front of a crowd measuring her against Peart’s legacy.
That blend of pressure and reward appears to be exactly what Claypool sees echoed in his own band’s recent experience. It reinforces why he views Rush’s current chapter with such enthusiasm.
