Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has reacted to Rush’s first official reunion show with new drummer Anika Nilles, sharing his support via his Instagram. The show took place at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, marking a significant milestone in Rush’s history as the band returned to the stage with Nilles behind the kit — a role many had expected Portnoy to fill.
Ahead of the tour kickoff, Portnoy took to social media to express his excitement and well-wishes for the band.
“Tonight’s a big night in Rush history!! Best of luck to Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Anika Nilles, and Loren Gold for tonight’s tour kickoff in LA! The world will be watching and listening (no pressure really),” Portnoy said.
He also expressed his eagerness to follow the tour and paid tribute to the late Neil Peart.
“Can’t wait to see reports of the setlist, watch clips on YouTube and catch a show sometime this summer! Make our brother Bubba proud. It’s been amazing!” he continued.
Portnoy had previously addressed the topic of not being offered the drummer role for Rush’s reunion. Despite being widely discussed as a potential candidate over the years, he revealed he had made peace with the outcome.
“I mean, yeah, before they announced their return it’s a question that I would get asked in almost every single interview, you know for the last decade. But I’m, in all honesty, I’m kind of glad that they didn’t even ask me because that would be way too much pressure. Way too much pressure. So, it’s much better this way. I get to enjoy it like a fan,” Portnoy said.
With the tour now officially underway, all eyes remain on Rush and Anika Nilles as they continue their run of live dates this summer.
The Forum in Inglewood carries a particularly emotional weight for Rush fans, as it was the last venue where the band performed with Neil Peart before his passing in January 2020. The choice to open the reunion run at the same location adds a layer of symbolic significance to an already historic occasion.
As WKQQ iHeart reported, Rush’s current outing — dubbed the “Fifty Something Tour” — marks the band’s first tour in eleven years and their first since the passing of legendary drummer Neil Peart in 2020. The tour represents not only a musical comeback but also an emotional reckoning for a band that spent years uncertain whether they would ever perform again.
Fan discussions ahead of the opening night suggested the band had been rehearsing around 40 songs, with plans to perform approximately 25 to 30 per night, with some material rotating between shows, as noted in a YouTube video covering the tour. Classic staples such as “Tom Sawyer,” “Limelight,” and “Closer to the Heart” are widely expected to feature prominently throughout the run.
Reports also indicate that the band made late adjustments to their setlist during rehearsals, adding a new and more complex song while swapping out two others to make room for it. This was a sign that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were committed to delivering a carefully crafted live experience rather than simply relying on nostalgia. The willingness to challenge themselves and their new drummer so close to the tour’s launch speaks to the seriousness with which the band has approached this reunion.
The significance of Anika Nilles stepping into the role cannot be overstated. Filling the seat once occupied by Neil Peart — widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers in rock history — is a task that carries immense pressure, a point Portnoy himself acknowledged when reflecting on why he was relieved not to have been asked. For Nilles, the Forum show was not just a concert opener. It was the moment she officially introduced herself to one of rock’s most devoted and discerning fanbases.
