Anika Nilles, the new drummer for Rush who replaced the late Neil Peart for the band’s ‘Fifty Something’ tour, opened up about her experience working with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson in a recent interview.
Nilles spoke about her personal and musical chemistry with the two legendary musicians, describing them as humble and approachable personalities.
“If you know those two guys, they are so funny and they’re so human. And that made it really easy to connect to each other,” Nilles said. “So they treated me immediately, from first minute on, on the same level. I mean, they are legends. They could be whatever — whatever, arrogant or whatever. They are not. They are funny. They are so human.”
She added that their shared passion for music made the collaboration feel natural.
“And this is a way where you have easy access to each other. But also they love to play music. They are very enthusiastic when it comes to play music. They love working on details. They are detailed when they work together, and you see them having fun and the energy they both have together, and I really can connect with that attitude.”
The drummer also addressed how she approached the challenging task of stepping into Neil Peart’s role, emphasizing her respect for his legacy.
“I treat the music with great respect to the guys and also to Neil’s parts, because Neil is a big part of the music. And so I try to make careful decisions with a great deal of sensitivity of what I’m playing original and where there is room for me to play more free or more me or more improvising.”
Nilles explained that she prepared by learning every song from scratch, treating each track as a blank page. She studied Peart’s drum compositions carefully and made deliberate decisions about which parts to play faithfully and where to add her own touch.
The ‘Fifty Something’ tour kicked off on June 7, 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, marking Rush’s first full concert in 11 years. The tour is framed as a tribute to Peart’s legacy and a celebration of the band’s enduring catalog. Nilles joins founding members Lee and Lifeson alongside keyboardist Loren Gold, who has been added to the touring lineup.
Nilles is a 43-year-old German drummer, composer, and producer who previously toured with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck in 2022. Her background in progressive and fusion music made her a natural fit for the technical demands of Rush’s catalog. She has built a reputation in the drumming world through her solo work and instructional content.
The tour has since expanded to encompass nearly 90 performances across North America, with international dates already planned for 2027. Lee and Lifeson have stated that the tour is meant to honor the music they created together while introducing it to a new generation of fans.
“Neil’s way to play the drums is basically an own composition, and this is what I mean,” Nilles said. “I treat it with great respect because that’s a huge skill he brought into it, and I wanna honor that. And so I have to make these decisions really careful song by song, what I’m playing on original and where I go more free.”
Reflecting on the rehearsal process, Nilles noted that the band focused on energy and feel once the technical preparation was done. They would review whether her decisions worked in the live context and make adjustments as needed. The approach has been met with strong reviews from fans and critics alike, with many praising how she balances respect for Peart’s legacy with her own musical identity.
