Rush announced the postponement of their concert in San Jose on October 17 due to illness affecting new drummer Anika Nilles, in a post shared via Instagram. The show has been rescheduled for December 6, 2026.
The band said Nilles was unwell during their first San Jose performance earlier in the week but managed to complete that show. Her condition worsened over the following days, making it impossible for her to perform on October 17.
“So sorry everyone! Anika is too ill to perform tonight. Tonight’s RUSH show in San Jose is not happening – now rescheduled for Dec 6, 2026. All previously purchased tickets will be honoured for the new date. Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to coming back and putting on a fantastic show for you!” the band wrote.
Alex Lifeson addressed the postponement directly. “Hi, it’s Lerxst. So this really sucks. The other night [Thursday, October 15] when we played the first show in San Jose, Anika was ill. She was in the early stages of a flu, but she managed to get through the gig, which was really quite incredible and is a testament to her willpower. But over the last couple of days, she’s gotten a lot worse, and, unfortunately, we’re gonna have to cancel the show tonight.”
“It’s a real bummer. We’re crestfallen. We were really looking forward to it, but it is what it is,” Lifeson continued. “So she’s gonna recover hopefully within the next — oh, who knows? — four or five days probably. And then we’re gonna try to come back on December 6th to do the makeup gig here in San Jose.”
“Again, really, really sorry. These things happen. It’s flu season. We’ll do our best to get back in shape and return and put on a fabulous show for all of you. Thank you so much for understanding.”
The postponement came as Rush worked through illness during their tour dates in the San Jose area. All tickets purchased for the original October 17 show will be valid for the rescheduled December 6 performance.
Nilles joined the Canadian rock legends for their Fifty Something reunion tour, which began on June 7, 2026 in Inglewood, California. The tour marks Rush’s first live outing in 11 years and their first shows without drummer Neil Peart since his death in 2020. Lifeson and Geddy Lee selected Nilles after she went through a five-day audition process in early 2026.
The German drummer first came to the attention of Rush’s singers when she performed with guitarist Jeff Beck. Nilles has since won over many fans with her technical skill, though some Rush devotees were initially skeptical about the band welcoming a new drummer. At the opening show in Inglewood, she performed for 2 hours and 40 minutes, demonstrating her ability to handle Rush’s demanding drum compositions written by Peart over decades.
With Nilles sidelined by illness, the band will attempt to reschedule the San Jose makeup show for December 6, 2026. Lifeson expressed hope that the drummer would recover within four or five days. The rescheduled date gives Nilles time to regain her health before Rush resumes the Fifty Something tour.
