In what’s already one of the most talked-about musical announcements of the decade, RUSH’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have revealed that German drummer Anika Nilles will be joining them for their 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something. The news sent shockwaves through the rock and drumming communities, as RUSH prepares to return to the stage for the first time in over a decade — celebrating their music, legacy, and the life of the late Neil Peart.
While many fans first learned Nilles’ name through her work with Jeff Beck, her reputation as one of the most accomplished and creative drummers in the modern scene long predates this new chapter. Born in Germany, Anika Nilles built her career as a solo artist, educator, and composer, developing a rhythmic style that blends technical mastery with a deeply melodic approach to drumming. Her performances are characterized by intricate grooves, odd time signatures, and an extraordinary sense of dynamics — qualities that naturally align with RUSH’s complex musical DNA.
Nilles first rose to prominence in the mid-2010s through her solo compositions and YouTube videos, where she showcased not only her technical command but also her compositional voice. Tracks like Alter Ego and Synergy drew global attention from both drummers and producers, helping her become one of the most recognizable new faces in progressive drumming. Her influence continued to grow through appearances at international drum festivals, clinics, and collaborations with artists across jazz, rock, and fusion genres.
In recent years, she joined Jeff Beck’s touring band, performing over 60 shows with the late guitar legend — a role that further cemented her status as a world-class musician capable of balancing precision, feel, and creativity. Her work behind the kit impressed not only Beck’s audience but also some of the most respected names in modern rock, including Geddy Lee himself.
In RUSH’s official statement, Lee explained how he and Lifeson discovered Nilles through John McIntosh (known to fans as “Skully”), Lee’s longtime bass tech, who had worked on Beck’s tour. “He mentioned how impressive she was, how talented and musical she was and powerful,” Lee said. “I think Alex and I playing with her started to put a charge in us when we heard our songs coming back to life.”
It was those rehearsal sessions — marked by energy, respect, and a shared passion for RUSH’s catalog — that convinced the duo to move forward with Nilles as their new drummer. “Once we had those successful sessions with her,” Lee added, “it made me feel like, yes, we can do this, and we can do justice to this, and this is going to be fun.”
Anika Nilles steps into an almost mythic role. Neil Peart wasn’t just RUSH’s drummer — he was their lyricist, arranger, and rhythmic architect. His presence shaped every note of the band’s sound. Recognizing this, both Lee and Lifeson have described Nilles’ addition not as a replacement, but as a continuation of the band’s spirit — someone bringing her own voice into a legacy built on musical exploration.
Lifeson reflected, “Our music is special. Being away from it for a while and revisiting it, I realized how difficult it is to play, but how rich it is in its music and lyrics and everything it represented.”
The upcoming Fifty Something tour, set to begin June 7, 2026, at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles, will feature multiple shows in seven cities across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Each performance will include two sets, built from a rotating list of 35 songs spanning RUSH’s extensive catalog. Each night will also include a dedicated tribute to Neil Peart — honoring his legacy while allowing the music to evolve through new energy.
Neil Peart’s widow Carrie Nuttall-Peart and daughter Olivia Peart publicly expressed their support for the project, calling it “a celebration of a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations.” They also praised Nilles’ inclusion, emphasizing that the tour promises to be “truly unforgettable.”
Anika Nilles now joins that lineage — not as a replacement, but as an artist chosen for her own brilliance. For RUSH fans around the world, her presence represents something rare: the opportunity to see the band’s timeless music reborn through new hands, in a way that both honors the past and opens the door to the future.
5 Key Facts About Anika Nilles
She’s a self-taught rhythmic innovator.
Anika Nilles began drumming at a young age and developed her unique groove-based style largely on her own. Her compositions are known for using odd time signatures and polyrhythms — all while keeping an infectious sense of melody and movement.She’s a successful solo artist and composer.
Beyond her work with Jeff Beck and now RUSH, Nilles has released several solo albums, including Pikalar (2017) and For a Colorful Soul (2020). Her music blends rock, fusion, and pop influences into an instrumental sound that showcases both her technical brilliance and songwriting sensibility.A respected educator and clinician.
Anika is a highly sought-after drum educator, having taught at the prestigious Popakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany and hosted masterclasses around the world. Her teaching focuses not only on technique but also on creativity and musical storytelling behind the drums.Recognized worldwide in the drumming community.
She has been featured in Modern Drummer, Drumhead Magazine, and Rhythm Magazine, often listed among the most influential modern drummers. Many peers — from Thomas Lang to Marco Minnemann — have praised her for her control, groove, and distinctive sound.Her playing bridges emotion and precision.
While Nilles is often celebrated for her technical prowess, her performances stand out for their emotional depth and dynamic touch. It’s this balance that makes her a fitting partner for Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson — musicians who have always valued both complexity and feeling in their work.
