- Rock legends Rush are reforming for a tour with German virtuoso Anika Nilles as their new drummer, replacing the late Neil Peart.
- Nilles, a YouTube star with over 225,000 followers, was recommended to the band after her powerful 2022 tour with guitar god Jeff Beck.
- Geddy Lee revealed that Nilles’ talent made them feel their songs were “coming back to life,” prompting the decision to tour again.
- In another major shift, the band is also considering adding a touring keyboard player for the first time.
Rush Makes Shocking Return With New Drummer
In a move that has stunned the rock world, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson announced that they will tour as Rush once again, introducing German drummer Anika Nilles as the artist taking on the monumental task of filling the late Neil Peart’s place behind the kit.
“We could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated Rush fan base,” Lee said in a statement, acknowledging the near-impossible role she is stepping into.
Who is Anika Nilles?
While a celebrated figure among drum aficionados, Nilles is a new name to many mainstream rock fans. She boasts a massive online following, with 225,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel where she showcases her formidable and intricate drumming style. Her talent caught the attention of Geddy Lee’s bass tech during her 2022 tour with Jeff Beck, who raved about how “talented and musical she was, and powerful.”
Lee explained that practicing with Nilles put a “charge” on him and Lifeson. “We heard our songs coming back to life,” he shared. “It was only once we had those successful rehearsal sessions with her that I felt, ‘Yes, we can do this.'”
A New Era for Rush
Nilles’ journey to rock royalty has been unconventional. She worked as a preschool teacher into her late twenties before deciding to pursue music full-time. Her 2013 original composition “Wild Boy” went viral, launching her career and leading to world tours and her 2017 debut LP, Pikalar.
Her addition marks the first time Rush has brought a new member into the band since Peart joined in 1974. The changes may not stop there, as Lee and Lifeson revealed they are also considering adding a keyboardist to the live band, freeing Lee to focus on his bass and vocals. For Nilles, this is a life-changing moment as she prepares to power one of rock’s greatest bands into an unexpected new chapter.
Image Referance: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/anika-nilles-rush-new-drummer-1235441291/
