New Rush drummer Anika Nilles admits “the past few days have been quite overwhelming”
Anika Nilles, the new drummer of Rush, has admitted this week has been “quite overwhelming” since she was announced as Neil Peart’s successor.
On October 6th, Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson confirmed that Rush would be returning to the road in 2026 for their Fifty Something tour with Nilles stepping into the shoes left by the late Peart, who died in 2020.
Nilles previously served as the drummer with the Jeff Beck Group, and has also released three solo albums, which brought her talent to the attention of Rush.
Now, the German drummer has said on Instagram: “The past few days have been quite overwhelming. I’m sure many of you feel the same. I want to take a moment to sincerely thank Geddy and Alex for their trust and for welcoming me on this incredible new journey with Rush.”
Nilles also thanked those who have newly discovered her following the Rush announcement, writing that she is happy to “warmly welcome all the new faces here and to thank you for your kind and open-minded words – they truly mean a lot.”
She concluded by honouring those who have followed her journey for many years, adding, “At the same time, I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has followed and supported my journey over the years. We’re all in this together now, and I couldn’t be more excited about what lies ahead.”
Earlier this week, Lee was full of praise for Nilles who he admitted was tasked with the “near impossible” task of following in Peart’s footsteps, stating, “Yet life is full of surprises, and we’ve have been introduced to another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician who is adding another chapter to our story while continuing her own fascinating musical journey.”
The tour will see Rush play four shows in Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Toronto, as well as two concerts in Cleveland and one date in Mexico City.
See the full tour dates below.
Rush tour dates 2026:
June
- 07 – Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
- 09 – Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
- 11 – Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
- 13 – Los Angeles, CA, Kia Forum
- 18 – Mexico City, MX, Palacio de los Deportes
- 24 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
- 26 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
- 28 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
- 30 – Fort Worth, TX, Dickies Arena
July
- 16 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 18 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 20 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 22 – Chicago, IL, United Center
- 28 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
- 30 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
August
- 01 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
- 02 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
- 07 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 09 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 11 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 13 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena
- 17 – Cleveland, OH, Rocket Arena
- 19 – Cleveland, OH, Rocket Arena
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