Rush and Anika Nilles
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson look to be over the moon at getting back on stage in 2026. Anika Nilles is the drummer they chose to tour with and I feel confident predicting that she will do better with Rush's music than even the most enthusiastic of us expect.
I'd never heard of her before now and I've been watching as many of her live performances and interviews as I can find. I would love to know the back-story. Did Geddy and Alex audition 50 drummers? Or did they rehearse with only her on a lark after Geddy's bass tech mentioned her, and then felt it click so well that they thought, "hell, let's get back out there"?
I will always love Neil Peart. He was the one who tipped my interest in playing drums into a full-on, real obsession (after Charlie Watts and Stewart Copeland laid the groundwork when I wasn't quite old enough to comprehend what they were doing). I wouldn't expect anyone to "replace" Neil, and I'm glad it looks like that's not the direction they chose. With all respect to The Professor's inventive drum parts and soldier-like attention to detail in playing them live, Anika Nilles has dynamics and agility from here to the moon. Her ability to groove could bring new life to the old Rush songs we love.
Most Rush fans I see on Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube are excited about her and just want to hear live Rush songs again. A minority are skeptical or even hostile to the idea that anyone would be so bold as to assume Neil's drum throne. To the latter group: She doesn't owe you an audition. This decision isn't up to you. Ignore it. Do not DM her. Do not harass her. Don't buy a ticket. It doesn't affect you in any way and nothing you love about Neil's recorded performances will change.
For the rest of us who love the idea of a superbly talented new drummer making it possible for the remaining members of Rush to do what they love: enjoy this moment. Be happy for Geddy and Alex. They know what they're doing.