"Life is full of surprises"

Rush return with a new drummer, Anika Nilles.

- By Fraser Lewry, Jerry Ewing, Dave Ling

In one of the biggest shocks of 2025 – or indeed of any year! – Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have reunited as Rush. For the band’s first appearances since the death of Neil Peart from Glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer) in 2020, the Canadian bassist/vocalist and guitarist will be joined by drummer, Anika Nilles, a 42-year-old German percussionist, composer and producer whose resumé includes more than 60 shows with Jeff Beck. She has also made three solo albums, the most recent of which, False Truth, which was released last month.

The unexpected news of next summer’s Rush Fifty Something tour was greeted by a mix of joy and disbelief. Its initial dozen shows – all in North America – sold out so speedily that new dates were added in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, Toronto, Fort Worth and Cleveland.

The schedule will begin on June 7 next year at the LA Forum, the venue for Rush’s last show, the final date of the R40 tour on August 1, 2015.

At press time there was no news of European appearances, although given the response to the initial announcement we can only assume (and hope!) that the band will submit to fan pressure.

Billed as an ‘Evening With’, Rush will play two sets per night, with each show featuring a distinct selection of songs created from a catalogue of 35 songs, mixing greatest hits and fan favourites.

The reunion follows Lee and Lifeson’s appearances at the South Park Anniversary Concert in Colorado and at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute events in London and Los Angeles.