Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, GRAMMY Award-nominated icons, and RUSH Co-Founders Geddy Lee [bass, keys, vocals] and Alex Lifeson [guitar, vocals] have announced their return to the stage for a very special 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something, in celebration of RUSH’s music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. It notably marks the first time Lee and Lifeson have toured together in eleven years since the finale of RUSH’s R40 Tour on August 1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA, bringing it full circle with a return to the Forum to embark upon these special shows.
Of the tour, Geddy Lee says: “It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of RUSH alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil. A lifetime’s worth of songs that we had put our cumulative hearts and souls into writing, recording and playing together onstage. And so, after all that has gone down since that last show, Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we fucking miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music. So in 2026, my BFF Lerxst (aka Alex Lifeson) and I are going to hit the road once again to pay tribute to our past and to Neil by performing a vast selection of RUSH songs in a handful of cities. No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable. Yet life is full of surprises, and we 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. Her name is Anika Nilles, and we could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated RUSH fanbase, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role. Before we hit the stage, we also hope to add another musician or two to expand our sound a wee bit and free up Alex and I, in order to show off some of our new fancy dance steps.”
Anika Nilles is one of the most electrifying drummers on the planet — a German powerhouse whose blend of groove, precision, and imagination has redefined modern drumming. From posting her first viral drum videos on YouTube in the early 2010s to releasing two acclaimed albums with her band Nevell (Pikalar in 2017 and For a Colorful Soul in 2020), Nilles has built a global following one jaw-dropping fill at a time. On October 6, 2025, she added another thunderous chapter to her story — being announced as the new drummer for RUSH’s 2026 Fifty Something tour alongside Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.
Born into a family of drummers, Nilles started behind the kit at six years old, learning her first grooves from her dad. She later swapped a career in social education for a life on stage, earning a degree in popular music from Popakademie Baden-Württemberg and eventually becoming head of its drums department. Her journey has taken her from bedroom YouTube sessions to tours across Europe, the U.S., and China — and even to Jeff Beck’s band during his 2022 European tour.
Cited by Modern Drummer and DRUM! as one of the most exciting artists of her generation, Anika’s sound fuses the feel of Jeff Porcaro with the inventiveness of Jojo Mayer and the spirit of Prince. Now, with RUSH, she’s stepping into one of rock’s most legendary legacies — and she’s ready to make it her own. The beat goes on, and Anika Nilles is keeping time for the future.