Rush’s Geddy Lee recently addressed the possibility of writing new material with the band’s current lineup. The bassist explained that the band is focused on their reunion shows and the immense effort required to perform their classic catalog with new drummer Anika Nilles.
“No. We have enough to do. We’re still trying to remember the old songs and play them,” Lee said.
Lee elaborated on the challenges Nilles faced stepping into the late Neil Peart’s role. He noted that she had to learn a massive setlist. “Anika had to learn something like 43 songs in the course of a year, and those are not easy drum parts to learn. Those are not easy song arrangements to learn, and she was working as hard, I think, as she’s ever worked on anything. And sometimes I would text her, I’d say, ‘How’s it going?’ She lives in Germany, we’re in Toronto. I’d say, ‘How’s it going?’ And she’s going, ‘Oh, my hard drive is full. I’m worried that it’s going to crash.'”
“So, she would work really hard on her own. Then she would come to Toronto sporadically and we would work really hard,” Lee further said. “And I think she found it much easier to work with us in person because there’s a chemistry that we have, and we can reassure her that this part is right, and this part is this long, and no, you have to play this part this way. And so she was like a sponge soaking it all up.”
“She’s a brilliant player technically, but she’s also a brilliant person, and so she understood the gravity of what she was taking on, and she’s able to rise above the difficulties and deliver,” he added. “So, yeah, I think the last month, as Alex alluded to, we played a full show 24 nights out of 27 days. We’ve never worked that hard in our entire lives. And I’m thankful for it because opening night, we were all a bit of a nervous wreck. And all that rehearsal paid off. [Laughs]”
The drummer took over Peart’s position for Rush’s comeback reunion shows. The schedule included an intense 24 performances over 27 days.
The reunion tour was officially named the Fifty Something tour. It kicked off on June 7, 2026 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The same venue hosted Rush’s final concert with Peart in August 2015. The tour was framed as a celebration of Rush’s music, legacy, and the life of Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020. The band’s return to the stage marked their first official shows under the Rush banner in 11 years.
The setlists have been entirely drawn from the Rush catalog with no new material introduced. The band rotates from a repertoire of about 40 songs. They play distinct setlists across different shows. Fans have been treated to deep cuts alongside classics, with performances spanning the band’s entire career. The decision to focus on the existing catalog rather than new compositions reflects the immense preparation required to honor Peart’s complex drum parts.
The tour has grown significantly since its initial announcement. What began as a 12-date run expanded into a global journey encompassing nearly 90 performances. The Fifty Something tour is currently set to conclude in Helsinki, Finland on April 10, 2027. Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson have described the physical demands of the tour as unlike anything they have experienced in their decades-long career.
Lee praised Nilles for her technical abilities. He also commended her deep appreciation of what she was taking on. “When you hear her talk about Neil Peart, she really understands and appreciates his greatness,” Lee said. He noted that Nilles understood the gravity of replacing a legendary drummer. She rose to the challenge with dedication and humility. Her preparation involved countless hours of independent study in Germany. She then joined the band for intensive in-person rehearsals in Toronto.
