Rush is set to kick off their Fifty Something tour in June, marking their first tour since drummer Neil Peart passed away in 2020. In a recent interview, frontman Geddy Lee shared the band’s motivation for the tour. He expressed a feeling of “unfinished business,” saying they wanted to give Peart a proper thank you and celebrate their music together. “We want to celebrate the wonderful music the three of us spent almost 50 years writing,” Lee explained.
Anika Nilles will be stepping in as the drummer for the tour. She mentioned that when she began working with Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson, they shared insights about Peart’s role in the band and as a friend. “You cannot replace that,” she said. Nilles aims to help bring Rush’s music back to the stage in a way that feels right for both the band and their fans.
Lee and Lifeson found inspiration to return to touring after participating in the 2022 Taylor Hawkins tribute shows. Lee noted that those shows taught them an important lesson: while a band can end, the music continues. He reflected on how they had put Rush “in a box” and felt strange about reopening it. After the tribute shows, they realized it was time to bring Rush back to life.
