Geddy Lee says new Rush drummer Anika Nilles is shining in what should be one of the tough roles in rock – although she did not develop up listening to the band.
Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson just lately introduced they have been taking Rush again out on the street for the primary time because the loss of life of iconic drummer Neil Peart.
And whereas she was conscious of precisely what a job she was taking up when she agreed to fill in for Peart, the truth that she wasn’t introduced up on Rush’s music might have helped her ease into the seat vacated by one of the beloved and revered drummers of all time.
Chatting with the CBC, Lee says: “When she first came to visit right here, we began taking part in among the songs, making an attempt to translate Rush music to somebody who did not actually develop up as a Rush fan – she was not a Rush fan.
“She knew, after all, of Neil’s taking part in – each drummer is aware of who Neil is, or Neil was, I ought to say – so it was a little bit of a frightening job. And we needed to undergo every music and clarify the nuances of the music and the idiosyncratic nature of how our songs are put collectively.
“So at occasions she was a bit overwhelmed, however she’s an extremely exhausting employee. She’s acquired nice technical facility and she or he’s simply acquired a extremely constructive perspective, and that is actually good for Alex and I to be round proper now.”
Requested once more how they got here to seek out Nilles and the way they needed to wrestle with the emotion of touring with out Peart, Lee provides: “Properly, after all it was a really tough choice to return on the street, and that was the principle stumbling block, clearly. How can we change the irreplaceable, so to talk?
“We now have been lucky to have been launched to the title Anika Nilles by certainly one of my street crew. My bass tech Skully, who was on tour with Jeff Beck, and she or he was the drummer for Jeff Beck on his final tour.
“And he got here dwelling from that tour raving about her. And so once we made the choice to see what it is prefer to play with one other drummer, we contacted her, and she or he’s only a incredible particular person.
“She got here to Canada and we very surreptitiously snuck right into a studio and labored out for a few week. And by the top of it, we have been satisfied that this might be a go for us. Yeah, she’s only a super participant.”
Toronto native Lee additionally speaks about his beloved Toronto Blue Jays, who’re presently taking part in in baseball’s World Sequence towards the Los Angeles Dodgers. The winner of the seven-game sequence will probably be topped Main League Baseball (MLB) champions.
Lee is a daily face at Blue Jays dwelling video games on the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Rush: Fifty One thing 2026 tour dates
Jun 07: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 09: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 11: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 13: Los Angeles Kia Discussion board, CA
Jun 18: Mexico Metropolis Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico
Jun 24: Fort Value Dickies Area TX
Jun 26: Fort Value Dickies Area, TX
Jun 28: Fort Value Dickies Area, TX
Jun 30: Fort Value Dickies Area, TX
Jul 16: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 18: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 20: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 22: Chicago United Heart, IL
Jul 28: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 1: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 3:: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Jul 30: New York Madison Sq. Backyard, NY
Aug 07: Toronto Scotiabank Area, ON
Aug 09: Toronto Scotiabank Area, ON
Aug 11: Toronto Scotiabank Area, ON
Aug 13: Toronto Scotiabank Area, ON
Sep 17: Cleveland Rocket Area, OH
