Rush’s New Drummer: Who Is Anika Nilles?

Who is Rush’s new drummer? That’s the question on every classic rock fan’s mind after the stunning announcement that sent shockwaves through the music world. After more than a decade since their last performance and five years following Neil Peart’s passing, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are bringing Rush back to the stage in 2026 with an incredible new talent behind the kit. This news has ignited excitement and curiosity among fans worldwide, especially about the remarkable musician who will honor Peart’s legacy.

The Big Announcement That Shocked Classic Rock Fans

When is Rush coming back? That question finally got answered in October 2025 when Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson dropped a bombshell at a private event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The surviving members of one of progressive rock’s most influential bands revealed they would reunite for their first tour in 11 years, embarking on the Fifty Something Tour in 2026. The announcement came as a complete surprise to fans who had long accepted that Rush’s touring days ended with their R40 tour in 2015.

The revelation became even more intriguing when Lee and Lifeson introduced their new drummer. Rather than selecting a well-known name from the rock world, they chose a relative unknown to most mainstream rock fans: Anika Nilles, a 42-year-old German virtuoso whose journey to one of music’s most prestigious drum stools is nothing short of remarkable. This decision by classic rock artists demonstrates their commitment to finding not just technical prowess, but the right musical chemistry.

Who Is Anika Nilles?

Who is Anika Nilles, the new Rush drummer? Born on May 29, 1983, in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Nilles comes from a family steeped in drumming tradition. With two uncles, a cousin, and her father all being drummers, she was practically destined to find her way behind the kit. She began playing at age six, learning her first grooves from her father who immediately recognized her natural interest and talent for the instrument.

Despite her early connection to drumming, Nilles didn’t immediately pursue music as a career. After completing school, she worked in social education, including time as a preschool teacher. However, the pull of music proved too strong to ignore. She eventually left her steady career to pursue her dreams, enrolling in the popular music program at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim, where she earned a degree in popular music and music business. Today, she serves as the head of the drums department at the same institution, giving back to the next generation of musicians.

From Preschool Teacher to YouTube Sensation

How did Anika Nilles become famous? The answer lies in the power of YouTube and the internet. Nilles launched her career on YouTube in the early 2010s, posting original compositions and drum performances that showcased her exceptional technical ability and musical sensitivity. Her big break came in 2013 when she uploaded a video of her original composition “Wild Boy.” The video went viral overnight, accumulating thousands of views and putting her talent in front of a global audience.

Following “Wild Boy,” she released “Alter Ego” in 2014, further cementing her reputation in the drumming community. Her YouTube channel has since grown to over 225,000 subscribers, featuring instructional videos, collaborations with other musicians, and performances of her original music. This online presence has made her a familiar name to drum aficionados worldwide, even if mainstream rock audiences hadn’t yet discovered her work.

Nilles has released four full-length albums showcasing her compositional skills and diverse musical influences. Her discography includes Pikalar (2017), For a Colorful Soul (2020), Opuntia (2022), and False Truth (2025). These albums, featuring her backing band Nevell, blend jazz fusion, funk, progressive rock, and pop melodies into an instrumental sound that’s distinctly her own. Her debut album Pikalar received significant acclaim, with Modern Drummer Magazine covering her on their June 2017 issue.

The Jeff Beck Connection That Changed Everything

What was Anika Nilles doing before Rush? The answer provides the crucial link that would eventually lead her to the biggest opportunity of her career. In 2022, Nilles joined guitar legend Jeff Beck’s live band for his European tour. This wasn’t just any gig—it was performing with one of rock’s most innovative and demanding guitarists, playing over 60 shows that required both technical mastery and creative musicality.

Her work with Beck caught the attention of someone crucial: John “Skully” McIntosh, Geddy Lee’s longtime bass technician. Skully was working with Beck during that tour and witnessed Nilles’s performances night after night. He was so impressed by her playing that he couldn’t stop talking about her when he returned home. He raved to Lee about this incredible drummer—how brilliant, talented, musical, and powerful she was as both a player and a person.

In a November 2023 interview with The Guardian, Geddy Lee mentioned Nilles by name, noting that they were living “in a time rich for great drummers.” He specifically said, “I heard this drummer the other day, I think her name is Anika. She played on the last Jeff Beck tour and I thought she was terrific.” Little did anyone know at the time that this casual mention was planting the seeds for Rush’s eventual reunion with Nilles behind the drums.

How She Got the Rush Gig

Following Skully’s enthusiastic recommendations and Lee’s own research into her YouTube performances, the possibility of Nilles joining Rush began to take shape. When Lee and Lifeson started seriously considering the idea of touring again, they knew they needed someone special. Lee suggested they check out Nilles as an interesting way forward, and one thing led to another.

The band brought Nilles to Canada in secret for what Lee described as an “experiment” rather than an audition. At that point, Lee and Lifeson weren’t even certain they would tour again—they simply wanted to see if the chemistry would work. The result exceeded their expectations. “I think Alex and I playing with her started to put a charge on us,” Lee explained at the Rock Hall event. “We heard our songs coming back to life. It was only once we had those successful rehearsal sessions with her that I felt, ‘Yes, we can do this. And we can do justice to this. And this is going to be fun.'”

The secret sessions proved that Nilles could handle the technical demands of Rush’s complex catalog while bringing her own musical personality to the material. Lee emphasized how impressed they were with her work: “I’m very happy to say that she is fantastic to play with, and we’ve had now a number of sessions with her, and we’re going to go on the road with her. I think she’s a remarkable story.”

The Challenge of Following Neil Peart

How difficult is it to replace Neil Peart? According to Lee, it’s perhaps the most challenging task in rock drumming. Peart, who passed away in January 2020 from glioblastoma, was not just a drummer but an innovator who expanded what rhythm could express in rock music. His intricate compositions, precise technique, and distinctive feel made him irreplaceable in every sense of the word.

Lee addressed this challenge directly at the announcement event. “No matter who the drummer is, they all have their own perception of what it’s like to play a Rush song, and they may not line up with the way we play Rush,” he explained. The difficulty lies not just in executing Peart’s complex drum fills—many drummers can do that—but in combining that technical precision with the feel and nuances that made Rush’s music so special.

What makes Nilles particularly suited for this challenge, according to Lee, is that she came to Rush’s music without preconceptions. At 42, she’s much younger than Lee and Lifeson, and she approached the material with fresh ears. However, this also meant extensive work to help her understand the subtleties. “We had to explain nuances and work on subtleties, and she had to really try to get into Neil’s headspace and his feel,” Lee said. “That’s work, that requires work. So she’s winning.”

The tour has the full blessing and support of Peart’s widow, Carrie Nuttall-Peart, and his daughter, Olivia. In a joint statement, they expressed their excitement: “We are thrilled to support the Fifty Something tour, celebrating a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations, and to honor Neil’s extraordinary legacy as both a drummer and lyricist.” They acknowledged that while Neil was “irreplaceable” and “inimitable in his artistry,” they’re excited to see how the band’s new vision unfolds.

The Fifty Something Tour Details

When does the Rush 2026 tour start? The Fifty Something Tour kicks off on June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles—the same venue where Rush played their final show on August 1, 2015. This symbolic return creates a powerful bookend to their touring history. The tour will visit seven cities across North America with 12 total shows, including two-night stands in most locations.

In a press statement, Lee captured the emotional weight of this decision: “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 miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of Rush music.”

The shows will be “evening with” style concerts featuring two career-spanning sets each night, allowing fans to hear deep cuts alongside classics like “Closer to the Heart” and their other beloved songs. Lee also hinted that they might add “another musician or two” to expand their sound, potentially including a keyboard player to allow him and Lifeson more freedom to move around the stage.

Tickets go on sale October 17 at 12 PM local time, with various presale options beginning earlier for fans who sign up through Rush’s official channels. This tour represents not just a celebration of Rush’s incredible legacy, but also the beginning of a new chapter with Anika Nilles adding her own voice to one of classic rock’s most distinctive sounds.

A New Chapter for Rush

The announcement of Anika Nilles as Rush’s new drummer represents more than just a personnel change. It’s a testament to the enduring power of Rush’s music and the band’s willingness to embrace a new chapter while honoring their past. Nilles brings fresh energy and perspective to classic rock, along with the technical mastery and musical sensitivity required to handle one of the most demanding catalogs in rock music.

For fans, the Fifty Something Tour offers a chance to experience Rush’s legendary catalog performed live once more, with a drummer who brings both respect for Neil Peart’s legacy and her own unique voice to the music. As Lee emphasized, this isn’t about trying to be Rush 2.0—it’s about paying homage to their music, celebrating their history, and honoring their fallen bandmate while moving forward into an exciting new era.

The journey from a preschool teacher in Germany to the drummer for one of rock’s most legendary bands is a story that resonates with anyone who has ever pursued a seemingly impossible dream. Anika Nilles’s path proves that talent, dedication, and the willingness to take risks can lead to extraordinary opportunities. As Rush prepares to hit the stage in 2026, fans around the world are eager to witness this new chapter and hear how Nilles brings her remarkable skills to songs that have inspired generations of music lovers.