When RUSH announced that they would be reuniting and returning to the road again in 2026 one of the first questions was “Who’s going to be drumming for RUSH?”
RUSH fans have mused about this scenario since the untimely death of virtuoso percussionist Neil Peart in January of 2020. Names were tossed about the likes of Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Tool’s Danny Carrey usually were at the top of that fan wish list.
But to pluck a (relatively) unknown to sit behind the kit for RUSH would be seen as reckless if not downright sacrilege in the realm of RUSH fans.
Well here we are.
Leave it to Geddy and Alex to do exactly that – meet Anika Nilles the new drummer for RUSH’s Fifty Something tour.
Psst… she’s incredible! PLUS She’ll be the only woman at the RUSH show – kidding!
Anika Nilles is a German drummer, composer, and musical educator. She was born into a family with multiple drummers and started drumming at age six. When interviewed by South African Drummer, she mentioned having two uncles, one cousin and a father who are drummers. Her father “taught me the first grooves as he realized I was interested in drumming.
She launched her career on YouTube during the early 2010s, and has released two full-length albums to date, both with backing band Nevell, Pikalar in 2017 and For a Colorful Soul in 2020.
Now add ‘Touring Drummer for RUSH‘ to her already impressive list of accolades.
Check out Nilles’ amazing performance from the 2020 Drumeo Festival below.
RUSH fans, we are in good hands.
