Smashing the Glass Ceiling

Anika Nilles makes her debut, and Rush are back after 11 years

PR photo © Anthem Entertainment

Rush were one of the biggest rock bands in the world for 50 years, and for much of that time, they were one of Canada’s largest cultural exports. They took Cream’s power-trio format, mixed in various other influences, and released 19 studio albums ranging from old-school hard rock to experimental prog metal.

They disbanded in 2018, and when their drummer and main lyricist, Neil Peart, died in 2020, that seemed to be that. For a long time, they dismissed the idea of playing again as a band. Of course, if you are a Rush fan, you knew all this and lots more. (The most ardent Rush fans can not only sing all the songs but can also sing the guitar and drum parts. Just sayin!)

Then, last year, they announced that they were working on a comeback tour (the “50 Something Tour”), with a new drummer, Anika Nilles (pronounced NILL-es). That set off months of debate and speculation, and a rush by Rush fans to find out more about Nilles.

The Rush reunion is certainly one of the most significant band resurrection stories ever. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, the two living founders of the band, have been on all the podcasts and interview shows for months.

The actual tour started three days ago (as of this writing) and has received positive reviews. Fan reaction has led to expansion of the Americas tour schedule to 68 dates, and counting. A European tour will start in 2027.

I could have written an article about this solely from the point of view of Rush historiography, but plenty of other people have done so and are doing so. So I will focus here on Nilles — how she got here and the impact she could have.

Let’s just say that she was an unconventional pick. She’s no slouch, but had very little experience on the big stage. She is one of the most popular drummers on YouTube, recognized for her power, technique, and mastery of shuffles and polyrhythms.

For example:

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Nilles has teaching appointments at several universities and music schools in Germany, England, and Canada. She does teaching tours along with frequent appearances at music festivals, such as Drumeo:

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She also writes music and has formed her own band (Nevelle), which has released three albums. Here they are doing her best-known original piece, “Pikalar”:

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Her main prior exposure to the big stage was a few months spent touring with Jeff Beck in 2022 — heady stuff for someone who was largely known as a YouTube star:

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It was one of Beck’s last tours before his death in 2023. It was also critical to what happened next for Nilles, since a series of happenstance meetings during that tour led to her being introduced to Rush.

Nilles is not just joining a legendary band known for its huge, complex sound. She is stepping into the shoes of Peart, widely regarded as one of the best rock drummers of all time, and an irreplaceable icon in the eyes of Rush fans. Any musician stepping into such a role faces “show me” skepticism from said fans. A musician who doesn’t fit the usual mold faces exponentially greater pressure.

Of course, the most unconventional aspect of Nilles’ selection is that there have been so few women in Western heavy rock or metal, and still fewer drummers. (The scene is completely different in Asia, Latin America and parts of Europe. It is a subject I’ve covered extensively in other articles.)

It is unfortunate that there is still a lot of gender stereotyping in Western rock music, but the good news is that, based on Nilles’ reception by the fans these past few days, that glass ceiling may be completely shattered by the time she is done.

In April, the band first appeared with Nilles in the lineup at the Juno Awards (Canada’s equivalent of the Grammys), where they did one song. It was sort of a teaser for everyone anticipating the full tour.

Interestingly, they chose the song “Finding My Way” from their first album, which was recorded before Neil Peart joined the band. I think it was a smart choice, allowing Nilles to put her own stamp on the song without inviting nitpicky comparisons to Peart.

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Rush have not yet released any official footage from the tour's early days, but the verdict so far is that Nilles is crushing it. Several fans have posted surprisingly good amateur footage, including a few full-length takes of the opening concert in LA, so you can judge for yourself.

Full Concert:

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The song Neil Peart considered the most difficult to play: “Tom Sawyer” :

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If you want to nerd out or get Anika’s personal perspective on making the leap while under the microscope, here is a good interview Rick Beato did with her:

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Let us know in the comments: Are you a Rush fan? What does this reunion tour mean to you? How did you feel about the initial announcement of the tour and of Nilles being their new drummer? Do you plan to see any of the live shows?

Thank you Kevin Alexander and The Riff for publishing.