R50

[toneknob]

The bit you're all wondering is Annika Nilles

 

[toneknob]

the blurb of the email, in case you're not on the list:

 

"Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductees, GRAMMY® Award-nominated icons, and RUSH Co-Founders Geddy Lee [bass, keys, vocals] and Alex Lifeson [guitar, vocals] have announced their return to the stage for a very special 2026 headline tour, Fifty Something, in celebration of RUSH’s music, legacy, and the life of late drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. It notably marks the first time Lee and Lifeson have toured together in eleven years since the finale of RUSH’s R40 Tour on August 1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles, CA, bringing it full circle with a return to the Forum to embark upon these special shows.

Of the tour, Geddy Lee says:
“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 f***ing miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music. So in 2026, my BFF Lerxst (aka Alex Lifeson) and I are going to hit the road once again to pay tribute to our past and to Neil by performing a vast selection of RUSH songs in a handful of cities. No small task, because as we all know Neil was irreplaceable.
 
Yet life is full of surprises, and we have been introduced to another remarkable person; an incredible drummer and musician who is adding another chapter to our story while continuing her own fascinating musical journey. Her name is Anika Nilles, and we could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated RUSH fanbase, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role. Before we hit the stage, we also hope to add another musician or two to expand our sound a wee bit and free up Alex and I, in order to show off some of our new fancy dance steps.
 
Lerxst, Anika and myself, along with many of our longstanding crew members have been hard at work rehearsing and designing the kind of RUSH show you’ve grown accustomed to expect from us. We dearly hope you will come along and help us celebrate our history together.”
 
Carrie Nuttall-Peart and Olivia Peart, Neil’s widow and daughter share:
“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.

Neil’s musicianship was singular. Compositions of intricacy and power that expanded what rhythm itself could express. As both drummer and lyricist, he was irreplaceable. Inimitable in his artistry, and unmatched in the depth and imagination he brought to the lyrics that inspired and moved so many, he profoundly shaped how fans connected with him and the band, giving voice and meaning to their own lives.

As the band enters this new chapter, it promises to be truly unforgettable. We are excited to see how their new vision unfolds, and to hear this legendary music played live once again.”

 

[cetera]

This NEEDS to come to the UK/Europe!

[toneknob]

There's a slim chance I'll be in California in the first week of June 🛫

 

 

[toneknob]

Also adding a keyboard player 

 

 

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Just saw this ! 
I won’t be purchasing the box set . I have 99% of their catalogue anyway . I may pay for separate downloaded tracks , or wait till R60 

As for going to see the Rush tribute , I have more or less quit going to gigs . 2017 was my last one . I will probably purchase dvd or live downloads when they are released.

They will probably do the o2 again , which means a soul destroying attempt to   get tks in the first place which will not be cheap . Then travel etc . 
 

Annika is a great drummer from various clips I’ve seen on the tube . 
 

Anyway , if you do manage to catch them congratulations and I’m sure it’ll be a great show !
 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

[Bassassin]

Copy/paste from t'other Rush thread as I didn't notice this one!

 

 

Well - I suppose that's exactly what I hoped they wouldn't do.

 

I always hoped that if Lee & Lifeson did get together again, it'd be for new music, collaborating with other musicians, and not under the Rush name. They'd previously seemed resistant to doing precisely what it looks like they are doing - maybe there's only so long it's possible to hold out against bigger & bigger dollar-carrots being waved at you, I dunno.

 

I'm glad they're using a relatively unknown drummer, rather than one of the 'usual suspects' list of prog drummers that get waved around as potential Peart substitutes. I hope they learn to pronounce her name, though.

[White Cloud]

4 minutes ago, Bassassin said:

Well - I suppose that's exactly what I hoped they wouldn't do.

Me too. 

[Skybone]

1 hour ago, Bassassin said:

Copy/paste from t'other Rush thread as I didn't notice this one!

 

 

Well - I suppose that's exactly what I hoped they wouldn't do.

 

I always hoped that if Lee & Lifeson did get together again, it'd be for new music, collaborating with other musicians, and not under the Rush name. They'd previously seemed resistant to doing precisely what it looks like they are doing - maybe there's only so long it's possible to hold out against bigger & bigger dollar-carrots being waved at you, I dunno.

 

I'm glad they're using a relatively unknown drummer, rather than one of the 'usual suspects' list of prog drummers that get waved around as potential Peart substitutes. I hope they learn to pronounce her name, though.

Indeed, I always hoped that Geddy & Alex would get together and produce some new music, let's hope that they still do.

 

Let's also hope that they come to Europe & the UK too.

[Misdee]

I'm not saying they shouldn't do it, but I wish they wouldn't do it.

 

If Geddy and Alex want to get out there playing music together again, fantastic. Get this drummer and keyboard player in and start a new band. Trust me, people would turn out to see them in droves. 

 

They've got nothing to prove, their legend is intact. They should leave it that way.

Edited 5 hours ago by Misdee

[Bassassin]

If they were going out as 'Geddy, Alex & Friends Perform The Music Of Rush' or something, it'd seem a little bit less - I don't want to say it - but cynical.

 

I don't think I'll be going.

[Russ]

If we're still on this side of the pond next summer, we're definitely going. NY is closer, but I'd love to go to the Toronto show and get those hometown vibes. Not seen Rush since Wembley Arena in 1992 and I'd love to see them again. Anika is a monster drummer and will be a great successor for Neil. I'm sure there's people out there who might have preferred to see Danny Carey or Mike Portnoy, but I think she's a great choice. She's got the chops and the groove to do it justice. 

 

As for those thinking this is cynical - it's been ten years. It's their band and the fact that they haven't done anything for ten years suggests that they are doing this on their own terms. And it's being done with the full blessing on Neil's family. The Foo Fighters were back out there a few months after Taylor Hawkins passed away and you didn't find too many people saying that about them. The Who had a gig three days after John Entwistle died! 

[tauzero]

And there was me expecting

 

[Misdee]

8 minutes ago, Russ said:

If we're still on this side of the pond next summer, we're definitely going. NY is closer, but I'd love to go to the Toronto show and get those hometown vibes. Not seen Rush since Wembley Arena in 1992 and I'd love to see them again. Anika is a monster drummer and will be a great successor for Neil. I'm sure there's people out there who might have preferred to see Danny Carey or Mike Portnoy, but I think she's a great choice. She's got the chops and the groove to do it justice. 

 

As for those thinking this is cynical - it's been ten years. It's their band and the fact that they haven't done anything for ten years suggests that they are doing this on their own terms. And it's being done with the full blessing on Neil's family. The Foo Fighters were back out there a few months after Taylor Hawkins passed away and you didn't find too many people saying that about them. The Who had a gig three days after John Entwistle died! 

 The Who were never the same again, and they have staggered on making increasingly worthless music into the present. And as for the The Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins seemed like a lovely chap and a decent drummer, but he wasn't comparable to Neil Peart or indeed Keith Moon in terms of his sonic imprint on the sound of the band.

 

Led Zeppelin packed it in after John Bonham died. Good decision. The reunions with Jason Bonham were a mistake, and Jason's a fantastic drummer in his own right uniquely placed to substitute for his truly iconic dad.

 

It's nothing to do with playing ability or even music. It's about accepting that something very special is over and cannot be recreated. Everything in life is a time and a place. The time and place that Rush belonged to is gone now, nothing will ever bring it back. That's nothing to be sad about, though. It's what makes what they had so wonderful.

[Russ]

24 minutes ago, Misdee said:

 The Who were never the same again, and they have staggered on making increasingly worthless music into the present. And as for the The Foo Fighters, Taylor Hawkins seemed like a lovely chap and a decent drummer, but he wasn't comparable to Neil Peart or indeed Keith Moon in terms of his sonic imprint on the sound of the band.

 

Led Zeppelin packed it in after John Bonham died. Good decision. The reunions with Jason Bonham were a mistake, and Jason's a fantastic drummer in his own right uniquely placed to substitute for his truly iconic dad.

 

It's nothing to do with playing ability or even music. It's about accepting that something very special is over and cannot be recreated. Everything in life is a time and a place. The time and place that Rush belonged to is gone now, nothing will ever bring it back. That's nothing to be sad about, though. It's what makes what they had so wonderful.

Agreed about The Who. But they did it anyway, and they've still been out there selling out huge venues. Arguably they're in an even worse situation, with only 50% of the band still being alive! 

 

As for Zep, I thought the 2007 Celebration Day reunion gig was great - Jason smashed it, and as a two-nights-only thing, it was enough to cement their legacy, plus we got a good 4K Blu-Ray out of it, for all of us who wore out our VHS copies of The Song Remains The Same! 

 

You could apply this to any number of other bands with dead/retired members - I hear it a lot about Queen, for instance. I feel the same way about them that I feel about this Rush tour - people want to hear this music, preferably with the involvement of as many of the original musicians as possible. And that's what they get. I have no issue with Bri and Rog getting up there with Adam Lambert and bashing out We Will Rock You, in exactly the same way that I will have no issues with hearing Geddy and Alex doing The Spirit Of Radio with Aneke on drums. The same way that McCartney still gets up there and does Beatles songs at the age of 83. Their legacies are no less secure for them still wanting to go out there and play their songs. 

 

For me, I just want them to get the setlist right - the classics, of course, but also make sure their newer stuff is represented too! 

 

 

[Bassassin]

1 hour ago, Russ said:

As for those thinking this is cynical - it's been ten years. It's their band and the fact that they haven't done anything for ten years suggests that they are doing this on their own terms. And it's being done with the full blessing on Neil's family. The Foo Fighters were back out there a few months after Taylor Hawkins passed away and you didn't find too many people saying that about them. The Who had a gig three days after John Entwistle died! 

 

Peart retired after the R40 tour (which I recall he only did on sufferance), several years before he became unwell. Clockwork Angels was their final album and as far as anyone - band or fans - were concerned it was over. And that was a shame but their choice - so fine. Lee & Lifeson said they'd maybe work together again at some point but it wouldn't be 'Rush'. The assumption was it'd be new music in some form.

 

The Taylor Hawkins reunion thing was quite unexpected, and I do remember reading that afterwards they said the phone "hadn't stopped ringing". They were highly dismissive of the idea of going out as Rush with a different drummer.

 

Lifeson went off to do his Envy Of None thing, and Lee's written three books - it sort of looked like they'd found new outlets. Personally, as I said, I hoped they might get the bug to make some new music together, but instead they've done the very thing they seemed pretty adamant they weren't going to do.

 

For musicians who I always admired for making their own decisions & not succumbing to commercial pressure, or doing anything the easy way, this feels pretty sad.

[Burns-bass]

I don’t know much about Rush, but unlike a lot of these tings it doesn’t seem like a cynical cash in (looking at you Oasis). More seems like lifelong friends who want to experience a big stage for possibly the last time. 

[Thor]

I agree that it doesn’t seem like a cash in exercise and, as stated before, it strikes me as two lifelong friends that have shared interests wanting to do what they love doing - putting on a show for their fans. 
 

We all know what effect performing in front of a crowd can have on your soul, imagine being denied that feeling that you’ve lived and played for as long as these guys have.

 

I for one am pleased they’re collaborating with other musicians, yes it’ll be a little odd not seeing Neil behind the kit, and it’ll be odd if, as they’ve suggested, they bring in a keyboard player to free up Geddy to concentrate on his bass playing. 
 

If I can get a ticket to one of the Toronto dates, I’d be there in a heartbeat. 

[peteb]

Perhaps a mod should consider merging the three current threads on Rush? 

 

[Burns-bass]

32 minutes ago, peteb said:

Perhaps a mod should consider merging the three current threads on Rush? 

 

Take it slowly, there’s no need to… err, yeah.