It has been 10 years since Canadian rockers Rush last performed on stage and over five years since the death of their bandmate and drummer Neil Peart died as a result of a brain cancer in 2020.
Next year Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are pairing up with drummer Anika Nilles for a 50th anniversary tour set to kick off in June and run through the summer with two dates in several of the cities.
The tour begins at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles – the site of their final performance in 2015 and is dedicated to Peart’s memory.
Lee spoke on the upcoming tour via aa press release saying, “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*****g miss it. And that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of Rush music.”
Lee and Lifeson have spent the past few years in deep discussions over whether or not to tour again; even Sir Paul McCartney weighed in on the dilemma.
Lifeson the hold out even spoke with Rolling Stone saying, “there’s no chance that we’re going to get a drummer and go back on the road as the rebirth of Rush or something like that.”
Speaking on finding drummer Anika Nilles, Geddy Lee said, “as we all know, Neil was irreplaceable. Yet life is full of surprises, and we’ve 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 fan base, whom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near-impossible role.”
Peart’s widow Carrie and daughter Olivia said, “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,” adding that, “Neil’s musicianship was singular” and “as both drummer and lyricist, he was irreplaceable.”
Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning October 17.
Rush “Fifty Something” tour dates:
June 7 & 9 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA
June 18 at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico
June 24 & 26 at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX
July 16 & 18 at the United Center in Chicago, IL
July 28 & 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
Aug 7 & 9 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON
Sept 17 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH