As Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson pursue a return to touring, Anika Nilles admits she hesitated before tackling a song forever tied to the late Neil Peart
Rush may have found the surprise successor to Neil Peart’s drum throne, but she nearly balked at playing one of their biggest songs.
With guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/frontman Geddy Lee exploring a possible reunion, the progressive-rock giants have turned to German fusion drummer Anika Nilles, a left-field choice to step into the role once held by the late Neil Peart.
But when it came time to tackle Rush’s towering 1981 classic “Tom Sawyer,” even the seasoned virtuoso had a moment of hesitation.
Rush’s decision to retire after their 2015 R40 tour was largely driven by Peart. Speaking to Rolling Stone at the time, Lifeson said the drummer — who died of cancer in 2020 — had found it “increasingly difficult” to perform at the level he expected of himself. The anniversary run was intended as a dignified farewell.
Yet the band’s surviving members appear far from finished. After Lee presented Lifeson with a now-or-never ultimatum, the duo committed to reviving Rush.
They sought out Nilles after a recommendation from Lee’s guitar tech, who had worked with her while she was touring with Jeff Beck. Her background outside the traditional progressive-rock sphere offered a useful degree of separation from Rush’s past, something the duo welcomed.
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Lifeson had previously revealed that countless drummers contacted them about replacing Peart just “minutes” after his death. Nilles’ unexpected appointment proved a more thoughtful antidote.