Anika Nilles Opens Up About Her First Rehearsal With Rush Legends Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

German drummer Anika Nilles has shared new details about her first rehearsal with Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, offering insight into how the trio began working together following the passing of longtime drummer Neil Peart. The musicians discussed the experience in interviews published in the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine.

Nilles recently performed with Lee and Lifeson for the first time during a special appearance at Canada’s Juno Awards at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. The performance marked a significant moment for fans, as it was the first time the surviving Rush members returned to the stage with a new drummer in a live setting.

First Rehearsals and Finding the Right Feel

Speaking about the early sessions, Nilles explained that preparation and conversation played equal roles in shaping the collaboration. “I had a few songs prepared before I flew over, and we played those,” she says in an interview in the new issue of Classic Rock. “But during the session, we also talked a lot about Neil – about his view on music and drumming. We spoke a great deal about the feel of the songs. The most important point is simply to capture the feeling – that it feels right for the two of them to play their music again.

“And ultimately, it will feel right for the fans as well. We talked about that a lot. The first session was really about getting to know each other and seeing how we function together.”

For Nilles, the rehearsal was not only about learning complex arrangements but also understanding the emotional weight behind the music. The conversations focused on how the songs should feel rather than simply reproducing technical parts, reflecting the band’s long-standing attention to musical detail.

Lee and Lifeson Reflect on Playing Again

In a separate interview, Lee and Lifeson described their own memories of that first rehearsal and revealed which songs helped break the ice. “We’d prepped five songs, but I think it might have been Limelight,” says Lee. “We wouldn’t have wanted something like YYZ as the first song, though we did run through it in those sessions. We played [Spirit Of] Radio with Anika too. I can’t remember what else we played. We did Subdivisions, so it might have been that.”

Lifeson noted how hearing another drummer interpret familiar material gave him a new appreciation for Peart’s style. “And that is a seemingly simple song for us,” says Lifeson. “That’s been fascinating to watch. So you get a sense of appreciation for the way the song is, but you also get a more acute appreciation for how Neil played. Because when you see someone else trying to capture his feel, you realise what kind of player he was, and the tightness of his attitude, the firmness in attack as well.

“With Tom Sawyer, or even Limelight, you can’t just shuffle through those songs, you have to be attentive. And, you know, stand up straight. And that’s sort of where the feel comes from.”

Tour Plans and Upcoming Performances

Rush’s upcoming “Fifty Something” tour will begin with four shows at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles this June, the same venue that hosted the band’s final concert with Peart in 2015. The tour will continue across North America before expanding internationally through 2027, with scheduled stops in Mexico, South America, and Europe.