Watch: Rush Touring Drummer Anika Nilles Shares Video Showing Off Her Drumming Skills

Award-winning drummer Anika Nilles has released the official music video for her song “Drip,” offering fans a closer look at the musician now stepping into one of rock’s most demanding roles. The track, written by Nilles and Nevell, appears on her fourth studio album False Truth, released in September 2025. The video highlights her technical control and musical creativity, qualities that recently earned her a place alongside Canadian rock legends Rush on their upcoming “Fifty Something” reunion tour.

Nilles’s rise has been unconventional. She did not pursue drumming professionally until age 26, yet she quickly gained attention through online performances that blended jazz, fusion, rock, and funk styles. Her videos have gathered more than 20 million views, helping her build an international audience. Over time, she moved from online recognition to major tours, including performances with guitarist Jeff Beck in 2022, along with headline shows of her own.

From Fusion Drummer to Rush’s Touring Lineup

Rush members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson selected Nilles following months of careful consideration about returning to live performance after the 2020 death of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. Speaking with CBC News, Lee described the emotional weight behind the decision to tour again after more than a decade away.

“Well, I’m a bit overwhelmed right now, to be honest. Alex and I took a long time trying to figure out if we could actually do this ever again. And when we did finally decide, of course people were optimistic, but we really didn’t expect the kind of overwhelming response our announcement has brought forth out of our fanbase. It’s just been a remarkable few weeks around our homes, but very exciting — very exciting.”

Lee explained that replacing Peart was never the goal. Instead, the band wanted someone who could respect the music while bringing her own understanding of rhythm and feel.

“Well, of course it was a very difficult decision to go back on the road, and that was the main stumbling block, obviously. How do we replace the irreplaceable, so to speak? And we have been fortunate to have been introduced to the name Anika Nilles through one of my road crew — my bass tech Skully [John McIntosh], who was on tour with Jeff Beck, and she was the drummer for Jeff Beck on his last tour. And he came home from that tour raving about her. And so when we made the decision to see what it’s like to play with another drummer, we contacted her, and she’s just a fantastic person. And she came to Canada and we very surreptitiously snuck into a studio and worked out for about a week. And by the end of it, we were convinced that this would be a go for us. Yeah, she’s just a tremendous player.”

Learning the Complexity of Rush’s Music

Lee acknowledged that adapting Rush’s catalog presented challenges for Nilles, especially since she was not originally a fan of the band’s music growing up.

“Oh, of course. When she first came over here [to Canada], we started playing some of the songs, trying to translate RUSH music to someone who didn’t really grow up as a RUSH fan; she was not a RUSH fan. She knew, of course, of Neil’s playing — every drummer knows who Neil is, or Neil was, I should say — so it was a bit of a daunting task. And we had to go through each song and explain the nuances of the song and the idiosyncratic nature of how our songs are put together. So at times she was a bit overwhelmed, but she’s an incredibly hard worker. She’s got great technical facility and she’s just got a really positive attitude, and that’s really good for Alex and I to be around right now.”

The “Fifty Something” tour begins June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the same venue where Rush performed its final concert during the 2015 “R40” anniversary tour. Each show will feature two sets drawn from a rotating catalog of roughly 35 songs, allowing performances to vary nightly.

Initial tour dates sold out quickly after the announcement, prompting additional shows across North America. Cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, and Toronto are scheduled, followed by performances in South America and Europe in 2027. Keyboard player Loren Gold will join Lee, Lifeson, and Nilles on stage as part of the expanded touring lineup.

As anticipation builds, Nilles’s newly released “Drip” video provides fans with an early glimpse into the skill and musical voice she brings to one of rock’s most respected catalogs, offering insight into the drummer preparing to carry forward Rush’s live sound for a new era.