Anika Nilles Opens Up on Rush Tour

Rolling Stone's August cover story offers the first in-depth look at Anika Nilles's five-day audition and integration into Rush's Fifty Something tour. The German drummer revealed that a message from Neil Peart's widow helped calm her nerves before her debut, allowing her to focus on the music rather than the magnitude of the role.

In her first show, Nilles dropped a stick during "Xanadu" but recovered immediately—a moment that seems distant now. Recent videos show her playing on-stage pranks on Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, offering chips during the final chord of "Working Man," proving how comfortable she's become with the band.

The interview captures a drummer who endured intense preparation to honor Peart's legacy while finding her own space within it. Lee and Lifeson selected Nilles after the audition, and the tour continues through North America into fall 2026.