Legendary rock band Rush has announced a 12-date reunion tour for summer 2026, five years after the death of drummer Neil Peart. The surviving members, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, both 72, will be joined by German drummer Annika Nilles, 42.
The tour will kick off in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the venue of their final show in 2015, and conclude in Cleveland in September. Other stops include Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, and Toronto.
In a statement, frontman Geddy Lee said: 'It’s been over 10 years since Alex and I have performed the music of Rush alongside our fallen bandmate and friend Neil. ... Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we f**king miss it, and that it’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music.'
Lee acknowledged the challenge of replacing Peart, calling him 'irreplaceable', but expressed excitement about Nilles, who rose to prominence on YouTube in 2010 and has released two studio albums. 'We could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated RUSH fanbase,' he said.
Neil Peart died in 2020 at age 67 after a three-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer. He joined Rush in 1974 and was widely regarded as one of rock's most technically accomplished drummers.
