R50: To Live It All Again

More than a decade after their R40 farewell tour perfectly stuck the landing, RUSH are back on the road!

Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

I cannot adequately explain how unexpected this is. Following the death of their irreplaceable drummer & lyricist Neil Peart in 2020, any sliver of hope that we might get more from the band was dashed. They're only a trio. And each is a virtuoso in their own right. No passengers here. Without Neil, that's it.

And then one day, my birthday of all days, out of the blue and without warning, this...

Geddy & Alex on the wire.
Neil flying away.
The green light to go on.
😭

October 6, 2025... my own Fifty Something birthday... BEST PRESENT EVER!

For this tour, and for the first time ever, RUSH is touring as a quartet. Anika Nilles is filling the impossible role (roll?) on drums, and Loren Gold is taking over most of the keyboards.

Nilles is a particularly interesting choice. Given the opportunity, any number of big time drummers would have jumped at the chance to join RUSH. But Ged & Alex chose a relative unknown (outside of drumming circles) from Germany. A woman not known for her status, but her feel as a player. She's got the chops, and she can capture the feel of Neil's parts.

The addition of a full time keyboardist is Ged & Alex's way of unburdening themselves. It was always super interesting to watch them live triggering things with their feet while playing their regular roles as guitarist, bassist, keyboardist & vocalist. (two guys did all that) Having Gold on stage liberates them to just play the guitars and sing. (though Ged does still play the "signature" keyboard parts on many songs, like Tom Sawyer, etc)

Primed are ready to take it all in. An unexpected opportunity to live it all again.

Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX
June 28, 2026

Xanadu

Mixing 50 something years of hits & deep cuts.
The Analog Kid? The Trees?
The full seven part version of 2112? 😍

2112: The Temples Of Syrinx

But Anika, can she play? Does she really have the chops?

Tom Sawyer

But Geddy's voice, can he still hit the high parts?

Freewill

Neil Peart Tribute, the first of many. 🥹

Bravado
"We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost."

REVIEW: Despite everything they've been through, including being 11 years older since I last saw them, this new version of the band completely overdelivered! Geddy and Alex are playing as tight as ever. Ged's voice is somehow aging in reverse, allowing him to hit the highs that eluded him the last few tours. Anika smiling (in satisfaction and relief) while working her way through Neil's toughest parts brings unexpected joy to an already joyous occasion. Leaving the arena, I am so grateful for the opportunity to live it all agaaaaaiiiiiiiin!

Headlong Flight