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Geddy Lee
Rock
‘It Was a Bit of a Daunting Task’: Geddy Lee On Working With a New Drummer for Rush Anniversary Tour
In a new interview, the musician talks about his enthusiasm for new drummer Anika Nilles and the challenges of moving on without the late Neil Peart. He also expresses his immense excitement for the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series.
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Geddy Lee is letting fans in on the details of preparing for Rush’s comeback tour.
In a new interview with CBC, the lead singer shared that he’s currently feeling “overwhelmed” with the announcement of the Fifty Something arena tour, which was revealed earlier this month.
“Alex [Lifeson] and I took a long time trying to figure out if we could actually do this ever again,” he tells the publication. “When we did finally decide, people were optimistic. But we really didn’t expect the overwhelming response our announcement has brought forth.”
When the 12 dates were announced on Oct. 6, the demand was instant, prompting the Canadian rock band’s founding members, including bassist-singer Lee and guitarist Lifeson, to add 17 more dates to the tour. Now, there are Canadian stops in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver, amongst various dates across the U.S.
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While there is much excitement, it hasn’t come with a complex set of emotions for the band and longtime Rush fans. The group’s 2026 run marks the first time Lee and Lifeson will hit the road since 2015. It was their final outing with former drummer Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020.
Lee shares that it was “a difficult decision” to think about touring. “That was the main stumbling block. How do we replace the irreplaceable, so to speak,” he ponders.
Although it was initially a challenge, next year’s outing will include German drummer and musician Anika Nilles, who previously worked with the late Jeff Beck. Nilles was introduced to Lee by a member of his road crew.
“When we made the decision to see what it was like to play with another drummer, we contacted her,” he said. “We surreptitiously snuck into a studio and worked out for about a week. By the end of it, we were convinced that it would be a go for us.”
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Yet, bringing Nilles into the fold was a learning curve for both founding members and their newest addition, as Lee recalled the act of “translating Rush music” to someone who didn’t grow up with the band.
“It was a bit of a daunting task, and we had to go through each song and explain the idiosyncratic nature of how our songs are put together,” he shares with CBC. “At times, she was a bit overwhelmed, but she’s got a really positive attitude and that’s really good for Alex and I to be around.”
Lee revealed that he had been “playing diligently” for about a year and a half before the tour’s announcement, sharing that after his book tour for My Effing Life, he needed to make music, play the bass and “get my fingers back in shape,” he said.
As Lee and Lifeson gear up to hit the road, the former shared they’re both “hitting the gym” in preparation for their seven-month stint. “We’re going to be ready. We’re putting a lot of hours into it.”
Something else that is keeping Lee’s spirits high? The World Series games. The noted Toronto Blue Jays fan was sitting in the crowd when player George Springer scored the decisive home run in a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre home game on Oct. 20.
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“That was one of the most incredible moments I’ve ever experienced in a ballpark,” he marvelled. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard the Rogers Centre or a Toronto baseball crowd that loud, that electric and right on cue. It was really astounding.”
The Jays' win ensures their spot in the World Series for the first time since 1993, when the team won back-to-back championships, which Lee witnessed first-hand. He says the 2025 iteration of the Blue Jays differs from previous teams, calling many of the players “unsung heroes” who previously played in the minor leagues.
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“As a baseball fan, we’re drawn to the characters. It’s just one of those teams that you can’t help but love, he said, calling out "the enthusiasm of George Springer," and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who "delivered big time.”
Lee joins the myriad of Canadian artists championing the Blue Jays at the World Series games, which kick off tonight (Oct. 24) at Rogers Centre.
Watch the whole interview here:
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