Rush 50th Anniversary Tour: Celebrating 50 Years of Music with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Anika Nilles
Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have announced a 50th-anniversary tour for next year in honor of their late bandmate Neil Peart. The tour, named Fifty Something, will feature German drum virtuoso Anika Nilles, who will join them for 12 dates across seven cities, starting on June 7 at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Lee expressed their excitement for the tour, stating that it's time to celebrate 50-something years of Rush music.
Lee and Lifeson, who have been friends since high school, had been contemplating touring again without Peart, who passed away in 2020. Despite initial resistance from Lifeson, they eventually decided to go on tour after finding Nilles, a talented drummer known for playing in odd time signatures similar to Rush's style. The addition of Nilles to the lineup was seen as a way to continue the band's musical journey while honoring Peart's legacy.
Peart's widow Carrie Nuttall-Peart and daughter, Olivia, fully support the tour, acknowledging Neil's irreplaceable contributions to the band as a drummer and lyricist. Rush plans to include additional backing musicians for the tour to enhance their sound and make the experience more enjoyable. The setlist for each show will feature a selection of 35 songs from their extensive catalog, including hits and fan favorites.
The tour announcement coincides with the release of Rush 50, a 50-track anthology covering the band's entire career. Artist presales for the tour will begin on October 13, with general on-sale starting on October 17. The tour dates include stops in Los Angeles, Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto, and Cleveland. Fans can expect a memorable celebration of Rush's music and legacy during the Fifty Something tour.