Recommendations of the Editorial team
At the end of March 2026, Rush surprisingly took the stage at the Juno Awards in Ontario, Canada. A nostalgic moment for the international prog rock community – and at the same time the first public test for a musician who is facing what is probably the biggest challenge of her career: Anika Nilles, the band’s German touring drummer, has taken over the drum stool from Neil Peart, who died in 2020.
Born in 1983 in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Nilles has been one of the most innovative drummers in the professional drumming scene for years. She has made a name for herself widely with her mix of technical precision, groove-oriented playing and modern social media presence.
Her style combines influences from fusion, funk and progressive rock – a versatility that makes her ideal for the demanding repertoire of the legend of the 1970s and 1980s.
A musical legacy, not just a show of strength
In her first in-depth interview, Nilles talks about the dimensions of taking over Peart’s job. “His playing was incredibly energetic – that’s something I feel very comfortable with,” she tells Classic Rock magazine. For her it is by no means a matter of pure proof of strength, but rather of cultivating a complex musical heritage.
Peart’s style was characterized by an extraordinary range and an almost compositional approach to the drums. “He had an enormous variety of timbres and a very melodic approach,” says Nilles. His ride cymbal patterns and the unmistakable snare sound were particularly characteristic – elements that can clearly be attributed to his personality.
Not just reproduce, but understand
Respect for the original is omnipresent in Nilles’ credo. “Neil rarely repeated himself,” she emphasizes. “Even if a part of a song was identical, he played it differently the second time. That’s exactly what gives the songs their identity.” For them this means: not just reproducing, but understanding and interpreting.
Within the band, the path to the final decision was not a sure-fire success. Guitarist Alex Lifeson admitted that he and singer-bassist Geddy Lee were initially unsure. Only after several rehearsals did Nilles fully understand the complex arrangements. “On the fifth go-round she just nailed it,” Lifeson recalled to London radio station Absolute.
Nilles himself describes this initial phase as a process of rapprochement: “It’s all about getting the right feeling. To do this, I had to put myself in Neil’s way of thinking to a certain extent.”
A cultural bridge
The fact that a German musician is now becoming part of this Canadian rock myth marks a remarkable cultural bridge. Nilles not only brings technical excellence, but also his own musical identity. This could be where the future of the band lies: in the area of tension between respect for the past and the courage to develop further.
