Rush + Anika (she got the fire!)
Rush Found Their New Drummer
I’ve gotta talk about this.
Rush — yeah, that Rush — is back. After years of silence and the loss of Neil Peart (rest in rhythm), Geddy and Alex are stepping back on stage. And they’ve got a new drummer: Anika Nilles.
Now, I’m a drummer. I lead Hand of the Tribe as a drummer. I know what it means to sit behind that kit — it’s not just about playing the parts. It’s about driving the whole damn thing. So when I heard they were bringing someone new into that sacred seat, I was skeptical. But no questions about how good is her play.
“When you respect the past while daring to push forward — that’s when it hits hardest.”
Anika’s not trying to be Neil. She’s not mimicking. She’s not tiptoeing. She’s owning it — with her own voice, her own groove, her own fire. Her solo stuff? It’s tight. It’s smart. It breathes. She’s got that rare combo: technical as hell, but still human. Still funky.
And that’s what Rush needs right now. Not a clone. A collaborator.
They’re calling the tour “Fifty Something” — kicking off June 7, 2026, in LA. It’s not nostalgia. It’s evolution. It’s two legends refusing to fade, and a new force stepping in to push the sound forward.
As someone who lives for rhythm — who’s built bands, led grooves, and felt the weight of the downbeat — I respect the hell out of this move. It’s bold. It’s honest. And it’s exactly what music needs more of.
🎧 Want to feel what I’m talking about?
Drop this in your ears: Anika Nilles - "Synergy" [official Video]
You’ll get it.
This move reminds me why I do what I do with Hand of the Tribe and Radio Vibe. Music isn’t static. It’s alive. It evolves. And when you respect the past while daring to push forward — that’s when it hits hardest.
Let’s keep the beat moving.
Paulo (PH Teixeira)
