Rush is a Band https://www.rushisaband.com/ Rush Blog - Rush is a Band Blog: Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:47:37 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss <![CDATA[Anika Nilles discusses what it takes to play drums for Rush in new Rolling Stone Canada interview]]> Rolling Stone Canada has posted a new video interview with Rush drummer Anika Nilles that was taken from their massive Rush cover story from this past summer. Since the feature was first released, they've posted video interviews with Geddy and Alex together, all three members together, and now it's Anika's turn for a solo interview. In the 20-minute interview, Anika chats with Rolling Stone senior writer Brian Hiatt about conquering the toughest gig in rock; playing drums for Rush. She explains that getting there meant not just learning the late Neil Peart's parts, but digging deep into the essence of his feel. Nilles also looks back at her early days, digs into the details of learning Rush's music, talks about her earliest encounters with Peart's playing, and more. You can check out the entire video below or on YouTube, and there's also this print version.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/26/6601/Anika-Nilles-discusses-what-it-takes-to-play-drums-for-Rush-in-new-Rolling-Stone-Canada-interview Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:47:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/26/6601/Anika-Nilles-discusses-what-it-takes-to-play-drums-for-Rush-in-new-Rolling-Stone-Canada-interview <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Washington DC show #1 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/26@9:44AM: Nirvana's Krist Novoselic attended the show and posted a couple photos to his Instagram. Alex Lifeson's wife Charlene was also spotted at the show (thanks Thomas P). Here's some video of the train wreck in 2112, along with this video of Working Man including Anika's guitar gag right at the end.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/25/6598/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Washington-DC-show-1-open-thread Sun, 25 Oct 2026 11:34:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/25/6598/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Washington-DC-show-1-open-thread <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Cincinnati open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/25@5:02PM: Here are some photos courtesy yours truly:


UPDATE - 10/25@4:50PM: Here are some photos courtesy Cygnus-X1.net.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/23/6597/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Cincinnati-open-thread Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:03:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/23/6597/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Cincinnati-open-thread <![CDATA[Updates and other random Rush stuff]]> Rush was supposed to have played their 2nd show at San Jose's SAP Center this past Saturday night, but a flu bug going through the crew struck drummer Anika Nilles, forcing the band to cancel and reschedule the show for December 6th. Fortunately Anika was able to recover in time to play Wednesday night's one-off gig in St. Louis, and the band will be back at it for yet another one-off city show at Cincinnati's Heritage Bank Center this evening. The 2 one-offs in Houston and St. Louis, along with the Fort Worth make-up show have all featured Rush's rare G(orgo) setlist which includes both 2112 and Moving Pictures in full; we're expecting the same tonight in Cincinnati. After the Cincy show Rush will head to DC, Connecticut, Florida, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta before shifting things back out west to close out the North American tour and then taking a much-deserved 1-month hiatus to rest up for the South American leg next year.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/23/6595/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff Fri, 23 Oct 2026 09:48:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/23/6595/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour St. Louis open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/23@9:35AM: Here are some photos courtesy Cygnus-X1.net.

UPDATE - 10/23@9:21AM: Here's Geddy remarking on Rush's history with St. Louis:


... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/21/6596/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-St.-Louis-open-thread Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:04:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/21/6596/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-St.-Louis-open-thread <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour San Jose show #2 postponed to December 6th due to illness open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/20@4:16PM: Anika posted a photo of herself to her Instagram story looking healthy and ready to play some Rush tunes. This is a great sign for the upcoming St. Louis and Cincy shows.

UPDATE - 10/18@6:17PM: There are several reports that a flu bug is making its way through the crew. But according to the Rush 101 social media channel, who have been providing live reports from most of Rush's show so far on the tour, there are no plans to cancel the St. Louis show on Wednesday. That show is in 3 days, so that should be plenty of time for Anika to recover. That said, we'll keep a close eye on things.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/17/6593/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-San-Jose-show-2-open-thread Sat, 17 Oct 2026 12:27:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/17/6593/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-San-Jose-show-2-open-thread <![CDATA[Updates and other random Rush stuff]]> Rush spent the past week on the US west coast, playing 2 shows in Seattle and the first of a pair in San Jose last night. They'll wrap up their 2-night San Jose run tomorrow evening before taking a short, 4-day break, and then heading back east for a couple of one-off shows in St. Louis and Cincinnati next week. While in Seattle, some Seattle rock royalty attended Rush's shows and paid the band a visit backstage, including members of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, The Deftones and others as seen in this Instagram post:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/16/6590/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:43:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/16/6590/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour San Jose show #1 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/21@10:30AM: Here's a review from the San Francisco Chronicle.

UPDATE - 10/17@12:26PM: Here's Rush's IG photo dump from the show:


... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/15/6592/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-San-Jose-show-1-open-thread Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:49:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/15/6592/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-San-Jose-show-1-open-thread <![CDATA[Official Rush 2027 wall calendar celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hold Your Fire]]> Rush has released a new, official 2027 wall calendar celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of 1987's Hold Your Fire. The calendar was produced by Poster Foundry and can currently be ordered via Amazon and other online retailers. The 12"x18" calendar features a dozen photos from Rush's Hold Your Fire era as seen here:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/14/6594/Official-Rush-2027-wall-calendar-celebrating-the-40th-anniversary-of-Hold-Your-Fire Wed, 14 Oct 2026 19:13:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/14/6594/Official-Rush-2027-wall-calendar-celebrating-the-40th-anniversary-of-Hold-Your-Fire <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Seattle show #2 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/14@9:34AM: Here are some photos courtesy Cygnus-X1.net.

UPDATE - 10/13@10:30PM: Members of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, The Deftones and others from the Seattle music scene attended the show as well as Saturday's. Rush took some time out to post some photos and a message of thanks:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/12/6589/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Seattle-show-2-open-thread Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:25:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/12/6589/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Seattle-show-2-open-thread <![CDATA[Neil Peart's friend and right-hand man Michael Mosbach passes away from glioblastoma]]> UPDATE - 10/13@4:57PM: Here's some coverage from Rolling Stone Canada.

UPDATE - 10/13@10:38AM: Here's a post from The Neil Peart Memorial Foundation remembering Michael, including some great photos:


... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/12/6591/Neil-Pearts-friend-and-right-hand-man-Michael-Mosbach-passes-away-from-glioblastoma Mon, 12 Oct 2026 11:07:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/12/6591/Neil-Pearts-friend-and-right-hand-man-Michael-Mosbach-passes-away-from-glioblastoma <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Seattle show #1 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/12@7:25PM: Here's a review from Seattle Refined.

UPDATE - 10/12@9:02AM: Matt Cameron was at the show and posted this pic of himself with Anika Nilles backstage:


... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/10/6588/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Seattle-show-1-open-thread Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:26:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/10/6588/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Seattle-show-1-open-thread <![CDATA[Updates and other random Rush stuff]]> UPDATE - 10/9@11:36AM: For Seattle fans, Rush's Seattle stop will feature a pop-up merch store that will be open daily through Monday starting TODAY at 12PM (PDT). It will then be open from 10AM to 6:30PM the rest of the weekend and through Monday. It's located at Tom's Watch Bar directly across the street from Climate Pledge Arena.

Rush was rocking in the Rockies this past week, playing a pair of incredible shows at Denver's Ball Arena on Monday and Wednesday. They'll now move on to the West Coast next, with shows lined up in Seattle and San Jose in the upcoming week. From there they head back East for another couple of one-off shows in St. Louis and Cincinnati. Earlier this week Rolling Stone magazine posted a new, bonus video interview from their recent Rush cover feature story, with all 3 members of Rush sitting down together with senior writer Brian Hiatt to talk about the band's Fifty Something tour. They discuss the drumstick Nilles dropped and caught in the opening minutes of LA night one, the moment Geddy realized some Rush songs were almost impossible to explain to outsiders, the three days it took Nilles to learn Xanadu, why Lee and Lifeson love Steely Dan, and more. You can watch the full 20-minute interview below or on YouTube.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/09/6584/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff Fri, 9 Oct 2026 10:24:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/09/6584/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff <![CDATA[Alex Lifeson launches Guitar Strings for Kids charity initiative]]> UPDATE - 10/9@10:07AM: The $600 Collector Strings have SOLD OUT completely, and only a few of the Framed Strings remain.

Rush has just announced via their newsletter that Alex Lifeson is launching a special Strings For Kids charity initiative featuring guitar strings played by Alex during Rush's Fifty Something tour. This special initiative was created by Alex to turn pieces of his own touring history into meaningful support for two causes close to his heart; The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. To launch the initiative, Alex is making a personal donation of $100,000, adding his own contribution to the funds raised through the project. They are offering up a set of Collector Strings for $600 along with a Framed Collector Edition for $3000. From the announcement:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/08/6587/Alex-Lifeson-launches-Guitar-Strings-for-Kids-charity-initiative Thu, 8 Oct 2026 22:15:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/08/6587/Alex-Lifeson-launches-Guitar-Strings-for-Kids-charity-initiative <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Denver show #2 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/8@11:43PM: Here are some photos courtesy Cygnus-X1.net.

UPDATE - 10/8@10:45AM: Here's a better angle of Anika's end-of-show antics courtesy Eric at the Power Windows site:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/07/6583/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Denver-show-2-open-thread Wed, 7 Oct 2026 13:44:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/07/6583/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Denver-show-2-open-thread <![CDATA[New Rolling Stone video interview with Rush's Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Anika Nilles]]> Rolling Stone magazine has posted a new, bonus video interview from their recent Rush cover feature story, with all 3 members of Rush sitting down together with senior writer Brian Hiatt to talk about the band's Fifty Something tour. They discuss the drumstick Nilles dropped and caught in the opening minutes of LA night one, the moment Geddy realized some Rush songs were almost impossible to explain to outsiders, the three days it took Nilles to learn Xanadu, why Lee and Lifeson love Steely Dan, and more. You can watch the full 20-minute interview below or on YouTube.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/07/6586/New-Rolling-Stone-video-interview-with-Rushs-Geddy-Lee-Alex-Lifeson-and-Anika-Nilles Wed, 7 Oct 2026 11:47:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/07/6586/New-Rolling-Stone-video-interview-with-Rushs-Geddy-Lee-Alex-Lifeson-and-Anika-Nilles <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Denver show #1 open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/8@10:54AM: Denver's Ball Arena posted some photos to IG:


... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/05/6582/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Denver-show-1-open-thread Mon, 5 Oct 2026 10:58:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/05/6582/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Denver-show-1-open-thread <![CDATA[Rush's 2112 receives 4X Platinum Certification by the RIAA 50 years after its release]]> Rush's breakout 1976 album 2112 was quietly granted 4X Platinum certification by the RIAA in early August, just over 50 years after its March, 1976 release. The album was first certified Gold back in November of 1977, and Platinum in February of 1981. It last received a certification bump 40 years ago back on November 17, 1986 when it was granted 3X Platinum status, but a burst of album sales due to the album's anniversary and Rush's Fifty Something tour this past summer helped to finally push it over the 4X milestone. A limited-edition liquid vinyl edition of the album was just released last week, and can be purchased at this location. Although several Rush video and live releases have received certification in the recent past, the last time a Rush studio album was given a certification was when Moving Pictures was bumped to 5X Platinum 5 years ago, and before that back in 2001 when Roll the Bones finally received Platinum status. Thanks to Charlie W for the heads up.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/05/6585/Rushs-2112-receives-4X-Platinum-Certification-by-the-RIAA-50-years-after-its-release Mon, 5 Oct 2026 10:22:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/05/6585/Rushs-2112-receives-4X-Platinum-Certification-by-the-RIAA-50-years-after-its-release <![CDATA[Updates and other random Rush stuff]]> Rush delivered an epic performance in Houston last night for their first one-off show of the Fifty Something tour, treating fans to the rare Gorgo setlist that includes BOTH 2112 AND Moving Pictures in full. The only other time they've played a version of this setlist was for the Fort Worth make-up show back in July, although Geddy mistakenly said during the show that it was their first time doing it. Granted, it wasn't exactly the same, with a good bit of variation in the first set. But set 2 was essentially identical to that Fort Worth show (the order was a little different). Setlist photos from the show have this labeled as Bravo, but it was anything but. It looks like Rush has given up on paying much attention to the codenames at this point, so we are sticking with calling it G(orgo)-2 since that's more accurate. If you want to dig deeper into the setlist stats for the tour, the Rush fans YouTube channel has created a cool web-based Rush Tour Stats tool that fans can use to dive into all the setlist data; check it out at rushtourstats.com. Rush will take a short, 4-day break before picking things up out west for a pair of shows at Denver's Ball Arena. Then starts a marathon stretch of dates through early December with no extended breaks, where they will generally have only 2 or 3 days between shows outside of a couple of 4-day respites. October will see the band play a dozen shows when they've only played 8 or 9 per month thus far. Things settle down a bit for the last few shows in December, then the tour machine shuts down for a month before picking things back up in South America in January.

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/02/6579/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff Fri, 2 Oct 2026 11:52:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/02/6579/Updates-and-other-random-Rush-stuff <![CDATA[Rush Fifty Something tour Houston open thread]]> UPDATE - 10/3@1:05PM: Here are some photos courtesy Cygnus-X1.net, along with an IG photo dump from the Toyota Center's IG. DJ Premier was at the show too, and got to meet the band as seen in this IG post:

... ]]> https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/01/6580/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Houston-open-thread Thu, 1 Oct 2026 11:23:00 -0500 https://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2026/10/01/6580/Rush-Fifty-Something-tour-Houston-open-thread