During an exclusive event on Sunday night (Oct. 5), Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson shared the reasons behind their decision to reunite Rush.

The legendary progressive rock band recently announced their 2026 Fifty Something tour and revealed that German drummer Anika Nilles will join them, replacing the late Neil Peart, who passed away in early 2020.

This announcement surprised many fans, as Rush officially retired from touring over a decade ago, with their last performance occurring on Aug. 1, 2015. Additionally, Lee and Lifeson had previously stated that Rush was finished after Peart’s death; however, they have since changed their minds.

What Led Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to Reunite Rush?

The invite-only event took place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame theater, according to Blabbermouth. Approximately 150 attendees included fans, media, and industry personnel, with the live Q&A hosted by Geoff Edgers from the Washington Post.

One question posed was whether the duo would tour as Rush again.

“If we were to tour, when would we tour?” Lifeson asked Lee.

“You know, I kind of think that we should tour next year,” Lee replied.

After confirming the news, Edgers inquired about how the decision was made.

Lifeson reflected on how Peart had reached his limit by the end of Rush’s last tour in 2015. While he and Lee didn’t feel ready to end their careers, he eventually accepted that it was over. He also expressed relief at no longer having to live in hotels while touring and being away from his family.

“I felt that way for most of the last 10 years; I thought we had a great legacy and it’s okay,” said Lifeson. “Then [Lee] came along with some big ideas, and we talked and started playing, and I realized how much I love it.”

Lifeson acknowledged the complexity of Rush’s music, admitting he found their songs more challenging to play since he hadn’t performed them often. This challenge excited him and inspired him to revisit more of their material.

What Were Lee and Lifeson’s Feelings About Reuniting?

While playing Rush’s music reignited Lee and Lifeson’s passion for continuing where they left off, they understood it wasn’t a straightforward decision.

“It was a very difficult decision on many levels,” Lee explained.

“First of all, because of what it entails in terms of work but also what had transpired. Losing a member like Neil was devastating. It was a very sad time, and it took time for us to even contemplate this. This is a relatively recent decision; it was out of the question for a long time.”

The vocalist noted that after spending time together playing Rush‘s songs, they felt as though they had broken through the darkness surrounding the band.

How Did They Search for a New Drummer?

Lee emphasized multiple times during the conversation that Peart was irreplaceable; therefore, they decided that the reunion would serve as a tribute to their career rather than create a new version of themselves.

The frontman’s bass technician had worked with Jeff Beck, and Nilles was part of his last tour. The technician spoke highly of her drumming skills to Lee, who then decided to check out her performances online and introduced her to Lifeson.

READ MORE: Rush Plans on Expanding Band With ‘Another Musician or Two’

Since Lee and Lifeson performed at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts in 2022 alongside Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, and Tool’s Danny Carey, they were already familiar with playing alongside another drummer. This experience made them feel more prepared when discussing a reunion.

“No matter who the drummer is, they all have their own perception of what it’s like to play a Rush song, which may not align with how we play them,” Lee remarked with a laugh.

“So whoever we were going to choose would be difficult, leading to some translation issues. We secretly brought Anika to Canada… It wasn’t an audition because we weren’t sure if we were going to tour at that point; it was all an experiment.”

Lee praised Nilles as “fantastic to play with,” although there was certainly a learning curve in teaching her the intricacies of their music and Peart’s style. Fortunately, she seems to have adapted well.

You can see the full Q&A session below.

The Decision-Making Process Behind Geddy Lee + Alex Lifeson Reuniting Rush