The pressure couldn’t have been higher, but Anika Nilles rose to the occasion and then some. The German drummer’s first night with Rush on June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles has been met with widespread critical and fan acclaim.
Stepping into the legendary role previously held by the late Neil Peart was an enormous challenge, but Nilles delivered a powerhouse performance that blended technical precision, raw energy, and deep respect for the source material.
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), who was once rumored as a possible replacement for Peart, was one of the first to shower her with praise:
“Anika absolutely KILLED IT in the best way imaginable. I was so happy for her… nailing all of the big Neil moments with a giant smile on her face the whole time! She really is the perfect choice for this!”
Major publications echoed the sentiment:
- USA Today wrote: “If fire could be packaged, it would be Nilles… an absolute phenomenon on her playground of percussion.”
- Rolling Stone praised her “mix of precision and snare-snapping brutality,” noting she “simply nailed everything, down to the last 32nd note.”
- Los Angeles Times described it as a “monster performance” and a “coronation of sorts,” highlighting her command of complex paradiddles and dynamic cymbal work.
- Louder called out her “Tom Sawyer” drum fills as a “moment of genuine triumph.”
Veteran rock journalist Mitch Lafon added: “She didn’t just nail it. She absolutely owned it,” with zero signs of first-night jitters.
Even Rush’s notoriously demanding fanbase has embraced her warmly, flooding social media and Reddit with words like “amazing,” “unbelievable,” and “absolute beast.”
Anika Nilles didn’t just pass her audition — she earned instant respect from one of the toughest crowds in rock. Her debut proves she’s not merely filling Peart’s shoes but bringing her own powerful identity to the kit. This kind of universal praise so early in the tour bodes extremely well for the rest of the “Fifty Something Tour.”
