Anika Nilles has opened up about the intense and unconventional preparation required to take over drumming duties for Rush on their “Fifty Something Tour.”
In a new interview with Rick Beato, Nilles admitted that learning Rush’s vast and complex catalog forced her to completely change her usual practice routine.
“Sometimes I was sitting there and thought, ‘I have no idea how I’m learning that,’ but somehow it’s working because I learned those songs in a completely different way. My preparation was so different to how I prepare myself usually.”
Normally, Nilles listens to a song, makes a quick chart, and plays along. But with Rush’s intricate material, that approach didn’t work. She explained:
“Sometimes you cannot really write it out because a lot of it is also kind of a feeling. Technically you can write it out, but I would have spent so much time with just that… I just have to listen, make chunks for myself and just learn it step by step.”
She dove deep into the “Rush rabbit hole,” consuming music, videos, interviews, and live shows. For the first rehearsal, the band focused on just six or seven songs. Nilles noted that Rush’s 11-year touring hiatus actually helped ease some pressure:
“We all kind of started a little bit together from scratch… It didn’t feel like I was the only newbie who had to adjust. They hadn’t played it in 10 years either.”
Anika Nilles’ honesty shows just how massive the challenge was — replacing one of the greatest drummers in rock history is no small task. Her flexible, intuitive approach and the band’s willingness to rehearse together speaks volumes about why the first shows have been so well received. She’s not just copying Peart’s parts; she’s absorbing the spirit and feel behind them. So far, it looks like Rush made the perfect choice.
