Rush’s upcoming “Fifty Something” reunion tour is already shaping up to be one of the biggest rock events of 2026, and now Geddy Lee has revealed just how ambitious the band’s plans really are. In a new interview with Consequence, Lee said Rush are currently rehearsing a massive pool of 38 songs for the upcoming run, explaining that the process has almost felt like rebuilding the band from the ground up.
Speaking about rehearsals, Lee admitted the challenge has been enormous because of the sheer complexity of Rush’s music and the amount of material being revisited after more than a decade away from touring. He described the preparation process as “starting from scratch,” while also noting that the group wants the performances to feel fresh instead of simply recreating the past.
The “Fifty Something” tour marks the first time Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have toured together since the end of Rush’s legendary R40 tour in 2015. It also represents the band’s first major live return following the death of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart in 2020. Rather than attempting to replace Peart, Lee and Lifeson have repeatedly framed the tour as a celebration of Rush’s music, history, and Neil’s enduring legacy.
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the tour has been the addition of drummer Anika Nilles. According to Lee and Lifeson, she immediately stood out because of both her musicianship and her attitude toward Rush’s catalog. In recent interviews, the pair praised Nilles for understanding the emotional weight of stepping into a role so deeply connected to Peart. Lee said she brings “a different story to our story,” while Lifeson described the chemistry between the three musicians as joyful and genuine.
The upcoming tour will reportedly feature rotating setlists built from the 38-song rehearsal pool, meaning fans could hear a different mix of classics and deeper cuts every night. Earlier tour announcements said the band planned to perform selections from roughly 35 songs, but Lee’s latest comments suggest the catalog has expanded even further during rehearsals.
The scale of the comeback has also grown dramatically since the original announcement. What reportedly began as a smaller run of limited dates has now expanded into a major international outing stretching through 2027. The tour is currently scheduled to begin June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles — the exact same venue where Rush played their final show with Neil Peart in August 2015.
Rush will also perform with keyboardist Loren Gold for the first time, effectively expanding the live lineup beyond the traditional trio format. Lee has hinted that the larger setup could allow the band to explore more complicated material from across Rush’s catalog while keeping the performances dynamic and powerful onstage.
Emotionally, the return still carries enormous weight for both surviving members. Geddy Lee previously admitted that he and Lifeson spent years wrestling with whether returning under the Rush name was even possible after Peart’s death. He said the turning point came when they realized how deeply they missed playing the music together and celebrating the connection they still share with fans.
Now, with rehearsals underway and nearly 40 songs in the mix, the scale of the comeback is becoming clearer. Rush are not simply returning for a nostalgic victory lap — they are building a carefully crafted celebration of one of rock’s most beloved catalogs. And if Geddy Lee’s latest comments are any indication, fans can expect long nights, rotating surprises, and a reunion tour that aims to honor the past while still feeling alive in the present.
