Well, we guess they couldn’t stay out of the “Limelight” forever; Rush is coming back to tour in 2026! This was definitely not on our collective bingo cards for this year or next. As one of the most influential progressive rock bands of all time, there’s not much Rush hasn’t accomplished since their 60s start and 2015 retirement. But you can’t keep these Canadian music legends down, as the band is going to tour with a new drummer in tow.
The assumption was that Rush was done as a live group since the passing of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart in 2020. Maybe the founding duo of Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee would do something together or solo, but much of Rush’s identity was tied to Peart. Even though he wasn’t the group’s founding drummer, his addition in 1974 changed the course of their writing and instrumentation.
The Rush tour will be named “Fifty Something,” and consist of a series of limited engagements across North America. Lee and Lifeson have brought German drummer Anika Nilles into the fold.
For the most part, the band will be performing two shows in major cities with a couple of one-off dates near the start and end of the tour. It kicks off in Los Angeles on June 7th and 9th. They then go to Mexico City for a performance on June 18th before heading to Fort Worth, TX on June 24th and 26th. Then the band heads north to Chicago for July 16th and 18th and East to New York City for July 28th and 30th. Two dates will then be performed in their native Canada on Toronto on August 7th and 9th before concluding in Cleveland, OH for one date on September 17th.
Lee and Lifeson did get the blessing from Heart’s family to perform with the Rush name and for bringing Nilles in as a drummer. “We are thrilled to support the ‘Fifty Something’s tour, celebrating a band whose music has resonated and inspired fans for generations, and to honor Mei’s extraordinary legacy as both a drummer and lyricist,” his widow Carrie Nuttall-Peart and daughter Olivia Peart said.
“Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we fucking miss it, and that It’s time for a celebration of 50-something years of RUSH music,” Lee said.
Tickets can be purchased and people can opt in for pre-sale by going to Ticketmaster. We’re just glad to see that “The Spirit of Radio” continues to live on.
