Rush Returns to the Stage: The Fifty Something Tour Kicks Off in Los Angeles

Rush officially returned to the concert stage on June 7, 2026, launching their “Fifty Something” tour at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. This series of performances marks the band’s first tour since 2015 and their first since the 2020 passing of drummer Neil Peart, featuring a new lineup with drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold alongside original members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson.

A New Chapter for Rush

The “Fifty Something” tour represents a deliberate evolution for the band. According to reports from Metal Wani, the decision to hire German drummer Anika Nilles was intentional; Lee and Lifeson sought a musician who could bring a fresh perspective to their catalog rather than attempting to replicate Peart’s iconic style. Nilles, a 42-year-old virtuoso who previously performed with Jeff Beck in 2022, joins keyboardist Loren Gold, a veteran of The Who and Chicago, to round out the ensemble. As noted by USA TODAY, the tour is not a tribute act but a functional, active band performing with conviction.

Opening Night at the Kia Forum

The tour’s kickoff carried significant emotional weight, as the Kia Forum is the same venue where Rush performed their final show with Peart in August 2015. The opening night performance featured a two-set structure, beginning with the song “Xanadu”—a track that had never previously served as a show opener, per USA TODAY. The production included a humorous video segment featuring cameos from actors Paul Rudd and Jason Segel, as well as a haunted retirement home theme. Reflecting on the crowd’s reception, Geddy Lee told the audience early in the show, “You. Are. So. Beautiful.”

Tour Schedule and Scope

Rush has planned an extensive run for the “Fifty Something” tour. Following the initial sellouts in the first seven cities, the band expanded the schedule to include 58 dates. The tour will travel across the United States and Mexico, concluding in Canada this December, before beginning a European leg in January 2027. According to Modern Drummer, the schedule includes multiple-night residencies in major markets, including Los Angeles, Fort Worth, and Chicago.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is the new drummer for Rush?
  Anika Nilles, a German drummer and educator, has joined the band for the 2026 tour. She has previously released two albums, Pikalar (2017) and For a Colorful Soul (2020), and toured with Jeff Beck.
• Is this Rush’s first tour since 2015?
  Yes. The “Fifty Something” tour is the band’s first since their 2015 run and their first since the death of longtime drummer Neil Peart in 2020, as reported by Blabbermouth.
• Who else is in the 2026 touring lineup?
  In addition to Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, the band is joined by keyboardist Loren Gold, who has a background as a touring member of The Who and Chicago.