Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to Pay Tribute to Neil Peart on Fifty Something Tour

The two surviving members of the iconic Canadian rock band plan to honor their late drummer during upcoming concerts.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:00am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a drum kit, capturing the intricate textures and reflections of the metal hardware in a dramatic, high-contrast studio lighting setup. The image conveys a sense of reverence and celebration for the art of drumming, without depicting any identifiable individuals.A visual tribute to the late Neil Peart, the legendary drummer of Rush, whose artistry and showmanship will be celebrated during the band's upcoming Fifty Something tour.Los Angeles Today

Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have revealed plans to pay tribute to their late bandmate and drummer Neil Peart during their upcoming Fifty Something tour. In an interview, the two surviving members shared that they will perform certain songs each night to celebrate Peart's life and legacy, accompanied by a visual tribute. While they considered not using the Rush name without Peart, they ultimately decided it was the natural thing to do as they perform 40 of the band's iconic songs. Drummer Anika Nilles will sit in at the kit in Peart's place.

Why it matters

Rush is one of the most influential and revered rock bands of all time, and the loss of Neil Peart in 2020 was deeply felt by the band's legion of devoted fans. Lee and Lifeson's decision to honor their late friend and collaborator during the Fifty Something tour will provide an opportunity for the group's fanbase to collectively remember and celebrate Peart's immense contributions to the band's music and legacy.

The details

In the interview, Geddy Lee explained that the band will perform two songs per night specifically chosen to pay tribute to Peart, accompanied by a visual presentation that will focus on his lyrics, drumming, or other aspects of his artistry. Alex Lifeson described the tribute as a 'celebration of who he was as a person and a drummer, not so sad anymore.' The band considered alternative names for the tour rather than using the Rush moniker without Peart, but ultimately decided that calling it a Rush tour was the natural choice given the 40 Rush songs they will be performing.

  • The Fifty Something tour is set to kick off on June 7, 2026 in Los Angeles.
  • The tour will run through December 17, 2026, with stops across North America, Europe, and South America.

The players

Geddy Lee

The lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist of the Canadian rock band Rush.

Alex Lifeson

The guitarist and co-founder of the Canadian rock band Rush.

Neil Peart

The late drummer and lyricist of the Canadian rock band Rush, who passed away in 2020.

Anika Nilles

The drummer who will be sitting in for Neil Peart during the Fifty Something tour.

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What they’re saying

“Well, we've been talking about certain songs that we feel really, really give us the vision of Neil. Twice a night we will pick a song to play sort of for him and we'll present a visual tribute behind us, to Neil, whether it be to his lyrics or just to his playing or whatever.”

— Geddy Lee, Vocalist, Bassist, and Keyboardist of Rush

“It's a celebration of who he was as a person and a drummer, not so sad anymore.”

— Alex Lifeson, Guitarist and Co-Founder of Rush

“(At) one point we were coming up with all these ways of not calling it Rush. And then it seemed ridiculous because when you're learning 40 Rush songs, what the hell are you supposed to call this thing you're doing? Yeah, let's say we'll go out, we'll play 40 Rush songs, we'll call it Iron Butterfly.”

— Geddy Lee, Vocalist, Bassist, and Keyboardist of Rush

What’s next

The Fifty Something tour will kick off on June 7, 2026 in Los Angeles and run through December 17, 2026, with stops across North America, Europe, and South America.

The takeaway

Rush's decision to honor the memory of their late drummer Neil Peart during their upcoming Fifty Something tour demonstrates the enduring impact he had on the band and its devoted fanbase. By incorporating a visual tribute and performing select songs in his honor, Lee and Lifeson are ensuring that Peart's legacy will be celebrated alongside the band's iconic music.