How Anika Nilles Learned Neil Peart's Iconic Drum Parts
Stepping into the seat once held by the late Neil Peart was no small task — and Anika Nilles says preparing for Rush's Fifty Something reunion tour forced her to throw out the playbook entirely.
Asked how she absorbed so much of the catalog so quickly, Nilles answered bluntly: "I have no idea." Her usual method — listen, chart it out, then read and play — simply collapsed against Rush's intricacy. So much of it, she explained, lives in feel rather than notation, and charting every part would have eaten time she didn't have.
"Just memorizing all the parts is one thing — and then learning the feeling is a different thing."
After connecting through Geddy Lee's bass tech, she dove headfirst into the Rush rabbit hole — music, videos, interviews, live shows — focusing first on the handful of songs slated for early rehearsals. A nearly 11-year touring gap, she noted, leveled the field: the trio rebuilt the songs together rather than dropping a newcomer into a well-oiled machine. The payoff has been loud, with the opening shows drawing rave reviews for her playing.
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