Mike Portnoy Says He “Would Have Done It” If Approached for RUSH Reunion Tour

Mike Portnoy says “of course” he would have said yes if RUSH had asked him to play drums on their upcoming reunion tour, but is ultimately glad the honor went to Anika Nilles.

Answering reader questions for Metal Hammer, the Dream Theater drummer clarified that he was not approached for the gig, nor did he throw his name in the hat to take the place of the late Neil Peart behind the kit. However, had he been asked, Portnoy said he would have stepped in.

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“I read Geddy’s book [My Effin’ Life, published in 2023], and he mentioned about all the drummers kind of offering themselves to them and how much it turned him and Alex off,” Portnoy said. “I did send my condolences to Geddy and Alex after Neil passed, but I never once tried to throw my hat in the ring for Neil’s gig. I realize that’s a sacred role that should only ever be filled if Geddy and Alex choose for it to be so. And sure enough, here we are with them choosing to finally do so, which has been really incredible.”

When the publication followed up by asking Portnoy if he would have done it if he was the one asked to fill that role, he replied: “If they hypothetically ever approached me with it, of course, I would have done it with the utmost respect and honor.”

“But frankly, I’m kind of relieved they didn’t,” Portnoy continued. “First of all, filling Neil’s shoes is going to be impossible. If anybody ever thought Mike Mangini [Dream Theater drummer from 2010-2023] filling my shoes was tough, try filling Neil Peart’s shoes! And I came back home to Dream Theater, which is where I belong. So if, hypothetically, if they had approached me with this reunion that they’re doing, it would have put me in an incredibly awkward position because of the timing of it all.”

Portnoy did just return to Dream Theater in 2023 following a 13-year absence from the band, which has since toured and released a new album with him behind the kit.

In another recent interview with Chile’s Futuro (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), Portnoy admitted he wasn’t very familiar with new RUSH drummer Anika Nilles, but “like everybody else in the world, as soon as the announcement was made, I started pulling up videos on YouTube and saw her playing with Jeff Beck and doing the jazz fusion kind of stuff she does. She’s obviously a tremendous drummer, so I’m really curious to see how it sounds.”

He added, “I’m kind of glad that they didn’t even ask me, because that would be way too much pressure, way too much pressure. So, it’s much better this way. I get to enjoy it like a fan.”

Nilles will make her RUSH debut when the 58-show reunion tour kicks off in June. Get tickets here.