5 days ago
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Anika Nilles, the newly minted touring drummer of the reunited RUSH, has addressed the daunting task of filling the shoes of the late and legendary Neil Peart.
In her first extensive interview since being named RUSH’s drummer, Nilles spoke with Classic Rock magazine about the challenges of playing Peart’s iconic drum parts.
“His playing was very energetic, and I really like that. That’s something I feel very comfortable with,” she said. “I also love playing in a very energetic way. That’s the first thing that comes to mind, and something I really appreciate about his playing.”
In further discussing the nuances of Peart’s playing, Nilles added, “He also had an incredible range of tonal colors. He had a very melodic approach to drumming and used a wide variety of sounds to achieve that.
“He had a very distinctive way of playing the ride cymbal. When you listen to the music, that cymbal always stands out prominently. He had a very distinctive snare sound as well. There are certain signature sounds that come directly from his playing — not from the equipment, but from him.”
Nilles made her with the Canadian band during their surprise performance at the Juno Awards last month, playing the song “Finding My Way” from their debut album (which featured then drummer John Rutsey, whom Peart replaced). While that was certainly a commanding performance, playing Peart’s drum parts are a next-level challenge.
“Neil rarely repeated himself,” Nilles continued. “He kept bringing something new into the song. Even if a section repeated in terms of songwriting, his drumming the second time was different from the first. That makes it exciting and is part of what gives the songs their identity.”
In a recent interview with Absolute Radio, RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson admitted that he and frontman Geddy Lee weren’t so sure about Nilles after her first few sessions with the band, but by the fifth rehearsal she “nailed all those songs.”
Regarding those initial hiccups, Nilles said, “First and foremost, it’s about capturing the right feel. That also means immersing myself to some extent in Neil’s way of thinking and his playing feel.”
Catch RUSH on their extensive “Fifty Something” reunion tour beginning this June. Tickets are available here.
English (US) · 