Rush is finally returning to Cleveland for a highly anticipated two-night stand, breaking a quiet drought that has lingered since the Clockwork Angels tour visited Quicken Loans Arena in the fall of 2012. For a city that holds such a mythical place in the band's history, it is surprising to look at the tour archives and realize they have only performed here 14 times. That is a relatively modest tally when compared to the heavy rotation other major American markets have seen over the years. But anyone reading this knows that raw statistics completely miss the point. A Cleveland gig is never just another stop on the itinerary. It is the ultimate U.S. homecoming. The roots of this relationship run deep into 1974. There is no need to rehash the legend of Donna Halper at WMMS, because that pivotal moment is already etched into the collective memory of this fanbase. Instead, it is worth looking at what that single spark created. Because Cleveland essentially broke the band south of t...

It’s been over a decade since Banger Films gave us Beyond the Lighted Stage, and now directors Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn are returning to the Rush universe with a deeply personal new project. According to official festival press, Neil Peart: No One's Disciple is an upcoming 106-minute feature documentary that chronicles our beloved Professor's early struggles as a young musician and his meteoric rise with the band. Sourced from archival footage, personal interviews, and remembrances from those closest to him, the film aims to explore the man beyond the drum kit, his life as a loyal friend, his prolific writing, and his profound journey through grief in the late 1990s following the tragic loss of his daughter and wife. Despite the heavy subject matter, early notes from TIFF promise the documentary’s vibe is ultimately "more joyful than mournful," celebrating his legacy with plenty of air-drumming moments. The musical centerpiece of the film is sure to be an em...

Rush touring drummer Anika Nilles is featured on the cover of the September 2026 issue of Modern Drummer . This feature marks her second cover story for the publication, following her first appearance in June 2017. Written by Modern Drummer publisher David Frangioni, the article titled "Putting in The Work and Finding the Feeling of Rush" chronicles her journey from her early days as a YouTube drum artist and touring drummer for Jeff Beck to taking on the drum throne for Rush alongside Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. Before her first playing session with Geddy and Alex, Anika had three weeks to prepare an initial list of six songs: "Limelight," "Tom Sawyer," "Caravan," "Subdivisions," "The Spirit of Radio," and "YYZ," with "Red Barchetta" added during their second rehearsal. To learn Neil Peart's parts, Anika muted the drums on stereo track stems so she could focus on locking in with the basslines. She ...