Hey everyone, I wanted to share a project I’ve been working on for some time now (years, actually) that I thought you might appreciate. As a long-time fan, I always loved picturing how the band's epic suites connected - how 'By-Tor and the Snow Dog' bridges into 'The Necromancer,' or how 2112 has dark parallels to Grace Under Pressure. When the band stopped touring back in 2015, I started mapping out a unified narrative across 2112 , A Farewell to Kings , and Hemispheres . What started as notes for a short story eventually turned into a playable, text-based adventure game called Cygnus: 2112 . The story follows the protagonist of 2112 , launches into the devouring dark of 'Cygnus X-1 Book I: The Voyage,' and culminates in the cosmic balance of 'Book II: Hemispheres.' I built this web-based game as a tribute to Neil's storytelling and a nod to classic retro interactive fiction / text adventure games. It's completely free to play o...

Update: Rush have just added an additional five dates to their Sphere residency: June 15th, 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th. Rumors about Rush performing at Sphere in Las Vegas have been circulating for some time now, but the rumors can now be put to rest. Rush have officially announced a five-date residency at the famed venue. The residency, dubbed 'Elevate from the Norm', will take place from May 21st through May 30th with tickets going on sale November 13th. From the official announcement: RUSH ANNOUNCES FIVE-DATE “ELEVATE FROM THE NORM” RESIDENCY AT SPHERE LAS VEGAS BAND TO PERFORM ON MAY 21, 23, 26, 28, and 30 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 – VIP & TRAVEL PACKAGES 10 AM – 12 PM PT: Exclusive early access for RUSH Backstage and RUSH Newsletter subscribers. Password: elevate 12 PM PT: VIP & Travel packages go on sale to the general public. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 – ARTIST TICKET PRESALE 10 AM PT: Artist Presale begins. Fans must register through Seated to recei...

When Geddy and Alex announced the Fifty Something tour kicking off at the Kia Forum back in June, everyone in the Rush community held their collective breath. How could this work without the Professor? And bringing in Loren Gold on keys to make them a touring quartet for the first time since 1971? It felt a little strange. Add in the bumpy start with the Fort Worth shows being delayed due to border issues and Geddy battling a nasty bout of laryngitis and bronchitis, and you couldn't help but worry. But as the band takes the stage tonight at Mohegan Sun for the exact midway point of the tour, all that skepticism is gone. This isn't a cash grab. Anika Nilles hasn't just filled the drum seat; she has completely silenced the doubters, breathing furious life into this catalog while fiercely honoring the man who built it. The best part of this run is that the boys refused to play it safe. Instead of a predictable jukebox of radio hits, we're getting a wild rotation of setli...

Rush (and Alex Lifeson) have just announced the unfortunate news that the band will have to postpose tonigth's second show in San Jose until December 6th. Anike Nilles has come down with the flu and is now recovering. The band's next performance is currently scheduled for October 21st in St. Louis and, as of now, there are no plans to postpone that date. But listening to Alex share the sad news, it does sound like Anika is in bad shape. This isn't the first time the band has had to reschedule a date due to an illness. The final two Fort Worth, Texas shows were postponed while Geddy recovered from laryngitis and bronchitis. We're all wishing Anika a speedy recovery! Get well soon! Related Stories The Ultimate U.S. Homecoming: Rush Returns to Cleveland - September 16th, 2026 Rush Add Four New North American Dates to the Fifty Something Tour - August 31st, 2026 State of the Tour: 25 Shows Into the Fifty Something Run - August 27th, 2026 A Bittersweet H...

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 ...

Just when it seemed the schedule for the Fifty Something Tour couldn't hold another single night, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have expanded their anniversary run with four brand-new North American arena stops. Joined on stage by drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, Lerxst and Dirk are giving fans in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania another shot to catch this historic celebration live. What makes these additions particularly interesting is how they shake up the tour's established format. Up until now, the Fifty Something run has strictly favored multi-night stands. Most major stops feature either full four-night residencies or back-to-back two-night runs in each venue. These four show dates mark a distinct break from that mold as standalone, single-night arena appearances:    Thursday, October 1, 2026: Toyota Center – Houston, TX    Wednesday, October 21, 2026: Enterprise Center – St. Louis, MO    Friday, October 23, 2...

We are now 25 dates into the Fifty Something tour, and the momentum continues to build with every stop. The band recently wrapped up a packed show in Detroit, adding to a long string of sold out arenas across the country. Fans and critics continue to offer widespread praise for the current run, with reviewers consistently noting Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson's enduring technical skills and stage presence. The production remains as sharp as ever, featuring the new Xanadudes intro film and the familiar South Park introduction for Tom Sawyer. The consensus among the community is that the band is delivering a highly polished and engaging performance every single night. The most actively discussed aspect of the tour remains the highly unpredictable set lists. Over the course of 25 shows, we've documented 14 unique variations. Geddy and Alex previously mentioned they rehearsed a pool of 40 songs, and they are certainly putting that extensive catalog to use right now. While they ori...

Chicago brought the fire. Madison Square Garden brought the history. But Toronto? Toronto is home. Tomorrow night, the "Fifty Something" tour pulls into Scotiabank Arena to kick off a highly anticipated four-night residency in the very city where the magic began. For fifty-plus years, a Rush show in Toronto has been more than just a concert; it’s a family reunion. Looking back through our newly rebuilt Tour Archives , the sheer volume of history the band has in this city is staggering. We’ve tracked their evolution from tearing the roof off Massey Hall in the 1970s, to the legendary multi-night stands at Maple Leaf Gardens, all the way to what we collectively thought was their final hometown bow during the R40 tour in 2015. Every era of Rush is permanently woven into the fabric of Toronto. But as the house lights go down tomorrow night, the emotional weight in the arena will be undeniable. A Toronto homecoming without Neil Peart behind the kit is a reality none of us eve...

When Neil Peart passed away in January 2020, it felt like the closing of a door. For millions of fans, the loss of "The Professor" didn't just mark the end of Rush; it felt like a grim overture for the years that immediately followed. Looking back, it is hard not to draw a parallel between the silencing of his drums and the moment the world seemingly spun off its axis. A pandemic isolated us. The country fractured as we retreated into our own corners, and the simple human decency we used to take for granted seemed to get lost in the shuffle of a chaotic, increasingly angry world. Peart, a lifelong champion of reason and thoughtful connection, would have likely watched the growing divides with a heavy heart. Neil died, Rush ceased to exist, and we collectively slipped into a deep, dark hole. For over a decade, the idea of a Rush tour felt impossible, and after 2020, it became unthinkable. We had accepted that the music was relegated to our stereos and our memories. Bu...

The wait is finally over. Forty-five years after three guys from Willowdale first staked their claim on the world's most famous arena, the boys are back in town (and it's finally my turn to see the return of Rush live!) When Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson take the stage tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden for the first of four sold-out shows on the "Fifty Something" tour, it will be more than just a triumphant return to New York City. It’s the continuation of a 45-year legacy at the venue that mirrors the evolution of the band itself. This week’s four-night stand (July 28, 30, August 1, and 3) will push Rush's total number of MSG performances to 17. But before we look at what Anika Nilles and Loren Gold will bring to the rhythm and synth sections tomorrow night, let's look back at the history Geddy, Alex, and the Professor built in this legendary room. May 18, 1981: Moving Pictures Tour The debut. After years of grinding it out on the road, Rush finall...