Rush Reunites at Juno Awards, Announce Tour with New Drummer
Rush opened the Juno Awards with a surprise performance, marking their first public appearance with new drummer Anika Nilles. The band also announced their first tour since 2015, dedicated to the memory of Neil Peart.
Rush electrified the Juno Awards tonight, the annual celebration of Canadian music, with an unannounced reunion featuring Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The performance was teased earlier in the week, hinting at a “special moment” for fans. This marks the band’s first public performance with their new live drummer.
In June, Rush will embark on their first tour since 2015. Filling in for the late, great Neil Peart is Anika Nilles, formerly of Jeff Beck's band. Peart, who was also the band’s primary lyricist, passed away in 2020 at age 67 after battling brain cancer.
At the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, the band played “Finding My Way” (from their 1974 self-titled debut) in full for the first time since 1980. The Junos performance also marked the debut of touring keyboardist Loren Gold, who was announced last month.
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Lee and Lifeson have reunited onstage a handful of times since Peart’s passing, including at a South Park 20th anniversary concert and at tribute shows for Taylor Hawkins and Gordon Lightfoot.
This summer’s Fifty Something tour was initially announced with 20 dates across seven North American cities before expanding to 86 shows in 17 cities, with UK and European dates scheduled for 2027.
Rush have won 11 Junos, including the 2015 Humanitarian Award, and last appeared on the show in 1978. Among this year’s major nominees are Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, and Tate McRae, none of whom are attending. Most of the 47 competitive awards were handed out at Saturday’s pre-Junos gala, where McRae won four: Single, Album, Artist, and Pop Album of the Year.
Also at tonight's 55th annual Junos, Joni Mitchell is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Juno, following last year's recipient Anne Murray. (It was only given out one other time, to the awards' namesake Pierre Juneau in 1989.) Mitchell last appeared at the Junos in 1981 when she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell will pay tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter.
This year's Hall Of Fame nominee, Nelly Furtado, will get a tribute too. Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Tanya Tagaq, and Shawn Desman will cover her songs in a medley. The show's host is comedian Mae Martin.
Check out video of the Rush reunion below and their tour schedule here.
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