Mike Portnoy, the acclaimed drummer, has shared his enthusiastic reaction to Rush’s announcement of a comeback tour featuring a new drummer. He expressed his excitement in an Instagram post, celebrating the band’s return to the stage with Anika Nilles stepping in to honor the legacy of the late Neil Peart.

“Incredible!!! I am soooo happy for Geddy and Alex!! And so excited for all of us Rush fanatics around the world!” Portnoy wrote. “Congrats to Anika Nilles who I’m sure will be amazing…she’s awesome!”

Portnoy highlighted the tour’s significance as a tribute to the band’s history and their late bandmate. “This will be a beautiful way to pay tribute to Neil and to honor his and the bands legacy!” he continued. “I can’t wait to see this.”

The announcement marks a monumental moment for Rush fans worldwide, as the band prepares to embark on a new chapter in its storied career. Portnoy’s reaction mirrors the excitement shared by fans anticipating the group’s first performances together in over a decade.

According to Rush’s official website, the band will launch their 2026 reunion trek—the “Fifty Something” Tour—featuring returning members Geddy Lee on bass, keys, and vocals, and Alex Lifeson on guitar and vocals. The tour will begin on June 7, 2026, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, followed by a second show two days later.

The run will include multiple shows across seven cities: Los Angeles, Mexico City, Texas, Illinois, New York, Ontario, and Ohio. Each night will feature two career-spanning sets, except for performances in Mexico City and the final show in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets go on sale October 17, 2025, with presale options already available.

Geddy Lee shared that after more than a decade since their last show, he and Alex Lifeson missed playing Rush’s music. They decided to celebrate their 50+ years of musical history and honor Neil Peart’s irreplaceable legacy by returning to the road with Anika Nilles on drums, according to Loudwire.

As noted by Ultimate Classic Rock, this marks the first time in Rush’s history that someone other than Neil Peart will perform as the band’s drummer on a major tour. Nilles, a highly skilled and dynamic drummer, will take on this historic role to honor Peart’s memory while performing Rush’s extensive catalog. The tour stands as both a tribute to the band’s legendary past and the beginning of a new era.

The post Mike Portnoy Joins Fans in Celebrating Rush Comeback appeared first on Ntertain Us!.

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson recently discussed the deeply personal song “Western Sunset,” which he composed as a tribute to his late bandmate Neil Peart, during an interview with Guitar Player.

Lifeson shared that the song was inspired by a profoundly emotional moment while visiting Peart after learning about his illness. “That song came about around the time we all found out that Neil was ill. I was visiting with him and I was sitting on his balcony in Santa Monica. He had a little balcony off his office and he’d go out there every so often and have a smoke,” Lifeson recalled. “There were times in the afternoon where the sun was setting, and there was this particular time when the sun was setting through the trees.”

The guitarist reflected on how that experience became a symbol of closure and acceptance. “It really struck me that there’s this closure in a sunset. It’s the end of a day, and sure, tomorrow a new day begins. But the sunset marks the end of one day, and that day is not going to be there anymore,” he said. “That thought occupied me for some time. And I just thought it was such a serene, peaceful moment, at a time when we were dealing with something that was very painful and difficult. That really stayed with me.”

Lifeson went on to describe the personal nature of composing the song. “As for the song itself, it’s a very personal thing, obviously. It was something that [sighs] … I don’t know if I felt I needed to do it, but I felt I wanted to do it. And I’m glad that I did,” he said.

“Western Sunset” ultimately became more than a tribute—it marked a turning point in Lifeson’s creative path after one of rock’s most heartbreaking losses.

According to Guitar Player, the song was featured on Lifeson’s 2022 debut album with his new group Envy of None, representing a new chapter following Peart’s death in early 2020 from brain cancer. The album was Lifeson’s first major musical project since the conclusion of Rush’s historic four-decade career.

Peart’s passing not only closed that chapter for the band but also left Lifeson initially unable to pick up a guitar or engage in music at all. Metal Injection noted that he was inundated with unsolicited offers from drummers hoping to audition for Rush within minutes of Peart’s death being made public—an insensitivity that underscored the shock of the loss.

Replacing a bandmate who had been more than a drummer—Rush’s lyricist and a creative equal for over 40 years—was unthinkable. Despite outside pressure, Blabbermouth reported that Lifeson remains in close contact with fellow Rush member Geddy Lee, preserving their friendship and shared memories rather than attempting to continue without Peart.

In this way, “Western Sunset” stands as Lifeson’s final musical farewell to Neil Peart—capturing both the tranquility of their last shared moments and the deep sense of finality that comes with losing a creative partner and lifelong friend.

The post Rush’s Alex Lifeson Talks Creating Western Sunset After Neil Peart’s Passing appeared first on Ntertain Us!.