Geddy Lee Says Musicians Vying for Neil Peart's Job as Rush Drummer After His Death Were 'Distasteful to Me'

Geddy Lee called musicians who were vying for Neil Peart's job after his death "distasteful"

NEED TO KNOW

• "It was completely inappropriate timing," Rush's lead vocalist told Guitar World Magazine

• Peart died in 2020 at the age of 67

Geddy Leecalled musicians who were vying to replaceNeil Peart following his death"distasteful."

In aGuitar Worldinterview published on Tuesday, May 19, the Rush vocalist revealed that while the band was still mourning the late drummer, there were many artists who approached him about filling the role.

“People who are close to us – good friends that are successful drummers – would never infer something like that because they have too much respect, not only for Neil and for the situation,” Lee, 72, told the publication. “They were grieving as well, so they wouldn't be so selfish as to say something inappropriate like that.”

But not everyone followed suit.

“There were many other drummers who reached out to me in the aftermath of Neil's passing that were pushing themselves, and that was most distasteful to me," he said. "It was completely inappropriate timing.”

Until 2015, Rush's lineup had consisted of Lee, Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson. However, that year Peart retired from music, and the Canadian rock group disbanded in 2018.

But in October 2025, Rush announced that they would be reuniting for The Fifty Something Tour in 2026.

At the time, a press release revealed that they would be joined by Anika Nilles, a German drummer, composer, producer and studio musician who previously drummed for late English musician Jeff Beck.

Speaking withGuitar World,Lee admitted that the band "didn't really know where to begin to look" when it came to finding a new drummer.

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“We started with Anika because she had been recommended to me, and I had done some research on her. I loved her vibe and diverse style," he told the outlet, noting that there wasn't a "list" of people they had in mind.

Added Lee: “When Al and I finally said, ‘Okay, I guess we're getting serious. Who's going to sit in that impossible seat? It's daunting. We started with the name that was already on my mind."

According to Lee, he and Lifeson, 72, immediately "hit it off" with Nilles, 42.

"She brought a lot to the table, but more than her chops, more than her guts, and her willingness to sit in that hot seat, she brought an intelligence and a story," he said.

In an AprilClassic Rockcover story, Lee spoke about how the band planned to honor Peart — whodied in January 2020at the age of 67 — throughout their tour.

“If we just picked up and went on without feeling any tug of anything, that would be absurd, that would be a whole other thing,” he said at the time. “And there'll be moments in both sets where we'll pay tribute to him. We're working hard on that, making sure that it's appropriate.”

Rush formed in 1968 and released their self-titled debut albumin 1974. They shared their final recordClockwork Angelsin 2012.

Rush will launch its U.S. leg of the Fifty Something tour in June and will play through December. The band will head out on an international tour in 2027.

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