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Rush<\/a> drummer Anika Nilles<\/a> recalled how a message of support from Neil Peart<\/a>\u2019s widow calmed her nerves in the run-up to her debut as his replacement.<\/p>\n The German musician underwent a five-day audition before Geddy Lee<\/a> and Alex Lifeson<\/a> decided she was the right person to join them on drums for their Fifty Something tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n And while learning to fit into the songs was one challenge, an equally difficult task lay in trying not to think about Peart all the time, as she told Rolling Stone<\/em><\/a> in a new interview.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>Why Rush Isn\u2019t Thinking About New Music<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn each song part I had to coach myself a little bit…not to fly away,\u201d Nilles said of the intense rehearsals once she\u2019d been hired. \u201cThat all helped not to think too much about how big that seat is and what role I\u2019m filling in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Her mantra, she said, was: \u201cBe in the moment, be present, be focused.\u201d<\/p>\n It took her a while to establish what was expected of her. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure if I should prep every little detail, or to have the main parts down, but have some freedom here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n As she got to better understand Peart\u2019s approach, she realized she\u2019d have to change her own. Instead of her established stick control style, she started lifting weights to build muscle for a more direct delivery. \u201dI have to play more out of muscle power,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, I have a little bit of Neil in me. What I learned for myself the most is the compositional part. He was brilliant in that, really. He constantly builds, and builds, and builds the drum part to a point where you think, \u2018What the hell is going on?’\u201d<\/p>\n Her confidence increased when Peart\u2019s widow, Carrie Nuttall, made contact ahead of the first show. \u200a\u201dI got a nice message from her, a really lovely message,\u201d Nilles said. \u201cIt was really nice to hear that she is on board and looking forward to this whole journey.\u201d<\/p>\n She reported that she felt \u201creally energized, and relieved\u201d as the Fifty Something tour continues<\/a>. Asked what she told herself after her first few performances, she laughed: \u201cI made it through!\u201d<\/p>\n We examine Rush’s 19 studio albums, from 1974’s muscular self-titled release to a series of remarkable late-career triumphs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Eduardo Rivadavia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHow Did Anika Nilles Feel After Her First Rush Shows?<\/h3>\n
Rush Albums Ranked<\/h2>\n