The Rush reunion: What does Anika Nilles’ kit look like?
Imagine this assignment: You’re at home in Germany when you get a call about possibly joining Rush for a reunion tour. The pressure to live up to Neil Peart is immense. And you have to learn almost 40 songs that will be played over more than one hundred dates.
Where do you start? There’s studying the band, their music, and Neil’s parts. (Read more about that here.) Then you’ll need a brand-new kit that’s 100% designed for all those Rush songs you’ll have to play.
Of what kind of wood should the shells be made? What sizes of toms? What kind of snare? How many cymbals of what weights and styles? What about things like temple blocks and cowbell set-ups? Any electronics? Tubular bells and wind chimes need to be part of the mix, right?
And how should everything be set up for maximum efficiency, maximum power, and minimum effort? After all, each night will involve playing some of the most difficult prog ever written over about three hours.
Fortunately for Anika Nilles, she had Gump (Lorne Wheaton), who began serving as Neil’s drum tech in 2000. This is the final version of the kit that’s being used on the 50 Something tour.
