Former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach has voiced his full support for the upcoming Rush reunion. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are gearing up for the “Fifty Something” tour in 2026 and 2027, marking their first official live shows under the Rush name in 11 years. The highly anticipated trek will begin at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the exact venue where the legendary Canadian trio played their final “R40” concert.
To honor the band’s massive legacy and the life of late drum icon Neil Peart, Lee and Lifeson have enlisted German drummer Anika Nilles to join them on the road.
Speaking with Nathaniel Puente of Charlotte’s WCNC-TV, Bach made it clear that he believes the remaining members have every right to keep the music alive.
“Well, I think it’s amazing. You only have one life — you know what I’m saying? — so why should Geddy and Alex stop? There’s no reason for them to stop. Neil Peart probably wouldn’t want them to stop. He, unfortunately, did not get to live as long as he should have, but life is not fair at all.”
Bach also expressed immense confidence in the band’s choice of drummer. Nilles previously toured with the late guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck in 2022, a credential that the singer believes speaks volumes about her talent.
“Jeff Beck doesn’t mess around. Anika, the drummer, comes from the Jeff Beck group. Jeff Beck doesn’t hire crappy musicians. He hires the best musicians that are out there. So I’m figuring if she made great music with Jeff Beck, I can’t wait to hear what the music she’s gonna make with Rush. They wouldn’t have her in the band if she stunk.”
Bach has never hidden his profound admiration for Rush. Following the tragic announcement of Peart‘s passing in January 2020, the singer shared an emotional tribute video filmed at the Record Parlour in Hollywood, California.
In the accompanying message, he detailed his visceral reaction to the news and how he found solace by blasting the band’s 1980 classic, Permanent Waves.
“I’ll never understand how hard it hits us all when a hero dies. Even though I never really knew the person.”
“I was fortunate enough to meet Neil Peart twice in my life and will treasure those memories forever.”
“When I got the news yesterday that he was no longer with us, I put on Permanent Waves and wept for about two hours straight. A physical response, not of my control. I did not know what to do with the rest of the day I was so sad. So I got in the car and went to the Record Parlour and we cranked Rush all night long. The Record Parlour knows exactly what a record store should be. Turns out this was the absolute perfect place for me last night in my mourning of the greatest drummer the world will ever know. [I] was going to go get dinner after the record store but there was no need. [Owners] Chad and Chris ordered pizza into the store and we hung out for hours talking about rock and roll. Nowhere else I would have rather been last night. Thank you to all of you at the record Parlour for being so cool and getting me home safe.”
“Neil Peart…. Thank you for making the impossible seem easy. Thank you Neil for showing us all the ultimate possibilities of what music can be. Thank you for being such an important part of all our lives. It truly feels like you were a member of the family. Your music will never die in our hearts.”
Neil Peart passed away on January 7, 2020, in Santa Monica, California, following a three-year fight with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain cancer. The legendary Rush drummer was 67.
