RUSH Postpones Tonight's Concert In San Jose After Drummer ANIKA NILLES Falls Ill

RUSH has postponed tonight's (Saturday, October 17) concert at the SAP Center at San Jose, California due to the fact that drummer Anika Nilles is battling the flu.

Earlier today, RUSH released the following statement via social media: "So sorry everyone! Anika is too ill to perform tonight. Tonight's RUSH show in San Jose is not happening - now rescheduled for Dec 6, 2026. All previously purchased tickets will be honoured for the new date.

"Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to coming back and putting on a fantastic show for you."

In a separate video message, RUSH guitarist Alex "Lerxst" Lifeson said: " Hi, it's Lerxst. So this really sucks. The other night [Thursday, October 15] when we played the first show in San Jose, Anika was ill. She was in the early stages of a flu, but she managed to get through the gig, which was really quite incredible and is a testament to her willpower. But over the last couple of days, she's gotten a lot worse, and, unfortunately, we're gonna have to cancel the show tonight."

He continued: "It's a real bummer. We're crestfallen. We were really looking forward to it, but it is what it is.

"So she's gonna recover hopefully within the next — oh, who knows? — four or five days probably. And then we're gonna try to come back on December 6th to do the makeup gig here in San Jose.

"Again, really, really sorry," Alex added. "These things happen. It's flu season. We'll do our best to get back in shape and return and put on a fabulous show for all of you.

"Thank you so much for understanding."

RUSH's "Fifty Something" tour launched on June 7 in Los Angeles. It is RUSH's first tour in over 10 years and the group's first run of shows since the 2020 death of Canadian rock legends' iconic drummer Neil Peart. The "Fifty Something" tour is also RUSH's first with the band's revamped lineup of classic members Lifeson and bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee alongside Nilles, a German drummer who toured with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck in 2022, and newly added keyboardist Loren Gold, who is best known as touring member of THE WHO and CHICAGO.

RUSH's setlist for "Fifty Something" is culled from a pool of more than 40 RUSH classics, with the band playing two sets a night that celebrate late RUSH drummer Neil Peart's life and legacy.

The 2026 leg of the "Fifty Something" tour, which will cover Canada, USA and Mexico, initially consisted of 22 dates, which sold out immediately, prompting the addition of more shows.

In February, RUSH announced the addition of South America and Europe tour dates to the "Fifty Something" tour, in early 2027. The dates will be the first time the band has played in Europe since 2013 and 17 years since visiting South America.

RUSH performed in public with Nilles for the first time at Canada's Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario in late March. They played "Finding My Way", the first song from RUSH's first album, the band's only LP not to feature Peart.

The Juno Awards performance was Lee and Lifeson's first as RUSH since they finished their 40th-anniversary tour in 2015, although they have performed under their own names on occasion, including tributes to legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and Taylor Hawkins of the FOO FIGHTERS.

Peart died in January 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 67 years old.

RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

Photo credit: Richard Sibbald (courtesy of Q Prime)