Rush Returns to the Stage with Emotional Tribute

After more than a decade away from live performances, legendary rock band Rush returned to the spotlight on Sunday, June 7, in Los Angeles. This marks the start of their Fifty Something tour, the first since 2015.

It has been 11 years since the band last toured, and this tour is significant as it is the first with members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson collaborating on stage since the passing of their iconic drummer, Neil Peart, in 2020. Stepping in for Peart is the talented drummer Anika Nilles.

Setlist Highlights

Fans were eagerly treated to a memorable setlist. According to Setlist.fm, Rush opened the concert with “Xanadu,” a track from their 1977 album, “A Farewell To Kings.” This was a first for the band, as they had never started a tour with that song before.

The performance included timeless Rush favorites like “Limelight,” “Freewill,” and “The Spirit of the Radio.” The show was divided into two sets. During the second set, fans enjoyed selections from the 1976 album “2112,” such as “Overture” and “Grand Finale.” The concert concluded with a South Park clip introducing the final song, the well-loved “Tom Sawyer.”

Honoring Neil Peart

The band paid tribute to Neil Peart during the concert. A video montage was shown, featuring Peart’s reflections on beginning his drumming journey and his passion for music. Rush dedicated the song “Bravado” from their album “Roll the Bones” in his memory.