“She’s all that and a bag of chips.” Onstage pranks prove Anika Nilles is unfazed by life as Rush drummer
Rush drummer Anika Nilles has been playfully pranking bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson onstage during the group's Fifty Something reunion tour, demonstrating her ease in the demanding role once held by the late Neil Peart. Peart, widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, died in 2020 from glioblastoma at the age of 67, and Nilles faced considerable scrutiny as a relative unknown stepping into his shoes.
The latest stunt occurred during a performance of "Working Man" at Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit on Wednesday, where Nilles paused before the final chord to eat a bag of crisps and offer some to Lee and Lifeson, who both declined, before she rushed to catch up with the song's ending. Despite the surprise attempt, the two veteran musicians kept perfect timing, prompting one fan to comment online that she is "all that and a bag of chips." Nilles, a German drummer who previously worked with Jeff Beck, has reportedly pulled similar pranks throughout the tour, with a compilation of her antics also circulating online.
- Rush drummer Anika Nilles pranked bandmates with a bag of crisps onstage
- Incident happened during "Working Man" at a Detroit show
- Nilles has won fans over despite replacing the late Neil Peart
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Anika Nilles is the German drummer who joined the Canadian rock band Rush in 2025 for their "Fifty Something" reunion tour, taking on drumming duties for founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. She replaced Neil Peart, Rush's longtime drummer and lyricist, who is widely considered one of the greatest drummers in rock history and who died in 2020 of brain cancer, aged 67.
Peart's death effectively ended Rush as a touring act, so his role has never been filled before; any new drummer stepping into it faces heavy comparison and scrutiny from long-time fans. Nilles, previously known for her work with guitarist Jeff Beck, took on that role despite being a relative unknown to much of Rush's audience.
The reunion tour has been closely watched partly to see how she handles the pressure of that legacy. Onstage moments where she jokes around with Lee and Lifeson during performances have been circulating among fans as a sign of how she has settled into the band.