Rush’s first concert after 11 years: the setlist

More than ten years after their last performance on August 1, 2015, i Rush they hit the world stage again. Yesterday, Sunday 7 June 2026, the legendary Canadian rock band inaugurated its Fifty Something Tour at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. It is the first tour ever without the historic drummer Neil Peart, who passed away in 2020.

What seemed like a mirage for fans became reality thanks to the desire of Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to revive their boundless repertoire. For the first time in the group’s history, Rush performs with more than three members on stage. In fact, they are there to complete the training Anika Nilles to the battery e Loren Gold on keyboards.

The public’s enthusiasm quickly sold out the tickets for the initial dates, pushing the production to add numerous shows in the United States and Canada. The success has also led to the confirmation of a series of international dates scheduled for 2027. Among these, an eagerly awaited appointment for Italy stands out, set for 30 March 2027 at the Unipol Dome in Milan.

In the debut concert, the group performed 24 songs divided into two setsretracing over half a century of career. The show began, for the first time ever in their history, with “Xanadu”. In addition to very famous songs such as “Tom Sawyer”, “Limelight”, “The Spirit of Radio” And “Working Man”the band also found space for pieces played less frequently live, including “Natural Science”, “The Garden” And “By-Tor & The Snow Dog” (the latter absent from live shows since 2004).

The moment of greatest emotion occurred during “Bravado”explicitly dedicated to the late Peart, remembered through emotional films and archive images on the giant screens. During the show, Geddy Lee explained the significance of the band’s return:

We are here for many reasons. We’re here to celebrate over 50 years of music that Alex, I and the great Neil Peart have created together. We are here to pay tribute to Neil.

The performance of “Time Stand Still” finally saw them take to the stage Aimee Mannwho sang his vocals live with the band for the first time. Fans gave Anika Nilles a very warm welcome. Despite having to gather an impressive technical and emotional legacy, the German drummer masterfully managed the complex tempo changes of the repertoire, playing a fundamental role in the perfect success of what is confirmed as one of the most important and anticipated rock events of recent years.

The ladder

1. Xanadu
2. Limelight
3. Far Cry
4. Subdivisions
5. Freewill
6. Well done
7. Caravan
8. The Villa Strangiato
9. Vital Signs
10. The Spirit of Radio

Second set

1. 2112 Part I: Overture
2. 2112 Part II: The Temples of Syrinx
3. 2112 Part VII: Grand Finale
4. Distant Early Warning
5. Red Barchetta
6. Dreamline
7. Natural Science
8. Time Stand Still (with Aimee Mann)
9. Red Sector A
10. YYZ
11. The Garden
12. Tom Sawyer

Encore

1. By-Tor & The Snow Dog
2. Working Man