Extra Musicians on Stage with Geddy and Alex

[losingit2k]

10 hours ago, fraroc said:

 

With today's technology, I'm sure there could be a way for Anika and Neil to have a "drum duet" but that would unfortunately cause HUGE amounts of Gen Z outrage and the cancel hammer being brought down on Ged and Al. 

I saw ELP do something similar, it came across fairly well. And yes they can create a track that has Neil do a fill, which Anika responds to! Its would be interesting! 

[ZachenFoot]

I can't think of anything I'd be less interested in than a drum duet between Anika and the ghost of Neil Peart. God I hope these guys have better ideas than some of the ones I'm seeing here 

[James Bond]

I genuinely think it will only be one keyboardist joining them who will also take care of the samples and triggering that Geddy and Alex used to do, especially if Geddy still plans on doing the "signature" parts as he calls them. If they get a multi-instrumentalist, I could see them also being responsible for some backing vocals and maybe some rhythm guitar for tunes like Far Cry where Alex would trigger a rhythm guitar playback behind the solo.

 

At best, two additional musicians - a dedicated keyboardist and an auxiliary musician for extra guitars, samples, and whatever is needed. I really doubt we'll see a big Rolling Stones or Who venture of extra singers and so forth.

 

1 hour ago, ZachenFoot said:

I can't think of anything I'd be less interested in than a drum duet between Anika and the ghost of Neil Peart. God I hope these guys have better ideas than some of the ones I'm seeing here 

 

I agree. I do think Anika will get her own solo spot, as the drum solo is such a big part of the Rush live experience, and that we'll also see at least part of Neil's in an unrelated tribute somewhere else in the show.

[Entre_Perpetuo]

On 10/22/2025 at 8:51 PM, fraroc said:

 

With today's technology, I'm sure there could be a way for Anika and Neil to have a "drum duet" but that would unfortunately cause HUGE amounts of Gen Z outrage and the cancel hammer being brought down on Ged and Al. 

Hi, TRF resident member of Gen Z here (born 1998). What the heck is “Gen Z outrage?” Because if it’s a whole mass of people from my generation getting up in arms about a little video drum duet between Annika and a recording of Neil, I think you’re vastly overestimating how many people in Gen Z even know who Rush is, let alone how many would actually care.

[Linguine Lee]

I hope they add Patty PerShayla as a second vocalist:

 

https://youtu.be/300D4MqwRvo?si=V4aff-Hyo68Rec7c

[ZachenFoot]

5 hours ago, Entre_Perpetuo said:

Hi, TRF resident member of Gen Z here (born 1998). What the heck is “Gen Z outrage?” Because if it’s a whole mass of people from my generation getting up in arms about a little video drum duet between Annika and a recording of Neil, I think you’re vastly overestimating how many people in Gen Z even know who Rush is, let alone how many would actually care.

They're just inventing someone to be mad at, I wouldn't give it oxygen 

[Todem]

On 10/23/2025 at 7:39 AM, losingit2k said:

But Geddy already announced on the 1st video released that they are going to have additional musicians on stage with them. He specifically mentioned dragging along a keyboardist so he could get around stage more! 

A keyboardist is about the extent of what I think they will do. Additional guitarist? Dude I know Alex ain’t gonna jive with that at all. 
 

Other than a synth/keyboard/sample/trigger guy it will be 3 + 1 

 

We will find out next summer.

[Todem]

On 10/23/2025 at 9:37 AM, James Bond said:

I genuinely think it will only be one keyboardist joining them who will also take care of the samples and triggering that Geddy and Alex used to do, especially if Geddy still plans on doing the "signature" parts as he calls them. If they get a multi-instrumentalist, I could see them also being responsible for some backing vocals and maybe some rhythm guitar for tunes like Far Cry where Alex would trigger a rhythm guitar playback behind the solo.

 

At best, two additional musicians - a dedicated keyboardist and an auxiliary musician for extra guitars, samples, and whatever is needed. I really doubt we'll see a big Rolling Stones or Who venture of extra singers and so forth.

 

 

I agree. I do think Anika will get her own solo spot, as the drum solo is such a big part of the Rush live experience, and that we'll also see at least part of Neil's in an unrelated tribute somewhere else in the show.

Agree!!!!

[TheAnarchist2112]

4 minutes ago, Todem said:

A keyboardist is about the extent of what I think they will do. Additional guitarist? Dude I know Alex ain’t gonna jive with that at all. 
 

Other than a synth/keyboard/sample/trigger guy it will be 3 + 1 

 

We will find out next summer.

I agree, I also think that a keyboardist is the extent of what they'll do. I also see that a lot of people are saying that they might bring in another vocalist, but I disagree with that. I feel that if Geddy felt that he couldn't sing certain songs anymore or well enough, then they just wouldn't play them. 

[zappafrank]

On 10/22/2025 at 1:37 PM, bscsmkr said:

I truly believe that we will see John Wesley on stage with them handling secondary guitar work as well as added vocals

He is friends with the guys and is a phenomenal musician (see Porcupine Tree live as examples of guitar work and vocals)
He is the guy for this tour

Also worked with Fish!

[AMBrodie22]

What size drum set will Anika be playing? She doesn't play on a huge set. Will she come out with a Neil size drum kit. 

[chemistry1973]

Would be cool if they brought along Andy Richards.

[Linguine Lee]

On 10/24/2025 at 1:26 PM, TheAnarchist2112 said:

I feel that if Geddy felt that he couldn't sing certain songs anymore or well enough, then they just wouldn't play them. 

I dunno...I just watched the R40 version of Red Barchetta...not a particularly high or difficult song to sing whatsoever...and Geddy looked like a turtle struggling to eat a giant leaf of lettuce.

 

And sadly he sounded WAAAAAY worse than I remembered him singing that song 10 years ago.  I can't imagine what an actual high register 70s song would sound (or look) like without some kind of help.

Edited October 25, 2025 by Linguine Lee

[Pressure/Hopenosis]

Maybe this was brought up but is Olivia still drumming? I remember in a book that Neil said she has "it".

 

Would that well up some eyes if she showed up and did a song at a couple of the events.

[J2112YYZ]

6 hours ago, Linguine Lee said:

I dunno...I just watched the R40 version of Red Barchetta...not a particularly high or difficult song to sing whatsoever...and Geddy looked like a turtle struggling to eat a giant leaf of lettuce.

 

And sadly he sounded WAAAAAY worse than I remembered him singing that song 10 years ago.  I can't imagine what an actual high register 70s song would sound (or look) like without some kind of help.

Perhaps the decade away from the road has helped to rest up and "heal" his voice and there won't be too big of a drop off. There are vocal coaches who can teach him techniques that can help bring his voice back to life.

[Todem]

15 hours ago, J2112YYZ said:

Perhaps the decade away from the road has helped to rest up and "heal" his voice and there won't be too big of a drop off. There are vocal coaches who can teach him techniques that can help bring his voice back to life.

I am simply not concerned because they don’t half ass anything.

[chemistry1973]

2 hours ago, Todem said:

I am simply not concerned because they don’t half ass anything.

Exactly.

[chemistry1973]

17 hours ago, J2112YYZ said:

Perhaps the decade away from the road has helped to rest up and "heal" his voice and there won't be too big of a drop off. There are vocal coaches who can teach him techniques that can help bring his voice back to life.

His voice is cooked. But it doesn’t bother me at all.

 

Think about it this way. Ged and Al are possibly only a decade away from being in the f***ing ground. For me this carries a great deal of meaning, beyond being able to hit the high notes in CTTH.

 

I’m looking forward to bidding farewell to the dudes who changed my life.

[Todem]

20 minutes ago, chemistry1973 said:

His voice is cooked. But it doesn’t bother me at all.

 

Think about it this way. Ged and Al are possibly only a decade away from being in the f***ing ground. For me this carries a great deal of meaning, beyond being able to hit the high notes in CTTH.

 

I’m looking forward to bidding farewell to the dudes who changed my life.

This 1000X’s

[XanaD.E.W.]

Keyboardist yes, 2nd guitarist maybe? Perhaps, they'll bring back some of the string players from CA too, like maybe Audrey Solomon/Jonathan Dinklage?

[Lurkst]

On 10/28/2025 at 1:29 PM, XanaD.E.W. said:

Keyboardist yes, 2nd guitarist maybe? Perhaps, they'll bring back some of the string players from CA too, like maybe Audrey Solomon/Jonathan Dinklage?

 

Keyboards, strings, backing singers, I would be fine with, even a horn section 

 

However I'm colder on the idea a second guitarist. To me part of the magic of Rush is the interaction of the three piece core, I'm not sure I would like that dynamic to be changed.

[Todem]

2 minutes ago, Lurkst said:

 

Keyboards, strings, backing singers, I would be fine with, even a horn section 

 

However I'm colder on the idea a second guitarist. To me part of the magic of Rush is the interaction of the three piece core, I'm not sure I would like that dynamic to be changed.

It won’t be. I see a keyboard/synth/trigger guy/gal who can also maybe potentially provide backup vocals. 
 

3 piece core will be totally intact. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the keyboard/synth musician to be pretty hidden or barely noticeable.

Edited October 29, 2025 by Todem

[James Bond]

I don't think they'd go as far as getting a dedicated second guitar player, but there's no reason to think a talented multi-instrumentalist couldn't do some extra guitar when needed even if most of the work is keys. Alex was no stranger to triggering rhythm guitar parts here and there, especially on the later songs, and so a musician who could handle that when needed would be okay in my books. The core would still be intact, and more things can be done "for real" as it were.

[TheHonestMan]

1 minute ago, James Bond said:

I don't think they'd go as far as getting a dedicated second guitar player, but there's no reason to think a talented multi-instrumentalist couldn't do some extra guitar when needed even if most of the work is keys. Alex was no stranger to triggering rhythm guitar parts here and there, especially on the later songs, and so a musician who could handle that when needed would be okay in my books. The core would still be intact, and more things can be done "for real" as it were.

 

I think that's a reasonable idea. Hopefully the other musicians are toward the back of the stage. It would be odd to see another guy run up to Geddy's keyboard in the front whenever he is needed.

[JARG]

I'd be open to a 2nd guitarist who could take on some of the lead work in songs that are beyond 72-year-old Alex's ability, but I doubt Alex would be open to that. Those songs will either not get played or Alex will attempt to bluff his way through them (which is fine, as many fans aren't guitarists and so probably won't care/notice).