Rush opened tonight’s Juno Awards, the annual ceremony celebrating Canadian music. The reunion of Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson was not announced in advance, but was teased in the band’s newsletter earlier this week (fans were told to tune in for a “special moment"). It marked the beloved prog band’s first public performance with its new live drummer.
In June, Rush will launch their first tour since 2015, with former Jeff Beck drummer Anika Nilles filling in for the late Neil Peart. In 2020 Peart, who was also the band’s primary lyricist, died in at 67 after a battle with brain cancer.
At TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, the band played “Finding My Way” (from their 1974 self-titled debut) in full for the first time since 1980. The Junos performance also marked the debut of touring keyboardist Loren Gold, who was announced last month.
Lee and Lifeson have reunited onstage a handful of times since Peart’s passing, including at a South Park 20th anniversary concert and at tribute shows for Taylor Hawkins and Gordon Lightfoot.
This summer’s Fifty Something tour was initially announced with 20 dates across seven North American cities before expanding to 86 shows in 17 cities, with UK and European dates scheduled for 2027.
Rush have won 11 Junos, including the 2015 Humanitarian Award, and last appeared on the show in 1978. Among this year’s major nominees are Justin Bieber, the Weeknd, and Tate McRae, none of whom are attending. Most of the 47 competitive awards were handed out at Saturday’s pre-Junos gala, where McRae won four: Single, Album, Artist, and Pop Album of the Year.
Also at tonight's 55th annual Junos, Joni Mitchell is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Juno, following last year's recipient Anne Murray. (It was only given out one other time, to the awards' namesake Pierre Juneau in 1989.) Mitchell last appeared at the Junos in 1981 when she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. Sarah McLachlan and Allison Russell will pay tribute to the legendary singer/songwriter.
This year's Hall Of Fame nominee, Nelly Furtado, will get a tribute too. Alessia Cara, Jully Black, Tanya Tagaq, and Shawn Desman will cover her songs in a medley. The show's host is comedian Mae Martin.
Check out video of the Rush reunion below and their tour schedule here.
