[Drew68]

Why the need to explain or clarify?

Because everything today is intersectional and political. It all needs to be explained.

Anika Nilles was not hired because she's a cute, blonde, middle-aged German woman with boobs or despite the fact that she's a cute, blonde, middle aged German woman with boobs.

She as hired because she can play the drums, and play them as close to Neil Peart as they could have ever asked for.

And, I daresay, she's become the star of the show. Her days of playing smokey clubs and coffee houses are over.

No other explanation should've ever been necessary.

But here we are 2026, and Alex and Geddy feel obliged to add this disclaimer.

And she's freaking thunderous!

[BradyLS]

She as hired because she can play the drums, and play them as close to Neil Peart as they could have ever asked for.

Right. They said that up front and that’s where the conversation about hiring should have ended. Then they wanted “to be clear…” What fan had any doubt? What critic did they need to please? Okay. Legendary bass and guitar virtuosos Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson want to make it clear the world that they don’t discriminate against—nor for—women. It didn’t occur to me to think otherwise until they brought it up.