Rush made their first live appearance in over 11 years on Sunday 03/29, opening the 2026 Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ontario, with a performance of “Finding My Way” — the opening track from their 1974 self-titled debut.
It was the first time the band had appeared on a stage as Rush since the death of drummer and lyricist Neil Peart in January 2020 and the end of the R40 tour in 2015. It also marked the first public outing for their new lineup ahead of the Fifty Something world tour.
The reconfigured band features founding members Geddy Lee (bass, vocals) and Alex Lifeson (guitar) alongside newly recruited drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold. The Juno performance served as the live debut for this lineup — the first anyone outside the band’s camp had seen them play together.
Speaking in the media room after the performance, Lee explained the thinking behind the song choice: “You really can’t ask us what song to play,” he said. “If we have to choose one song, it’s almost impossible. We have so many. So we just asked management, and they said first song, first album.”
Lifeson was more succinct: “Also, it’s the only song we know how to play.”
The appearance had been teased by the band in the days leading up to the ceremony. “We want to let you in on something,” they wrote in a newsletter to fans. “Celebrate a special moment with Geddy & Alex.” The Juno Awards Instagram account added to the build-up by posting a photo of the band’s 1975 Juno for Most Promising Group with the caption: “What a promising year… 03/29/2026 at 8 PM ET.”
Rush have a long history with the Junos — they won Group of the Year back-to-back in 1978 and 1979 and have taken home 10 awards in total, including the inaugural Juno for best hard rock/metal album in 1991 for Presto.
The band’s last show as a trio with Peart was 08/01/2015 in Los Angeles, at the conclusion of the R40 tour. Peart retired from music shortly after and died six years ago following a 3½-year battle with glioblastoma. Lee and Lifeson confirmed in 2018 that the band had effectively disbanded.
In October of 2025, Lee and Lifeson announced that they would be reuniting for the Fifty Something tour, which quickly expanded from multiple nights in a few North American cities to an 86-date world tour.
