Rush's long-anticipated 40th anniversary Grace Under Pressure box set officially releases TODAY, with purchase links available here. The set features a brand-new Terry Brown album mix commissioned by Rush, the first-ever release of the complete concert film and album of the September 21, 1984 Maple Leaf Gardens show, and liner notes from Geddy Lee reflecting on the album over 40 years after its release. Physical editions of the set are available as a Super Deluxe version only, either with 4-CDs or 5 LPs. In addition, a Super Deluxe Digital Edition and a Dolby Atmos Digital Edition are available, along with the Grace Under Pressure Tour: Live in Toronto 1984 video being made available to video DSPs (Digital Service Providers like YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV+, etc.). Earlier this morning, Rush posted visualizer videos for all of the tracks on the album, including both the standard versions and the new, Terry Brown remixes. You can check them all out on Rush's YouTube channel. In addition, Rush will be premiering the complete Grace Under Pressure Tour: Live in Toronto, 1984 on YouTube today at 3PM EST! It is also now available to rent or purchase digitally on Amazon Prime and other streaming providers. You can get all the details as to what is and isn't included in the set in this post.

Tickets for all 86 (!!) shows on Rush's upcoming marathon 2026-27 Fifty Something tour are now on sale to the general public! Although many shows are sold out, there are plenty of tickets available on the secondary markets. Rush announced that they'd be extending their upcoming Fifty Something into South America, UK and Europe in 2027 just a few weeks ago, hitting 24 shows in 13 countries. Since that original announcement, they added second shows in Manchester, Glasgow, London and Sao Paulo, bringing the total to 28 shows in 2027, on top of the already 58 shows on the 2026 leg. You can get all the details and ticket links via Rush.com. Here are all the 2027 tour dates as of today:

RUSH 2027 Fifty Something Tour Dates:

15 Jan - Buenos Aires, AR - Movistar Arena
22 Jan - Curitiba, BR - Arena da Baixada
24 Jan - São Paulo, BR - Allianz Parque
26 Jan - São Paulo, BR - Allianz Parque
30 Jan - Rio de Janeiro, BR - Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos (Engenhão)
01 Feb - Belo Horizonte, BR - Estádio Mineirão
04 Feb - Brasília, BR - Arena BRB Mané Garrincha
19 Feb - Paris, FR - La Défense Arena
21 Feb - Berlin, DE - Uber Arena
23 Feb - Amsterdam, NL - Ziggo Dome
25 Feb - Munich, DE - Olympiahalle
28 Feb - Cologne, DE - LANXESS Arena
02 Mar - Hamburg, DE - Barclays Arena
04 Mar - Stuttgart, DE - Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
08 Mar - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
10 Mar - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
12 Mar - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
14 Mar - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
16 Mar - London, UK - O2 Arena
18 Mar - London, UK - O2 Arena
21 Mar - London, UK - O2 Arena
27 Mar - Kraków, PL - TAURON Arena Kraków
30 Mar - Milan, IT - Unipol Dome
01 Apr - Basel, CH - St. Jakobshalle
04 Apr - Copenhagen, DK - Royal Arena
06 Apr - Oslo, NO - Unity Arena
08 Apr - Stockholm, SE - Avicii Arena
10 Apr - Helsinki, FI - Veikkaus Arena

In a new interview with Brazil's Regis Tadeu, drummer Mike Portnoy was asked yet again about how some Rush fans had hoped that he would be tapped to play drums on Rush's tour:

... "Well, I'd be lying if I denied that, of course, playing with those guys would be a dream come true. Of course. And I love and respect not only RUSH's music, but Neil Peart as a person and as a drummer. So if the hypothetical scenario ever occurred that they had asked me, I would've approached it with the utmost respect - believe me. But in a way I'm kind of relieved they didn't ask me, because that's a very tough role to walk into. I think for Anika, she's gonna have a lot of people making inevitable comparisons. There's no way around it. So that's gonna be a very tough gig to have. So in a way I'm relieved that they didn't ask me. [Laughs]" ...

That job, of course, went to drummer Anika Nilles. Speaking of whom, Anika posted the official music video for her song Drip from her album False Truth this past week. You can check that out below or on YouTube. A few weeks back, Anika posted the official video for another of the album's tracks - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEWtJcPRUl4|Fou Fou].

Author Daniel Bukszpan has followed up his 2024 book Rush at 50 with a new Rush book celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rush's 2112, which released in late March of 1976 (exact date unknown but likely around March 26th). Rush And 2112: 50 Years released this past Tuesday and is now available to purchase via Amazon and other retailers. From the press release:

... Rush and 2112: 50 Years tells the complete story behind this landmark album through:

* A deep exploration of how 2112 was created and why it remains the band's masterpiece
* Track‑by‑track analysis, including insight into the iconic 20‑minute "2112" suite
* Historical context on the state of rock in the mid‑70s and the band's evolution in the decades that followed
* Rarely seen photography, including performance shots, candid off‑stage moments, and archival images
* Interviews and commentary that illuminate the band's creative process and enduring influence

Rush's impact on rock music and popular culture is undeniable. With over 40 million records sold and a fiercely devoted global fanbase, the band continues to inspire musicians, writers, and listeners across generations. This volume captures the virtuosity, innovation, and spirit that made Rush one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time.

Rush and 2112: 50 Years is an essential volume for fans old and new - a definitive tribute to a record that changed everything. ...

That's all for this week. Have a great weekend, and a Happy early St. Patrick's Day everybody!!