Canadian progressive rock titans Rush, having just announced an extensive new tour for 2026 and 2027, release an expanded deluxe box set of their 1984 album Grace Under Pressure. Here is what you get for your money.
Rush – Grace Under Pressure Deluxe Box Set
Release Date: 13 March 2026
Words: Robert Adams
The Grace Under Pressure Deluxe Box Set has a fully remastered version of the original album, plus a Terry Brown remix of the album. There is also the full concert, featuring previously unreleased tracks from their Grace Under Pressure Live concert film, recorded in Toronto on 21 September 1984 at Maple Leaf Gardens.
There is more, with a 5.1 and Dolby Atmos mix of the album, the full film of the Grace Under Pressure Live release, and a hardback book featuring liner notes from Geddy Lee and brand new artwork from long-time collaborator Hugh Syme. Also included is a replica tour programme and a ticket from the Toronto concert and poster, LED light-up display, 6-page press release and three band photo lithographs.
As you can imagine, all these goodies do not come cheap, but is it worth you shelling out your hard-earned money for this deluxe box set?
To fully appreciate what has been done sonically with this deluxe box set, I listened to my original copy of Grace Under Pressure a few times before giving the tracks contained in the box set a spin.
Firstly, GUP is an album I am very fond of. The remastered version is clearer to my ears, but it is the Terry Brown remix that makes you sit up and take notice. It is so much brighter than the original and the remaster.
For those unaware, Terry Brown was Rush’s long-time producer, and the band had a meeting with him during the Signals tour in Miami. He was told that the band were going to use a different producer for their next album, which was Grace Under Pressure. There was no animosity from either party at this news.
The band wanted to stretch their sound and felt that a different producer would help. After the Signals tour wrapped and the band took a well-earned break, the search for a producer began in earnest. Steve Lillywhite was pencilled in to do the job, but chose to produce Simple Minds instead.
Producer Peter Henderson Joins
The search for Rush continued before English producer Peter Henderson (Supertramp, Frank Zappa, Wings) was brought on board, although the album credits Rush and Peter Henderson as co-producers.
“Our songwriting had taken us to a different musical place,” Geddy Lee said, “an expansion of our soundscape with a range of new technologies, not just keyboards and samples, but electronic drums too, while getting to know the new dude behind the console with a very different working style.”
By all accounts, the band found Henderson to be indecisive and took matters into their own hands on many occasions during the recording sessions.
Alex Lifeson has been critical of the guitar taking a back seat on the keyboard-heavy Signals album. Grace Under Pressure brought Lifeson’s guitar back, albeit with a strong keyboard backing.
Rush were never afraid to push their sound and incorporate new influences within their songwriting, and Grace Under Pressure is no exception. There is reggae, new wave and straight-up rock all contained within the grooves of GUP.
Neil Peart’s lyrics cover subjects like the holocaust (Red Sector A), death (Afterimage) and the Cold War (Red Lenses). The Enemy Within is credited as Part I of Fear, with Part II The Weapon, found on Signals and part III, Witch Hunt, on Moving Pictures. The band played the Fear trilogy live on the Grace Under Pressure tour.
Most Rush fans will be familiar with the Grace Under Pressure Live album and video, which was released in 1986. That release only contained 12 tracks. The full 20-track show is contained in this Deluxe Box Set for the first time, in both audio and video formats.
Terry Brown Remix
It was Terry Brown who approached the band with the suggestion that he have a go at remixing Grace Under Pressure. The band agreed, and Brown remixed a couple of songs, which the band loved, so he went and remixed the rest of the album.
This remix is just wonderful and should be heard. It feels fresh and, like I said earlier, much brighter than the original.
Getting to see and hear the full show from Maple Leaf Gardens for the first time is also a bit special.
Overall, this deluxe edition box set is very well put together, with the above-mentioned being highlights. Is it worth the money? Only you can decide that. Yes, it is expensive, but it is a quality release.
I guess it all comes down to the question of “How much do I like the original Grace Under Pressure album?”
I really liked the original album, so I might have to do a bit of saving up to add this to my collection.
Rush – Fifty Something Tour
For the Fifty Something Tour, Lee and Lifeson will be joined by German drummer, composer and producer Anika Nilles, alongside keyboard player Loren Gold (The Who, Roger Daltrey). For UK ticket sale information, visit: https://www.aegpresents.co.uk/event/rush.
These are special “evening with” shows, with two sets each night. Expect rotating setlists built from a catalogue of 40+ songs spanning Rush greatest hits and fan favourites.
VIP And Travel Packages
RUSH are also offering elevated options for fans, including VIP experiences and curated travel packages for those travelling in to see the show.
- VIP info: https://superfan.live/rushvip.
- Travel info: https://superfan.live/rushtravel
