LOS ANGELES, July 18, 2011 -- Famed for their virtuoso musicianship and provocative songwriting, Rush continues to be one of the most dynamic and compelling groups in rock history. On July 19, 2011, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release the 2-CD set Rush: Icon 2 which will now include the original Rush ICON collection released in 2010, plus a second CD featuring 11 songs culled from their classic Mercury Records live albums: All The World's A Stage (1976), Exit…Stage Left (1981), Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984 (2006) and A Show Of Hands (1989).

In August 2010, as part of the launch of its successful ICON Series, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) released the single disc, 12-song collection Rush ICON featuring tracks from their first 12 Mercury studio albums. With songs including "Working Man" off their 1974 debut, the title track of 1975's Fly By Night, "Closer To The Heart" from 1977's A Farewell To Kings, "Freewill" from 1980's Permanent Waves, the hit "Limelight" from 1981's quadruple platinum-selling album Moving Pictures and "Red Sector A" from their 1984 release Grace Under, Rush ICON is now available as part of this specially priced, two-disc set.

Disc 2 of Rush: Icon 2 is the first-ever compilation of highlights from the band's four Mercury live albums.  Kicking off disc two is the hard-hitting classic "Bastille Day" and their opus "2112 Overture/Temples of Syrinx" from the 1976 platinum-selling All The World's A Stage which marked their first Top 40 album in the U.S.  Also included are live recordings of the No. 4 hit single "The Spirit Of The Radio," "La Villa Strangiato" and the Top 10 hit "Tom Sawyer," taken from 1981's Exit…Stage Left which reached Top 10 on the Billboard 200.   Also included are live versions of the No. 4 hit "The Big Money," "Mystic Rhythms" and "Time Stands Still," taken from 1989's Top 50 live album A Show of Hands, and "Closer To The Heart," "New World Man" and "Vital Signs" taken from Grace Under Pressure Tour 1984. 

ICON is an ongoing series of compilations featuring the greatest hits, signature tunes and fan favorites of the most popular artists in music offering unprecedented value to consumers. The aptly named Icon series from Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) launched in August of 2010 with releases from 30 major artists spanning rock, pop, R&B and country, with each collection selling at a great price with great content.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises