Peace Sells
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"Peace Sells" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. The song was released as the band's second ever single in November 1986. "Peace Sells" was the group's breakthrough hit, and is regarded as one of the best songs in the history of heavy metal. Since 1985, the song has since been a constant at Megadeth concerts. According to David Ellefson, it became quickly apparent when playing the song live prior to recording the album that "Peace Sells" would be a hit.<ref name="Ellefson Interview" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, VH1 ranked "Peace Sells" at number 11 on their list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs" of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song number nineteen on their list on the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The song is also known for the distinctive bass intro played by Ellefson. The video for the track became an MTV mainstayTemplate:Sfn and the bassline was used as the introduction to MTV News.Template:Sfn However, Mustaine proclaimed that they received no royalties because the song was excluded shortly before MTV would have to pay them for its use.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Background
Lyrics
"Peace Sells" reflects band frontman Dave Mustaine's political and social beliefs.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The title of the song was taken from a copy of Reader's Digest that Mustaine saw, which had a story written by Patti Smith with the words "Peace sells, but nobody's buying it".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Band drummer Gar Samuelson encouraged Mustaine to write more political lyrics in his songs, which in turn helped the song be a success.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The lyrics for the song were written on the wall of the bands rehearsal space, due to Mustaine not having a pen or paper to write with.<ref name="Louder Peace" /> The song dispels stereotypes of metal fans that were pushed by the media throughout the '80s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Music
The bass intro for "Peace Sells" was written by Mustaine.<ref name="Ellefson Interview" /><ref name="Revolver">Template:Cite web</ref> Ellefson had a BC Rich Eagle bass that he had removed the frets from. When Mustaine saw it, he grabbed the bass and almost immediately wrote the intro.<ref name="Louder Peace">Template:Cite web</ref> Later that day, the two met up with Samuelson and guitarist Chris Poland, where the song would be fully fleshed out. The original version spanned over eight minutes, and was written in only a few hours.<ref name="Louder Peace" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Samuelson suggested that the song be shortened and made a single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The second half of the song bumps up the tempo and speeds through to the end.<ref name="Metal Mofo">Template:Cite web</ref> It has more guitar solos from Poland, and features Ellefson adding a high harmony to Mustaines main vocal refrain.<ref name="Ellefson Interview" />
Music video
A music video was produced for the song, which was the band's first ever (Wake Up Dead, the lead single, only got a video after its UK release).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The video was directed by artist Robert Longo and edited by artist Gretchen Bender.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The video includes a dramatic pause in the middle of the song. The interstitial features a teenage boy, wearing a Slayer T-shirt, watching a montage of live Megadeth performances and war footage on his living room television set. The boy's father, states "What is this garbage you're watching? I want to watch the news!," and changes the television channel to a news station using the remote control. His son, replying with "This is the news!," changes it back to the Megadeth performance using the TV set's channel knob.<ref name="Diabolique" /> This part of the video was parodied by comedian Brian Posehn in his Metal by Numbers video. The beginning of the video also showed the explosion of the original low-cost skull used on the cover of the previous album, Killing is My Business... and Business is Good!.
The video is recognized as one of the main reasons the band broke into the mainstream.<ref name="Diabolique">Template:Cite web</ref>
Due to the flashing images near the end, the video was banned in the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Live performance
On July 14, 1999, Samuelson died of liver failure at age 41 in Orange City, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Eleven days later, during Megadeth's performance at Woodstock '99, Mustaine dedicated "Peace Sells" to Samuelson's memory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Legacy
Accolades
| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Billboard | United Kingdom | The 15 Best Megadeth Songs: Critic's Picks<ref name="Billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 1 |
| 2021 | Return of Rock | United States | Peace Sells.. But Who's Buying Songs Ranked<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2 |
| 2022 | Louder Sound | United States | The Top 20 Best Megadeth Songs Ranked<ref name="Louder">Template:Cite web</ref> | 4 |
Certifications
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Personnel
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes.<ref name=LinerNotes>Template:Cite book</ref>
Megadeth
- Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals
- David Ellefson – bass, backing vocals
- Chris Poland – guitars
- Gar Samuelson – drums
Production
- Dave Mustaine – production
- Randy Burns – production, engineering
- Casey McMackin – engineering
- Paul Lani – mixing
- Stan Katayama – mixing
2004 remix and remaster
- Dave Mustaine – production, mixing
- Ralph Patlan – engineering, mixing
- Lance Dean – engineering, editing
- Scott "Sarge" Harrison – editing
- Tom Baker – mastering
See also
References
Sources
External links
- Official music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdEupVsL07E