Peace Sells

"Peace Sells"
Single by Megadeth
from the album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
ReleasedNovember 1986
RecordedFebruary–March 1986
Studio
GenreThrash metal[1]
Length4:03
Label
Songwriter(s)Dave Mustaine
Producer(s)
  • Dave Mustaine
  • Randy Burns
Megadeth singles chronology
"Wake Up Dead"
(1986)
"Peace Sells"
(1986)
"Anarchy in the U.K."
(1988)
Music video
"Peace Sells" on YouTube

"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.[2][3] In 2006, VH1 ranked "Peace Sells" at number 11 on their list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs" of all time.[4] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song number nineteen on their list on the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.[5]

The song is also known for the distinctive bass intro played by Ellefson. The video for the track became an MTV mainstay[6] and the bassline was used as the introduction to MTV News.[7] However, Mustaine proclaimed that they received no royalties because the song was excluded shortly before MTV would have to pay them for its use.[8][9]

  1. ^ "You Say It's Your Birthday: David Ellefson of Megadeth". MTV. November 11, 1997. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ellefson Interview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Interview with Dave Ellefson – Founding member of Megadeth". CasinoReviews. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs". VH1. May 1–4, 2006. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. March 13, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 61.
  7. ^ Ellefson & McIver 2013, p. 58.
  8. ^ Mustaine, Dave (2010). Mustaine: A Life in Metal. New York City, USA: HarperCollins. p. 346. ISBN 978-0-00-732410-1.
  9. ^ "Ex-MEGADETH Bassist DAVID ELLEFSON On 'Peace Sells' Bassline: 'What An Honor To Have That Moment And To Be Part Of It'". Blabbermouth. June 19, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.