Rush - The Weapon

Rush - "The Weapon (part II of Fear)" from the 1982 album Signals.

(from Wikipedia) Signals was the follow-up to the successful Moving Pictures. Stylistically, the album was a continuation of Rush's foray into the technology-oriented 1980s through increased use of electronic instrumentation such as keyboards, sequencers, and electric violin. Another noticeable change was in terms of song length and lyrical compression. The album had eight songs, the longest of which is 6:22. The album reached #10 on the Billboard album charts and was certified Platinum (1,000,000 copies sold) by the R.I.A.A. in November of 1982. "The Weapon" (Part II of the 'Fear' trilogy) would be featured in the album's supporting tour and would include a video opening hosted by Count Floyd of SCTV fame.

Neil Peart on the Fear trilogy (circa 1994)

"The idea for the trilogy was suggested by an older man telling that he didn't think life was ruled by love, or reason, or money, or the pursuit of happiness -- but by fear. This smart-but cynical guy's position was that most people's actions are motivated by fear of being hungry, fear of being hurt, fear of being alone, fear of being robbed, etc., and that people don't make choices based on hope that something good will happen, but in fear that something bad will happen.
I reacted to this the way all of us tend to react to generalities: "Well, I'm not like that!" But then I started thinking about it more, watching the way people around me behaved, and I soon realised that there was something to this viewpoint, So I sketched out the three "theaters of fear," as I saw them: how fear works inside us ("The Enemy Within"), how fear is used against us ("The Weapon"), and how fear feeds the mob mentality ("Witch Hunt").

As it happened, the last theme was easiest to deal with, so it was written first, and consequently appeared first on record, and the other two followed in reverse order for the same reason"
Explanation from wiki:
The Weapon explains how everything that people fear can be used against them, even leaders, great nations, evil dictators, lovers, and murderers. Instrumentally, the song fades in at the beginning and fades out at the end, being the middle section of the trilogy.

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Geddy Lee -- bass guitars (Rickenbacker and Fender), vocals, Keyboards: Minimoog, Oberheim OB-X and OB-Xa, Roland JP-8, Moog Taurus pedals, Oberheim DSX and Roland TR 808 rhythm machine.

Alex Lifeson -- Fender Stratocaster electric guitars, Moog Taurus pedals

Neil Peart -- Tama drums, Avedis Zildjian cymbals, percussion

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Rush
• The
• Weapon
• Fear
• Trilogy
• Signals
• 1982
• Rock
• New
• Wave

[oneleggedspider]

Oh come on people...don't try to compare this trash to gems like " gotta go downstairs, gotta have cereal, it's friday friday! " or " where da hoes at? " Get with the program sheeple and get your grill on. DeVinci is dead and Justin Beiber is alive wearing a thing made out of fishing line.

In case you don't know, this is called sarcasm, and the noise you're hearing is what people used to call music. Before the dark times. Before the empire!

[sketchyfolk]

I had dinner with these guys!!!! true

[ajgallo14]

why is there a dislikes bar? No one is ever gonna use it

[Jeffkozmusic]

@TheMoonchild1969 I appreciated your comments about rush in general and the influence this album had on you growing up, I was born in 66' and discovered rush in 77' I was completely mesmerized by the band since then. Not all of todays music completely sucks but the good ol days are definately behind us, My 17 sons is very interested in our music and i try to educate him when ever i can, it makes me proud when hes listens to our music on his own.

[Kkrouton]

@DanZero77 Bieber should be smacked in the head with a slab of back bacon!

[Kkrouton]

@sketchyfolk I say beside Geddy at a Blue Jays game.

[jumpinjoe88]

Best song on Signals IMO.

[Cevidhanes]

Rush forever! Hail Neil Peart!

[czarguitar780]

Groovy!

[makantang]

PREPARE TO BE RUSHIFIED !!! moda fuckas !!!  YEAHH!!!!!!

[FeelingFreshSon]

lol "even love must be limited by time" that's so depressing Rush...

[TheMoonchild1969]

This song as any of RUSH songs, says so much. It goes down to the issue emphatically in the wonderful voice of Geddy Lee. It is a good example of what fine arts should be in an ideal world of course. The record for me was a transition as a teenager when I was changing from analog to digital. I hope in the future my sons could not only enjoy music but learn from it, reason from it, grow up from it. I have too much to thank to these musicians,that without knowing has shape an essential part of me.