“Peace Sign,” released by Ride in 2024, reminds me strongly of another band—but for the life of me, I cannot decide which one.
The harmonies carry a little of the Byrds. The ringing guitars suggest the Church or Echo & the Bunnymen, while the expansive production recalls Ultravox and The Unforgettable Fire-era U2. Ride somehow combines all of those familiar elements without sounding exactly like any of them. If you hear another comparison, send it my way.
The song has an unexpected origin. Andy Bell wrote the lyrics after watching The Alpinist, a documentary about fearless Canadian climber Marc-André Leclerc. The song captures the moment when someone has waited for the right conditions, sees the opportunity and decides to act: “This is the window and I’m not waiting.”
That gives “Peace Sign” a feeling of freedom, risk and human connection. It is not strictly a political peace song, but its chorus—asking someone to raise a hand and signal that they are still there—carries additional meaning in a fractured world.
I am also a big fan of peace signs. Big enough to have one as a tattoo.
The world needs more of them.