He was born on November 12, 1971 in State College, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he was about six years old. After that, he lived in New Jersey for two years and then in New Hampshire for around twelve years. Shear currently resides in Seattle, Washington.
His musical skills are self-taught. After teaching himself to play the piano, he did take piano lessons for a couple of months, but he stopped when he found that they involved more "unlearning" of techniques he had taught himself than learning new techniques he could use. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1994 with a degree in TV and film production.
While still in high school in the late 1980s, he began creating instrumental synth-pop music at home under the name Man On A Stage, as well as playing bass live for a punk-influenced band named The Advocates. Shear credits the band Depeche Mode as having influenced him more than any other group towards the electronic music styles. Another significant influence came when he attended a Depeche Mode concert in 1988; Shear was astounded by the industrial dance music played by the opening DJ, and began incorporating industrial influences into his music. Man On A Stage was at this point retitled Assemblage 23.
Divide
Tom Shear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whose depths concealed more than they showed
Beliefs obscured by mists around them
A legacy they'd been bestowed
Columns of ice paint awkward pictures
Distorted forms that once seemed real
Engulfed inside transparent textures
For all the noise filling the landscape
Whispers and cries with no reply
It's quiet here within these boundaries
And thoughts collect like pools of light
My eyes divide the sky
As sirens sound in heaven
My will brings down the moon
And shatters it to pieces
The silence grew inconsequential
The day became a paradigm
A thousand years, a hundred decades
An arbitrary slice of time
I found myself with no companion
Except the salty earth and sky
And suddenly there came my focus
The world around me clarified
My eyes divide the sky
As sirens sound in heaven
My will brings down the moon
And shatters it to pieces
And so I walked in isolation
Hoping solace would cross my path
Ignored the road that lay behind me
And stepped away from the aftermath
I lost myself in shapeless oceans
Whose waters turned from dark to clear
I floated there, a tiny island
With no more doubt, with no more fear
My eyes divide the sky
As sirens sound in heaven
My will brings down the moon
And shatters it to pieces
The first stanza of Tom Shear's song "Divide" talks about feeling lost and overwhelmed in a vast and shapeless ocean. The lyrics depict the singer's struggle to reconcile their beliefs with the foggy, uncertain reality around them. The lines "Columns of ice paint awkward pictures, distorted forms that once seemed real" suggest a sense of disillusionment and confusion. It's as if the singer is struggling to cling to previously held certainties in the face of a world that has turned upside down.
The second stanza presents a contrast to the first. The singer speaks of a quiet space, where there is an absence of noise and distractions. In this space, the singer is free to reflect and observe the world around them. The lines "And thoughts collect like pools of light" are particularly beautiful, evoking a sense of peaceful contemplation. However, this tranquility is not destined to last, as the singer uses their will to bring down the moon and shatter it to pieces.
The final stanza of the song suggests a resolution to the singer's struggles. They have walked in isolation, hoping to find solace. By ignoring the road behind them, they have been able to focus on the present moment and their surroundings. The ocean that was once shapeless and unclear has turned clear, and the singer now feels like a tiny island in the vast expanse. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song emphasizes the sense of clarity and empowerment that the singer has achieved.
Line by Line Meaning
I lost myself in shapeless oceans
I became lost in the uncertainties of the world around me
Whose depths concealed more than they showed
Deep within the world lay secrets and hidden truths
Beliefs obscured by mists around them
The beliefs of people were unclear and difficult to discern
A legacy they'd been bestowed
People had inherited certain beliefs and ideas which they held onto
Columns of ice paint awkward pictures
Things that once seemed beautiful are now twisted and distorted
Distorted forms that once seemed real
Things that were once tangible and understandable are now muddled and confusing
Engulfed inside transparent textures
Trapped within the confines of one's own mind
Billowing curtains as hard as steel
A barrier that is impossible to break through
For all the noise filling the landscape
Despite all the chaos and distractions in the world
Whispers and cries with no reply
People's concerns and pleas go unanswered
It's quiet here within these boundaries
Finding tranquility within one's own limitations
And thoughts collect like pools of light
Gathering clarity of mind and purpose
My eyes divide the sky
My gaze is fixated on the vastness of the world
As sirens sound in heaven
Amidst all the noise and chaos, the call for change can be heard
My will brings down the moon
I have the power to cause great change
And shatters it to pieces
Using that power to break down old beliefs and institutions
The silence grew inconsequential
The peace and tranquility around me lost its meaning
The day became a paradigm
A shift in perspective and understanding of the world
A thousand years, a hundred decades
The arbitrary divisions of time lose their significance
An arbitrary slice of time
The concept of time is variable and meaningless
I found myself with no companion
Alone with my thoughts and reflections
Except the salty earth and sky
Finding solace in the beauty and grandeur of nature
And suddenly there came my focus
Finding clarity and purpose in solitude
The world around me clarified
Understanding the world and one's place in it
And so I walked in isolation
Choosing to be alone with my own thoughts
Hoping solace would cross my path
Seeking solace and clarity amidst solitude
Ignored the road that lay behind me
Leaving the past behind and moving forward
And stepped away from the aftermath
Breaking away from the chaos and confusion of the past
Whose waters turned from dark to clear
The world, once murky and uncertain, became clear
I floated there, a tiny island
Finding peace and serenity amidst chaos and confusion
With no more doubt, with no more fear
Finding confidence and clarity in one's own beliefs and ideas
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: COS, K. MANN, L. BANKOUADAGBA, M. MOSLEY, S. THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LittleMopeHead
This video needs description about night/day, with night being 21:00-05:30 and day being any time outside of that.
00:41 Angel Mask - ANYTIME
09:09 Camo Mask - NIGHT
12:51 Divide Mask - NIGHT
18:31 Weirdo & Drama Mask - NIGHT
22:41 Carbon Mask - ANYTIME
29:55 Drip & Psycho Mask - ANYTIME
38:40 Neurotic Mask - Switch #1: 05:30-07:00, Switch #2: 07:00-18:00, Switch #3: 21:00-05:30
41:39 Trip, Lucky, Veil, Paranoid Mask - Building #1-6: NIGHT, Building #7-12: DAY
Hope this helps!
TheQEffect
I still need to get the last 4 masks but I easily got all the others (this video is super helpful).
A couple of tips:
1. Run the reviver and pulse. The hunters cant hack these and they are handy in clutch moments
2. Always maintain your distance, be behind a cover and just snipe them. Dont go all Rambo on them, it will fire back.
3. MOST IMPORTANT - If there's a random activity, control point or group of enemies beside the hunter spawn point, dont clear them. They will all attack the hunter and the hunter just focuses on them, giving you a complete advantage. I used this to easily get the Drip+Psycho and Weirdo+Drama alone first try.
Good luck agents !!!
Roland Schulpen
I tried the Angel Mask (first one). Spending 1 hour in the collection of the Lion Eyes and Statues.
Killed in 5 seconds by the hunter (where doing it solo) Holy crap !!
When i gathered some friends we must do the whole Lion Eyes collection again.
After reaching the last Statue and summoned the hunter, the fight was intense, but the hunter split (ran away.. serious) and we where mixed in a fight with a Elite Resource Convoy.
And the hunter was never seen again......
True story..
As of today, still no Angel Mask.
NothingButSkillz
0:41 Angel Mask 9:09 Camo Mask 12:51 Divide Mask 18:31 Weirdo & Drama Mask 22:41 Carbon Mask 29:55 Drip & Psycho Mask 38:40 Neurotic Mask 41:39 Trip, Lucky, Veil, Paranoid Mask. Also a big congratulations to Division 2 Secret Discord for working hard at solving these. Thank you ALL!
Jeff Bradford
@Rogue It took me 3 tries, I am not sure I got all 6 eyes, but working with a group of players I was able to finally get the last statue to activate.
KetoRay
@Rogue I had the same issue
Erin Morales
This doesn't work anymore 😭..... everything you told us to do works. But the Hunter won't spawn
G00dwILLHuNt1n9
Shittiest guide ever. Seriously. cut in the middle of walkthrough
xbxlxexhx
At 30:49 In the UDBG laundromat building you pass a locked door w/ keypad. The text above reads 'Authorized Personnel Only'. Wonder if it can be opened... Haven't seen anyone try.
LittleMopeHead
This video needs description about night/day, with night being 21:00-05:30 and day being any time outside of that.
00:41 Angel Mask - ANYTIME
09:09 Camo Mask - NIGHT
12:51 Divide Mask - NIGHT
18:31 Weirdo & Drama Mask - NIGHT
22:41 Carbon Mask - ANYTIME
29:55 Drip & Psycho Mask - ANYTIME
38:40 Neurotic Mask - Switch #1: 05:30-07:00, Switch #2: 07:00-18:00, Switch #3: 21:00-05:30
41:39 Trip, Lucky, Veil, Paranoid Mask - Building #1-6: NIGHT, Building #7-12: DAY
Hope this helps!
ArJay1966
Thank you SO much!
Daisoke
Yup!
LittleMopeHead
@Schlobster Likely missing a step, but try it at night. Also, I noticed sometimes I have to reset things by logging out and back in.