Fred Cole has engineered most of the band's recordings and mastered them on a mono lathe that was used for The Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie."
Their early records, such as In the Graveyard, were released on the Tombstone Records label, named for the musical equipment store Fred and Toody operated at the time. Soon they caught the attention of the German label Music Maniac, and toured Europe successfully. Not until the mid-nineties did they tour the United States. Much of their following is in Europe.
A U.S. filmmaking team (Kate Fix and Jason Summers) produced a 2004 documentary, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, which played in independent theaters around the U.S., New Zealand, and Melbourne International Film Fest, and might be offered with the upcoming Dead Moon box set on Sub Pop Records. Dead Moon has recorded for labels such as Empty Records, but most releases are on Music Maniac abroad and Tombstone in the U.S. The Tombstone label has also provided cheap mastering and duplication for other bands, serving more as a cooperative than a promotional vehicle.
Fred and Toody are in their sixties. They currently own the Tombstone General Store in Clackamas, Oregon, and are building a shopping center nearby.
Pearl Jam often covers the song It's OK.
In December 2006 they retired:
2006-12-13 - AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DEAD MOON
After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning!
--Fred Cole
(from http://www.subpop.com)
2007-05-18 PIERCED ARROWS
For the first time in a long time, Fred and Toody Cole were nervous. Six months after the breakup of their legendary garage-rock outfit, Dead Moon, the Coles were about to debut a new group—something they haven’t had to do for 20 years. And their new trio, Pierced Arrows, had only six practices under its belt at showtime.
http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/23/pierced-arrows-at-ash-street-saloon-may-18-2007/
Dead Moon Night
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming out of the sky
Flames overhead
Rain until you cry
My baby's on the highway
Come in from the cold
Never going home, never going home
D for disaster
E for my eyes
A for my anger
D before I die
M for mona
O oh good
O oh good
N for the night
Dead moon night
Call me if you need me
Down in new orleans
Can't release the victims
Have you seen what I've seen
In new york city
Don't you cross the line
Guard it from the light, guard it from the light
Hazard on the highway
Breakin' down slow
They thought she was lookin'
Now I'm all alone
I'm often abandoned
Won't you take me home
Now I'm all alone, won't you take me home
Dead Moon's song "Dead Moon Night" is a powerful expression that combines various elements such as thunder, fire, rain, and emotions, which create a dark and eerie ambiance. The first stanza is an explosive introduction that delivers loud and straightforward words with unique metaphors that capture the listener's attention. Thunderbolts and nightsticks, which are symbols of police brutality, are coming out of the sky. Flames overhead could symbolize destruction and chaos, and rain brings tears. Meanwhile, the singer's baby is on the highway, which could mean danger.
The D, E, A, D, M, O, O, N letters mentioned in the chorus could be an acronym for different meanings. D for disaster, E for my eyes, A for my anger, D before I die, M for Mona, O oh good, and N for the night. These words can be interpreted in various ways, and the meaning could change depending on the listener. It could be a representation of the singer's emotions or an interpretation of what is happening in the song's story.
In the second stanza, the lyrics take a different direction. The singer is calling out for help in New Orleans, and they cannot release the victims. The lyrics may allude to a natural disaster or something happening in the city where they are. It could also represent a hopeless situation where the singer is trying to do the right thing, but they cannot save everyone. Additionally, the words "guard it from the light" could mean that the singer is protecting something precious, and they do not want it to be seen by others.
Line by Line Meaning
Thunderbolts and nightsticks
Unexpected and violent events that feel like they're coming from those in power
Coming out of the sky
These events seem to be beyond human control, like a force of nature
Flames overhead
Danger and destruction are all around, there's no escaping it
Rain until you cry
The situation is depressing and overwhelming
My baby's on the highway
Someone I care deeply for is out in this chaos
Come in from the cold
I want my loved one to escape and find refuge
Never going home, never going home
But it doesn't seem like there is a safe place to go back to
D for disaster
An inevitable calamity is approaching
E for my eyes
I am watching this all happen, powerless to stop it
A for my anger
I am furious that this is happening and that I can't do anything about it
D before I die
It feels like everything is falling apart and there's nothing left to do
M for mona
A person I care about, perhaps the same one on the highway
O oh good
But there is some glimmer of hope or positivity
O oh good
This hope is repeated to emphasize its importance
N for the night
All of this is happening at night, a time of darkness and uncertainty
Dead moon night
The moon, a symbol of change and transformation, is dead - things are only getting worse
Call me if you need me
Here I am, ready and willing to do what I can to help
Down in new orleans
I'm not sure where I am or where you are, but somehow we will find each other
Can't release the victims
The tragedy continues on and on, the damage is done
Have you seen what I've seen
I can't even begin to describe what I've witnessed
In new york city
This chaos is happening everywhere, not just one isolated incident
Don't you cross the line
There are boundaries and rules that must be respected or things will only get worse
Guard it from the light, guard it from the light
Keep a watchful eye, as exposure to light could expose the harsh reality
Hazard on the highway
The roads, once a symbol of freedom and mobility, are now treacherous
Breakin' down slow
Movement is slow and laborious, every step could be perilous
They thought she was lookin'
Those in power may be scrutinizing our every move, looking for any reason to punish us
Now I'm all alone
Isolation and loneliness are a common result of these events
Won't you take me home
But even in this dire situation, we still long for comfort and the familiarity of home
Now I'm all alone, won't you take me home
This sentiment is repeated, underscoring the need for safety and comfort
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind