King's X
King's X is an American hard rock / heavy metal band noted for its spiritua… Read Full Bio ↴King's X is an American hard rock / heavy metal band noted for its spiritual lyrics and sophisticated musical styles which include, but are not limited to, blues, progressive rock, grunge and psychedelic.
The group traces its beginnings to 1980, when Doug Pinnick and Jerry Gaskill, who had previously met while recording and touring with Phil Keaggy and touring with the band Petra, recruited Ty Tabor to join them. Calling themselves The Edge, the group extensively performed on the Springfield, Missouri bar and club circuit. The band specialized in Top 40 covers. By 1983, the name of the band had changed to Sneak Preview and they started to record original material. Sneak Preview released a self-titled LP with all original material in 1984.
The group relocated to Houston, Texas with the promise of a recording contract, but the deal fell through. However, it was there that the group met Sam Taylor, then vice president of ZZ Top's production company. Taylor quickly became the group's mentor and convinced them to change their name to King's X. Taylor was instrumental in helping the group secure a contract with Megaforce Records in 1987. Taylor would soon become the group's manager, producer and mentor, and was declared to be the fourth member of the group (according to some).
The group released its first album as King's X, entitled Out of the Silent Planet, in 1988. Despite being hailed by music critics, the album did not fare well commercially, peaking at #144 on the Billboard album charts. The band's 1989 sophomore release, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, fared slightly better from a commercial standpoint. Significantly, the song "Over My Head" received moderate airplay on MTV and radio. The increase in exposure would prove beneficial when the band released their third album, Faith, Hope, Love, in the fall of 1990.
Faith, Hope, Love was the group's first album to crack the US Top 100, with the help of the successful single "It's Love". The band landed a gig opening for AC/DC in the U.S. and Europe for the first half of 1991. They also toured with Living Colour, themselves near the peak of their popularity. The band was signed to major label Atlantic Records for their next release.
The band released their fourth album, King's X, in the Spring of 1992. But rising tensions with Taylor led to the group's most unfocused effort, and the album did not sell as well as Faith, Hope, Love. The only single from the album, "Black Flag" received only moderate airplay on MTV. Not long after the release of King's X, the band parted ways with Taylor. The details of the split have not been made public, but it was believed to be rather acrimonious. In the aftermath, King's X took over a year off to consider their collective future together. The band members followed other, non-musical pursuits - most notably, guitarist Ty Tabor took up semi-professionally racing motocross motorcycles.
In any case, by 1992 grunge was at the peak of its popularity and the group's trademark sound in no way resembled that of commercially successful acts such as Soundgarden or Pearl Jam (though, ironically, King's X were partly responsible for inspiring grunge; Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once said, "King's X invented grunge"). Looking for a new sound and flavour (although not necessarily grunge), the band enlisted veteran producer Brendan O'Brien, who had recently produced Stone Temple Pilots' first album and Pearl Jam's second.
The resulting album, 1994's Dogman, showcased a much more muscular and heavy sound from the group, along with less abstract and spiritual lyrics. The record received a heavier promotional push from Atlantic and the band enjoyed a very successful tour, capped by an appearance at the Woodstock 1994 festival in August. But despite a return to the Top 100 for the group, the album failed to sell as well as Atlantic had hoped, and the label's support for the group quickly faded.
The band's third release under Atlantic, 1996's Ear Candy, would also be their last (not including a subsequent compilation) for the label. Although it sold to the band's sizeable core following, it lacked the mainstream success of previous efforts. The record was soon out of print, and it seemed that the group's chance for commercial success had come and gone.
The group moved to Metal Blade Records in 1998. Their first album for Metal Blade Records, Tape Head, signaled a new era for the band. They modified their creative methods by writing and recording the album together in the studio, rather than coming together to record songs that the individual members had written separately. Their next two albums, Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous and Manic Moonlight were created in this same way.
For their next album, Black Like Sunday, the group arranged and recorded an album full of songs that the band had regularly performed prior to releasing their first album for MegaForce Records, Out of the Silent Planet. The cover art for this album was selected from artwork submitted by fans.
Live All Over The Place was the band's final album for Metal Blade Records, and their first official live release. During the band's time with Metal Blade Records, the members of King's X (as a group and individually) have been musically prolific, releasing a number of solo albums (such as Doug Pinnick's two PoundHound albums and Emotional Animal, Ty Tabor's Naomi's Solar Pumpkin, Moonflower Lane, and Safety, and Jerry Gaskill's musically intriguing Come Somewhere,) and side projects (such as Ty Tabor's work with Platypus, Jughead, and The Jelly Jam). Doug Pinnick will be standing in for lead singer Corey Glover on Living Colour's August 2006 European tour.
The band's latest album, entitled Ogre Tones, was released in September 2005 on the InsideOut label. It was produced by famed rock producer Michael Wagener (Dokken, Extreme, Stryper, White Lion, Skid Row).
May 2008 will see the next studio release from the band, "XV", also on the InsideOut label. Production has again been handled by Michael Wagener.
King's X has in the past struggled with being identified as a Christian metal band. Many of their lyrics have a clear spiritual influence, but this comes from the individual faith of the members rather than an attempt to tap into that market in the way groups such as Stryper did. Their albums used to be marketed highly in Christian book stores, but after Pinnick announced in 1998 that he was a homosexual, their albums were removed from such places. This also caused the band to lose a large number of their Christian fans.
Ty Tabor has indicated in several interviews that King's X was not a Christian rock band.
King's X spiritually-tinged lyrics are less prominent in their later releases, though the band continues to infuse spiritual themes into their music.
The band's lineup has not changed since its inception:
* Doug Pinnick - Vocals, bass guitar
* Ty Tabor - Vocals, guitars
* Jerry Gaskill - Drums, percussion, vocals
Discography
* Out of the Silent Planet (March 23, 1988)
* Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (June 27, 1989)
* Faith Hope Love (October 23, 1990)
* King's X (March 10, 1992)
* Dogman (January 18, 1994)
* Ear Candy (May 20, 1996)
* Best of King's X (November 11, 1997)
* Tape Head (October 20, 1998)
* Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous (May 23, 2000)
* Manic Moonlight (September 25, 2001)
* Black Like Sunday (May 20, 2003)
* Live All Over the Place (November 2, 2004)
* Ogre Tones (September 27, 2005)
* XV (May 16-20, 2008)
Billboard positions
* KING'S X - Out Of The Silent Planet Weeks on Chart: 11 Peak: #144
* KING'S X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska Weeks on Chart: 18 Peak: #123
* KING'S X - Faith Hope Love Weeks on Chart: 24 Peak: #85
* KING'S X - King's X Weeks on Chart: 3 Peak: #138
* KING'S X - Dogman Weeks on Chart: 4 Peak: #88
The group traces its beginnings to 1980, when Doug Pinnick and Jerry Gaskill, who had previously met while recording and touring with Phil Keaggy and touring with the band Petra, recruited Ty Tabor to join them. Calling themselves The Edge, the group extensively performed on the Springfield, Missouri bar and club circuit. The band specialized in Top 40 covers. By 1983, the name of the band had changed to Sneak Preview and they started to record original material. Sneak Preview released a self-titled LP with all original material in 1984.
The group relocated to Houston, Texas with the promise of a recording contract, but the deal fell through. However, it was there that the group met Sam Taylor, then vice president of ZZ Top's production company. Taylor quickly became the group's mentor and convinced them to change their name to King's X. Taylor was instrumental in helping the group secure a contract with Megaforce Records in 1987. Taylor would soon become the group's manager, producer and mentor, and was declared to be the fourth member of the group (according to some).
The group released its first album as King's X, entitled Out of the Silent Planet, in 1988. Despite being hailed by music critics, the album did not fare well commercially, peaking at #144 on the Billboard album charts. The band's 1989 sophomore release, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, fared slightly better from a commercial standpoint. Significantly, the song "Over My Head" received moderate airplay on MTV and radio. The increase in exposure would prove beneficial when the band released their third album, Faith, Hope, Love, in the fall of 1990.
Faith, Hope, Love was the group's first album to crack the US Top 100, with the help of the successful single "It's Love". The band landed a gig opening for AC/DC in the U.S. and Europe for the first half of 1991. They also toured with Living Colour, themselves near the peak of their popularity. The band was signed to major label Atlantic Records for their next release.
The band released their fourth album, King's X, in the Spring of 1992. But rising tensions with Taylor led to the group's most unfocused effort, and the album did not sell as well as Faith, Hope, Love. The only single from the album, "Black Flag" received only moderate airplay on MTV. Not long after the release of King's X, the band parted ways with Taylor. The details of the split have not been made public, but it was believed to be rather acrimonious. In the aftermath, King's X took over a year off to consider their collective future together. The band members followed other, non-musical pursuits - most notably, guitarist Ty Tabor took up semi-professionally racing motocross motorcycles.
In any case, by 1992 grunge was at the peak of its popularity and the group's trademark sound in no way resembled that of commercially successful acts such as Soundgarden or Pearl Jam (though, ironically, King's X were partly responsible for inspiring grunge; Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once said, "King's X invented grunge"). Looking for a new sound and flavour (although not necessarily grunge), the band enlisted veteran producer Brendan O'Brien, who had recently produced Stone Temple Pilots' first album and Pearl Jam's second.
The resulting album, 1994's Dogman, showcased a much more muscular and heavy sound from the group, along with less abstract and spiritual lyrics. The record received a heavier promotional push from Atlantic and the band enjoyed a very successful tour, capped by an appearance at the Woodstock 1994 festival in August. But despite a return to the Top 100 for the group, the album failed to sell as well as Atlantic had hoped, and the label's support for the group quickly faded.
The band's third release under Atlantic, 1996's Ear Candy, would also be their last (not including a subsequent compilation) for the label. Although it sold to the band's sizeable core following, it lacked the mainstream success of previous efforts. The record was soon out of print, and it seemed that the group's chance for commercial success had come and gone.
The group moved to Metal Blade Records in 1998. Their first album for Metal Blade Records, Tape Head, signaled a new era for the band. They modified their creative methods by writing and recording the album together in the studio, rather than coming together to record songs that the individual members had written separately. Their next two albums, Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous and Manic Moonlight were created in this same way.
For their next album, Black Like Sunday, the group arranged and recorded an album full of songs that the band had regularly performed prior to releasing their first album for MegaForce Records, Out of the Silent Planet. The cover art for this album was selected from artwork submitted by fans.
Live All Over The Place was the band's final album for Metal Blade Records, and their first official live release. During the band's time with Metal Blade Records, the members of King's X (as a group and individually) have been musically prolific, releasing a number of solo albums (such as Doug Pinnick's two PoundHound albums and Emotional Animal, Ty Tabor's Naomi's Solar Pumpkin, Moonflower Lane, and Safety, and Jerry Gaskill's musically intriguing Come Somewhere,) and side projects (such as Ty Tabor's work with Platypus, Jughead, and The Jelly Jam). Doug Pinnick will be standing in for lead singer Corey Glover on Living Colour's August 2006 European tour.
The band's latest album, entitled Ogre Tones, was released in September 2005 on the InsideOut label. It was produced by famed rock producer Michael Wagener (Dokken, Extreme, Stryper, White Lion, Skid Row).
May 2008 will see the next studio release from the band, "XV", also on the InsideOut label. Production has again been handled by Michael Wagener.
King's X has in the past struggled with being identified as a Christian metal band. Many of their lyrics have a clear spiritual influence, but this comes from the individual faith of the members rather than an attempt to tap into that market in the way groups such as Stryper did. Their albums used to be marketed highly in Christian book stores, but after Pinnick announced in 1998 that he was a homosexual, their albums were removed from such places. This also caused the band to lose a large number of their Christian fans.
Ty Tabor has indicated in several interviews that King's X was not a Christian rock band.
King's X spiritually-tinged lyrics are less prominent in their later releases, though the band continues to infuse spiritual themes into their music.
The band's lineup has not changed since its inception:
* Doug Pinnick - Vocals, bass guitar
* Ty Tabor - Vocals, guitars
* Jerry Gaskill - Drums, percussion, vocals
Discography
* Out of the Silent Planet (March 23, 1988)
* Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (June 27, 1989)
* Faith Hope Love (October 23, 1990)
* King's X (March 10, 1992)
* Dogman (January 18, 1994)
* Ear Candy (May 20, 1996)
* Best of King's X (November 11, 1997)
* Tape Head (October 20, 1998)
* Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous (May 23, 2000)
* Manic Moonlight (September 25, 2001)
* Black Like Sunday (May 20, 2003)
* Live All Over the Place (November 2, 2004)
* Ogre Tones (September 27, 2005)
* XV (May 16-20, 2008)
Billboard positions
* KING'S X - Out Of The Silent Planet Weeks on Chart: 11 Peak: #144
* KING'S X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska Weeks on Chart: 18 Peak: #123
* KING'S X - Faith Hope Love Weeks on Chart: 24 Peak: #85
* KING'S X - King's X Weeks on Chart: 3 Peak: #138
* KING'S X - Dogman Weeks on Chart: 4 Peak: #88
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King's X Lyrics
01- Groove Machine Lay down your burdens by the riverside Take a deep breath…
01-We Are Finding Who We Are Forever is a mountain we've yet to climb Tears are a…
67 Based on the information hangin' on my brain Put it all…
A Box Lonely days will come and go Nothing new unless you're bold …
Alone No one should be made to feel rejected And to feel…
Alright And I was thinkin' I'll never get older So many die…
American Cheese I know that for at least a thousand years I…
April Showers One day I'll find someone One day I won't feel alone One…
Bad Luck Here's a little story, it is frightening Or just a fantasy J…
Bebop A drop in the grey an awful truth These momentums all…
Believe If your back is pinned against the wall And the stress…
Bitter Sweet Killing a bird with a knife Turning away from her life All…
Black Flag A year in the hole had taken its toll When…
Black Like Sunday He bites many people, he gives no one rest I'm growing…
Black the Sky Okay so it can't be right I cry and try and…
Blue There's a thought in my mind And there's nothing not far…
Broke So you say you can't afford to live Because you're broke,…
Chariot Song If I could only have one thing, give me the loving…
Charlie Sheen It all works out It all works out It all works out It…
Cigarettes Have you gotten any cigarettes And have you got anything for…
Complain Ozone disappearing in the sky Bud man asking us why ask…
Cupid Black valentine, pay for a crime I ain't superstitious anywa…
Danger Zone Mom says she don't understand, says I'm such a problem…
Difference i walked through a garden in the morning i walked right…
Dogman Give me a dollar or give me 50 cents Let me…
Don't Believe It this is not the end of the road it goes on…
Don't Care Lies, games, webs of pain Giving, taking, oh abuse Contentio…
Down Woke up Hot Texas morning Shades up and take a pee The we…
Dream In My Life I'm walking in a foreign winter breeze Don't think of home…
Dreams My dream is to be a lover I don't mean sex…
Everybody Knows A Little Bit everybody knows a little bit the time for playing innocence …
Everywhere I Go King's X polyphonic ringtones King's X sheet music Concert t…
Fade One day I'll get older Then it will be over Want to…
Faith Hope Love weve all seen the evil of this world and we feel…
Fall on Me a boys own story grows up to be a man he…
False Alarm I guess I'm finally giving up I have to let you…
Far Far Away Inside it's lonely I drive my car Pass by the signs that…
Fathers My brother's on crack. My sister's a wreck. Our mother ... s…
Fine Art of Friendship I think back to the time when I wouldn't drink…
Finished You caught my eye, couldn't take them off of you And…
Fish Bowl Man Into the fishbowl I make my stand Among the red fish That…
Flies and Blue Skies There's a thought in my mind And there's nothing not far…
Fly No matter what you do Always somebody who Doesn't like it No…
Flys And Blue Skys There's a thought in my mind And there's nothing not far…
Fool You As I wondered, Walking along on a lazy path I shook a…
Freedom Freedom to have two mothers and all be men Freedom to…
Get Away Hey God, I watched the news tonight Why are your people…
Get Away 3:25 Hey God, I watched the news tonight Why are your people…
Go Tell If it's making you shout then go tell somebody makes you jum…
Go Tell Somebody If it's making you shout then Go tell somebody Makes you j…
Go to Hell I don't wanna go to hell Nobody in their right mind…
Goldilox I can't believe summer's almost here I made it through anoth…
Groove Lay down your burdens by the riverside Take a deep breath…
Happy Yeah, the rain came independence day With an old flag, washe…
Hate You I'll never hurt you I'll never bring you down I won't desert…
Higher than God Once I felt inspired, everything was new Thought I could do…
Honesty I don't know where to begin Cause I can't tell the…
Human Behavior Business as usual, just what's on your mind Give you some…
Hurricane At the moment when she knew we couldn't see She came…
I Can't Help It a feeling welling up inside that seems to grip my soul a…
I Don't Know I can see it's not the ending Maybe it's my new…
I Just Want To Live I'm stepping outside again I'm afraid but it's wonderful I…
I'll Never Be the Same she stands in the waiting she looks down to speak your eyes…
I'll Never Get Tired of You Simple words I have in mind Nothing more between the lines I…
If Only if you want to Only if you have to Only if…
In the New Age Humanity is looking for itself The ancient wisdom taken from…
It's Love I sit in a chair reflecting back upon my life And I…
It´s love i sit in a chair reflecting back upon my life…
Jenna Let me tell you something Let me tell you nothing Let me…
Johnny Johnny cut his hair, now he looks like a punk With…
Julia Monster's gone away Rocket ships delay Guess they're all afr…
Julie Too many tears from your eyes Never enough coming from mine…
Junior's Gone Wild Junior's gone wild, can't stand the strain He's looking for…
King You are the one who causes me pain You are the…
Legal Kill I only know what I believe The rest seems so absurd…
Lies In The Sand There's a man Who says there is a light in the…
Life Going By I've seen a wind torn sky And I've felt the river…
Little Bit Of Soul Put a little soul in your pocket Put a little soul…
Looking For I want to, I need to, I got to move…
Lost In Moving in a bus too close for comfort Listening to all…
Love And Rockets Hell's screaming, for those stealing children, make them do …
Lover You wanna be my friend, you wanna be my friend You…
Manic Depression Manic depression touching my soul, yeah I know what I want…
Manic Moonlight Help me let me tell you What you mean to me I…
Marsh Mellow Field Heard you were coming back Been hanging around for so long A…
Mission broken body its joints at war religious vipers sucking royal…
Mississippi Moon Today I walked, today I ran Today I tried to figure…
Moan Jam I sing this song because of you Because of you I sing…
Move Come with me my weary friend Get me thru the night Tired…
Move Me Keeper of mysteries River of Tears After it's over And after…
Mr. Evil Daddy's got the money Daddy's got control Daddy's got the po…
Mr. Wilson hey mr wilson im glad to shake your hand its nice…
Mudd I remember the last time I saw you You looked so…
No Lie Spoken: I've never sung this song before Sung:…
Not Just For The Dead I find it hard some days to remember I find…
Ocean Deep in the ocean A thought of you carries me there Move…
Ono Have you ever chosen to ignore the warning sign Give the…
Ooh Song It's not so simple anymore Sometimes it can't be done but…
Open My Eyes When will the time come Maybe it got scared away I try…
Out of the Silent Planet Perfect peace Mountains robed in glory, coming into view F…
Over and Over If I hurt you, I don't mean to Please forgive me Got…
Over My Head over my head i hear music in the air over…
Picture She was a white skinned black beauty The daughter of an…
Pillow I walked through the door and took a seat Listening to…
Pleiades When I look up at the stars at night What could…
Power of Love Trapped inside these walls surround me Closing in it's hard …
Pray And if you feel that what you think is true If…
Pretend You took away from me, I tried to get it…
Prisoner The looks are - The smile is a lie The…
Repeating Myself She sits in the window and stares into space And takes…
Rock Pile All us rockers keep pushing on We rise then we fall No…
Rocket Ship I'm not supposed to like What you do to me So why…
Run Yeah, she told me that if I wasn't good He would…
Sally Sally wants to be my friend she wants to be…
Save Us Save us from war pigs, atomic bomb Mass destruction, fallen …
Screamer At night they come while you dream In between the wake…
Send a Message i am who i am and i don't doubt it you…
She's Gone Away I've got a lot I call my own My house is…
Shoes There can be but better ways from yesterdays to me Somewhere…
Shot of Love See the bread, see the wine See the graft into the…
Silent Wind What did you say there my sister my brother -…
Six Broken Soldiers i dont care if youre sick what can i possibly do…
Skeptical Winds The sewer pipe queen, Dangles my dream Makes all that I've s…
Smudge Ever since I was a little baby Had the devil on…
Sometime Sometime Sometime I want to give Sometime I wanna take, …
Sometimes Sometime Sometime, I want to give Sometime, I wanna take, I…
Sooner Or Later No I'm not sad about it No I'm not mad about…
Static I don't wanna do this anymore I really wanna do it I…
Stay Said the whisper to the secret Man I never heard a…
Stuck So I've prayed Is there anybody there Hard to say When yo…
Summerland summerland in my past days were full and i knew it…
Sunshine Rain There's a thorn in my side And I feel like I'm…
Talk To You early in the morning i hear my neighbors stereo the telephon…
The Big Picture She's got everything I need and more to live my life…
The Burning Down where are you tonight i don't seem to know you no i'm…
The Difference i walked through a garden in the morning i walked right…
The Difference (in the Garden i walked through a garden in the morning i walked right…
The Other Side Summertime, we're alive, I will try, when it's time, I will …
The Train Step up and step aboard, your seat is to the…
The World Around Me One morning walking down the street Where nobody walks nobo…
Two Two words Love, hate Where are you You know who you are Two …
Vegetable If I didn't have a brain Then I couldn't feel no…
Visions The lunatic says "Goodbye to those who say they love him" He…
Walter Bela Farkas Okay, we're gunna uh... We're gunna do a new song That we're…
Water Ceremony (Burp. Burp. Beltch.) Giggle.…
We Are Finding Who We Are Forever is a mountain we've yet to climb Tears are a…
We Were Born i could shout from a rooftop how i really feel do…
What I Know About Love From a simple word, to a simple phrase Communication, and…
What I'm Gonna Do So would you take me for a ride And let me…
What Is This Oh Lord, it gets so complicated Oh Lord, I don't know…
When You're Scared It's really easy to hate everyone When you're scared Making …
Won't Turn Back Somewhere in my mind I won't forget It's hard to erase…
Wonder This is war This is peace Quiet roars Of silent screams It …
Working Man Stuck in a rut working nine to five Punch the clock…
World Fire's burning, smoke is hurling all across the sky Cross th…
Yeah I hate the world because of you, The blame is my…
You're The Only One You took me to the top You took me from the…