Following the demise of the critically and commercially successful Jane's Addiction project, frontman Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros after acquiring guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNoble. Farrell named the band after viewing an ad for fireworks in a pornographic magazine. The name has also been connected through song lyrics to the LA riots which occurred in the band's hometown around the time of Porno for Pyros inception. Prior to releasing their eponymous first album, Porno for Pyros embarked on a nationwide tour to support the new band. By the time the band's debut album (Porno for Pyros) was released in 1993, anticipation surrounding the project was enough to briefly drive the album to the #3 position on the Billboard top 200 list. Reaction to the album was mixed, with some fans ecstatic and others disappointed. The video for the album's first single, "Pets," received heavy airplay on MTV. Following the album's release, Porno for Pyros continued a heavy touring schedule, including an appearance at Woodstock '94. Unlike the relatively straight-ahead rock shows that were the hallmark of live Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros live shows relied heavily on props, extras and special-effects (including, but not limited to, pyrotechnics).
For the band's follow-up album, Good God's Urge, bass player LeNoble quit after completing the majority of the bass tracks. Ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt was brought in to finish up the album tracks and join the band on tour. The album also featured the post-Jane's Addiction reunion of Farrell with guitarist Dave Navarro, who made a guest appearance on "Freeway," along with Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass player Flea. The band again set forth on a heavy touring schedule. On several tour stops Porno for Pyros played "Mountain Song," a popular Jane's Addiction tune, and was a foreshadowing of the later Jane's Addiction reunion efforts. Further touring by the band was scuttled when DiStefano was diagnosed with cancer in 1997.
Perkins and Watt subsequently formed the punk jazz improvisation group Banyan and, along with DiStefano, occasionally perform sets of the Stooges cover versions in the Los Angeles area under the band name Hellride.
The Jane's Addiction/Porno for Pyros book Whores (by Brendan Mullen) states that a third Porno for Pyros album was penned but never recorded.
In April 2009, the original lineup of Farrell, Perkins, DiStefano, and LeNoble performed at Farrell's 50th birthday party.
Pets
Porno for Pyros Lyrics
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Teenagagers are fucked up in the head
Adults are even more fucked up
And elderlies are like children
Will there be another race
To come along and take over for us?
Maybe martians could do
Better than we've done
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
My friend says we're like the dinosaurs
Only we are doing ourselves in
Much faster than they
Ever did
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We will make great pets
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We will make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
We'll make great pets!
The lyrics of the song "Pets" by Porno for Pyros are a cynical and satirical commentary on the human condition. The first verse describes the different stages of human life: innocence in children, confusion in teenagers, a worsening of that confusion in adults, and a return to innocence in the elderly. This suggests that humans never really figure things out, and instead are trapped in a cycle of confusion and frustration.
The chorus introduces the idea that humans could be replaced by another race, potentially even aliens. This is a critique of humanity's destructive tendencies and lack of progress. The repeated line "We'll make great pets!" simultaneously acknowledges the inevitability of this fate and mocks humanity's arrogance.
The second verse compares humans to dinosaurs and suggests that we will go extinct even faster than they did, due to our own self-destructive behavior. The final chorus repeats the main theme of the song, emphasizing the idea that humanity is ultimately expendable and replaceable.
Overall, "Pets" paints a bleak picture of the human race, highlighting our flaws and limitations in a way that is both humorous and unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
Children are innocent
Children are pure and free of corruption and immoral tendencies.
Teenagers are fucked up in the head
Adolescence is a period of confusion and emotional upheaval that can lead to irrational behavior and distorted thinking.
Adults are even more fucked up
Maturity does not necessarily bring wisdom or emotional stability, and many adults are still grappling with their inner demons.
And elderlies are like children
Old age can bring a return to a childlike state of innocence and dependence.
Will there be another race
Is there a possibility of another species evolving to replace humans on this planet?
To come along and take over for us?
Taking our place as the dominant species on Earth.
Maybe martians could do
Perhaps extraterrestrial life forms could perform better than us humans in managing the planet.
Better than we've done
If they were able to learn from our mistakes and do things differently.
We'll make great pets!
Humans are not capable of managing the planet and should accept the role of being pets or servants for a more capable race.
My friend says we're like the dinosaurs
Comparing our self-destructive behavior to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Only we are doing ourselves in
Unlike dinosaurs, humans are responsible for their own self-destruction through their reckless and unsustainable practices.
Much faster than they ever did
Humans are causing environmental damage at a much faster rate than the natural processes that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.
We will make great pets
Humans are not equipped to rule the planet and should instead accept a subservient role under a more capable species.
We'll make great pets!
Humans are not capable of effective self-governance and should accept a role as pets or servants for a more capable race.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARTYN LENOBLE, PERRY FARRELL, PETER DISTEFANO, STEPHEN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind