There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) A Band is a… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) A Band is a British improvised music collective formed in Nottingham, UK in the late 1980s.
2) A Band was a 70s American art rock band.

1) A Band is a British improvised music collective formed in Nottingham, UK in the late 1980s. In 2005, The Wire magazine stated that "the importance of the A-Band to the UK rock underground is commensurate with the explosive impact that groups like AMM, SME or The People Band had on the free jazz and Improv set. An ever-fluctuating group of artists, dole boys, punk conceptualists and record collectors, they were the first UK ensemble to anchor a free drone music in the muscle and scorch of the most high-energy rock, while keeping it as untutored as the most elemental folk."
A Band itself was founded at the behest of saxophonist Vince Earimal, who required a backing band, and the unit quickly became an ever-changing, freeform improvisation unit, able to play without Earimal. Richard Youngs joined upon moving to Nottingham and he recalled in The Wire (also issue 259) that Jim Plaistow and Neil Campbell (of Astral Social Club) were the only constantly present members. They could number up to 18 on any given occasion (largely due to Campbell's insistence that he would only perform with the band if there was a new member each time). The original collective came to a halt around 1995.
The line-up of the group has never been fixed, with over two dozen members credited on recordings, and several other people appearing live, including Philip Julian of Cheapmachines and Phil Todd of Ashtray Navigations, Karl Waugh, John Aziz, Martin Bizarro, Sharen Woodward (SPeW), Simon Murphy and Simon Wickham-Smith.
Name
The group never performed under the name A Band or any obvious permutation thereof (they are occasionally listed as The A-Band). Instead, the group used a different name for each performance, all of which began with the letter A. These included Anusol, Arachnid, Arse-over-tit, Awkward, Afterclap, American Evil, Anaglypta, Artex, AC/DC, Ack Ack, Anglegrinder and Advent the latter in commemoration of the then-recently released Richard Youngs LP - in fact, it was at this show that Youngs' spoken word record 171 Used Train Tickets (released 2004) was recorded. However, the releases were almost always credited to "A Band" and these included several cassette releases, an LP on Siltbreeze and a 7" single. Some archive recordings later saw daylight; a CD of recordings from 1991 was issued in 1997 and live activity, also from 1991, was given a vinyl release in 2003, the material being edited by Youngs with artwork from Campbell and Plaistow.
Reformation
In June 2007, the group performed at the 4th Festival Of Improvised Music in Warrington, as Afterclap. The line up included many original participants. Further performances have included American Evil, Alphabet, Again, Aberystwyth, Apparition, Anklebiter, and Avacado
http://theaband.50g.com/index2.html

2) A Band was a 70s American art rock band.

Side B
A Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am a very naughty monkey,
And I really think this band is really shit.
Ha ha, I'm naughty.
Okay, just forget it man.

Alright you slam your band!
You're fired!
I told you!

We really fucking hate this band, they suck!

She was a dancer I was out work
She had a law degree, I used to be a clerk
She takes her clothes off for the Japanese
I take my clothes off whenever it suits me
Barely living, but I'm living large
Well it ain't the ending that I fear
So lets go downtown

And walk around til you feel like the walls are caving in
You could sail beside the world tonight
They were taken, and they would ruin you
You could sell us every words tonight
She had a name like April spring
But her mother called her Judy

She takes her clothes off for the Japanese
She says they're nicer than most would be
Barely living, but we're living large
Well ain't the middle that I fear
Put in the ground

And wait around til you feel like the walls are caving in
You could sail beside the world tonight
And they were taken
And they would ruin you

Well her hate is still prettier in person
Prettier than words now, prettier than, prettier than me
You could sail beside the world tonight
You're turning into the biggest it all gets
And my head is so light

You're turning into the biggest it all gets
And my head is so light, so, so light
You could sail beside the world tonight
And they were taken, and they would ruin you

Well her hate is prettier in person
Prettier than words now, prettier than me

Overall Meaning

At first glance, the lyrics to A Band's song Side B seem to be a bit of a jumbled mess, with phrases like "naughty monkey" and "She takes her clothes off for the Japanese" seemingly having no real connection to one another. However, when looked at more closely, the lyrics reveal a story of two people navigating the difficulties of adulthood and relationships. The first verse introduces two characters - a man who used to be a clerk and a woman with a law degree who now works as a dancer. The second verse continues to flesh out their story, with the woman taking her clothes off for the Japanese (presumably in a strip club) and the two of them living a barely sustainable lifestyle. Despite this, the singer is not afraid of the "ending" or "middle" - perhaps indicating that he's not afraid of death or hardship.

The chorus seems to be a call to escape this difficult reality by simply "going downtown" and walking around until the walls feel like they're caving in. The repetition of the line "you could sail beside the world tonight" gives the impression of wanting to escape and see other parts of the world. However, there's also a sense of danger - the line "they were taken, and they would ruin you" suggests that there are risks to such an adventure. The final verse introduces the idea of hate being "prettier in person" and adds a layer of complexity to the relationship - perhaps there is internal conflict or jealousy between the two characters.

Overall, Side B is a song about the struggles that come with adulthood, the desire for escape and adventure, and the complex nature of human relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a very naughty monkey,
I am mischievous and rebellious and I do not like this band.

And I really think this band is really shit.
I have a strong dislike for this band's music and do not think they are talented.

Ha ha, I'm naughty.
I find my behavior amusing or entertaining.

Okay, just forget it man.
I am letting go of the issue or topic for now, and may move on to something else.

Alright you slam your band!
You are criticizing or insulting your own band.

You're fired!
You are being let go or removed from the band.

I told you!
I warned you or gave you advice about the situation.

We really fucking hate this band, they suck!
We have a strong and negative opinion of this band's music and do not enjoy it.

She was a dancer I was out work
She worked as a dancer while I was unemployed or without work.

She had a law degree, I used to be a clerk
She had completed her legal education, while I had a lower-level job as an office worker.

She takes her clothes off for the Japanese
She is a performer who gets undressed for Japanese audiences.

I take my clothes off whenever it suits me
I get naked at my convenience or leisure.

Barely living, but I'm living large
I am just barely getting by, but I am enjoying life and living it up.

Well it ain't the ending that I fear
I am not afraid of death or the end of things.

So lets go downtown
Let's go into the city center or the heart of the town.

And walk around til you feel like the walls are caving in
Keep wandering aimlessly until you feel uncomfortable and trapped.

You could sail beside the world tonight
You could travel and explore the world tonight.

They were taken, and they would ruin you
A group or organization has been removed or captured, and if they were still present, they would cause harm or damage.

You could sell us every words tonight
You could convince or persuade us with your words or ideas tonight.

She had a name like April spring
Her name was similar to the month of April, which symbolizes springtime and growth.

But her mother called her Judy
Her mother addressed or identified her by the name Judy, which is different from her given name.

She takes her clothes off for the Japanese
She performs a strip tease or gets undressed for Japanese audiences.

She says they're nicer than most would be
She believes that Japanese people are kinder or more polite than other cultures or nationalities.

Put in the ground
Buried or interred in a grave or cemetery.

And wait around til you feel like the walls are caving in
Remain in a place or situation until you feel trapped or overwhelmed.

Well her hate is still prettier in person
Her strong emotions or animosity are more attractive or interesting when seen up close.

Prettier than words now, prettier than, prettier than me
Her negative emotions are more visually or aesthetically pleasing than my own appearance or personality.

You're turning into the biggest it all gets
You are becoming the most successful, famous, or well-known figure in your field or industry.

And my head is so light
I feel giddy or dizzy, perhaps due to excitement or intoxication.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE GENN, MATTHEW GOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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