Later that year, the group released the classic hardcore single "Amoeba" on Posh Boy Records. The Adolescents signed with Frontier Records in January 1981 and recorded The Adolescents the following month. Rikk Agnew left and was replaced by Pat Smear, formerly of The Germs. This line up lasted until the end of June when Smear left.
The Adolescents broke up in August 1981. Cadena formed The Abandoned, Soto and Agnew joined Legal Weapon, Royer formed D.I. and Agnew joined Christian Death after his departure.
Rikk Agnew made his solo album in 1983 then joined D.I. with Alfie Agnew, Frank and Rikk's younger brother.
In 1986 The Adolescents reformed with their original line-up and started to work on a new album. They recorded Brats in Battalions in the late summer. The record came out in August 1987 due to the band deciding to produce and release the album themselves with little cash or backing.
The Adolescents broke up in April 1989.
The band regrouped to tour for the 20th anniversary of their self-titled album in 2001 and have continued to perform.
The Adolescents have a new release out on Finger Records, O.C. Confidential in 2005. Finger Records is owned and run by Mel Schantz out of Orange County, California.
The Adolescents toured in support of OC Confidential, but Frank Agnew left the band in 2006. Rotating through as the band's live guitarists over the next few years were Matt Beld, Joe Harrison, and Soto's former Joyride bandmate Mike McKnight. O'Brien left the band in 2008 and was replaced by Armando Del Rio. Reflex and Soto became the band's sole constant members and primary songwriters from this point forward, and signed the Adolescents to German label Concrete Jungle Records. A split EP with the band Burning Heads was released in 2009. For the band's next album, 2011's The Fastest Kid Alive, the lineup was Reflex, Soto, Del Rio, McKnight, and Harrison. The band also contributed a cover version of the Runaways' "School Days" to the tribute album Take It or Leave It: A Tribute to the Queens of Noise that year.
Dan Root took Harrison's guitar position in 2012, and the Adolescents released the American Dogs in Europe EP in conjunction with a European tour. This was followed by the band's sixth studio album, Presumed Insolent (2013). Del Rio was replaced by Mike Cambra, and McKnight by Leroy Merlin, for 2014's La Vendetta..., which was given a North American release the following year by Frontier Records. Hot War, a split EP with Russian band Svetlanas, followed in 2015, containing one song from Presumed Insolent and one from La Vendetta... The Adolescents' most recent studio album, Manifest Density, was released July 8, 2016 by Concrete Jungle, with Ian Taylor taking Merlin's place as rhythm guitarist.
No Way
Adolescents Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just a victim of society a slob
No ass, no head
I gotta go home and jack off instead
No mind, no kind
My brain is jelly and my memory is blind
No way, no way
I cannot live in a world this gay
The Adolescents' song "No Way" is a snapshot of adolescent alienation and frustration. The lyrics express a sense of disconnection and nihilism. The opening line, "No class, no job," establishes a sense of hopelessness and lack of direction, which is amplified by the next line, "I'm just a victim of society, a slob." This line suggests a feeling of powerlessness, a belief that the system is rigged against the singer, and there is nothing they can do about it.
The next line, "No ass, no head," speaks to the singer's sexual frustration and lack of intimacy. The line seems to suggest that the singer is too disenchanted with the world to even bother with trying to connect with someone else. The following lines, "No mind, no kind, my brain is jelly, and my memory is blind," paint a vivid picture of cognitive dysfunction, a lack of focus or clarity, and a feeling of disorientation.
The final line, "I cannot live in a world this gay," may be interpreted in a variety of ways. At face value, it suggests that the singer finds the world unappealing, possibly because it seems shallow, frivolous, or unserious. Alternatively, the use of the word "gay" may imply that the singer rejects the cultural norms surrounding sexuality and identity. Overall, "No Way" is a powerful expression of teenage angst and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
No class, no job
I am currently unemployed and lack education or training.
I'm just a victim of society a slob
I feel like I am not in control of my life and my current state of being is messy or disheveled.
No ass, no head
I lack both physical and mental prowess or attractiveness.
I gotta go home and jack off instead
I am resorting to masturbation as a way to cope with my feelings of inadequacy and lack of sexual fulfillment.
No mind, no kind
I feel like my mind is empty or not functioning properly, which affects how I treat others.
My brain is jelly and my memory is blind
I have difficulty retaining information and my cognitive abilities are impaired.
No way, no way
I feel like there is no hope or possibility for me to find success or happiness.
I cannot live in a world this gay
I am using the word gay to describe the world as happy and carefree, but it contrasts with my current negative emotions and struggles, making it difficult for me to exist in this environment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RIKK AGNEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CR
I perceive the "No ass, no head" lyrics to mean no sex, no blowjobs(head) hence the "gotta go home and jack off instead"