Formed in Cincinnati in 1986, Greg Dulli (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick McCollum (lead guitar), John Curley (bass), and Steve Earle (drums -- not to be confused with country musician Steve Earle) .
In 1988, they released their debut album Big Top Halloween on their own Ultrasuede label. The album caught the attention and imagination of the independent music community and the band soon signed to Sub Pop of Seattle in 1989. Sub Pop's signing of the Afghan Whigs created quite a stir at the time as they were the first non-Northwestern U.S. band to record for the label.
In 1990, their first Sub Pop release Up in It was released; the blistering pace and yowling, effects-heavy guitars on tracks like "White Trash Party" gave no hint of the stylistic about-face to come. It was followed by a limited edition single released by No.6 Records under the name The Ornament.
With the critically acclaimed 1992 album Congregation and a limited covers EP, Uptown Avondale, the band adopted what would become their signature soul-influenced sound.
Soon the Afghan Whigs signed to a major label, Elektra Records, and in 1993 released another critically acclaimed album, Gentlemen. Although the singles “Debonair” and “Gentlemen” were fairly popular, the album failed to launch the band into the mainstream.
Beside regular appearances on MTV's playlists, their track "Fountain and Fairfax" also appeared on the television series My So-Called Life in 1994.
Despite personnel problems interfering with recording and touring, 1996 saw the band release the noir-influenced Black Love (the album featured Paul Buchignani on drums in place of Steve Earle). Although the main subject matter in previous releases were liquor-drenched obsession, secrets and misery, Black Love was a step into a more dark, even seedier and complex side of Dulli’s persona.
In 1996, Greg Dulli served as executive producer for the soundtrack for the Ted Demme film Beautiful Girls. the Afghan Whigs appeared in the film as a bar band and contributed two songs to the soundtrack (Frederick Knight’s "Be For Real" and Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe").
In 1998, the Afghan Whigs released their 6th album, 1965, on Columbia Records (Michael Horrigan, former Love Cowboys bassist replaced Buchignani). The album saw the band on inspired form. Sadly, it was the band's last full-length album of original material.
Despite reports that the band had started work on their 7th album, the Afghan Whigs announced their split in 2001, citing the strain of geographic distance between members as the reason.
In 2006, the Afghan Whigs temporarily reunited. The ‘1965’ lineup (Dulli, McCollum, Curley, Horrigan) recorded two new tracks ("I’m A Soldier" and "Magazine") which are featured on their retrospective titled Unbreakable (A Retrospective) which was released in June 2007.
In December 2011, the band announced that it would be appearing at All Tomorrow's Parties' renowned I'll Be Your Mirror festival on May 25-27, 2012 in London, England. As well, Dulli will serve as the curator, and the Whigs the headliner, for ATP's stateside edition on September 22nd, 2012 in Asbury Park, New Jersey; further dates continue to be announced, including major summer-festival headlining spots at Spain's Primavera, among others. Drummer Cully Symington (Okkervil River, Gutter Twins) and multi-instrumentalist Rick Nelson (Polyphonic Spree, Twilight Singers) will join Curley, Dulli, and McCollum for all shows, which will feature songs from the entire span of the Afghan Whigs repertoire, along with a few new surprises and songs never before played live.
These developments provided both surprise and relief for the group's members. "The pressure is really nonexistent, because we're playing songs that we've already completed - that we already know," Dulli says. "Those songs still resonate with me; in fact, they have always resonated with me. I imagine there will be people who never saw the band before, too, and that's exciting." "It will be nice to experience the Whigs again as a grown-up," jokes Curley. "In my mind, the Whigs were a live band above anything else. Playing shows always was our favorite part about being in the band, and the times when we felt the most freedom and release. I missed playing at that level; I missed playing the songs that we wrote, that meant so much to people - and to us." (from www.theafghanwhigs.com History). In 2014 they released "Do to the Beast" and performed in Ireland, Israel, and the U.S.
Debonair
Afghan Whigs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not the man my actions would suggest
A little boy, I'm tied to you
I fell apart
That's what I always do
This ain't about regret
My conscience can't be found
This time I won't repent
Feel it now and don't resist
This time the anger's better than the kiss
I must admit when so inclined
I tend to lose it than confront my mind
Cause it don't bleed and it don't breathe
It's locked its jaws and now it's swallowing
It's in our heart
It's in our head
It's in our love
Baby it's in our bed
Tonight I go to hell
For what I've done to you
This ain't about regret
It's when I tell the truth
And once again the monster speaks
Reveals his face and searches for release
A little boy is tied to you
Attracted only 'til it comes unglued
Cause it don't bleed and it don't breathe
It's locked its jaws and now it's swallowing
It's in our heart
It's in our head
It's in our love
Baby it's in our bed
Tonight I go to hell
For what I've done to you
This ain't about regret
It's when I tell the truth
Tonight I go to hell
For what I've done to you
This ain't about regret
The Afghan Whigs' Debonair is a hauntingly intense track that reflects on the self-destructive nature of a relationship. The lyrics convey the idea that the singer is not necessarily the man that his actions would suggest he is. He confesses to being a little boy who is tied to his partner, but when things come apart, he falls apart too. The singer accepts that this is not about regret but about accepting the truth. Someone is going down, and he won't be repenting this time.
The chorus repeats the idea that "It's in our heart, it's in our head, it's in our love, baby it's in our bed." This repetition reminds us that the problem is not just physical but emotional too. The damage that has been done to their relationship cannot be undone. The singer is not just expressing his guilt but his acceptance that he will go to hell for his actions even though he feels that this isn't just about regret.
The song captures the pain of a love that's gone wrong, leading both partners to hell. The singer is trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction and co-dependency, unable to leave even though he knows he should. The song captures the intense emotional turmoil that comes with betraying someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear me now and don't forget
Listen closely to what I'm about to say and remember it
I'm not the man my actions would suggest
My behavior doesn't accurately reflect who I am
A little boy, I'm tied to you
I have a childlike dependence on you
I fell apart, That's what I always do
I have a pattern of losing control and breaking down
This ain't about regret, My conscience can't be found
I don't feel guilty about what I've done
This time I won't repent, Somebody's going down
I'm not sorry and someone will suffer the consequences
Feel it now and don't resist, This time the anger's better than the kiss
Embrace the anger instead of trying to suppress it with a kiss
I must admit when so inclined, I tend to lose it than confront my mind
I have a tendency to lose control rather than dealing with my thoughts and emotions
Cause it don't bleed and it don't breathe, It's locked its jaws and now it's swallowing, It's in our heart, It's in our head, It's in our love, Baby it's in our bed
The issues between us aren't physical but they consume us emotionally and mentally
Tonight I go to hell, For what I've done to you, This ain't about regret, It's when I tell the truth
I'm willing to face the consequences of my actions and be honest, even if it hurts
And once again the monster speaks, Reveals his face and searches for release
My darker impulses take over and I can't control them
Attracted only 'til it comes unglued
I'm only drawn to you until the relationship falls apart
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: GREG DULLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MikeBrodyComic
This album changed my life. I was all STP and Candlebox in 1993 as a 15 year old like everybody else and then I saw this video on 120 Minutes and I was floored. I was like "WHO IS THIS EVIL MAN JUST SITTING THERE WHILE PEOPLE FIGHT?!" It opened my eyes to a whole other world of music and I've never been the same since. This album has never left my top five since 1993. 100% masterpiece.
@lavalady5571
I was 17, saw it on 120 Minutes, and thought it was such a powerful song. Bought the album and there are some really incredible songs on it, Debonair was only the tip of the iceberg. The whole 'Gentleman' album still moves me to this day.
@katrinakovalenko6206
Same !!!! I was 15 in 1993 and this album was one of the soundtracks of my life growing up in the 90’s. Such a rad time to grow up. Miss the 90’s. Such an underrated album. Truly a masterpiece
@ggab7969
I’m 15 now and i am a candelbox, Stp and afghan whigs fan.
@HzHzder
I discovered the Whigs 2 years ago and they made me a man, praise Dulli, that man got style!
@ylewis11
Same!!
@michaelgass4321
EASILY one of the most UNDERRATED COMPLETE albums of the early 1990s...from beginning to end, nothing dissapoints. YEAH I SAID IT
@leonidaskotrozinis1154
Michael Gass Agreed....
@berlinsaintclair9100
Michael Gass Hell to the yessss.
@scottnichols8389
Preach.