Agent Orange was formed in Placentia, California in 1979 by guitarist Mike Palm, a musical omnivore whose early influences included vintage surf music, heavy metal, and '50s and '60s rock. Emboldened by the rise of punk rock, Palm began consolidating his tastes into a meld that fused the style of classic sounds with the impact and velocity of punk. Teaming with bassist Steve Soto and drummer Scott Miller, Palm assembled the first edition of Agent Orange (the name was a dual reference to the notorious defoliant used by the United States military in Vietnam and the group's home in California's Orange County). In 1980, the trio self-released their debut single, "Bloodstains" b/w "America" and "Bored of You." Thanks to frequent spins on Bingenheimer's KROQ radio show, "Bloodstains" became a favorite in the Southern California punk community, and the band struck a deal with the independent Posh Boy label to cut their first full-length album, 1981's Living in Darkness. By the time Agent Orange cut the LP, Steve Soto had left the group to form the Adolescents, and James Levesque took over on bass. Living in Darkness spread the word about the band's skate-friendly surf/punk sound, and Posh Boy pulled a single from the album, "Everything Turns Gray," backed with a revved-up cover of the Chantays' "Pipeline." 1982 saw the release of Bitchin' Summer, a four-song EP featuring covers of four classic surf instrumentals.
In 1983, Agent Orange jumped from Posh Boy to a larger and better distributed indie, Enigma Records, and brought out the EP When You Least Expect It, which featured two originals and two covers, including their take on Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to Love." While Agent Orange remained active as a live band, it would be three years before they released another recording, their second full-length album, 1986's This Is the Voice, which boasted slicker production and a poppier sound than their previous efforts. Agent Orange were never an especially prolific recording act, and it would be 1991 before another album appeared, a live recording titled Real Live Sound. During the downtime between This Is the Voice and Real Live Sound, Scott Miller and James Levesque both left the group, and bassist Brent Liles and drummer Derek O'Brien signed on. In 1991, O'Brien dropped out, and Scotty Lund took over behind the drums, while Sam Bolle preplaced Liles on bass in 1992. In 1996, Agent Orange released their third studio album, Virtually Indestructible, released by the Gunka Disc label. The album featured drummer Charlie Quintana (formerly of the Plugz and Social Distortion) taking over for Scotty Lund, though Steve Latanation would step in after Quintana's departure in 1997.
In 2000, Agent Orange returned with Greatest & Latest, which collected live and studio recordings of original songs as well as tunes from their back catalog. The album was reissued in 2004 as Blood Stained Hitz, and was recycled again in 2008 as Surfing to Some F#*ked Up S@!t, with the addition of a cover of Metallica's "Seek and Destroy." In 2004, there was another turnover in the rhythm section with the arrival of bassist Bruce Taylor and drummer Dusty Watson. In 2006, bassist Perry Giordano came on board after Taylor moved on, and Dave Klein succeeded Watson as drummer in 2009. In 2003, Agent Orange's Enigma Records material was reissued in a two-CD set titled Sonic Snake Session. Liles died in 2007 after being hit by a truck, Levesque passed in 2014, and Quintana lost his life after struggling with emphysema and heart disease in 2018.
Biography by Mark Deming
Members
Mike Palm : Vocals & Guitars (1979 - Present)
Steve Soto : Bass & Vocals (1979-1980)
James Levesque : Bass & Vocals (1980 - 1988)
Brent Liles : Bass & Vocals (1989 - 1995)
Sam Bolle : Bass & Vocals (1996 - 2005)
Perry Gx : Bass & Vocals (2006 - Present)
Scott Miller : Drums & Vocals (1979 - 1988)
Derek O'Brien : Drums & Vocals (1989 - 1995)
Charles Quintana : Drums & Vocals (1996 - 1998)
Dusty Watson : Drums (1999 - 2000)
Steve Latanation : Drums (2000 - 2005)
Dave Klein : Drums (2009 - Present)
Albums
Living in Darkness 1980
When You Least Expect It 1984
This Is The Voice 1986
Real Live Sound 1990
Virtually Indestructible 1996
This That-n-The Other Thing 2000
There are other artists with the same name:
Dutch Agent Orange
The second Agent Orange was a Dutch hardcore punk band from Amsterdam. They were formerly known as Jezus and the Gospelfuckers and also recorded songs for a Pusmort compilation under the bandname "Genocide Express". As Agent Orange they record 2 singles, the first called "your mother sucks coocks in hell" which sells on ebay for insanely high prices, and a second one called "VD" aka "hello boyfriend coming my way?
German Agent Orange are from Germany and were formed in 2005 in "hude" near Bremen.
Swiss Agent Orange
Trip/bit hop producer, to avoid confusion, he changed his name to agentff6600.
Danish Agent Orange
Two musicians of a local danish band called digiis (short of digital inspired), who has made a side project. The music is both electronic and acoustic.
http://www.myspace.com/davidmads
There is also another German Agent Orange from Bisingen. They played Metal and released a single and 2 albums, the second on B.O. Records.
So Close And Yet So Far
Agent Orange Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That there is never any room
For any doubt
I feel it in my heart, I shout it out
And if I decide to change my ways
It's not because I've found the latest craze
It's just that I've got more to lose this time
I would never let you down
As crazy as this world may seem
The thing that keeps it spinning 'round
Is always there
So close and yet so far
and you can believe it's true
A reason behind everything I do
A twist that makes it different every time
There are those who say "it's all been done"
There's nothing stopping us
From having fun
And that's why I'll be coming 'round again
you know that you can count on one thing
I would never let you down
As crazy as this world may seem
The thing that keeps it spinning 'round
Is always there
So close and yet so far...
...away - but it gets a little closer every day
And I will hold it in my hand before I die
You know there isn't any way that we can lose
And you don't have to be confused
By hollow words that never mean a thing
When tragic things keep happening
To everyone around you
You don't have to be the same
This is the song that begs to set you free
A sparkle in the night
When we come face to face
Don't close your eyes
Don't ever turn away
because the only way you'll ever know
Is if you ever really try
So find out for yourself
Then you won't ever have to wonder why
As crazy as this world may seem
The thing that keeps it spinning 'round
Is you because you're always there
So close and yet so far
The song "So Close And Yet So Far" by Agent Orange touches on the need for trusting oneself and the importance of keeping things in perspective in a sometimes confusing world. The song opens with the reminder that there should be no room for doubt when it comes to making important decisions in life. The singer's confidence echoes throughout the song, as he expresses his unwavering willingness to change and adapt to new situations. The idea of self-reliance comes through in the lyrics as the singer affirms that his choices are not dictated by external trends or fads, but rather an inner sense of purpose.
The chorus serves as a reassuring reminder that one can always rely on oneself, despite the craziness of the world around us. The idea of something being close yet distant is a recurring theme in the song, hinting at a sense of longing or unattainability. The lyrics express the idea that despite this inherent distance, one can still inch closer to their goals and dreams by being resolute, determined, and confident.
In essence, "So Close and Yet So Far" is about empowering oneself and trusting in one's own abilities to navigate the world. It's a song that encourages self-reflection, self-growth, and a sense of personal responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me remind you all again
I am about to reiterate something important
That there is never any room
There is no space for any uncertainty
For any doubt
No hesitations are acceptable
I feel it in my heart, I shout it out
I sense it deep within me and express it vocally
And if I decide to change my ways
In case I rethink my actions
It's not because I've found the latest craze
It's not due to a new trend I discovered
It's just that I've got more to lose this time
I have additional responsibilities or potential losses at stake now
you know that you can count on one thing
I can guarantee one aspect of my behavior
I would never let you down
I will never disappoint you
As crazy as this world may seem
Despite the chaos of the universe
The thing that keeps it spinning 'round
The force that propels life forward
Is always there
It is a constant presence
So close and yet so far
It feels close by, but it is actually distant
and you can believe it's true
I assure you it is factual
A reason behind everything I do
I have a rationale for each of my actions
A twist that makes it different every time
Each instance has a variation that sets it apart
There are those who say 'it's all been done'
Some argue that everything has already been accomplished
There's nothing stopping us
There are no barriers preventing us from succeeding
From having fun
From enjoying ourselves
And that's why I'll be coming 'round again
That is why I plan to revisit
away - but it gets a little closer every day
It is distant, but it moves nearer incrementally
And I will hold it in my hand before I die
I aspire to possess it before my demise
You know there isn't any way that we can lose
We cannot fail
And you don't have to be confused
You do not need to feel bewildered
By hollow words that never mean a thing
Do not let meaningless phrases perplex you
When tragic things keep happening
Amid continual calamities
To everyone around you
Impacting persons in your vicinity
You don't have to be the same
You can differ from your environment
This is the song that begs to set you free
The lyrics plead to emancipate you
A sparkle in the night
A luminous glow under dark conditions
When we come face to face
When we meet in person
Don't close your eyes
Do not shut your eyes
Don't ever turn away
Never look away
because the only way you'll ever know
The sole means of discovering
Is if you ever really try
Is if you exert yourself
So find out for yourself
Ascertain on your own
Then you won't ever have to wonder why
Then you will never have to question why
Is you because you're always there
It is you since you are present
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MIKE PALM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind