The band formed in December of 1996, originally consisting of Skiba, Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals). 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Doran. He was replaced by Andriano, who had been the singer for Tuesday and bassist for the ska band Slapstick. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fan base in the American Midwest. Later that year, they released their first full-length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000. Both were released on Asian Man Records. Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously-released EPs on a self-titled album.
Following the success of their Asian Man releases, Alkaline Trio signed to Vagrant. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001. It was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground as well as Tony Hawks American Wasteland video games. Their cover of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an album made to pay tribute to the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After the release, Felumlee left the band too and was replaced by Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines.
Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing a considerable amount of commercial success. The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a noticeable move toward a more mainstream sound.
The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1 and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Skiba and Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded two split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.
Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, entitled Crimson, on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.
In 2004 Andriano became a member of The Falcon, a super-group of consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist/co-vocalist Brendan Kelly (with who he had played with in Slapstick), and Neil Hennessy, drummer from The Lawrence Arms. The band released a 5-song EP in 2004, and its first full-length Unicornography in September of 2006.
In 2006 Matt Skiba collaborated with Josiah Steinbrick for the band Heavens.
In 2008 Alkaline Trio released Agony & Irony on Epic Records. The album charted at #13 on the Billboard 200.
Alkaline Trio's 7th studio album, This Addiction,was released on February 23rd 2010. This was their first album under their own label, Heart & Skull, an offshoot of Epitaph, and the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.
Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album, Damnesia,, was released July 12, 2011. Consisting of "a selection of beloved fan favorites selected from the group's extensive catalogue and presented in an intimate semi-unplugged format", the album also included two new songs, "Olde English 800" and "I Remember a Rooftop", as well as a cover version of the Violent Femmes' "I Held Her in My Arms".
On April 2nd, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "My Shame Is True".
On August 31st, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "Is This Thing Cursed?".
On June 8th, 2023, longtime drummer Derek Grant left the band due to mental health reasons and intentions to pursue music production as well as graphic design. He was replaced by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Against Me!. The band then released the single, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" on October 17th, 2023, and announced an album of the same name due for a release date of January 26th, 2024.
Private Eye
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
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Dusted for prints, pried up the floorboards
Pieces of planes and black box recorders
Don't lie
And I've been preoccupied with these sick, sick senses
That sense DNA on barbed wire fences
Maybe someday I'll find me a suspect
That has no alibi
I watched flies fuck on channel eleven
There was no one to kiss, there was nothing to drink
Except some old rotten milk someone left in the sink
And there's no ring on the phone anymore
There's no reason to call I passed out on the floor
Smoked myself stupid and drank my insides raisin dry
But at the right place at the right time
I'll be dead wrong and you'll be just fine
And I won't have to quit doing fucked up shit
For anyone but me
And at the right place at the right time
It will have been worth it to stand in line
And you won't have to stop
Saying "I love cops" for anyone but me
Your private eye
The lyrics of "Private Eye" by Alkaline Trio depict the persona of a private detective who is desperate to find a suspect for a crime. The detective describes how he has searched for clues meticulously, from dragging the lake to dusting for prints and prying up floorboards. He also talks about pieces of planes and black box recorders which could give him some information about a suspect who has no alibi. The detective is preoccupied with his senses that can sense DNA even on barbed wire fences. He longs for a suspect and is hopeful that someday he will find one.
The second verse shifts in tone and talks about New Year's Eve, which was as boring as heaven for the detective. The absence of partying led to the detective watching flies mate on channel eleven, and he has no one to kiss or drink with. The thought of being alone and the realization that no one cares makes him feel vulnerable. However, the right place and right time could be his salvation, and he would have found what he was looking for. The detective describes his compulsion to keep up his fucked-up habits for himself and not for anyone else. He references the phrase "I love cops" and how it's not something that matters to him, but it's an obsession that his clients have.
Line by Line Meaning
I dragged this lake looking for corpses
I searched the lake for bodies
Dusted for prints, pried up the floorboards
I searched for clues and evidence by dusting for prints and prying up the floorboards
Pieces of planes and black box recorders
I found pieces of airplanes and black box recorders
Don't lie
Don't deny the truth
And I've been preoccupied with these sick, sick senses
I've been obsessed with these twisted thoughts and feelings
That sense DNA on barbed wire fences
That detect DNA on barbed wire fences
Maybe someday I'll find me a suspect
Maybe someday I'll find a suspect
That has no alibi
Who can't prove their innocence
New Year's Eve was as boring as heaven
New Year's Eve was very dull
I watched flies fuck on channel eleven
I watched flies mate on TV
There was no one to kiss, there was nothing to drink
There was no one to kiss and nothing to drink
Except some old rotten milk someone left in the sink
Except some old milk that had gone bad and was left in the sink
And there's no ring on the phone anymore
The phone doesn't ring anymore
There's no reason to call I passed out on the floor
There's no reason to call because I passed out on the floor
Smoked myself stupid and drank my insides raisin dry
I smoked a lot and drank until I was severely dehydrated
But at the right place at the right time
But in the perfect situation
I'll be dead wrong and you'll be just fine
I'll be mistaken and you'll be alright
And I won't have to quit doing fucked up shit
And I won't have to stop doing questionable things
For anyone but me
For anyone other than myself
And at the right place at the right time
And in the perfect situation
It will have been worth it to stand in line
It will be worth it to wait in line
And you won't have to stop
And you won't have to refrain
Saying "I love cops" for anyone but me
From saying "I love cops" for anyone other than myself
Your private eye
Your own personal investigator
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, MATHEW THOMAS SKIBA, MIKE FELUMLEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind