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.
Queen Of Pain
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Along the east coast maybe, it resides in you, my dear
Worn out on our courtesy, we've made our curtain calls
Like vampire bats deprived of blood, into the New York city that we crawl
And you've got a funny way of showing off your bathroom surgery
You said you were just cooling down from plans of leaving me
There's something I should tell you, for we may not have much time
The stars at night are big and bright
Deep in your eyes, Miss Vincent
You told me once I made you smile
But we both know damn well I didn't
I'm not much of a jester, but I'd test poisoned food for you
Your majesty, you're royal blue
I'm royalty, my king of pain
There's a hard rain falling, flooding your attic, it's clear
Can't put out the fire that resides in you, my dear
There's something I should tell you, for we may not have much time
I've never seen scars like yours
The stars at night are big and bright
Deep in your eyes, Miss Vincent
You told me once I made you smile
But we both know damn well I didn't
I'm not much of a jester, but I'd test poisoned food for you
Your majesty, you're royal blue
I'm royalty, my king of pain
The stars at night are big and bright
Deep in your eyes, Miss Vincent
You told me once I made you smile
But we both know damn well I didn't
I'm not much of a jester, but I'd test poisoned food for you
Your majesty, you're royal blue
I'm royalty, my king of pain
The lyrics to Alkaline Trio's "Queen of Pain" are melancholic, full of sorrow and speak of unrequited love. The song starts with a fire forming not too far away, maybe on the east coast, implying that the singer's heart is burning with pain caused by the distance and detachment between him and the queen of his heart. Despite "making their curtain calls" and coming to terms with the end of their relationship, they continue to crawl into New York City like "vampire bats deprived of blood."
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges his queen's strange ways of staying away from him, and how they have both not much time left. He confesses that he has never felt arms like hers, implying the unmatchable love of the queen. However, he also acknowledges that he has never made her smile, despite it being something she said once. Towards the end, he desires to serve her, even to the extent of testing poisoned food. He acknowledges that he is a king of pain, while she is the queen of pain, and their hearts are linked that way.
Overall, the song speaks of unreciprocated love and pain between the two, where one has given their all and the other remains distant.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a fire forming, not too far from here
A strong emotion or situation is building up and it may affect the singer.
Along the east coast maybe, it resides in you, my dear
The source of the strong emotion or situation is within the person the singer is addressing.
Worn out on our courtesy, we've made our curtain calls
The relationship between the singer and the person he is addressing has come to an end.
Like vampire bats deprived of blood, into the New York city that we crawl
The artist and the person he is addressing are helpless and dependent upon each other as they navigate the difficulties of a city.
And you've got a funny way of showing off your bathroom surgery
The person the artist is addressing is hurting themselves and not addressing their problems directly.
You said you were just cooling down from plans of leaving me
The person the singer is addressing is considering leaving the singer.
There's something I should tell you, for we may not have much time
The singer feels the need to reveal something important before it is too late.
I've never met arms like yours
The person the artist is addressing has a unique and powerful physical presence.
The stars at night are big and bright, Deep in your eyes, Miss Vincent
The person the artist is addressing has captivating eyes that remind him of stars.
You told me once I made you smile, But we both know damn well I didn't
The person the artist is addressing is not being genuine in her expressions of happiness.
I'm not much of a jester, but I'd test poisoned food for you
The singer would do anything for the person he is addressing, even risk his own life.
Your majesty, you're royal blue
The person the artist is addressing has a regal quality about her.
I'm royalty, my king of pain
The singer identifies himself as someone who is used to feeling pain and suffering.
There's a hard rain falling, flooding your attic, it's clear
The situation the person the singer is addressing is in is becoming more and more difficult.
Can't put out the fire that resides in you, my dear
The person the singer is addressing is consumed by the strong emotions they are feeling.
I've never seen scars like yours
The person the artist is addressing has been through difficult experiences.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind