Later that year, they also opened for The Damned on a short tour round the north of England. November 1981 saw the release of their first single, a cover version of Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London', with the song that was to become the group's anthem, 'So What' on the B side.
In 1982, things were looking good for the band, with the 'So What Tour' in the company of such groups as Chelsea, Chron Gen and the Defects, and the release of their debut album We Are...The League. However, the Obscene Publications Squad seized all copies of their records, which were removed from shops and they were banned from TV and Radio. To top it all, they were thrown out of the Top Of The Pops studio...just because Animal happened to be carrying a 3ft axe around with him! However the year finished on a high, with the 'Hardcore Storms America' tour with the UK Subs.
Anti-Nowhere League LogoGilly (real name Mark Gilham) joined the band in 1983 as an extra guitarist, which according to the bands website,[1], was because Magoo was drinking heavily and was often unable to carry out his commitments as guitarist. The band went to Yugoslavia to record a live album, imaginatively called Live In Yugoslavia, but even this was dogged by problems with the authorities insisting that references that Animal had made about recently deceased president Tito be removed from the master tapes, and any language which they deemed to be offensive be bleeped (including a few "when’s", "it’s" and "ands" according to Animal!).
By 1984, things were not looking too good. PJ quit, unable to cope with the pressures of the drugs and alcohol lifestyle the band were now leading and they were musically inactive. 1985 saw Michael Bettel on the drums, followed in 1986 by JB (Jonathan Birch). During this time they signed for GWR Records, and recorded the Perfect Crime album. However, once again there were problems, when GWR refused to put up the money to finish the album once they heard its rough cut, and it was released unfinished to try to get back some of the money already invested in it. This was the final straw, and in 1987 ANWL disbanded. There was a "Farewell" show in 1989.
Fast forward to 1992, and Animal was working on his car, in the rain. The phone went, and it was JB, with the news that Metallica wanted Animal to guest at Wembley Arena, when they did their cover of 'So What'. Apparently Animals response was "Who the fuck are Metallica?, and anyway I'm working on my car!!" JB phoned back later, and managed to persuade Animal to do the slot. Animal put it thus on ANWL's website. "As I waited on the edge of the stage waiting to go on it suddenly dawned on me I was just about to stand in front of 10,000 punters who didn’t know me from Adam and sing a song that I couldn’t fucking remember………….all that kept running through my head was RUN you silly old fucker!". However, after the show, the bug had bitten again. Mark joined that year on Lead Guitar, and 1993 - 1995 was spent playing gigs in the small venues the band had started out in. In 1996, they signed up with Impact Records and recorded their next album Pig Iron. Beef also joined the band after Mark's departure.
1997 saw another personnel change when Winston left the band to be replaced by Jon Jon, and recording the album Scum.
Danny joined on drums in 1998.
The album Out Of Control was released a year later in 1999 2001 Magoo quit playing live shows.
2002 - now.... Jon Jon, Beef and Danny all left, to be replaced by PJ (original drummer), Jez, and Shady. This lineup of the band is still going as of April 2006.
Big Yellow Moon
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sending -the- signals down in my spine.
These feelings stirring down in my soul.
She's running fast, as fast as I go.
Big yellow moon – Now you were always there beside me.
Big yellow moon – And you were always there to guide me.
Big yellow moon – You were always there to hide me.
(?) in my mind – (Go out - Just around midnight)
(?) left me me for the last time (Go out – Just around midnight)
I'm out on the streets going out of my mind (Go out - Just around midnight)
Some are dead, some never die. (Go out – Just around midnight)
Big yellow moon – Well you were always there beside me.
Big yellow moon – And you were always there to guide me.
Big yellow moon – And you were always there to hide me.
Big yellow moon – And you were always there for me.
Go out just around midnight (We're out, just around midnight)
Out on the streets and under the lamplight. (We're out, just around midnight)
The Animal's loose - the pressure is high! (We're out, just around midnight)
Run for your life or someone will die. (We're out, just around midnight)
This big yellow moon – Well you were always there forever.
Big yellow moon – Well you won't let me down (?)not ever(?)
Big yellow moon – Well you and I will stay together.
Big yellow moon – I've tasted blood and I – I want more!
Just after midnight (Big yellow moon, big yellow moon) (x4)
The Anti-Nowhere League's song "Big Yellow Moon" is an ode to the moon's constant presence and guidance through life's difficulties. The song opens with the singer expressing his infatuation with a woman who causes him to lose his mind. He feels a tingling sensation down his spine indicating that he has fallen for her. Despite the fact that the woman is faster than him, she is always in his thoughts. The song's refrain stresses how the big yellow moon has always been there for him, guiding and supporting him through life.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals his turmoil over a lost love, describing how he goes out of his mind at midnight, wandering the streets. He seems to be in a dark place, dealing with death and grief. The lyrics urge listeners to run for their lives or someone might be harmed. The big yellow moon is consistently mentioned in this section, reminding listeners that even when they are in a dark place, the moon will always be there to guide them.
In the song's final verse, the singer describes how he has tasted the blood and is craving more, suggesting a dark and sinister side to his personality. Despite this, the big yellow moon is still his constant companion, never letting him down. The song ends with a repetition of "big yellow moon" suggesting that even though there will be struggles in life, the moon will always be there as a reminder of hope and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
She drives me out of my mind.
She makes me crazy.
Sending -the- signals down in my spine.
She's giving me powerful physical sensations.
These feelings stirring down in my soul.
She's making me feel emotional and deeply engaged.
She's running fast, as fast as I go.
She's keeping pace with me, we're well-matched.
Big yellow moon - Now you were always there beside me.
The moon is a constant presence in our lives, always with us.
Big yellow moon - And you were always there to guide me.
The moon has a guiding influence on us.
Big yellow moon - You were always there to hide me.
The moon provides hiddenness, protection.
Big yellow moon - And you were always there for me.
The moon is loyal and dependable.
(?) in my mind - (Go out - Just around midnight)
Something is bothering me and going out at midnight helps alleviate it.
(?) left me me for the last time (Go out - Just around midnight)
I'm trying to distract myself from a recent heartbreak.
I'm out on the streets going out of my mind (Go out - Just around midnight)
Being outside helps me clear my head and calm down.
Some are dead, some never die. (Go out - Just around midnight)
The night is unpredictable, some things end and some continue on forever.
Big yellow moon - Well you were always there beside me.
The moon is a comforting, stable presence.
Big yellow moon - And you were always there to guide me.
The moon provides direction and guidance.
Big yellow moon - And you were always there to hide me.
The moon can provide concealment and safety.
Big yellow moon - And you were always there for me.
The moon is always supportive and there when needed.
Go out just around midnight (We're out, just around midnight)
We like to go out and explore at night when it's quieter.
Out on the streets and under the lamplight. (We're out, just around midnight)
We enjoy the ambiance and atmosphere of the city at night.
The Animal's loose - the pressure is high! (We're out, just around midnight)
We feel wild and uninhibited when out at night.
Run for your life or someone will die. (We're out, just around midnight)
We feel a sense of danger and excitement.
This big yellow moon - Well you were always there forever.
The moon is an unchanging presence in our lives.
Big yellow moon - Well you won't let me down (?)not ever(?)
The moon is dependable and trustworthy.
Big yellow moon - Well you and I will stay together.
The moon and I have camaraderie and a shared experience.
Big yellow moon - I've tasted blood and I - I want more!
We're feeling reckless and crave more excitement and danger.
Just after midnight (Big yellow moon, big yellow moon) (x4)
We're singing joyfully about the magical time of day when the moon is at its brightest.
Contributed by Keira R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.