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.
Can't Stand Rock'n'roll
Anti-Nowhere League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
Well up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll
The man who made it was big and fat
Oh you little boys, what ya think of that
Another two went and died in a plane
Well I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
Well up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll
Then came the shit from foreign lands
Money in mouth and shit in hands
Poisoned minds and ruined souls
Fuck that Rock'n' Roll
Well I can't stand Rock'n' Roll
I can't stand Rock'n' Roll
I can't Rock'n' Roll
Well up your arsehole, Rock'n'Roll
I was born and bred on that fucking shit
With the boring cunts that didn't spit
It's time now for a different noise
You are the dead ......now we are the boys
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I can't stand Rock 'n' Roll
Stuff it up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll
The lyrics to Anti-Nowhere League's song, Can't Stand Rock 'n' Roll, express a strong dislike towards the genre of rock and roll. The repetition of the lines "I can't stand Rock'n'Roll" and "Well up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll" emphasizes the message and feelings of the singer. The first verse mentions the man who made rock and roll, likely referring to Elvis Presley, and criticizes his appearance. The second line speaks to the deaths of musicians in plane crashes, possibly referring to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. The singer expresses their desire for it to happen again, depicting a sense of hatred towards rock and roll and the people associated with it.
The second verse shifts the focus towards foreign bands and their influence on rock and roll. The singer describes their minds as poisoned and their souls as ruined. This can be perceived as a commentary on the commercialization and appropriation of rock and roll by outside influences. The final verse is a call to action for something new and different. The singer expresses frustration with the "boring cunts that didn't spit" and declares that they are the new force in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I really, really hate Rock'n'Roll music
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I hate Rock'n'Roll music so much that I need to repeat myself
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I hate Rock'n'Roll music so much that I need to repeat myself
Well up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll
I despise Rock'n'Roll music so much that I want to shove it up an uncomfortable place
The man who made it was big and fat
The creator of Rock'n'Roll music is a large and overweight person
Oh you little boys, what ya think of that
I'm addressing young men, asking them what they think of the physical appearance of the creator of Rock'n'Roll
Another two went and died in a plane
Two more musicians tragically passed away in a plane crash
oh my God I wish they'd do it again
I express a desire for a repeat of that tragic event
Then came the shit from foreign lands
Foreign music that I don't like came after Rock'n'Roll
Money in mouth and shit in hands
Musicians are just greedy sellouts with terrible output
Poisoned minds and ruined souls
Rock'n'Roll has negative effects on individuals that consume it
Fuck that Rock'n'Roll
I have strong negative feelings towards Rock'n'Roll
I was born and bred on that fucking shit
Despite being exposed to Rock'n'Roll from birth, I still hate it
With the boring cunts that didn't spit
I was around uninteresting people who didn't like to rebel or take risks
It's time now for a different noise
I'm calling for a change in the music landscape
You are the dead ......now we are the boys
Those who love and create Rock'n'Roll are outdated and irrelevant, and people like me are the new wave
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I hate Rock'n'Roll music so much that I need to repeat myself
I can't stand Rock'n'Roll
I hate Rock'n'Roll music so much that I need to repeat myself
I can't stand Rock 'n' Roll
I hate Rock'n'Roll music so much that I need to clarify which music genre I'm hating on
Stuff it up your arsehole Rock'n'Roll
I'm telling Rock'n'Roll to go to an uncomfortable place, because I hate it so much
Contributed by Kaelyn G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GriefTourist
one of their best long live the league
AltamontKiller
i love this song and i love rock n roll
julian jan
“ You are the Dead and we are the. Boys” What a great line. One of the greatest bands ever
Paul Keyton
One the best punk albums and bands ever!!!!
BiGFat CreEp
FUCK YES!!!!!!!!
DAVID MOON
I’m 66 now, and, every time I hear this, I wanna flip the joint! Cheers
wallyhonk
Me and my mates would smash the bedroom up listening to to this
Paul Walton
Damn good rock 'n' roll, curiously...
Lisa Baker
My theme song!!!
MisterBaAcKiTcH
This is a nice piece, and, although apparently meant facetiously and ironically, is quite apt in truth. So-called "rock and roll" and "pop music" is, in fact, worse than worthless ... the only thing I want to know about Mick Jagger is: can he fight? ... . So-called "rock" and "pop" is complete rubbish and poison to the mind and soul ... People need to listen to Bach.