The teenage band consisted of lead singer Jemina Pearl Abegg, the daughter of Christian artist/photographer Jimmy Abegg; guitarist Jonas Stein, the son of manager Burt Stein; John Eatherly (drums); and Nathan Vasquez (bass), the son of acclaimed latin jazz guitarist Rafael Vasquez. Founding member Jamin Orall quit the band to finish college and tour with his other band, Jeff, just before Be Your Own Pet's 2006 American tour. Sixteen-year-old John Eatherly, an old friend of the band, took over behind the kit.
BYOP formed in 2003 in the basement of the Orrall home, which doubles as a home studio/rehearsal space for indie label Infinity Cat Recordings.
Their sound is basic, primal garage rock and are often compared to popular New York group Yeah Yeah Yeahs, partially for their style, featuring heavy rock guitars with abrasive vocals and erratic, angular rhythms, but more due to comparisons between Abegg and Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman Karen O, both of whom are women with a dynamic, non-traditional stage presence.
Be Your Own Pet generated a massive amount of press following the release of their debut single "Damn Damn Leash" on Infinity Cat. The single was produced by Kings of Leon producer Angelo and Infinity Cat's Robert Ellis Orrall, and mixed by Modest Mouse mix engineer Jaquire King. The press included an interview in Rolling Stone, appearances at the Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds festivals, as well as successful appearances at SXSW and slots supporting bands such as The Kills. The band also appeared on the Queen tribute album, Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, covering the classic "Bicycle Race". The band released their eponymous album in the UK in March 2006, and in the US in June 2006.
On August 1, 2008, after cancelling a stint on Warped Tour and a tour with The Black Keys, the band announced on their website that after finishing a small tour of England, they would be breaking up. No reason was given for the decision.
In April 2022, Be Your Own Pet reformed for two shows which led to the August 2023 release of the album Mommy.
Ouch!
Be Your Own Pet Lyrics
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Spreading disease and death to one another
There's no stopping till it gets too late
Zombie apocalypse will change us all now
They haunt the streets with their eyes full of hunger
Spreading disease and death to one another
There's no stopping till it gets too late
Zombie apocalypse will change us all now
When there's no more room in hell
The dead walk the earth
Feeding up the night when we're together
When they trying hard to get us in the end
They haunt the streets with their eyes full of hunger
To bring disease and death to one another
There's no stopping till it gets too late
Zombie apocalypse will change us all now
They're on the streets with their eyes full of hunger
To bring disease and death to one another
There's no stopping till it gets too late
Zombie apocalypse will change us all now
When there's no more room in hell
The dead walk the earth
Feeding up the night when we're together
When they trying hard to get us in the end
They aren't your mothers
They aren't your brothers
They got no feeling but the pain in their stomachs
Have you seen their faces the way they stare?
We know for sure there can't be anything in there
When there's no more room in hell
The dead walk the earth
Feeding up the night when we're together
When they trying hard to get us in the end
The song "Ouch!" by Be Your Own Pet is a chaotic and fast-paced punk rock track that features lyrics about a potential zombie apocalypse. The song starts off by describing the infected individuals roaming the streets with hunger in their eyes, spreading disease and death to one another. The lyrics imply that the situation has escalated to a point where it cannot be stopped and the zombie apocalypse will change everyone. The chorus then speaks of the classic horror movie trope of when there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of the infected individuals and their hunger, this time emphasizing that they are not family or friends and have no emotions except the pain in their stomachs. The lyrics shift to the point of view of someone trying to survive the apocalypse, possibly with a loved one, as they are feeding up the night when they are together while trying to avoid the approaching zombies.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the potential dangers of infectious diseases and how they can spiral out of control, leading to a dystopian future. The lyrics also play off the fear of the unknown that comes with the idea of a zombie apocalypse.
Line by Line Meaning
They haunt the streets with their eyes full of hunger
They wander the streets with their eyes brimming with hunger
Spreading disease and death to one another
Passing illnesses and fatalities among each other
There's no stopping till it gets too late
Nothing can prevent it until it's too tardy
Zombie apocalypse will change us all now
An invasion of zombies will alter our future
When there's no more room in hell
Once hell runs out of space
The dead walk the earth
The deceased walks the planet
Feeding up the night when we're together
Ravaging the darkness when we're united
When they trying hard to get us in the end
When they're making every effort to capture us in the finale
They aren't your mothers
They're not your mothers
They aren't your brothers
They're not your brothers
They got no feeling but the pain in their stomachs
They possess no sensation except the agony in their stomachs
Have you seen their faces the way they stare?
Did you witness the way they gaze with their faces?
We know for sure there can't be anything in there
We're convinced there can't be anything in their minds.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAMIN ORRALL, JEMIMA PEARL ABEGG, JONAS STEIN, NATHAN VASQUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind