1991 - 2000
Brian, Paul, Dom and Damien Rice form Juniper, having met in school. They go to college, play some weddings, 21st's and Bar Mitzvahs... and for a while have a Sunday night residency in the Kildrought Lounge and Bar, Celbridge. They meet Dave, who weans them off the Neil Diamond and Roxette covers. Band move into house in country, release EP, Manna, and two singles in Ireland. Damien leaves band, the others read about Chuck Yeager and his Right Stuff. They call the new band Bell X1. Bell X1 support Elliott Smith and Bon Jovi in the same 1 week period, leading to severe identity crisis, making small music with big hair. They make their first album, Neither Am I, in the summer/autumn of 1999 with Nick Seymour of Crowded House and release it in Ireland a year later, after much touring and a couple of old singles.
2001
Band take some time to indulge musical differences. Paul records and tours as drummer with Tipperary siren Gemma Hayes, Brian's away with Offaly hearthrob Mundy, and Dave and Dom join Richie Mullen of Lino Richie Carpets, Finglas, in touring cabaret show. Bell X1 regroup in late summer and write songs for what would become Music in Mouth in a house by the sea in Wexford.
2002
Second album recording starts in Ridge Farm studios in Surrey, with producer Jamie Cullum. After 4 weeks they move to the Fallout Shelter, London. The studio has no teapot!! Some moaning. The band take turns to make dinner. Some of it is shit. The world Cup happens. Mixing finishes in July and everyone goes away for a while. Come back and mix it all again. Borrow a friend's house in Kilkenny, record some more songs, play hurling, are laughed at by locals. Music in Mouth finally finished in December, a few days after the birth of Jamie's daughter Ellie, who was both conceived and born during the making of the record.
2003, 2004
The album Music in Mouth is released on July 21st 2003, to tremendous applause, and the band play with all sorts to try to flog it. Tom McRae, Keane, Starsailor, Aqualung and Snow Patrol show them the highways and byways of the UK and continental Europe. Songs from the record appear in many TV series, from Teachers to The OC, and at home the album goes double platinum, with four top 40 singles. In July 2004, the band gather in yet another house in Wexford to write a new record.
2005
Flock is recorded in Dublin and mixed in London, with Roger Becherian producing and Phil Hayes knob twiddling. A shrine to Daniel O' Donnell (Irish singing deity, ref Cliff Richard without ever having had a brush with cool) is created in the green room, Dave creates Pistachio Nut Shell Installation and mustaches are grown. The band take a break from recording and sell out a mini tour in the USA, where they record a live session for Nic Harcourt’s essential show on KCRW in L.A.
Flock is released in Ireland and hits the heights of #1 in the album charts. The band leaves Island Records and sets up its own record label called BellyUp records. A live album called Tour De Flock is released - it is a 2-disc compilation featuring 16 tracks from their sold-out gig at The Point Theatre, Dublin on December 1, 2006.
In 2008, Flock is released in the USA and the band appears on the St. Patrick's Day edition of the Late Show with David Letterman.
On 2nd October, Brian Crosby quits saying "It's been an extraordinary privilege to be in a band with your mates for more than 15 years. I'm really grateful for everything I got to do with Bell X1, for all the adventures we had and for the great support of our fans. It's been particularly wonderful to have connected with so many people and to have got to meet people all over the world doing what I love. I look forward to continue making those connections. At the same time I'll be applauding the boys continued success."
As well as promoting Flock in the USA, the band gets busy recording a new album Blue Lights On The Runway. It finally sees the light of day in 2009, with lead single The Great Defector becoming their biggest hit to date (no. 3 in the Irish charts).
2011
The band will release its newest album Bloodless Coup in stores and online on April 1 in Ireland, April 4 in the UK, April 8 in Germany and Benelux, April 12 in the USA and Canada, and April 26 in France. The album's lead single is “Velcro,” which the band performed on The Rachael Ray Show on St. Patrick's Day.
Velcro
Bell X1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With these fine young boys.
Stuck in confined spaces,
The pram has only so many toys.
You fall in love with girls in hi-viz jackets,
Girls in their golf carts.
Welly-tans and sunglasses,
In a field in Texas,
Under the welcome rain,
Pulled from the deepening quicksand,
By an angel and his chain.
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll be your positive.
You'll be my negative.
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll drive the get away,
And you bring the glue.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
Now we're clacking at computers,
In the sickly light they throw.
All jonesing for wi-fi,
So we can steal more tv shows.
Watching a 6 year old on YouTube,
Playing drums to Billie Jean.
Now this is the stuff that binds us,
This and all those dairy creams.
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll be your positive.
You'll be my negative.
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll drive the get away.
And you bring the glue.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be your velcro.
We're heading home, airport screening,
Man has his rubber gloves on.
He says there's explosive residue on the strings of my guitar?
Well that will be six weeks of sweat now,
In a pop-rock combo.
Why don't you come and join us?
You can take all the solos?
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll be your positive.
You'll be my negative.
I'll be your tongue.
You'll be my groove.
I'll drive the get away,
And you bring the glue.
I'll be your velcro.
The lyrics to Bell X1's song "Velcro" describe the experiences of a touring band on the road. The first verse depicts being stuck inside a van with fellow bandmates and references the monotony of touring life. The second verse describes a brief encounter with girls in golf carts and welly-tans (wellington boots), showcasing the fleeting and superficial nature of relationships while touring. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'll be your Velcro," suggesting a commitment to stick together despite the difficulties of the road.
The bridge portrays the band members working on their computers and watching YouTube videos, suggesting a sense of isolation in a world consumed by technology. The final verse describes going through airport security with a guitar, where the singer is stopped for having "explosive residue on the strings." The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, again emphasizing the desire for connection and commitment amidst the challenges of life on the road.
The song is a poignant commentary on the experience of touring as a musician, highlighting the ups and downs of life on the road and the longing for connection and commitment amidst the monotony and isolation. The repetition of the chorus evokes a sense of unity and belonging, suggesting that despite the challenges, the band members are committed to sticking together.
Line by Line Meaning
There's not a lot that you can do in this van,
Being in a van with limited space and young boys doesn't offer many entertainment options.
You fall in love with girls in hi-viz jackets,
It's easy to be attracted to women who wear high-visibility jackets, such as construction workers and road crews.
In a field in Texas, Under the welcome rain, Pulled from the deepening quicksand, By an angel and his chain.
A metaphorical experience of being rescued with optimism from a bleak situation in Texas by someone who was kind.
I'll be your tongue. You'll be my groove. I'll be your positive. You'll be my negative.
Together, we'll work perfectly, with you providing the rhythm and me the words.
I'll drive the get away, And you bring the glue.
I'll plan and execute our escape, while you keep everything together once we're out.
Now we're clacking at computers, In the sickly light they throw.
Spending too much time on computers, lit by cold fluorescent light, can be draining and perhaps even harmful.
All jonesing for wi-fi, So we can steal more tv shows.
We're all craving Wi-Fi, for the purpose of downloading films and TV shows illegally.
Watching a 6 year old on YouTube, Playing drums to Billie Jean.
There's nothing wrong with being awed by the musical talents of a 6-year-old from a YouTube video.
Now this is the stuff that binds us, This and all those dairy creams.
Our shared interests, such as enjoying delicious dairy cream treats and discovering new music, bring us together.
We're heading home, airport screening, Man has his rubber gloves on.
While passing through airport security, we're afraid of suspiciously being patted down by an official wearing rubber gloves.
Why don't you come and join us? You can take all the solos?
We're inviting you to join us and become the star of the group. You can take all the solos for yourself.
I'll be your velcro.
I'll be the thing that keeps you together through tough times and served as a bond between us.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE BRIAN GERAGHTY, DOMINIC MICHAEL PHILLIPS, PAUL ANTHONY NOONAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CydleyMcDidley
They never fail to create great joy with their music xxxx
@MissScorchio
Such an under-rated band, what an absolute tune!
@willie8976
Still are ,,,,I'm 38 now damm 🤣🤣
@simonbridgeman1776
Just watching this again- super song and a cool video. I love the shutter at the end. Bell X1 rule 😄
@ruddgirl
Great news! I heard this song on the radio here in L.A.today. I was like oooo what is this? I haven't felt that chill over a song in a long time! I have a feeling it's going to be big here!
@tashaad1015
2020 💕
@daaniyalmasum6842
Brilliant brilliant track. Still sounds fresh and that is still as catchy. And many shades of David Byrne here.
@rened89
FB just reminded me I was at their gig 10 years ago in London. In a church. ❤
@johnrohan398
Unbelievable. Love it. Pure quality. Great lyrics as always from bellx1.
@johnkeane2038
Excellent what a band. Can't wait to see these live!!!