They sought and found little mainstream success, but the group's piledriver drum machines and brutal, slashing electric guitars were widely influential, especially for industrial rock. Albini's snide, malevolent singing and provocative lyrics garnered much attention.
Albini made a name for himself for his controversial "Tired of Ugly Fat?" column in the Chicago zine Matter, as well as irregular contributions to Forced Exposure. At the time, the band consisted of Albini and his drum machine, a Roland TR-606. (All of Big Black's recordings credit "Roland" as if "he" were a member of the band.)
The Lungs EP, the first effort to appear under the Big Black name, was recorded by Albini in his dorm room at Northwestern University. Intended primarily to recruit members to fill out the band, Lungs was released by Ruthless Records. The record is infamous for the variety of inserts, which included a lyric sheet in most copies, plus extras like condoms, dollar bills, stickers, concert tickets, photographs, silverware, razor blades, bloody bandages, and squirt guns. Heavily influenced by Public Image Limited and Killing Joke, Albini describes the amateurish Lungs as one of his few artistic regrets.
In 1983 Jeff Pezzati and Santiago Durango, both of Naked Raygun, joined the band on bass and guitar, respectively. They recorded two EPs together, switching to Homestead Records, and soon after Pezzati left the band. He was replaced by Dave Riley.
Riley was a longtime funk fan and had worked at a Detroit recording studio frequented by Sly Stone and George Clinton. His bass guitar work with Big Black was, to a degree, influenced by funk — not to suggest that he played like Bootsy Collins or Larry Graham, but he did bring a sinuous quality to the music. Even before Riley joined, there was evidence of an interest in funk: Big Black had already covered James Brown's The Payback.
The band made a name for itself nationally with its first album Atomizer, which featured more controversial lyrics by Albini, and strong contributions by Durango and Riley to the songs and arrangement — a working scheme the band had settled on because it took advantage of each member's strengths. Some listeners did not understand that their songs were either social commentary or sarcastic jokes (often both), and assumed that the band was sexist and racist. Albini responded to these accusations by making his lyrics even more offensive than before. Albini has stated that irritating "squares" was no challenge, but he took specific glee in offending "hipsters".
Albini drew much lyrical inspiration from misadventures and escapades he observed during his teen years in rural Missoula, Montana: for example, Cables was inspired by acquaintances who would visit a slaughterhouse to watch cattle get killed.
In 1987 the band switched labels again, this time to the cult Chicago-based indie label Touch and Go Records, when the band became disenchanted with Homestead Records after the label illegally released promotional-only copies of some limited-edition recordings. Big Black then released the Headache EP, which bore a sticker reading, "Not as good as Atomizer, so don't get your hopes up, cheese!" This was not a gimmick; the band truly thought Headache was inferior, and wanted to warn fans.
Shortly after, Durango announced that he was leaving the band to attend law school. Never expecting to make a career out of Big Black, the band realized this would be a good time to stop, not wanting to turn into the Rolling Stones. They broke up, and then released one final album, Songs About Fucking
Steve Albini went on to become a successful recording engineer (he dislikes the term "producer") for bands like Pixies, Nirvana, The Jesus Lizard, The Auteurs, Slint, Membranes, PJ Harvey, and many others, in addition to playing in Rapeman and Shellac.
The band are mentioned in the 1988 the Dead Milkmen song, Sri Lanka Sex Hotel, in the line: "Let's play Big Black at 3 a.m., And tell the neighbours they can all get fucked".
Dave Riley suffered a stroke in 1993 and was left paraplegic. He started a blog and wrote a book.
Santiago Durango released two EPs as Arsenal on Touch and Go, and is still a practicing lawyer. In his first case he helped recover Cynthia Plaster Caster's bronze casts of the genitalia of various rock and roll artists, including that of Jimi Hendrix. He handled some litigation for Touch and Go, and is currently an appellate defender.
Touch and Go acquired the rights to the Big Black back catalog, and reissued these (by this time) hard-to-acquire classics.
Big Black have been posthumously successful, with Q Magazine's August 2007 issue naming Songs About Fucking as the fifth loudest album of all time, just ahead of the Who's Live at Leeds and Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.
Big Black briefly reunited to play a few songs at Touch and Go Records 25th anniversary celebration on 9 September 2006. The line up was Steve Albini, Santiago Durango and Jeff Pezzati. They played Cables, Dead Billy, Pigeon Kill and Racer X in that order.
"I know what you're all thinking... 'what was all the fuss about?'" Albini said onstage that night. He later said that the reunion would not have happened but for the Touch & Go anniversary, and said the record label is "the most important thing to happen in music in my lifetime." Pezzati and Durango nodded in assent.
Big Black's career is chronicled in Our Band Could Be Your Life, a study of several important American underground rock groups.
In December 2019, longtime bassist Dave Riley passed away from throat and lung cancer. He was 59.
10
Big Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rex, Racer X
Brother is Speed
Brother is Speed
Brother is sex
Shut up, Pops
Rex, Racer X
OK
On the top of his car
Rex keeps his speed
In a little glass jar
Racer X on the road
Rex on the track
Little cartoon nips
Racer X on attack
OK
Just a man in a car
Racer X got a need
Come on, Five
I need a little more speed
He's just a regular guy
Racer X got a need
Come on, Pops
I need a little more speed
Just a goddamn job
Just a goddamn job
Just a goddamn job
Just a goddamn job
Just a goddamn job
When you're hauling strips
Just a goddamn job
Rex needs his fix
OK
OK
Rex is a man
He's the brother of sex
Aw, shut up Pops
Here's to Rex, Racer X
OK
The lyrics of Big Black (Rock)'s song Racer X appear to be about a man named Rex who is a racer with a need for speed. Rex is also known as Racer X and his brother is called Speed. However, we see that the lyrics take a different meaning when it comes to the line "Brother is sex". This line can mean that Speed has an immense appeal and charisma to the people around him. However, Rex, who is not as flamboyant as his brother, is given a big white X on top of his car – a symbol of his subdued personality. We also see that Rex keeps his speed in a little glass jar, which can be interpreted as his way of controlling and containing his urge for speed.
As the song progresses, a character referred to as Pops is introduced in the lyrics. He may be a father-figure or a mentor of some sort. Rex is requesting more speed and "Five" to achieve that, probably referring to his support team, is also mentioned. Rex's constant need for speed can be seen as his way of living, leading him to consider it as just a goddamn job.
Overall, the song reflects on the life of a racer and the need for speed that drives them towards their goals, but at the same time reminds listeners of the mundane aspect of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Regular guy, Rex got a need
Rex is a regular guy who has a need for something.
Rex, Racer X
Rex goes by the name Racer X.
Brother is Speed
Racer X's brother is speed.
Brother is Speed
Speed is Racer X's brother.
Brother is sex
Speed is like sex to Racer X.
Shut up, Pops
Racer X tells his dad to be quiet.
Rex, Racer X
Racer X is also known as Rex.
OK
Racer X is acknowledging something.
Got a big white X
Racer X has a big white X on the top of his car.
On the top of his car
The big white X is on top of Racer X's car.
Rex keeps his speed
Racer X, aka Rex, maintains his speed.
In a little glass jar
Racer X keeps his speed in a little glass jar.
Racer X on the road
Racer X is driving on the road.
Rex on the track
Rex, aka Racer X, is racing on the track.
Little cartoon nips
There are little cartoon clips involving Racer X.
Racer X on attack
Racer X is going on the attack.
Just a man in a car
Racer X is just a man driving a car.
Racer X got a need
Racer X has a need for something.
Come on, Five
Racer X is asking for more speed from someone named Five.
I need a little more speed
Racer X needs more speed to satisfy his need.
Just a goddamn job
Driving is just a job to Racer X.
Just a goddamn job
Racer X is emphasizing that driving is just a job to him.
Just a goddamn job
Racer X is reminding himself that driving is just a job.
Just a goddamn job
Driving is nothing more than a job to Racer X.
Just a goddamn job
Racer X is frustrated that people don't understand that driving is just a job to him.
When you're hauling strips
Racer X is talking about hauling strips, which is driving quickly.
Just a goddamn job
Driving is still just a job to Racer X.
Rex needs his fix
Racer X, aka Rex, needs his speed to satisfy his addiction.
OK
Racer X is acknowledging something.
OK
Racer X is acknowledging something again.
Rex is a man
Racer X, aka Rex, is a man.
He's the brother of sex
Racer X's brother, speed, is like sex to him.
Aw, shut up Pops
Racer X is telling his dad to be quiet again.
Here's to Rex, Racer X
This is a cheer to Racer X, aka Rex.
OK
This is a final acknowledgment from Racer X.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gagotarlet
🎺💀🎷💀
sandman
this is a masterpiece
Mr. Chicken
It's too short though. Needs to be extended
random mobile gaming
Yess
Finn Tallahassee HTF
This is a YouTube video.
Simba
I dream of this everyday
Slackin
What he’s singing about or how he sings
Logan McGlynn
That wasnt a dream
heavly armored eel
THIS IS SO FIRE OMG
LW Offroading
The kids in 4050 wondering why the hell this was important