While still teenagers, they formed after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Drummer Joe Bradley joined a few months later. They released their first 7" in late 2001/early 2002 on their own Die Slaughterhaus label.
Just days before a tour was to begin in December 2002, Ben Eberbaugh was killed in a car accident after his car was hit by a drunk driver. The band carried on believing that Eberbaugh would want them to continue.
The band's debut full length album was released on Bomp! Records in 2003. Eberbaugh was replaced by Jack Hines, a friend of the band members, but he too was eventually replaced by current guitarist, and former Renegades member, Ian St. Pe , in 2004.
The Black Lips have a reputation for crazy live shows that have included vomiting, urinating, nudity, band members kissing, fireworks, and a chicken. They have slowly built a fanbase that appreciates their energy and style that is a rough mishmash of blues, rock, doo-wop, country, and punk.
They gained national attention in 2006 with features in Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. The band got exposure in the New York Times for being the hardest working band during the 2007 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, in which they played a dozen shows over a three-day period.
In September 2007 their most recent album entitled Good Bad Not Evil was released. The Black Lips made their American national television debut in October 2007 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and played O Katrina.
The band also has songs from previous recording sessions, and they will eventually be released by In The Red Records.
The Black Lips are going to star in a film called Let It Be. They will play musicians in a fictitious '1980s era DIY band called The Renegades. The movie is set for production in 2008.
Cole, Jared and Joe also play in a band called The Spooks, along with members of Deerhunter and The Kiwis. The Spooks have recorded an album which should be released in 2007 or 2008 on the Die Slaughterhaus label. Ian also plays in a blasphemous garage punk band called The Original Three. There is a full length record out on Empty records and a single out on SYA records (Italy). The Original Three will have a new single coming out in December 2007 on Savage records (Sweden). Jared plays in a band called The Gaye Blades. Rob's House Records has released one 7" by The Gaye Blades, and another one should be released before the end of 2007. Cole has also released solo material under the name Old King Cole Younger. There is one split 10" release of his material on Rob's House Records that features Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, under the name of Atlas Sound, on the other side.
In 2009, the band released their fifth album, "200 Million Thousand", on Vice Records.
Band Members
* Cole Alexander (Old King Cole Younger) - Vocals, Guitar (2000 - present)
* Jared Swilley - Vocals, Bass Guitar (2000 - present)
* Joe Bradley - Vocals, Drums (2000 - present)
* Ian St. Pe - Guitar (2005 - 2014)
* Jack Hines - former Guitar (2002 - 2005, 2014 - present)
* Ben Eberbaugh - Guitarz(2000 - 2002) - deceased
Drive By Buddy
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you hate the life you've chose?
Well I hope it doesn't flatter, when you're bathing with a hose.
Well as long as your butt's clean, then it's all good.
We're hanging on a broken T-Bird hood.
Well sister, what's the matter,
Do you hate the life you've chose?
But as long as your gut's clean, then it's all good.
We're hanging on a broken T-Bird hood.
Well, drive drive buddy
Drive drive away.
Bye bye, buddy.
Sorry, but you can't stay. (You can't stay)
Well you come into my mind in a Trans and dental clips
You're walking down the line, though beside you there are kids,
But as long as your joke is clean, then it's all good.
We're hanging on a broken T-Bird hood.
You're coming down the line, You're bleeding down the bayou,
But as long as your boat's clean, then it's all good.
We're hanging on a broken T-Bird hood.
Well, drive drive buddy
Drive drive away.
Bye bye, buddy.
Sorry, but you can't stay. (You can't stay)
The lyrics to Black Lips's song Drive-By Buddy seem to be a conversation with a troubled brother and sister, asking about their unhappiness with the lives they've chosen. However, despite their issues, the chorus repeats "as long as" certain things are clean or taken care of, "then it's all good" and they continue to hang out together "on a broken T-Bird hood." The imagery of bathing with a hose, your heart going through your nose, and bleeding down the bayou all suggest a rough and uncomfortable existence. However, the song seems to offer a sense of camaraderie and acceptance in the midst of this tough lifestyle, and the driving beat of the music propels the listener forward, almost as if encouraging them to embrace life's challenges.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of accepting life as it is, even if it isn't perfect, but it also acknowledges the pain and hardship that can come with it. The repetition of "drive drive buddy, drive drive away" at the end of each verse seems to suggest that sometimes the only way through a tough situation is to move forward and leave it behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Well brother, what's the matter,
The singer asks their brother what's wrong and wants to know if he's unhappy with the life he's chosen.
Do you hate the life you've chose?
The singer wonders if the brother really despises the life he's made for himself.
Well I hope it doesn't flatter, when you're bathing with a hose.
The singer has concerns about his brother's living situation and washing practices.
Well as long as your butt's clean, then it's all good.
As long as the brother's basic hygiene is taken care of, everything is fine.
We're hanging on a broken T-Bird hood.
The artist and brother are sitting on top of a damaged T-Bird car.
Well sister, what's the matter,
The singer asks their sister what's wrong and wonders if she also hates her life choices.
Do you hate the life you've chose?
The singer suspects their sister is also unhappy with the path she's taken in life.
Well half way to your heart, goes straight up through your nose.
The artist makes a somewhat cryptic remark about their sister's health and well-being.
But as long as your gut's clean, then it's all good.
As long as the sister's basic hygiene is taken care of, everything is fine.
You're coming down the line, You're bleeding down the bayou,
The artist is describing a chaotic and perhaps dangerous situation.
But as long as your boat's clean, then it's all good.
Despite the turbulent circumstances, as long as the boat is taken care of, everything is fine.
Well, drive drive buddy
The artist urges their buddy to drive away.
Drive drive away.
The singer repeats their desire for their buddy to leave.
Bye bye, buddy.
The singer says goodbye to their buddy.
Sorry, but you can't stay. (You can't stay)
The singer reiterates that the buddy cannot remain in their current situation.
Well you come into my mind in a Trans and dental clips
The artist is reminiscing about a past encounter or event involving a trans and dental clips, the meaning of which is unclear.
You're walking down the line, though beside you there are kids,
The artist describes the buddy walking with children, but it's unclear what kind of situation or context this is in reference to.
But as long as your joke is clean, then it's all good.
As long as the buddy's jokes are appropriate and not offensive, everything is fine.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
espeaheat
SONG OF THE DAY (20 NOVEMBER 2014)
Drive By Buddy - Black Lips (2014)
This is a "19th Nervous Breakdown" grandchild with all the jangle and the retro feeling of the Stones classic, but Black Lips
a 15-year-old band from Atlanta on their seventh albumcan't be blamed for sounding so nicely psychedelic. Besides, they're still teenagers.https://www.facebook.com/newpsychedelia?ref=hl
thermaidathene
as long as yer screamin it's all good
Jonathan Ferret Campos
Oh brother, what's the matter, do you hate the life you chose?
The Spaniard
Last train to Clarkesville...?