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
Everybody Loves A Cocksucker
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And they don't like girls with short short hair, hey
And living at home is such a drag
It's hard to be feminine when you're not a fag, hey
Because everybody loves a cocksucker
But you can't help what you do
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
You like to watch TV
And they don't wanna play with me, hey
Well, living at home is such a drag
Well, it's hard to be feminine when you're not a fag, hey
Because everybody loves a cocksucker
But you can't help what you do
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
But I can't help what I do
Well the back groups had a live pucker
But I can't help but pursue
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
But I can't help what I do
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
But I can't help but pursue
Everybody loves a cocksucker
But you can't help what you do
The song "Everybody Loves A Cocksucker" by Black Lips speaks to the difficulties faced by those who do not fit into the traditional gender roles and societal norms. The lyrics mention the disapproval the singer faces from those around him for not fitting into the expected mold. The first verse mentions a disapproval from the boys around him for not dressing in a certain way or having a certain hairstyle. However, the singer notes that it is difficult to be feminine when he is not gay. Similarly, the second verse notes a disinterest in playing with the singer, leading him to watch TV by himself. Both verses highlight the difficulty the singer faces in being himself in a world that expects conformity.
The chorus, "everybody loves a cocksucker, but you can't help what you do," indicates the contradiction between society's love for the act of performing oral sex on a man, yet the hate towards individuals who do not conform to societal norms. The line "Aunt Jemima told me not to love her, but I can't help what I do" references the idea that even societal expectations cannot control one's feelings and desires. The song implies that one should not feel ashamed of who they are, and that society needs to change its expectations and tolerance towards those who fall outside of the societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
The boys don't like the clothes I wear
I am not accepted by my male peers for my fashion choices.
And they don't like girls with short short hair, hey
My male peers disapprove of women who have short hair.
And living at home is such a drag
Being stuck at home is boring and tiring.
It's hard to be feminine when you're not a fag, hey
I find it difficult to embrace my feminine side because I'm not homosexual.
Because everybody loves a cocksucker
Oral sex is a widely desired and praised act.
But you can't help what you do
It's not always within one's power to control their sexual preferences or desires.
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
Someone close to me advised against pursuing a specific love interest.
But I can't help what I do
Despite outside guidance, my heart and desires push me to pursue this love interest.
You like to watch TV
My peers are content with simply watching television for entertainment.
And they don't wanna play with me, hey
Meanwhile, I am not content with that and crave more engaging activities.
Well the back groups had a live pucker
It seems the back-up musicians had a satisfactory performance.
But I can't help but pursue
Despite outside guidance, my heart and desires push me to pursue this love interest.
Everybody loves a cocksucker
Oral sex is a widely desired and praised act.
But you can't help what you do
It's not always within one's power to control their sexual preferences or desires.
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
Someone close to me advised against pursuing a specific love interest.
But I can't help but pursue
Despite outside guidance, my heart and desires push me to pursue this love interest.
Aunt Jemima told me not to love her
Someone close to me advised against pursuing a specific love interest.
But I can't help but pursue
Despite outside guidance, my heart and desires push me to pursue this love interest.
Everybody loves a cocksucker
Oral sex is a widely desired and praised act.
But you can't help what you do
It's not always within one's power to control their sexual preferences or desires.
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.