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
Fairy Stories
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's not a toy but it's loads of fun
You gotta hold it till you hear it click
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
It's easy as a dandelion, so suck it up and quit your crying
Don't wanna talk fairy stories, so be 'em and forget your worries
It's not a toy but it's loads of fun
You gotta hold it till you hear it click
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
It's easy as a dandelion, so suck it up and quit your crying
Don't wanna talk fairy stories, so be 'em and forget your worries
The lyrics to Black Lips's song "Fairy Stories" are quite controversial as they seem to be promoting gun violence and toxic masculinity. The song is told from the perspective of a child who is proud of his father's gun and sees it as a source of fun. The repeated line "things like that'll make your mamma sick" suggests that the child is intentionally doing something that goes against his mother's wishes, possibly even endangering her.
The line "It's easy as a dandelion, so suck it up and quit your crying" reinforces the idea that showing emotions, such as fear or sadness, is weakness and something to be ashamed of. The chorus, "Don't wanna talk fairy stories, so be 'em and forget your worries" implies that the child wants to live in a world where he can take matters into his own hands and solve problems with guns instead of relying on imaginary solutions.
Overall, the song appears to be a commentary on the dangers of toxic masculinity and the glorification of guns in American culture. Through the perspective of a child, the lyrics show how gun violence can become normalized and even enjoyable, despite the harm it may cause.
Line by Line Meaning
My daddy has a gun
The singer's father owns a gun.
It's not a toy but it's loads of fun
The gun is not meant to be played with, but the singer finds it enjoyable to use.
You gotta hold it till you hear it click
To use the gun, one must hold it until the sound of the trigger click is heard.
Things like that'll make your mamma sick
The mother is not pleased with the idea of her child playing with a gun.
It's easy as a dandelion, so suck it up and quit your crying
The artist encourages others to toughen up and stop being emotional over something as simple as using a gun.
Don't wanna talk fairy stories, so be 'em and forget your worries
The singer wants others to stop talking about imaginary stories and instead face reality by embracing the use of the gun and forgetting their fears.
Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.