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
Family Tree
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk with me
It feels so cold
Down by the family tree
It feels so cold
Walk with me
Feel so cold
Down by the family tree
Can I take you down?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
Can I take you out?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
Well it is so cold
Walk with me
Looks so old
Down by the family tree
Well it looks so old
Come with me
Looks so old
Down by the family tree
Oh my God!
Can I take you down?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
Can I take you out?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
Can I take you down?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
Can I take you out?
Come on out with me!
Can I take you out
Out to the family tree?
The lyrics to Black Lips's song Family Tree are cryptic and ambiguous. The repeated phrase "it feels so cold" adds to the overall eerie and unsettling feeling of the song. The family tree mentioned in the lyrics serves as a symbolic representation of the past, the roots, and the history that we are all connected to. The dark tone of the song suggests that the past is not always pleasant and the coldness portrayed in the lyrics may allude to a sense of regret, pain, or sorrow that comes from reflecting on our past.
The chorus of the song, where the singer repeatedly asks "Can I take you out? Out to the family tree?" can be interpreted in different ways. It may be an invitation for someone to join in his reflection or to confront their past together. It may also represent a desire to share one's history with another person, perhaps seeking comfort or understanding from another who went through similar experiences. The "Oh my God!" that follows each verse can be seen as a moment of realization, a sudden understanding of one's own history, or the fear of confronting it.
Overall, Black Lips's song Family Tree is a haunting and reflective piece that brings attention to the importance of our roots, our past, and the impact they have on our present and future.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels so cold
The atmosphere is lonely and uninviting
Walk with me
Please accompany me through this gloomy environment
Down by the family tree
In the vicinity of a location significant to my family history
Can I take you down?
May I lead you to this place I hold dear?
Come on out with me!
Join me on this excursion and experience what I have to offer
Well it is so cold
This cold environment seems unwelcoming
Looks so old
The site appears aged and has a rich history
Oh my God!
Expressing awe or appreciation for this familial site
Out to the family tree?
Would you like to visit this historically significant place as well?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JESSI ALEXANDER, MICHAEL MOBLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HalfOfKyle
Saw this band earlier this year, one of the most memorable shows I have been to! Right on the Dnipro river in Kyiv, Ukraine.
@pdymc
How’s your current situation?
@arnaudmahu8996
How are you Buddy?
@scruffyp9480
My dads like 70 something and he really digs this tune. Not gonna show him the video.
@leonoradrianatena1789
+Scruffy P please don't show him the video! hahah
@desipalmer106
SHOW IT TO HIM
@johnshears5160
best keep it to us young'ns now hear
@rolandbaker1117
Scruffy P ok.
@SHINEBOXPROD
Scruffy P wise choice
@psyconetwork951
I miss the signature Joe Bradley head-swing-while-drumming in their music videos.