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
How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Innocent visions of youth are only a lie
I tried tell and lord knows I tried
But any way you break it you'll just make em cry
Little Tommy, I have bad news for you today
The teacher you loved Mr. Peterson
Has sadly passed away
Let em live on in your heart
Now we must turn the page
Little Suzy, your father has passed on
His love for you was relentless as it was strong
If only he knew he'd be gone so soon
He would have tried and spent more time
But he's on God's clock, not yours and mine
Keep him in your heart each and every day
And there he will live on and never fade away
The Black Lips's song "How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died" is a poignant and emotional exploration of the difficulty of breaking the news of a loved one's death to a child. The lyrics express the agony of trying to find the right words to tell a child that their world has been shattered, while also acknowledging that no matter how delicately the news is delivered, there is no way to shield a child from the pain of loss. The song is a reflection of the human experience of grief and reminds us how fragile life is.
The song's title and lyrics were inspired by an experience that band member Cole Alexander had as a child. Alexander's father was a minister who frequently had to inform members of the congregation about the deaths of loved ones. In an interview with NPR, Alexander said that he remembered seeing his father struggle to find the right words to say to children who had lost someone, and that memory stuck with him.
The song's lyrics are raw and honest, and they capture the universal experience of grappling with loss. The lines "Innocent visions of youth are only a lie" and "Let em live on in your heart / Now we must turn the page" are particularly moving, conveying the bittersweet reality that life goes on, but that the memory of loved ones lives on too.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you tell a child that someone has died
How can you explain to an innocent young person that somebody they know has passed away?
Innocent visions of youth are only a lie
Children's innocent and pure ideas about the world are just ideals that are not always accurate and true.
I tried tell and lord knows I tried
I attempted to communicate the information, but now I'm not sure how to break it to them.
But any way you break it you'll just make em cry
No matter what method you employ to share the tragic news, it will always cause sadness and tears.
Little Tommy, I have bad news for you today
I have some terrible news to share with you today, Tommy.
The teacher you loved Mr. Peterson
Your beloved instructor, Mr. Peterson.
Has sadly passed away
Unfortunately, he has passed on and left this world.
He was killed by a motorist in a drunken act of rage
A drunk driver was responsible for his awful death.
Let em live on in your heart
Let Mr. Peterson's memory stay with you forever.
Now we must turn the page
Now we must move on from this terrible tragedy.
Little Suzy, your father has passed on
I'm sorry to inform you, Suzy, but your father has left this world.
His love for you was relentless as it was strong
He cared for you deeply and always expressed his love for you.
If only he knew he'd be gone so soon
If only he had an idea that he would leave us so soon.
He would have tried and spent more time
He would have spent more time with you if he only knew that he wasn't given much time.
But he's on God's clock, not yours and mine
His life is in God's hands, and we can't interfere with God's plan.
Keep him in your heart each and every day
Always remember him and never forget the love he had for you.
And there he will live on and never fade away
He will forever live on in your heart, and his memory will never fade.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bryanphilippen
one day i will grow an epic hipster mustage like cole!
Tadd MacKenna
delightful
Konstantin Widtmann
rip..george
Richard Norman
@iAmnotcarly their late guitarist