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
Modern Art
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
Take the escalator to the next floor
Such a strong sedater, now I can't find the door
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
Like the minis at the Louvre
Spinning down the aisle
And the paintings of the Louvre
Now I'm feeling very smart
Like a 3-D picture, stereo's gone
It's a total light picture, kaleidoscope
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
And the k-hole at the Dalí
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
The Black Lips' song Modern Art is a psychedelic journey through an experience that is both disorienting and exhilarating. The lyrics describe a trip to an art exhibit where the singer and their companion become lost and disoriented, spinning in a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. The reference to a K-hole at the Dalí suggests that the experience may be drug-induced, possibly by taking molly. The lyrics contain a trippy imagery and a sense of dislocation, the feeling of being adrift in an unfamiliar space with one's mind in a state of flux.
The lyrics also allude to the thrill of transcending ordinary reality and experiencing something transcendent. The reference to feeling very smart after looking at the paintings in the Louvre, suggests that the experience is one of heightened perception and inspired creativity. The overall message is one of surrendering to the unknown, letting go of one's fears and insecurities, and embracing the unexpected.
Line by Line Meaning
K-hole at the Dalí
Taking too many drugs at the Dalí museum and experiencing a dissociative state
Seeing the unknown
Experiencing unfamiliar and surreal hallucinations
Well it might have been a molly
Speculating that the drug taken was MDMA or ecstasy
'Cause my mind's being blown
Feeling overwhelmed by intense and mind-altering sensations
Take the escalator to the next floor
Moving up or progressing to a new level or state
Such a strong sedater, now I can't find the door
Feeling heavily sedated and disoriented, unable to navigate or function normally
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
Feeling lost and confused, unsure of one's location or surroundings
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Experiencing vertigo or dizziness, possibly due to the disorienting effects of drugs
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Suggesting a desire for a change of environment and immersion into nature
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
Proposing a fresh start or new beginning after a disorienting experience
Like the minis at the Louvre
Appreciating the artistic beauty and cultural significance of the collection at the Louvre museum
Spinning down the aisle
Moving through the museum in a disorienting or spinning manner, possibly from the effects of drugs
And the paintings of the Louvre
Admiring the impressive art collection at the Louvre museum
Now I'm feeling very smart
Experiencing a sense of intellectual superiority or enlightenment
Like a 3-D picture, stereo's gone
Perceiving reality in a new, enhanced way that is beyond the normal human sensory experience
It's a total light picture, kaleidoscope
Experiencing a complex and constantly changing visual display
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Cole Alexander, Ian St. Pe Brown, Jared Swilley, Joseph Bradley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Satan's son bob
This may not be 100% K-hole at the Dalí
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
Take the escalator to the next floor
Such a strong sedater, now I can't find the door
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
Like the minis at the Louvre
Spinning down the aisle
And the paintings of the Louvre
Now I'm feeling very smart
Like a 3-D picture, stereo's gone
It's a total light picture, kaleidoscope
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
And the k-hole at the Dalí
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
Christy Anseth
Best song to listen too before you get off work on a Friday!! Get you hyped!
Satan's son bob
This may not be 100% K-hole at the Dalí
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
Take the escalator to the next floor
Such a strong sedater, now I can't find the door
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
Like the minis at the Louvre
Spinning down the aisle
And the paintings of the Louvre
Now I'm feeling very smart
Like a 3-D picture, stereo's gone
It's a total light picture, kaleidoscope
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
And the k-hole at the Dalí
Seeing the unknown
Well it might have been a molly
'Cause my mind's being blown
You turn around and you don't know where you've been
You look up at the glass dome and the room beings to spin
Let's go out and find the ocean 'cause I think we need a swim
Turn around, start it over, let's begin
clubfootcameltoe
It's not easy to drive responsibly if this song is playing in your car.
Bob Warren
For some unknown reason, I feel an overwhelming desire to drive a red Dodge Challenger whenever this song plays...
clubfootcameltoe
I have a difficult time driving responsibly when this song is playing.
David McCarthy
100% agree
c o o l v i b r a t i o n s
you've clearly not heard about eurobeat lmao
Martina B.
Just like James T. Kirk, apparently 😅
Diamond2210
@Martina B. Looks like we both came here from strange new worlds
Martina B.
@Diamond2210 I've actually known Black Lips for years, I love them and to hear them on Trek was just *chef's kiss*.