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
Not A Problem
Black Lips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found my dog beneath the Chevrolet.
I knew things were going wrong,
Got back home and my home is gone.
So I grabbed my gun and walked down the street,
I'm trying to find some enemies to meet.
And now I'm looking, yes I mean I'm searching
For a place with my guns in hand but
They can't tell me
What I can and cannot do
And I won't hold a
Cold dead hand
They're laying on the ground
While I smile from on top
And see their laugh turn into a snarl
Let me tell you what
(It's a problem)
No, it's not a problem to me!
The lyrics to Black Lips’s song “Not A Problem” are dark and unsettling, telling the story of a troubled individual who is grappling with feelings of loss, hopelessness, and rage. The singer wakes up one morning to find that his dog is missing, and he soon realizes that his home has been destroyed or taken from him. In response, he arms himself with a gun and sets out to find someone to take his anger out on. The chorus of the song declares that the singer doesn’t consider this behavior to be a problem, implying that he has become unhinged and self-destructive.
The first stanza establishes a tone of foreboding, with the image of the dog beneath the Chevrolet suggesting a sinister undertone to the scene. The second stanza is more overtly violent, with the singer professing to seek out enemies and expressing a willingness to use his gun. The final stanza makes it clear that the singer is antagonistic towards authority, refusing to be told what to do and expressing a desire for power and dominance over others. While the song is troubling in its content, it is also a powerful and evocative exploration of the darker corners of the human psyche.
Overall, “Not A Problem” is an intense and disturbing song, one that paints a vivid portrait of a person who has lost all sense of control and is seeking to lash out at the world around them. Its rawness and honesty make it a powerful work of art, even as its subject matter is deeply unsettling.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke up in the morning just the other day
The singer woke up and begun narrating their day's events
Found my dog beneath the Chevrolet.
The dog was hiding underneath the car
I knew things were going wrong,
The singer sensed something was amiss in their day
Got back home and my home is gone.
The artist returned to find their place of residence was no longer there.
So I grabbed my gun and walked down the street,
The artist picked up a gun and left their location.
I'm trying to find some enemies to meet.
The singer is attempting to find someone to have a conflict with.
And now I'm looking, yes I mean I'm searching
The singer is on a mission to find a place of interest.
For a place with my guns in hand but
The artist wants to find a place where they can carry guns around.
They can't tell me
The artist is opposed to people dictating what they can or can't do.
What I can and cannot do
The artist wants the freedom to choose their actions.
And I won't hold a
The singer will not hold onto something,
Cold dead hand
Even if someone else has passed away or is no longer in the picture.
They're laying on the ground
The other person is lying on the ground, either dead or injured.
While I smile from on top
The singer is gloating over their victory over the opponent.
And see their laugh turn into a snarl
They watch as the opponent goes from happy to angry.
Let me tell you what
The artist is about to explain something.
(It's a problem)
The listener may see the artist's behavior as problematic.
No, it's not a problem to me!
The singer has no issues with their actions and is unapologetic.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kai
I woke up in the morning just the other day
Found my dog beneath the Chevrolet.
I knew things were going wrong,
Got back home and my home is gone.
So I grabbed my gun and walked down the street,
I'm trying to find some enemies to meet.
And now I'm looking, yes I mean I'm searching
For a place with my guns in hand but
they can't tell me
what I can and cannot do
and I won't hold a
cold dead hand
they're laying on the ground
while I smile from on top
and see their laugh turn into a snarl.... Let me tell you what
(It's a problem)
No, it's not a problem to me!
TeenSpiritGrrrl
beyond amazing. black lips have become one of my favorite bands
t. james
Exactly.
Jared Babinec
im proud this music is from my generation :)
Tablesaw
still a classic !! Joe is the man !
Manuel Chavez
Got to see these guys live in austin thank you
nikhil
'Twas an awesome performance at Burgerama!
coatzel21
This takes me back
Kai
I woke up in the morning just the other day
Found my dog beneath the Chevrolet.
I knew things were going wrong,
Got back home and my home is gone.
So I grabbed my gun and walked down the street,
I'm trying to find some enemies to meet.
And now I'm looking, yes I mean I'm searching
For a place with my guns in hand but
they can't tell me
what I can and cannot do
and I won't hold a
cold dead hand
they're laying on the ground
while I smile from on top
and see their laugh turn into a snarl.... Let me tell you what
(It's a problem)
No, it's not a problem to me!
Uati Tofa
TANK U!!!!!!!!
Inga Bagrationi
GOOD SOOOOOOONG!