The Black Lips is a self-described "flower punk" band which formed in Atlan… Read Full Bio ↴The Black Lips is a self-described "flower punk" band which formed in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in 2000.

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

Step Right Up
Black Lips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Step right up get it line
No admission free this time
About see some truth at hand
In just a moment you'll understand

Maybe you missed it the first time
Didn't quite get it on the second line
Now's the last chance for your kind

Cause then it's not coming back again!

Now you want it it's what you need
And what you need you can't have
Cause it's mine, all mine
Less you kill me, free your mind

Now you've seen it, whatcha think?
The beautiful colors on the bathroom sink

And it's gone, all gone
Now you see it, just like King Khan

Overall Meaning

In Black Lips's song "Step Right Up," the opening lines are a call to action for the listener to join in and pay attention. The singer declares that there is no free admission this time, and that in a moment they will understand and see some truth at hand. The idea of truth and understanding is important throughout the song, as the singer implores the listener to look closely and make sense of what they see.

As the song progresses, the singer becomes more specific about what they want the listener to see. They mention that the opportunity is not coming back again, and that what they have is theirs alone unless someone kills them. Finally, they reveal what they want the listener to pay attention to: the beautiful colors on the bathroom sink. This image might be seen by some as a silly or insignificant thing to focus on, but to the singer, it represents something important or profound. The line "now you see it, just like King Khan" could be interpreted as a reference to the psychedelic rock artist who is also known for his colorful and surrealistic visuals.

Overall, "Step Right Up" is a song about paying attention and striving for understanding. The singer urges the listener to tune out distractions and focus on what is important, even if it might seem strange or insignificant at first.

Line by Line Meaning

Step right up get it line
Join the queue and get in line

No admission free this time
There's no free entry now

About see some truth at hand
You're going to witness some reality

In just a moment you'll understand
You'll comprehend it in a minute

Maybe you missed it the first time
You probably didn't catch it earlier

Didn't quite get it on the second line
You didn't quite understand it on the next line

Now's the last chance for your kind
This is the final opportunity for you

Cause then it's not coming back again!
After this, it won't happen again

Now you want it it's what you need
You desire it now, it's your necessity

And what you need you can't have
However, you can't have what you need

Cause it's mine, all mine
Because it's mine and only mine