The band's second album 'Take Them On, On Your Own' featured several songs ('Generation' and 'US Government') which were critical of the United States' foreign policy and George Bush in particular.
After conflict with their label (Virgin Records), the band was dropped in 2004. Nick Jago left the band at the end of their summer tour in the same year due to "internal conflict".
Following Jago's departure Peter Hayes and Robert Levon Been regrouped and recorded the band's third album. With their third record Howl, they added blues, folk and gospel, a la Spiritualized.
In 2005 the band inked a new deal with Echo in the UK, and RCA in the US. Nick Jago also returned to the fold. The band's third album "Howl" was released that same year to widespread critical acclaim. Jago returned after most of the album was recorded but played on "Promise".
"Baby 81" the band's fourth album was released on May 1st, 2007. In June 2008 Nick Jago once again left the touring line-up of the band being replaced by The Raveonettes' touring drummer Leah Shapiro. Nick stated that "...I am fired again and to be honest with you I respect their decision".
However Hayes and Been released a conflicting joint statement that read "Nick won't be joining us for the upcoming European tour, but it's not true that he is fired. We just feel Nick needs time to sort out exactly what he wants right now. His heart and all his energy and attention is on his own solo project and he needs to see that through".
Current:
On January 9, 2013, the band announced via Facebook the name of their seventh album called Specter at the Feast which was released on March 18 in the UK and Europe and on March 19 in USA, Canada and worldwide. It is considered a tribute to Michael Been (The Call), Robert Levon Been's father who died suddenly on tour with BRMC in August 2010.
It received mostly positive reviews; many critics noting that despite the band having been together for some time the album showed a mellower and moodier side with songs such as opener `Firewalker'.
The band made the first single from the record available, a cover of The Call's 1989 hit "Let the Day Begin", for free download on their official website. The decision to record the song was a tribute to Robert's father Michael, who used his experience from The Call to help BRMC before his death in the last couple of years. The single became Q Magazine's track of the day.[6] The band have also released the Let the Day Begin EP for free, consisting of the single and the album track "Returning", made available for streaming on the official website.[7]
On April 8, 2013 it was announced that the band would play at Rock Werchter, the largest rock festival in Belgium.
The band continues to show a willingness to tour despite the obstacles. During the 2013 tour, the organisers of the Harvest festival in Australia decided to abandon the multi-city event, of which BRMC were one of the lead acts, only a few months ahead of the performances. BRMC was the first band to announce it would still visit the country and play its own shows.
Many shows on the 2013/2014 tour have sold out.
BRMC's music/songs have been featured in many films, television programs and video games.
Visit blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com for tour/CD and merchandise info.
Discography:
2001 - B.R.M.C.
2001 - Screaming Gun (EP)
2002 - Spread Your Love (EP)
2003 - Take Them On, On Your Own
2005 - Howl
2006 - Howl Sessions Vol.1 (EP)
2006 - Howl Sessions Vol. 2 (EP)
2007 - Baby 81
2007 - Napster Live Session (EP)
2007 - American X: Baby 81 Sessions (EP)
2008 - The Effects Of 333 (Download)
2010 - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
2013 - Specter At The Feast
2018 - Wrong Creatures
Half-State
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We could see what we had and we let it go
Now it's miles away and cast in stone
Now we're miles away and casting stones
There's a fire, there's a fire on the road
It's a cruel world that lets us go
It's a falling wind that calls our souls
It's a cruel world that lets us go
It's a cruel world that lets us go
It's a fool alone that carries gold
He'll find his own when he finds alone
Now it's miles away and cast in stone
Now he's miles away and casting stones
There's a fire there's a fire on the road
It's a cruel world that lets us go
It's a place we can never call our own
It's a falling wind that calls our souls
It's a cruel world that lets us go
It's a cruel world that lets us go
So where are they now to let us know
So where are they now to let us know
So where are they now to let me know
Falling through what's left of the fractions
Waking up the silence passing
Holding on to something you can't lose
Waiting for a sign of passion
I'm gonna catch them, I'm gonna catch them, never let go
I'm gonna catch them, I'm gonna catch them, never let go
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now?
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's song Half-State appears to be a reflection on the regrets of a failed relationship. The lines "We were close but we never made it home / We could see what we had and we let it go" suggest a lost opportunity for love, while "It's a place we can never call our own / It's a falling wind that calls our souls" acknowledges the transience of life and how we must ultimately move on. The repetition of "It's a cruel world that lets us go" emphasizes the feeling of being abandoned by the world, and the lines "So where are they now to let us know" speaks to the desperation of seeking answers and closure.
The first verse introduces the idea that the couple had a chance at a relationship, but failed to pursue it. The second verse introduces the recurring image of "a fire on the road" as a symbol of the harshness of the world that forces us apart. The third verse shifts to the perspective of the singer or the singer, addressing the idea that a "fool alone" carries something valuable, likely a metaphor for the importance of holding on to love. The final verse returns to the idea of seeking closure and answers from the absent "they."
Overall, the lyrics of Half-State suggest a melancholic reflection on what could have been, and the singer's search for meaning and answers.
Line by Line Meaning
We were close but we never made it home
We had something special, but we never realized it.
We could see what we had and we let it go
We knew what we had, but we gave up on it.
Now it's miles away and cast in stone
What we had is now too far away and unchangeable.
Now we're miles away and casting stones
We're now far apart and blaming each other for what happened.
There's a fire, there's a fire on the road
There's danger and chaos ahead.
It's a cruel world that lets us go
The world is unforgiving and doesn't care about us.
It's a place we can never call our own
We don't belong anywhere.
It's a falling wind that calls our souls
We're restless and searching for something.
It's a fool alone that carries gold
It's foolish to have something valuable without sharing it with anyone.
He'll find his own when he finds alone
He'll find happiness only when he accepts being alone.
So where are they now to let us know
We're lost and wondering where our friends are to help us.
Falling through what's left of the fractions
We're losing what little we had left.
Waking up the silence passing
We're aware of the emptiness around us.
Holding on to something you can't lose
We're trying to keep something that's slipping away.
Waiting for a sign of passion
We're waiting for something to reignite our enthusiasm.
I'm gonna catch them, I'm gonna catch them, never let go
I'm determined to find those who left and hold on to them forever.
Where are they now
We're still searching for our missing friends.
Where are they now
We're still wondering where those who left us are.
Where are they now
We're still looking for answers to our questions.
Where are they now?
We're still lost and want to be found.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LEAH JULIE SHAPIRO, PETER B HAYES, ROBERT L BEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind