Blanks 77 was conceived by vocalist Mike Blank and drummer Chad 10 Seconds during jam sessions at rock club, The Pipeline. Guitarist Renee Wasted was added after she replied to an ad placed in a local music newspaper. Blanks 77 has gone through three bass players since its inception. Original bassist Brendan, who had previously played with the Connecticut-based group, Devestation, was replaced by Geoff, who gave way to Timm "T.J." Blank, formerly the lead singer and guitarist for The Broken Heroes, in 1995.
Blanks 77's debut album, "Killer Blanks", was released in Germany in 1995 and in the United States the following year. Their second album, "Tanked And Pogoed", followed in 1997.
Suburbia
Blanks 77 Lyrics
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Couldnt see the track marks from his wrists to his elbows
She was busy drinking martinis
'cause life in the suburbs ain't always that easy
Julie was perfect yea queen of the prom
Most likely to succeed by the age of 21
Something funny happened to her along the way
First she took a hit then she ran away
Mommy couldnt figure out what was wrong
Tears roll from her tranquilized eyes
Another pill will kill the pain inside
Julie was hangin' from the 12th street bridge
Her suicide note clenched in her fist
It said sorry things turned out this way
Maybe tomorrow will be a better day
Blanks 77's song Suburbia is a powerful commentary on the dark underbelly of being young in the suburbs. It tells the story of Johnny, a junkie whose mom is oblivious to his drug use, and Julie, a once-promising young woman who spirals out of control after experimenting with drugs. The first verse sets the scene: Johnny's mom is too distracted by her martinis to notice the signs of her son's addiction, highlighting the isolation and lack of community that can exist in even the most seemingly idyllic of suburban neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Julie, the perfect queen of the prom, falls victim to drugs and ultimately takes her own life by jumping off a bridge.
The lyrics are a poignant reminder that beneath the surface of an outwardly perfect suburban existence, there can be a great deal of sadness, pain, and desperation. Kids growing up in these areas may feel disconnected from the rest of the world and turn to drugs or other destructive behaviors as a way to cope with their pain. Blanks 77 paints a vivid picture of these struggles through the eyes of Johnny and Julie, showing that no one is immune to the dangers lurking in even the most "normal" of suburban communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny was a junkie but his mommy didn't know
Johnny had a drug addiction that his mother was unaware of
Couldnt see the track marks from his wrists to his elbows
Johnny had been using drugs intravenously, leaving visible scars on his arms
She was busy drinking martinis
Johnny's mother was preoccupied with her own alcohol consumption
'cause life in the suburbs ain't always that easy
The pressures and problems of suburban life contributed to Johnny's drug addiction
Julie was perfect yea queen of the prom
Julie was perceived as a model student and a popular figure at school
Most likely to succeed by the age of 21
Julie was expected to achieve great success in her future
Something funny happened to her along the way
Julie's life took a dramatic turn for the worse
First she took a hit then she ran away
Julie began using drugs and eventually left home
Johnny was found with a needle in his arm
Johnny died from a drug overdose
Mommy couldnt figure out what was wrong
Johnny's mother was unable to comprehend the cause of her son's death
Tears roll from her tranquilized eyes
Johnny's mother was grief-stricken and possibly under the influence of prescription drugs
Another pill will kill the pain inside
Johnny's mother turned to taking more medication to cope with her grief
Julie was hangin' from the 12th street bridge
Julie committed suicide by hanging herself from a bridge
Her suicide note clenched in her fist
Julie left a handwritten message explaining her decision to end her life
It said sorry things turned out this way
Julie expressed regret about how her life had turned out
Maybe tomorrow will be a better day
Julie held onto the hope that things would improve in the future
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