Sound
Coming out during a time when rock music was dominated by post-grunge, nu-metal, and alternative rock, Buckcherry performed a sleazy Rock N' Roll that was more inspired by AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, and Black Crowes than Nirvana and Pearl Jam. On their debut record, they successfully trod heavy metal territory while managing to stay hard rock, while on Time Bomb, the band took their sleaze to an extreme with an excess of profanity and attitude.
History
Buckcherry was formed after Josh Todd met guitarist Keith Nelson through their tattoo artist after discovering a common love of AC/DC. The duo made a few demos before being joined by bassist Jonathan Brightman and drummer Devon Glenn. Buckcherry began preforming the Hollywood club scene, recieving a strong, local following due to their old school Rock N' Roll vibe.
The band added a second guitarist, Yogi, and were signed to DreamWorks Records shortly after. The band released their self titled debut in 1999 to critical praise. The album, produced by Terry Date, who produced albums for Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, and Pantera, and ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones, produced three modern rock chart hits with the singles, Lit Up, Check Your Head, and For The Movies.
The band's profile had been raised by summer 2000 with help from touring and decided to release their follow up album Time Bomb in 2001. The album was considered a disappointment after the very promising debut by many critics, and naturally, didn't fare as well as the first on the charts. The All Music Guide noted that "For a second record, it's surprising how jaded and nihilistic they are already."
Buckcherry performed opening dates for heroes AC/DC in the spring and recieved increased fanfare. However, in an unexpected turn of events, Josh Todd left the band to pursue a solo career in July 2002, leading to the bands demise.
The band was held on ice for over two years while Todd pursued a solo career. The post-grunge solo effort You Made Me turned out to be a failure, leading to Todd and Nelson to reform Buckcherry in early 2005. Joined by rhythm guitarist Stevie D., bassist Jimmy Ashhurst, and drummer Xavier Muriel, the band recorded their third album Fifteen and released it exclusively in Japan.
The band had been asked to open for Mõtley Crūe for a Japanese leg in December 2005, and began a headlining club tour in Spring 2006 a few weeks prior to the release of their third album, Fifteen. The album debuted at No.48 on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 26,000 copies in its 1st week. In May 2006, it was announced that the band had signed a deal with Atlantic Records via long-term deal with Eleven Seven Music. Their latest album is now being marketed by Lava/Atlantic, and reached a new peak of #41 on the Billboard Top 200 in the August 19, 2006 issue.
With "Crazy Bitch", Buckcherry gained their second major mainstream hit (following "Lit Up"), as the song hit #3 on the Mainstream Rock chart, #13 on Modern Rock, and became the first Buckcherry song to cross over to the Billboard Hot 100, where it hit #59, and also landed at #52 on the Billboard Pop 100, and #37 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs chart. The song's success was largely driven by its success on the radio, as MTV rejected the band's initial video, demanding more than 80 cuts.
On Tuesday, May 30th, 2006, after a fan-made video for "Crazy Bitch" spread across the internet, the band, in a posting that appeared on their MySpace and Buckcherry.com, announced that they were accepting submissions from fans with their own videos, and would feature more interpretations of "Crazy Bitch" in the weeks to come. The original fan video was later submitted to MTV, before being passed over in favor of an edited version of the original clip, with added live footage.
Dead
Buckcherry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could live without the laws
I made my mess
I could live without you all
If I starve from breathing
I won't listen to the call
I made my bed, I'm committed
They keep saying
My generation's dead
Dead, we are helpless
We have nothing and nothing's wrong
We're committed, we are hungry
We are strong
Dead, we are restless
We are broken but standing tall
We're devoted, we are driven
We are cause
I don't think that I suffered
I don't think I've learned at all
I get right back up and then I take another fall
My teachers told me something
They said that I would hit a wall
And if I keep it up I won't live to tell us all
They keep saying
My generation's dead
Dead, we are helpless
We have nothing and nothing's wrong
We're committed, we are hungry
We are strong
Dead, we are restless
We are broken but standing tall
We're devoted, we are driven
We are cause
Talking down to me
And our generation
Is this what you want to be?
A contradiction?
I don't think that I suffered
I don't think I've learned at all
I get right back up and then I take another fall
Oh yeah
We are dead
I am dead
Oh yeah
Dead
My generation's dead
Dead, we are helpless
We have nothing and nothing's wrong
We're committed, we are hungry
We are strong
Dead, we are restless
We are broken but standing tall
We're devoted, we are driven
We are cause
I am dead
Oh yeah
We are dead
Oh, dead
My generation's
Oh yeah
Dead
Suck it
The song "Dead" by Buckcherry is about the frustrations of a young person in today's society. The singer declares that he or she can live without the laws and the expectations of others, but acknowledges that this isn't necessarily a good thing. The lyrics reveal a sense of rebellion against authority and established norms, but also a sense of self-destructiveness that might come with this attitude.
The singer notes that others have told him or her that his/her generation is "dead," perhaps meaning that they lack direction or purpose. Despite this, the singer insists that they are still committed, hungry, and strong. The repetition of the word "dead" throughout the song emphasizes this sense of hopelessness and frustration, but also suggests that there might be a way out.
The final lines of the song address those who talk down to the singer and others in his/her generation, asking if they want to be a "contradiction." This can be interpreted as a call for greater understanding and empathy between generations, and for a recognition that young people are not just "dead" or lacking in direction.
Overall, "Dead" is a powerful expression of youthful rebellion, but also of the difficulties that come with that rebellion. It suggests a desire for greater autonomy and freedom, but also a sense of confusion and uncertainty about what comes next.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young gun
Back when I was young and reckless
I could live without the laws
I didn't care about following rules or laws
I made my mess
I made my own problems and mistakes
I could live without you all
I could do without everyone else
If I starve from breathing
I'll do anything to survive or get ahead
I won't listen to the call
I won't let anyone else tell me what to do
I made my bed, I'm committed
I have made my choices and am sticking to them
I am strong
I'm tough and can handle anything
They keep saying
Other people keep saying
My generation's dead
That our generation has lost its way
Dead, we are helpless
We are powerless and can't do anything
We have nothing and nothing's wrong
We don't have anything of value and don't see the problem with it
We're committed, we are hungry
We are determined and eager to succeed
We are strong
We are resilient and enduring
Dead, we are restless
We are uncontent and uneasy
We are broken but standing tall
We may be flawed but we aren't giving up
We're devoted, we are driven
We are dedicated and focused
We are cause
We have purpose and meaning
Talking down to me
Speaking condescendingly to me
And our generation
To our whole generation
Is this what you want to be?
Is this really what you want for yourselves?
A contradiction?
A hypocritical message?
I don't think that I suffered
I don't think I've really gone through hardship
I don't think I've learned at all
I don't feel like I've gained any real knowledge or wisdom
I get right back up and then I take another fall
I keep making the same mistakes over and over again
My teachers told me something
My mentors warned me
They said that I would hit a wall
They said that my careless ways would eventually catch up to me
And if I keep it up I won't live to tell us all
If I continue down this path, I will pay the ultimate price
Oh yeah
An exclamation of defiance
We are dead
We are hopeless and lost
I am dead
I've lost my way
My generation's dead
Our generation has no direction or purpose
Suck it
An expression of anger or dismissal
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSHUA TODD, KEITH NELSON, KEITH EDWARD NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ironegamer
i can feel the fucking energy :) this band is realy kick ass
Kevin Gardiner
they're kicking ass and taking names ! I've seen lot's of the great rock bands since the early 70s and these guys are right at the top !
Silverback95
very underrated band
axllebeer
One of their best songs, and the Most difficult for Josh to perform live.
Stan Ley
Hell Yeah! This is what I call RockNRoll! This band is freaking awesome! Pure adrenalin and food for the soul... Rock On!!!:)
Wade Sickler
The best Buckcherry song since "15". Love it!
RR Eduardo
Man, it feels like there is hope after all... these kids are kicking ass and rocking the 21st!
Kevin Gardiner
Damn I'm 60 and can't get enough of these guys ! Would love to see them cover- Get It On ( bang a gong ) by T Rex, I think they could really make it awesome with their badassness ,lol, is that a word ,well.....thats them !!!!!!!!
Tim Williams
This song rocks!! Love the ending!!
fede camusso ARG 🇦🇷
oh yeah! love it! buckcherry rocks!