The band is named after a character in The Italian Job movie and was created for the sole purpose of having a good time. Guitarist Billy Morrison describes them as: "...not a band, but it is also way more than a jam session. Camp Freddy is an ‘Occasional Happening’, a freak of (Hollywood) nature."
There are six consistent members of Camp Freddy as listed below, but each performance features guest performances from many respected musicians. In March 2006, Scott Weiland became the most recent member to join the core line-up, but after his split with Velvet Revolver, he is no longer listed on their MySpace page as a member.
Camp Freddy, with producer Mike Clink, is currently recording an album which will mirror the live shows, with guests performing on each track. Their first single, "Surrender", was released on 1 September 2006 and is featured in the film "Employee of the Month". The song is a cover of the Cheap Trick hit. Another Camp Freddy track will be available on iTunes exclusively on December 12th. It is the bands Christmas single - a cover of Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody. The track will be available for download on I-Tunes US, UK and Europe and a video will also be released the same day.
On Saturday evenings the band members (usually Navarro and Morrison) host a radio show that takes place between the hours of 18:00 and 20:00 PT on the Los Angeles based Indie 103.1 FM radio station. They play their selection of music and discuss almost anything, including a popular segment where they phone call girls from ads in the back of L.A. Weekly.
Core Members:
Dave Navarro - Guitar (Member of The Panic Channel, former member of Jane's Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Billy Morrison - Guitar (Member of Circus Diablo, former member of The Cult and Doheny)
Matt Sorum - Drums (Member of Velvet Revolver, former member of Guns N' Roses and The Cult)
Donovan Leitch, Jr. - Vocals (Former member of Nancy Boy)
Chris Chaney - Bass (Member of The Panic Channel, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, former member of Jane's Addiction)
The Jean Genie
Camp Freddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Snuck off to the city
Strung out on lasers
And slash back blazers
Ate all your razors
While pulling the waiters
Talking bout Monroe
And walking on Snow White
And everything tastes right
Poor little Greenie
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go!
Sits like a man
But he smiles like a reptile
She loves him, she loves him but
Just for a short while
She'll scratch in the sand,
Won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician
And sells you nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair
For making up underwear
Poor little Greenie
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go!
He's so simple minded
He can't drive his module
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go!
The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go!
The lyrics to Camp Freddy's song The Jean Genie tell the story of a small, mischievous character known as the Jean Genie who sneaks off to the city, strung out on lasers and dressed in slash back blazers. The character is reckless and wild, eating razors and talking about Monroe as he walks on Snow White. He embodies the fast pace, overstimulation, and glamour of New York City, where everything tastes right and the energy is go-go. However, despite his apparent confidence and carefree spirit, the lyrics suggest that the Jean Genie is actually a poor little Greenie, simple-minded and lost in his own world. He loves to be loved by others, but can't even drive his own module and takes refuge in neon-lit capsules. The lyrics suggest that the Jean Genie is a manifestation of the hedonism, excess, and desperation of the city, offering a cautionary tale about the price of living life in the fast lane.
Line by Line Meaning
A small Jean Genie
A tiny mythical creature named Jean Genie
Snuck off to the city
Went away from its natural habitat to the city
Strung out on lasers
Obsessed with advanced technology
And slash back blazers
Wears sharp, stylish jackets
Ate all your razors
Consumed everything in sight, even dangerous objects
While pulling the waiters
Causing trouble and harassing the restaurant staff
Talking bout Monroe
Referencing Marilyn Monroe, a pop culture icon
And walking on Snow White
Moving around gracefully like the fairytale character
New York's a go-go
New York is a fun and exciting place
And everything tastes right
Everything feels perfect and satisfying
Poor little Greenie
The creature named Jean Genie is pitiable
The Jean Genie lives on his back
Jean Genie is lazy and lies on his back most of the time
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
Jean Genie finds comfort and joy in the image of chimneys
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie behaves in an extreme and eccentric manner
Jean Genie let yourself go!
Stop worrying about everything and enjoy yourself, Jean Genie
Sits like a man
Jean Genie assumes the posture of a human male
But he smiles like a reptile
Jean Genie's smile is sly and unsettling, like that of a reptile
She loves him, she loves him but
A woman is attracted to Jean Genie despite his flaws
Just for a short while
Their relationship is doomed to be brief
She'll scratch in the sand
She will do whatever it takes to be with Jean Genie
Won't let go his hand
She's completely infatuated with Jean Genie
He says he's a beautician
Jean Genie claims to be skilled at beauty treatments
And sells you nutrition
Jean Genie peddles health and wellness products
And keeps all your dead hair
Jean Genie collects discarded hair for some unknown purpose
For making up underwear
Possibly to make material for garments
He's so simple minded
Jean Genie is not very intelligent or complex
He can't drive his module
Jean Genie is incapable of operating a vehicle
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule
Jean Genie is enthralled by bright lights and sleeps in a small enclosure
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
Jean Genie craves affection and attention from others
Writer(s): David Bowie
Contributed by Declan G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@burns1961
This song is just a classic.
@williamblowers7227
Cool .
@downsemb
Who is the line up?