Catherine Wheel formed in 1990, comprising singer/guitarist Rob Dickinson (cousin of Iron Maiden legend Bruce Dickinson), guitarist Brian Futter, bassist Dave Hawes, and drummer Neil Sims. Hawes had previously played in a Joy Division-influenced band called Eternal. They took their moniker from the firework known as the Catherine wheel, which in turn had taken its name from the medieval torture device of the same name. The band was often included in the shoegazing scene, characterized by bands that made extensive use of guitar feedback and droning washes of noise, as well as their continuous interaction with extensive amounts of effects pedals on the stage floor.
The band performed a Peel session in early 1991 while still unsigned; two 12" vinyl EPs were released on the Norwich based Wilde Club Records, named after the regular weekly Wilde Club gigs run by Barry Newman at Norwich Arts Centre. They signed to major-label Fontana Records after being courted by both Creation Records and the Brian Eno-run label Opal Records. The band's debut album, 1991/92's Ferment, made an immediate impression on the music press and introduced Catherine Wheel's biggest U.S. hit, "Black Metallic," as well as moderate hit "I Want To Touch You". The album features re-recorded versions of some of the Wilde Club-issued EPs.
The more aggressive Chrome followed in 1993, produced by Gil Norton. With this album, the band began to shed its original shoegazing tag, while still making skillful use of atmospherics, such as on the song "Fripp." In a 2007 interview, Rob Dickinson said that members of Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol told him that without this album, their bands "wouldn't exist."
1995's Happy Days saw the band delving further into metallic hard rock, which alienated a portion of their fanbase, even as it increased their exposure in the United States during the post-grunge era. The single "Waydown," and especially its plane-crash themed video, received heavy play in the U.S. A more sedate strain of rock known as britpop was taking over in the UK, causing C.W. to continue to have greater success abroad than at home.
The B-sides and outtakes collection, Like Cats and Dogs, came out the following year, revealing a quieter, more contemplative side of the band, spanning the previous five years. This carried over into Adam and Eve in 1997, wherein the band scaled back the sonic force of their sound from its Happy Days levels, with clean playing on some songs that featured extensive use of keyboards and acoustic guitars. Alternately, songs like "Satellite" and "Here Comes the Fat Controller" were lush and orchestral in scope.
In 2000, Catherine Wheel re-emerged with a new record label, a new bassist (Ben Ellis); a modified name (The Catherine Wheel); and a new album, Wishville. After mixed reviews, record company turmoil and lacklustre sales, the band went on a still-continuing hiatus.
In March 2010, Ferment was re-released, containing bonus tracks and extensive sleeve notes.
Black Metallic
Catherine Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It really gets under my skin
You say it's easy when it's faster
I still can't guess what you're after
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
I think of you when you're sleeping
Of all the secrets that you're keeping
You can't stay all day under the covers
'Cause under there you'll discover
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic
It's the color of your skin
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic
It's the color of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
The lyrics of Catherine Wheel's song Black Metallic suggest a fascination with a person whose essence and identity are shrouded in mystery. The singer seems to be enamored with this person, yet frustrated by their inability to fully understand or connect with them. The opening lines express a sense of uncertainty and longing, as the singer admits to never having seen the person smile and feeling bothered by this fact. The lyrics also hint at a dynamic where the other person might be more confident or successful than the singer, as the line "you say it's easy when it's faster" implies a certain competence or ambition on their part that the singer may not fully understand.
As the song continues, there is a recurring motif of the "color of your skin" being "black metallic," a phrase that is repeated throughout the song. While the meaning of this phrase is somewhat ambiguous, it suggests a certain otherness or exoticism to the object of the singer's fascination. The chorus states that "you're turning black metallic," which could imply that the singer is becoming more like the other person or experiencing a transformation in their own perspective. The lyrics hint at the idea that there is something deeply alluring and enigmatic about the person the singer is addressing, yet also something that remains firmly out of reach.
Overall, Black Metallic is a song about fascination, longing, and the desire to understand someone who remains tantalizingly out of grasp. The repetition of the phrase "black metallic" adds a layer of poetic ambiguity that invites multiple interpretations, making the song a rich and evocative piece of art.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never seen you when you're smiling
I haven't witnessed you genuinely happy
It really gets under my skin
It bothers me deeply
You say it's easy when it's faster
You claim that speed makes things simple
I still can't guess what you're after
I cannot figure out your motives
It's the color of your skin
The tone of your complexion defines you
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is a blend of black and metallic colors
I think of you when you're sleeping
I ponder about you when you're peacefully resting
Of all the secrets that you're keeping
The undisclosed thoughts you hold
You can't stay all day under the covers
You must not stay indoors all day
'Cause under there you'll discover
Since it's underneath, you'll find something new
You're turning black metallic
You're gradually taking on black and metallic hues
It's the color of your skin
It's the pigment of your epidermis
Your skin is black metallic
Your flesh is black and metallic-shaded
Your skin is black metallic
Your dermis is a mix of black and metallic tones
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin tone is a fusion of black and metallic aesthetics
Your skin is black metallic
The tinge of your skin is black and metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your complexion is black and shines like metal
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: BRIAN FUTTER, ROBERT DICKINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@blueblur1991
[Verse 1 - 0:26]
I've never seen you when you're smilingIt really gets under my skin
You say it's easy when it's fasterI still can't guess what you're after
[Chorus - 0:50]
It's the colour of your skinYour skin is black metallic
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
[Verse 2 - 1:36]
I think of you when you're sleeping
Of all the secrets that you're keeping
You can't stay all day under the covers
'Cause under there you'll discover
[Chorus - 1:58]
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic
[Instrumental Break - 2:37]
[Refrain - 3:04]
It's the colour of your skin
It's the colour of your skin
[Bridge - 3:30]
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
You're turning black metallic
[Outro]
It's the colour of your skin
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
Your skin is black metallic
@TheChondriac
Never heard of this band before, but i ran into their drummer randomly at the London airport and we chatted for hours on our layover. Extremely intelligent and cultured gentleman.
@neuvocastezero1838
The timing on the percussion and the use of tympani is fantastic.
@MusicMissionary
Chrome and Ferment are classics.
@alexxxbasss
Early 90's had some amazing music. This is one of the best alternative songs ever written, in my humble opinion.
@bellahoughton84
Up there...
@user-ux3vw6mb4k
100% agree.
@colonialstraits1069
You mean “in your humble but correct opinion”!
@stephenryan1912
My Bloody Valentine, Hum, Slowdive, Drive, etc. Enjoy.
@bukageorgio9307
💯%
@carlhardwickofficial
Thanks, KROQ, for playing this in 1991 and introducing me to all of the great, British alternative acts of the time: Catherine Wheel, Blur, Inspiral Carpets, Morrissey. A great time in music.