Chiodos was formed at the Flint Local 432, a small venue in downtown Flint, Michigan and Olde Jamestowne Hall in Saginaw, Michigan. The band is known for their on-stage performances which include controlled, high-pitched vocals from former lead singer, Craig Owens. Craig Owens has cited lead singer of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, etc. fame, Mike Patton as one of his greatest influences saying, "I only wish I could be as good as him."
Their debut album, All's Well That Ends Well (Equal Vision Records) was released on July 26, 2005. It reached #3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and #164 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. While their sophomore album, Bone Palace Ballet reached the number 5 spot on the Billboard 200. The band's albums and live performances have garnered praise from press outlets.
Chiodos headlined some shows on their own before joining Alternative Press's 2006 "Invisible Sideshow" tour, headlined by Armor for Sleep. Following that tour, they supported Matchbook Romance on the Sub City "Take Action" tour in Spring 2006. That summer, they toured with Fear Before the March of Flames, as well as appearing on the Warped Tour.In fall 2006, Chiodos appeared on Atreyu's World Championship Tour, alongside From First to Last and Every Time I Die, as well as 3 and 36 Crazyfists.
Chiodos has had several scuffs with those in the music industry, most notably Steven Smith of Steven's Untitled Rock Show, Andy Williams of Every Time I Die, and HORSE The Band.
In 2005, Chiodos independently made a video for the song "All Nereids Beware." The video consists of the band playing the rare pre-All's Well That Ends Well version of the song in a parking lot.
In 2006, Chiodos made videos for "One Day Women Will All Become Monsters" and "Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on the Creek". The "Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on the Creek" video was included on the 2006 re-issue of All's Well That Ends Well, which added a DVD and three acoustic tracks to the 2005 release.
A video for "Lexington (Joey Pea-Pot With A Monkey Face)" was made which premiered world wide on April 2, 2008 on the social network MySpace. This was the first single of their sophomore album, "Bone Palace Ballet". Chiodos' drummer, Derrick Frost has stated in an interview that the band was disappointed in the final result of the music video, saying
"Well, usually there are different people who throw out ideas and we go through them and add in our own suggestions but that video definitely didn’t turn out like we wanted it to turn out, like at all. We’re pretty disappointed with it. We never get a video where we’re all like “This is amazing!” And that’s what every band wants, to have an amazing video because that can push your career and your band so far. And we haven’t gotten that yet so it’s kind of frustrating. It’s just like so much money that we spent on this for no reason. No one’s going to play it; it’s not getting played at all."
On September 16, 2008, Chiodos teamed up with acclaimed director Darren Doane and The Crofoot Ballroom to shoot a video for "The Undertaker's Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable (The Final Battle)" in downtown Pontiac, MI. The video was released on December 20, 2008.
On September 24, 2010, it was announced that Craig Owens was no longer the singer of Chiodos.
On February 8, 2010, Brandon Bolmer (Yesterdays Rising) was confirmed as the new lead singer for Chiodos; he performed vocals on the band's third studio album, Illuminaudio.
Craig Owens later returned for the band's fourth studio album, Devil, but Chiodos disbanded before recording any more material.
Life Is a Perception of Your Own Reality
Chiodos Lyrics
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And really take a look, I think that I'm done
Put away this old guitar, and on my way out
Hang my vocal chords up on the door
If I could just do these things
If I could maybe do these things
Each and every day wouldn't pass
That they so often do
And maybe, just maybe
Life would be everything we wanted it to be
I could even peel the skin hiding my face
And ballroom dance with the cartilage of my nose
Just to show you how to really move
Well, I'll show you how to really move
If I could just do these things
If I could maybe do these things
Each and every day wouldn't pass
The way that they so often do
That they so often do
And maybe, just maybe
Life would be everything we wanted it to be
I'll show you how to really move
I'll show you how to really move
If I could just do these things
If I could maybe do these things
Each and every day wouldn't pass
The way that they so often do
That they so often do
And maybe, just maybe
Life would be everything we wanted it to be
In Chiodos's song Life Is a Perception of Your Own Reality, the lyrics discuss the desire to detach oneself from the expectations of daily life and the way in which we present ourselves to society. The first verse talks about putting away the guitar and vocal chords and leaving that part of oneself behind. The use of detachment and physical transformation, such as peeling the skin from one's face and using cartilage to ballroom dance, suggest a desire for fundamental change and self-discovery.
The chorus provides the key message of the song - if we could detach ourselves from our norms and inhibitions, each day wouldn't pass by so often and life would be everything we wanted it to be. The repetition of "if I could just do these things" suggests a longing for liberation and a break from daily monotony. The final repetition of "I'll show you how to really move" suggests a sense of empowerment, as though once we detach ourselves from societal expectations, we can truly discover our authentic selves and show the world how to live life to the fullest.
Overall, the song is an insightful commentary on the desire for individuality and self-discovery in a world where societal expectations often stifle creativity and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to take this time to detach my jaw
I want to take this opportunity to express myself fully without inhibitions.
And really take a look, I think that I'm done
I need to reflect upon my life so far and decide what I want to change or move on from.
Put away this old guitar, and on my way out
I'm leaving behind the things that used to define me and starting fresh.
Hang my vocal chords up on the door
I'm giving up my old ways and leaving behind my old voice, ready to create a new one.
If I could just do these things
I have a clear idea about what I need to do to move forward and make real change.
If I could maybe do these things
I'm uncertain about whether I have the courage or ability to make these changes.
Each and every day wouldn't pass
I want to make each day count and not let them all blur together.
The way that they so often do
I often feel like time just slips by without making any real progress.
And maybe, just maybe
I'm hopeful that things can change, even if it's just a small possibility.
Life would be everything we wanted it to be
If we take control of our own reality, we can shape our lives into what we truly desire.
I could even peel the skin hiding my face
I'm willing to be vulnerable and reveal my true self, even if it's uncomfortable or scary.
And ballroom dance with the cartilage of my nose
I want to fully embrace my unique traits and use them to my advantage, not hide or be ashamed of them.
Just to show you how to really move
I want to inspire others by example and show them how to take control of their own lives.
I'll show you how to really move
I'm taking the lead and guiding others towards positive change.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRADLEY BELL, CRAIGERY OWENS, DERRICK FROST, JASON HALE, MATTHEW GODDARD, PATRICK MCMANAMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind