Line-up
Peter te Bos: vocals
John Cameron: guitar
Marcus Bruystens: bass
Marc Lamb: drums
Other musicians
Allard Jolles drums
Arno Kooy bass guitar
Bobbie Rossini bass guitar
Geert de Groot bass guitar
Lya Spykstra bass guitar
Marius Schrader drums
BIOGRAPHY
1983 - Punk rock group Suspenders splits up in 1981 and several members form rock group L'Attentat. In the spring of 1983 L'Attentat guitarist/singer Allard Jolles, forms a second band: Claw Boys Claw. Other members of the band are ex-Suspenders singer Bobbie Rossini on bass, and on guitar (Jolles plays the drums) John Cameron (ex-Odorex). Shortly afterwards singer/graphic designer Peter te Bos joins Claw Boys Claw. The band plays garage rock with influences of psychedelics, acid punk and rock 'n' roll.
1984 - Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw is recorded and released on the band's own Hipcat label.
1985 - In May 1985 Jolles leaves Claw Boys Claw in favour of his other band L'Attentat. He is replaced by Pilots drummer Marius Schrader.
1986 - Claw Boys Claw signs to Polydor. The band makes its first appearance at the Pinkpop festival. During this show frontman Te Bos throws apples, oranges, beer cans, his shoes and his socks into the crowd. In June the album With Love From The Boys, produced by Vic Maille, comes out. The band plays at the Roskilde festival in Denmark.
1987 - Claw Boys Claw records the album Crack My Nut. Shocking Shades is re-released on Polydor. Additionally, the album Claw Boys Claw comes out, a compilation of the band's self-released material (the mini album Now!, the single So Mean and the 12" Indian Wallpaper). Also released is the Christmas single Blue Bells.
1988 - Claw Boys Claw performs at the New Music Seminar in New York where they meet John Cale who promises to produce the band's next album. They sign to Megadisc and release the new album Hitkillers, a collection of covers of Dutch rock classics.
1989 - Bobbie Rossini and Marius Schrader leave the band. Rumours about a new album (produced by John Cale) are again surfacing.
1990 - The album Angelbite comes out. It is not produced by John Cale, but by Steve Parker (engineer with The Fall and Dutch vocalist Mathilde Santing). The band goes on - another - successful tour.
1991 - Late June the band plays the Parkpop festival in The Hague. In the meantime, Kooy joins La La Heaven and Geert de Groot (ex-Fatal Flowers) takes over on bass.
1992 - Late 1992 the album Sugar, a highlight in the band's career so far, comes out. The change in musical direction, that was already apparent on Angelbite, has now become permanent: The garage punk style has had to make way for the more melodic and sultry swamp rock. This has much to do with the fact that the album is produced by Urban Dance Squad drummer Michel Schoots, alias Magic Stick. The subdued single Rosie is the band's first Top 40 hit.
1993 - For the second time Claw Boys Claw is on the bill of the Pinkpop festival. Former bass player Rossini turns up in girl group Chicas del Rock that releases the album Neverneverland.
1994 - The new album Nipple, produced by Luc Suèr, largely follows the line of Sugar, but is less successful.
1995 - Marc Lamb plays the drums on Get Well Soon the second album of Soft Parade.
1997 - Claw Boys Claw release the new album Will-O-The-Wisp. The band also tours the Netherlands (by boat) with Scram C Baby and other bands.
1999 - All band members occupy themselves with various other projects: Te Bos concentrates on his career as graphic designer. Together with Henk Hofstede from Nits he designs the Media Centre of the Dutch Rock & Pop Institute. Drummer Marc Lamb wins the X3M remix award for his work with dance project Patriot Hills. Bassist Geert de Groot plays with Solex.
2002 - Peter te Bos en John Cameron work on a new album.
2005 - Former Claw Boys Claw drummer Marius Schrader alias Mars Radar independently releases an electro/synth album under the Wat moniker.
2006 - Te Bos and Cameron have written about 60 songs. Together with drummer Marc Lamb they start working on the new material. Lya Spykstra (ex-Bitchcock) is the new bass player. With Lamb she's also part of the trio Tomix.
2007 - After an initial session in 2006 in February and March Claw Boys Claw start recording the new album at Amsterdam's Eiland Studio's.
2008 - January 30th the release of Pajama Day is celebrated with a showcase at the DeSmet studios in Amsterdam, in presence of members of Johan, Moke and Hallo Venray.
Jackal Is Back
Claw Boys Claw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The stage was loving you as well
Some man thought you were a nice man
Some man they wished you straight to hell
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Man, we moan the things that came along
I never thought of sending postcards
You never thought of coming home
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
I know the world is sending cheese and flowers on a chain
We've got a big fat mommy does the cooking and his man celebrates
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
Such a fine friend, Jackal was
The lyrics of "Jackal Is Back" by Claw Boys Claw are cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to be a commentary on the fickle nature of fame and friendship. The first stanza speaks of a friend who has just performed on stage and was received warmly by some, but not all. The second stanza touches on missed communication and lost connections between friends. The third stanza includes lines about worldly possessions and celebrations, suggesting that material success and recognition may not be all they're cracked up to be. The repetition of the phrase "Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead" adds a sense of impending doom and perhaps a warning about the dangers of chasing fame and fortune at the expense of real human connections.
Overall, "Jackal Is Back" seems to be a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of fame and the importance of staying true to oneself and one's friends. The imagery of digging up bones after death suggests that ultimately, all that really matters is what we leave behind in terms of relationships and personal connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Get out and remember you're a fine friend
Leave, but remember that you are a good friend
The stage was loving you as well
The audience enjoyed your performance too
Some man thought you were a nice man
Someone thought you were a good person
Some man they wished you straight to hell
Someone wished you ill will
Jackal is back and I know he will digging the bones up when I'm dead
The troublemaker Jackal has returned and will continue causing problems even after my death.
Sweet holy talking on the side
Talking secretly and pleasantly with someone
Man, we moan the things that came along
We complain about the things that have happened to us
I never thought of sending postcards
I didn't consider sending postcards
You never thought of coming home
You never thought to return home
I know the world is sending cheese and flowers on a chain
I am aware that people are sending gifts
We've got a big fat mommy does the cooking and his man celebrates
We have a person who is responsible for cooking and their significant other is celebrating
Such a fine friend, Jackal was
Jackal used to be a good friend (possibly sarcastic)
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.