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.
Spread That Jam
Claw Boys Claw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're monkey soul, I remind me later
Is stuck in the back of your mind like a dream is
She's not contagious, despite her weaden
Chasing dream because you really don't care
The all-about-you deal is getting nowhere
This moment's for you and for all your beginners
The chasing dream is getting nowhere
Get in, my love, you're echo, the man is sane, so
Which way are you going, hell is coming closer
No-one can turn to a cry on your shoulders
You're working your ass of, you're losing control
It's in all your mind, it's not in your soul
It shouldn't take long to get a decomposer
Which way are you going, hell is coming closer
Get out, you're in now, let it go now, let it flow
Get in, my love, you're echo, the man is sane, so
Get in, get in, jam out of your head
Get in, get in, jam out of your head
Jam me out of my head, spread that jam
Spread that jam
The lyrics to Claw Boys Claw's song Spread That Jam are cryptic and open to interpretation. The use of metaphors and enigmatic lines leaves room for multiple meanings. One could suggest that the lines “She's not contagious, despite her weaden/Chasing dream because you really don't care” talk about chasing and wanting something that may not necessarily be good for us. It could mean that people often go after things that they think will make them happy despite the consequences. The use of “weaden” suggests that this person’s influence may not be good in one's life, but we still take risks because they seem worth it at the time. The line “Your monkey soul, I remind me later/Is stuck in the back of your mind like a dream is" could mean that the persona is grappling with their inner desires that perhaps they are not proud of, but they cannot shake off.
The line “Which way are you going, hell is coming closer/No-one can turn to a cry on your shoulders” suggests that time is running out and that people need to make a choice before it is too late. Many go about life pretending to care but in reality, they are only looking out for themselves. The line “It's in all your mind, it's not in your soul” suggests a disconnect between the mind and the soul. One may know that the choices they are making are not healthy for their soul, but their mind is too clouded to steer away.
Overall, the song talks about the human experience of wanting things that we know are not good for us, pretending to care when we really do not and being disconnected from our souls. The song Spread That Jam is a call to action to let go of what is holding us back and to reconnect with ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
She's not contagious, despite her weaden
Despite her negative energy, she is not capable of infecting or affecting those around her.
You're monkey soul, I remind me later
Your wild and chaotic nature will come back to haunt you at a later time.
Is stuck in the back of your mind like a dream is
The memory of her is deeply ingrained in your mind, like a vivid dream.
Chasing dream because you really don't care
You pursue your dreams without any real passion or investment in them.
The all-about-you deal is getting nowhere
Your self-centered approach to life is not leading you anywhere productive.
This moment's for you and for all your beginners
This current moment is an opportunity for you to start something new, to learn and grow. It's for you and all those who are just starting out.
Get out, you're in now, let it go now, let it flow
You are currently stuck in a negative mindset or situation, but it's time to move on and let things happen naturally.
Get in, my love, you're echo, the man is sane, so
Embrace your inner voice and let it guide you. You are the reflection of your lover, and together you can find sanity.
Which way are you going, hell is coming closer
You are at a crossroads and must choose which path to take. The consequences of your choices become increasingly dire.
No-one can turn to a cry on your shoulders
You are not a source of comfort or support for others. They cannot rely on you in their time of need.
You're working your ass of, you're losing control
You are putting in a lot of effort, but you are still unable to manage everything. You are on the verge of losing control.
It's in all your mind, it's not in your soul
Your current struggles are mental, not spiritual. They are a result of your own thoughts and actions, rather than any external forces.
It shouldn't take long to get a decomposer
It won't take much effort to break down and dismantle the negative aspects of your life.
Get out, you're in now, let it go now, let it flow
You must release your current situation and allow things to happen naturally.
Get in, my love, you're echo, the man is sane, so
Embrace your inner voice and let it guide you. You are the reflection of your lover, and together you can find sanity.
Get in, get in, jam out of your head
Fully embrace and engage with the music and energy around you. Let it consume you and remove any negative thoughts and emotions.
Jam me out of my head, spread that jam
Use the power of music to escape your own thoughts and spread positive energy to those around you by fully engaging with it.
Spread that jam
Encourage and inspire others with the power of music and positive energy.
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.