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.
Take Me For A Ride
Claw Boys Claw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing no more, sweet operator
Could you get me more, gotta live on a side of a sinner
'Cause I love a dancing break
Don't date a trick colour, sweet addiction
Why could you get me more, more soul affiction
Give me vibration, give me vibration
'Cause I love a dancing break
You got me on my knees, hallalujah, sweet hardcore angel
Why could you get me more, give me vibration, give me vibration
Gotta live on a side of a sinner cause I love a dancing break
Gotta live on a side of a sinner cause I need to feed my brink
I feel vibration flowing down my inner soul
I feel a rhytm, maybe the rhytm of love
Give me vibration, give me vibration
Give me vibration, give me vibration
Gotta live on a side of the sinners
'Cause I need to feed my brink
I feel vibration flowing down my inner soul
I feel a rhytm, maybe the rhytm of love
Give me vibration, take me for a ride
Give me vibration, take me for a ride
Give me vibration, take me for a ride
Give me vibration
The lyrics of Claw Boys Claw's song "Take Me For A Ride" are open to interpretation, but the song seems to be about the desire for excitement and intensity in life, even if it means living on the "side of a sinner." The singer is calling out to a "sweet operator" who can give them "more soul affliction" and "vibration" - presumably a reference to drugs or some other form of escape. The repeated refrain of "give me vibration" and "take me for a ride" express a longing for something more exciting than everyday life.
The use of the word "gombo" in the opening line is intriguing - it is unclear what this word means, but it is likely a colloquialism or slang term used in Amsterdam, where the band was formed. The reference to living on the "side of a sinner" suggests a willingness to embrace a darker side of life and engage in activities that may be considered sinful or taboo. The line "I feel a rhythm, maybe the rhythm of love" adds a more positive note to the song, but the focus remains on the desire for intensity.
Overall, "Take Me For A Ride" is a powerful and energizing song that captures the thrill of seeking out new experiences and living on the edge.
Line by Line Meaning
She called me gombo, she did
She gave me a nickname, and it felt special.
Nothing no more, sweet operator
I used to be nothing, but now I have a sweet operator in my life who's changed everything for me.
Could you get me more, gotta live on a side of a sinner
I need more of what my sweet operator has given me, even if it means living life on the edge and experimenting with sin.
'Cause I love a dancing break
I enjoy taking a break from the mundane and dancing to the rhythm of life.
Don't date a trick colour, sweet addiction
Don't be fooled by something that appears attractive but is actually a harmful addiction.
Why could you get me more, more soul affiction
Why can't you give me more of what I crave, even if it means experiencing some turmoil?
Give me vibration, give me vibration
I need something to shake up my life and make me feel alive.
You got me on my knees, hallalujah, sweet hardcore angel
My sweet operator has me feeling grateful and elated beyond belief.
Gotta live on a side of a sinner cause I love a dancing break
I'm willing to indulge in a little sin to keep things exciting in my life and fully enjoy moments of pure joy and movement.
Gotta live on a side of a sinner cause I need to feed my brink
I have a need for something more, something that will push me to the brink and beyond.
I feel vibration flowing down my inner soul
I'm finally feeling alive and in tune with my true self.
I feel a rhytm, maybe the rhytm of love
I sense a rhythm in my life that may be love, or something akin to it.
Give me vibration, take me for a ride
I'm ready to be taken on a wild ride of excitement, passion, and discovery.
Give me vibration
I need more of the excitement and vitality that life can offer.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.