The band, Steven Eagles (guitar, vocals), Nicholas Millard (drums) and Rachel Lavelle (bass), were all just 16 years old when they signed to Shifty Disco after playing just eight gigs as Crackout (named after Brian Krakow, a character in American TV teen drama My So-Called Life). Within four weeks of the label first seeing the band live, they had recorded and released their debut Chuck single. An album was also recorded around this time but was never released. Lavelle was shortly replaced on bass by Jack Dunkley.
Crackout toured with Sick Of It All / 28 Days in late December 2000, where they sold a self-released tape containing early recordings of Breakout and Joey Lost His Mind (both later re-recorded and included on debut album This Is Really Neat). EP1, a 500-limited edition CD with four songs showing early promise, and EP2 shortly followed in 2001. Both EPs came with a free sticker and in a hand-numbered cardboard sleeve, finished with a wax seal (red on EP1, green on EP2). Their debut album, This Is Really Neat, was released that October featuring artwork by Jane Wooster-Scott.
In 2002, plans to release old favourite Volume (the b-side to their first single, later re-recorded and featured on This Is Really Neat) were scrapped when I Am The One was used in an advert for Salomon Sports. Volume was therefore the only Crackout song not released as a single with it's own music video.
After long delays, the band's follow up to This Is Really Neat was released in March 2004. However, the promotion for Oh No! was ended abruptly due to EMI deciding to close down Hut Recordings shortly after the album's release. Whilst making plans for a third album, their producer friend Clive Langer asked them if they were interested in playing on a film soundtrack which he was scoring, which ended up with them being cast for small roles in Brothers of the Head, the 2006 mockumentary based on the 1977 novel by Brian Aldiss.
In 2005, Crackout toyed with the idea of adding an extra member to provide them with options with guitars, keyboards and backing vocals live. This lead to a few low-key gigs with additional member Simon in October that year. After playing these gigs, however, they felt like too much time had passed since their last shows and decided to disband Crackout.
However, 2006 saw Steven, Nick, Jack and Simon now playing in a new group called Blackholes, who released The Alcohol EP themselves through their MySpace profile, featuring a couple of tracks played at their last few Crackout gigs.
Eagles, Millard and Dunkley have also played in French pop act Vanessa & The O's on a few of their live shows.
It was announced in 2007 that Dunkley had left due to 'creative differences', with Alex Szrok replacing him on bass. In September, it was announced that Blackholes had decided to regroup, renaming the band 'Out Of The Afternoon' and that they had brought in Anna Sales on keyboard and vocals. The newest project at present has a more jazzy sound than previously, with "Alcohol," a slow jazz song being the only 'Blackholes' track used on their myspace profile.
In March 2008 the band signed to Leeds Label 'Tip Toe Records' and released there first EP in April
Empty Head
Crackout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too late it's mine anyway
You run back broken and worthless
Too late with nothing to say
I lie on a new position
I hear that it's something good
Gonna kill me like a killer should
No secrets nothing that I said
Too long you're wasting yourself
No reason cut an empty head
I wonder going through hell
I'm a liar, isn't easy
Try to find it to believe it
I can see myself in the right way
I can't stand it, it won't go away
You with you're starting to kill me
Result you follow me out
Two more than any that you've seen
Too late I'm starting to shout
I lie on a new position
I hear that it's something good
Gonna kill me like a killer should
I'm a liar, isn't easy
Try to find it to believe it
I can see myself in the right way
I can't stand it, it won't go away
I'm a liar, isn't easy
Try to find it to believe it
I can see myself in the right way
I can't stand it, it won't go away
The lyrics of "Empty Head" by Crackout suggest feelings of overwhelming guilt and shame, as well as the internal battle of trying to accept and come to terms with these negative emotions. The opening lines, "I hear that I don't deserve this / Too late it's mine anyway," indicate that the singer is aware of some sort of undeserved punishment or consequences, but is resigned to accepting it. The next lines, "You run back broken and worthless / Too late with nothing to say," refer to the other party in the situation, who is now also suffering and unable to communicate or make amends.
The chorus of the song, "I'm a liar, isn't easy / Try to find it to believe it / I can see myself in the right way / I can't stand it, it won't go away," is a declaration of the singer's own deceitful nature and their struggles to accept themselves. The line "Gonna kill me like a killer should" in the verses could be interpreted as the singer wishing for their own punishment or self-destruction.
The following lines suggest a lack of meaningful communication or connection between the singer and their counterpart, with "No secrets nothing that I said / Too long you're wasting yourself / No reason cut an empty head / I wonder going through hell." The phrases "cut an empty head" and "going through hell" suggest a sense of isolation and despair.
Overall, the lyrics of "Empty Head" explore complex emotions of guilt, shame, and self-loathing. The singer appears to be struggling to connect with others and with themselves, and the song reflects a feeling of being trapped and unable to escape their negative emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear that I don't deserve this
I'm being told that I'm not worthy of this.
Too late it's mine anyway
But it's already mine, regardless.
You run back broken and worthless
You come back defeated and with no value.
Too late with nothing to say
It's too late for you to redeem yourself and you have nothing to offer.
I lie on a new position
I'm in a new situation.
I hear that it's something good
I'm told that it's something positive.
Gonna kill me like a killer should
But it's actually going to harm me greatly, like a true killer would.
No secrets nothing that I said
There are no secrets or hidden thoughts from me.
Too long you're wasting yourself
You're spending too much time on this and it's pointless.
No reason cut an empty head
There's no point in wasting effort on someone with no useful thoughts.
I wonder going through hell
I'm contemplating and suffering through a difficult situation.
I'm a liar, isn't easy
It's not easy for me to admit that I'm a liar.
Try to find it to believe it
You'll have to work hard to trust me.
I can see myself in the right way
I have an accurate view of myself.
I can't stand it, it won't go away
But I can't handle it and it won't disappear.
You with you're starting to kill me
You're slowly destroying me.
Result you follow me out
And it's causing me to leave.
Two more than any that you've seen
There are two others who are worse than me.
Too late I'm starting to shout
It's too late, I'm starting to raise my voice in anger.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@slamminboy
Damned i saw this band live at Paris long time ago. I think it was the 22th may 2002. It was the first part of a french band called "Pleymo" at The Elysée Montmartre. I remember stage dived on some songs like "142" and "Break Out". Amazing memories !! GUYS YOU ALWAYS ROCK !!!
@tubesecurity
Hey. I think that video is alright. Quite well done. I might watch it again, send it to a friend!
@mackaybrown4847
This is what we did
@DudeTed
top song from a great albumn. did they make a video for "robots have feelings"?
@skippy646
myspace listentoblackholes : crackout members new band page
@dandan84
nick's no virgin... i know him well! and i know this ito be false.. i also know that it's the sort of joke their manager would make!
@jackdunkley1605
He’s a virgin
@ricd2821
@Jack Dunkley legend
@Takadananobaba112
he's a cheese farmer and possible virgin