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
Joey Lost His Mind
Crackout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a fresh look to survive it
I will take myself away now
I'm a black flag and I'm dying
Like a fade I will like it
I don't want to be away from here
Castro karma
I will make myself on the same day
I will state my case 'til they all say
Joey lost his mind on the same day
I will help myself
Hollywood life is a science
Take a sample analyze it
I don't understand the new way
Start to feel right start believing
Get myself up start the screaming
An example of the wrong way
Castro karma
Anti sergeant
I will make myself on the same day
I will state my case till they all say
Joey lost his mind on the same day
I will help myself
The lyrics of Crackout's song Joey Lost His Mind seem to involve a character named Joey who has lost his mind and is experiencing a crisis of some sort. The opening lines suggest that the singer is willing to succumb to lying in order to take a fresh look and survive, implying that there is some level of difficulty or hardship that needs to be overcome. The lines, "I'm a black flag and I'm dying/Like a fade I will like it," could be interpreted as a reference to the punk band Black Flag and their logo of a black flag, which symbolizes anarchy and rebellion. The singer is possibly experiencing a similar sense of disillusionment and despair.
The chorus provides more insight into the song's storyline: "Joey lost his mind on the same day/I will make myself on the same day/I will state my case 'til they all say/I will help myself." This suggests that the singer may be trying to connect with Joey and his plight in order to help himself overcome whatever difficulties he is facing. The lyrics that follow - "Hollywood life is a science/Take a sample analyze it" - could be seen as a commentary on the superficiality and artificiality of Hollywood culture, and the singer's inability to fully grasp or understand it. The final lines, "An example of the wrong way," seem to indicate that the singer has made some mistakes or errors in judgment, but is willing to learn from them and move forward.
Overall, the lyrics of Joey Lost His Mind are open to interpretation, but seem to suggest a theme of personal struggle and redemption, with the character of Joey representing a kind of catalyst or inspiration for the singer to take action and overcome his own difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
I will succumb to you lying
I will give in to your deceitful ways
Take a fresh look to survive it
Take a new perspective to get through it
I will take myself away now
I will remove myself from the situation
I'm a black flag and I'm dying
I am a symbol of danger and I am losing strength
Like a fade I will like it
I will gradually disappear and be content with it
I don't want to be away from here
I don't want to leave this place
Castro karma
A reference to Fidel Castro and the consequences of his actions
Anti sergeant
Against the authority figure
I will make myself on the same day
I will take control of my life on the same day
I will state my case 'til they all say
I will present my argument until everyone agrees with me
Joey lost his mind on the same day
Someone else lost control of their sanity on that day
I will help myself
I will take care of myself
Hollywood life is a science
Living in Hollywood is a calculated and strategic process
Take a sample analyze it
Take a test and evaluate the results
I don't understand the new way
I don't comprehend the current method
Start to feel right start believing
Begin to feel good and have faith
Get myself up start the screaming
Get motivated and start shouting out
An example of the wrong way
A warning of what not to do
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edj7805
Hell yeah dude. Was just searching for crackout live videos 🙏
@grebstarmusic
Yeah there's not much, sadly ☹️
@edj7805
@Grebstar I saw them in Birmingham in... I wanna say 2007, wish I took my camera
@grebstarmusic
Yeah I saw them play in ...2003? In Virgin Megastore London, those were the days. Don't think cameras were invented back then.. :D
@edj7805
@Grebstar haha. I play drums and I'm in London,let jam some crackout 😂
@thedropkickuk
Why is crackoit blanked on YouTube. Loved this shit. Keep it alive ;)
@grebstarmusic
thedropkickuk is it?! I always love the dumb f*ck video.. yeah if we can still hear it, it'll never die!