Over the years, the group has become perhaps best known for their 1989 tune "Scared", an Alice Cooper inspired track featuring the refrain of "I think I like being scared". Parent album 'Dangerous Toys', the band's first full release, notably received some positive critical reviews and reached the #65 slot on the Billboard 200 chart. Lead vocalist Jason McMaster currently sings for hard rock band Broken Teeth.
In 1999 Dangerous Toys released a live album, 'Vitamins and Crash Helmets Tour - Greatest Hits Live' (Deadline/Cleopatra). After that, band activity slowed.
Singer Jason McMaster performs in various Austin-based rock-bands, including Sad Wings, Capricorn USA, and Broken Teeth a band formed in 1999 with Dangerous Toys guitarist Paul Lidel. Lidel left Broken Teeth in 2006 and now writes and performs with Adrenaline Factor, Jokerville, and 99 Crimes. Lidel is also a music instructor who trains future would-be guitar rockstars. Drummer Mark Geary and bassist Mike Watson record and perform in an Austin-based heavy metal band called Proof Of Life.
In 2001, they played a few shows in their hometown of Austin, Texas and in Tokyo, Japan, rejoined by their original bassist, Mike Watson. They reunited for another set of live shows in Austin and Tokyo during February 2003, Austin in May 2005, and at Bat Fest (an annual Austin event) with Rhino Bucket in September 2006. Portions of the 2006 show were recorded and initially intended for release as XX, a 20-year career retrospective CD/DVD. The XX project was postponed indefinitely in mid-2007. The band was also rumored to be working on a new album during this period, but nothing has come out of it.
In 2006, "Teas'n, Pleas'n" was covered by Shadows Fall on their compilation album Fallout from the War, featuring guest vocals from Toys' vocalist Jason McMaster.
In 2007, Dangerous Toys recorded a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's hit song Simple Man for An All Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd, (Deadline/Cleopatra). Also in 2007, they performed an unannounced short set at the end of a show featuring the member's current bands (Adrenaline Factor, Proof of Life and Broken Teeth).
In 2008 they performed a handful of shows. Most notable was a 20th Anniversary show in Austin, TX, on November 8, with all original band members.
In 2017, it was announced that Dangerous Toys had signed a deal with EMP Label Group, the label of Megadeth bassist David Ellefson to reissue remastered versions of several of the band's catalog releases including Pissed, The R*tist 4*merly Known as Dangerous Toys, and XX: Live. Pissed was re-released on September 8, 2017 on Vinyl LP, Picture Disc, and CD.
Though not a full-time ongoing band, Dangerous Toys is still active as of 2020, performing at least one live show every year. McMaster had stated in interviews there would be no new material under the Dangerous Toys name, but would never rule it out. Despite McMaster's previous statements, Dangerous Toys guitarist Scott Dalhover revealed on his Facebook page in September 2018 that he was working on demos with him for what will be the band's fifth studio album. During their performance at the Rocklanta festival in Atlanta on March 30, 2019, they performed their first song in 24 years "Hold Your Horses".
Monster Man
Dangerous Toys Lyrics
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Spread fear across the land
Crushin' your head like a can
You call me monster man
Piss on your car like a dog
On your leg I gnaw
Kissing your face like a saw
Just a man
Monster man
Monster man, I'm just lke you
Telling lies to my friends
It's so fun to sin
Cheat all the time just to win
(Will I) lose again
I never buy anything
Stealin' 'cause I can
Laugh at it all in the end
Just a man
Monster man
Monster man, I'm just like you
Just a man
No one knows who I am
Nobody understands
We're all like this inside, have something to hide
And all these clones are part of the plan
Monster man
Monster man, I'm just a man
Monster man
Monster man, I'm just a man
Take out the world like a god
Don't you think I'm odd
Would you say I'm a snob
I'm such a throb
King of a monsters is me
Would you be my queen
Can I please be your slave
Make me behave
Monster man
Monster man, I'm just a man
Monster, monster man
Monster man, just a man
Monster, monster man
Monster man, I'm just like you
Your just like me
The lyrics to Dangerous Toys's song Monster Man are about the duality of human nature and how we all have a monster side to ourselves. The song talks about the character creating chaos and destruction all around them, taking out walls and spreading fear across the land. They also describe engaging in immoral behavior like cheating, stealing and telling lies to their friends. The chorus "Monster man, I'm just like you" serves as a reminder that everyone has a dark side to themselves that they might be afraid to confront. In the end, the song seems to suggest that these "monsters" are just normal human beings struggling with their inner demons.
The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener's perspective. Some might see the song as a warning about the dangers of indulging in one's darker impulses. Others might see it as a celebration of embracing and accepting one's inner "monster." Regardless of the interpretation, the song's catchy chorus and heavy guitar riffs create an energy that perfectly matches the lyrics' themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Take out the wall with my hand
I have brute strength and the power to destroy things with ease.
Spread fear across the land
I enjoy causing terror and panic wherever I go.
Crushin' your head like a can
I can easily defeat my enemies and leave them lifeless.
You call me monster man
I am known for my monstrous deeds and feared by those around me.
Piss on your car like a dog
I have no respect for other people's property or belongings.
On your leg I gnaw
I take pleasure in causing pain and discomfort to others.
Kissing your face like a saw
I am violent and aggressive towards others, always looking for ways to hurt them.
Just a man
Despite my monstrous deeds, I am still just a human being.
Telling lies to my friends
I am manipulative and enjoy deceiving others for my own gain.
It's so fun to sin
I derive pleasure from engaging in immoral and unethical behavior.
Cheat all the time just to win
I am willing to break the rules to get what I want.
(Will I) lose again
I am afraid of losing and will do anything to avoid it.
I never buy anything
I have no regard for money and prefer to steal instead of working for it.
Stealin' 'cause I can
I take what I want without any guilt or remorse.
Laugh at it all in the end
I find pleasure in the suffering of others and enjoy seeing them fail.
No one knows who I am
I lead a double life and keep my true self hidden from the world.
Nobody understands
I feel isolated and alone, as if nobody truly knows who I am.
We're all like this inside, have something to hide
Everyone has secrets and parts of themselves that they keep hidden from the world.
And all these clones are part of the plan
Society promotes conformity and discourages individuality, leading to a world of people who are all the same.
Take out the world like a god
I see myself as all-powerful and capable of changing the world to my will.
Don't you think I'm odd
I am aware that my behavior is abnormal and upsetting to others.
Would you say I'm a snob
I have a superiority complex and believe that I am better than others.
I'm such a throb
I am convinced that people are drawn to me and find me irresistible.
King of a monsters is me
I see myself as the leader of a group of powerful and fearsome people.
Would you be my queen
I am seeking a partner who will play a subservient role to me.
Can I please be your slave
I have masochistic tendencies and enjoy being controlled by others.
Make me behave
I am aware that my behavior is unacceptable and want to be controlled and corrected.
Monster man
I am a monster among men.
Monster man, I'm just like you
Despite my monstrous tendencies, I am not fundamentally different from anyone else.
Your just like me
Others have the same hidden desires and secrets that I do.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STANLEY MARVIN CLARKE, JEFFREY LORBER, JEFFREY H LORBER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind