Formed in 1996, they played consistently for two years in and around the north-eastern United States and Canada, opening for The New Bomb Turks, Nashville Pussy, Blonde Redhead, The Make-Up, The Dirtbombs, The Chrome Cranks and The Demolition Doll Rods. Originally they did not even want to release an album opting to have the band's live reputation spread via word of mouth.
Eventually, the trio relented and put out a self-titled six song e.p. on Sonic Unyon records in 1998. In 1999 they released the self-produced My Love Is Bold E.P. and achieved national exposure with the single "Bounce". They were nominated for a Juno Award in 2000 for Best Alternative Album.
In 2001 Bad Taste Records released a compilation of the band's early recordings, demos, and b-sides entitled, I'm Alive and On Fire. A 5 week European tour followed to promote the release including shows at the Roskilde festival in Denmark and Hultsfred festival in Sweden. By the end of the year they had returned 2 more times, most notably as main support for the Backyard Babies.
2002: Born A Lion
In 2002 they released their first full-length album, Born A Lion, produced by Bill Bell, on Bad Taste Records in Europe and on Universal in Canada. The band did several European tours and two Canadian tours to promote the record including an unprecedented repeat performance at Roskilde and the now legendary return to Hultsfred as well as notable stops to Pukkelpop in Belgium and The Lowlands festival in the Netherlands. They also managed to grab the opening slot with The Rolling Stones on their "40 Licks" World tour kick-off show at the Palais Royale in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 16, 2002.
2003: We Sweat Blood
2003 saw the release of We Sweat Blood, produced by Matt DeMatteo, and the group taking a heavier approach to their hard-rock sound. More touring followed that included Europe and Japan. They were also nominated for two Junos: Best Rock Album (Born a Lion) and Best video (Lovercall).
While success was happening abroad, home relations with Universal Canada had soured and the band was dropped mid-album run. Explanations from the label were vague, but speculations point to Jones' February 2004 appearance on CBC Sunday where Jones appeared as a pro-downloader opposite then CRIA president, Brian Robertson. Getting dropped from Universal Canada did little to stop the group as they continued to tour heavily for the rest of the year well into 2004 with bands like Turbonegro, Sepultura and The Bronx. While touring they managed to pick up another Juno nomination for Best Rock Album (We Sweat Blood) and tour Australia as well as more European dates including Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park in Germany and Download, Leeds and Reading in England.
2005-2006: Sleep Is The Enemy
Early 2005 was taken up by recording the follow-up to We Sweat Blood, but not without a series of tours amidst recording that brought the band to the Netherlands, Germany and South Africa. In April, American label, Razor & Tie released We Sweat Blood and the band set out to America in support as well.[6] Working two releases simultaneously on both sides of the Atlantic proved quite hard and the worldwide release for the upcoming album, Sleep Is The Enemy, produced by Matt DeMatteo, was pushed back to 2006.
During the summer and fall of 2005 the band toured America heavily with two of We Sweat Blood's singles being second most added to active rock radio in America ("Lovercall" and "Forget My Name"). Stateside tours with Flogging Molly, Our Lady Peace, The Supersuckers, and The (International) Noise Conspiracy followed. Prior to the release of Sleep Is The Enemy drummer Damon Richardson left the band, citing fatigue as a reason for leaving. He was replaced by Dan Cornelius.
In January and February 2006, under new Canadian label, Aquarius Records, the band set out to do their first Canadian tour in almost 4 years opening up for Nickelback, With the release of Sleep Is The Enemy came more touring including America and a headlining European club tour with support from Brant Bjork & The Bros.
The summer saw them perform at Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, With Full Force and Wacken Open Air in Germany; Hellfest and Furiafest in France, Metaltown in Sweden, Pinkpop and Lowlands in The Netherlands, Tuska Festival, Ruisrock and Ankkarock in Finland, Gampel in Switzerland and Wireless in the UK among at least a dozen more. In October 2006, a 2 week tour of Norway saw the band play with ex-Kyuss front-man, John Garcia who appeared on the song "Invisible" off Sleep Is The Enemy.
2008: Never Too Loud
Their fourth album, Never Too Loud was released on February 27, 2008[9] and produced by Nick Raskulinecz. The album yielded three singles, "Code Of The Road" followed by "Take Me Home" and "King Of Magazines". A major city tour of Europe in April 2008 was followed by a Canadian tour in May and a three month stint in Europe playing almost 30 dates on the festival circuit that included Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park and With Full Force in Germany; Bospop and Lowlands in The Netherlands; Sziget Festival in Hungary; Rabarock in Estonia; Provinssi Rock in Finland; and Eurockeennes and Hellfest in France, where Jones got to sing on stage with one of his favorite bands, Death Angel for the song, "Bored". In the fall/winter of 2008 Danko Jones toured England, Germany, France and Benelux opening for Motörhead.
2009: B-Sides
On February 3, 2009 B-Sides was released in Europe only - a collection of previously released b-sides from European singles and unreleased tracks that spanned 1996 to 2008. On February 24 they commenced a 7 week tour in support of the release that spanned The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, France and the UK with support coming from The Backyard Babies, Winnebego Deal and The Black Spiders. The CD yielded the singles "Sugar High" and "My Problems (Are Your Problems Now)". A greatest hits compilation titled This Is Danko Jones was released on April 7 the same year in Canada only.
In the summer the band managed a few festival appearances, most notably, the Sziget Festival in Hungary on the main stage with Faith No More and The Offspring, as well as Huntenpop in The Netherlands, Wintherthur and Gampel Open Air in Switzerland, Parken Festival in Norway and Jurassic Rock in Finland. In January and February 2010 the band toured across Canada with Guns N' Roses and Sebastian Bach. In March the same year they toured the United States with Clutch.
2010: Below the Belt
Their fifth album Below the Belt was released on May 11, 2010 and produced by Matt DeMatteo. The album's first single, "Full of Regret", features Elijah Wood, Lemmy Kilmister, Selma Blair and Mike Watt in the accompanying video. It debuted at #36 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks in November. It is also featured on EA's NHL 11 soundtrack. The second single, "Had Enough", has Ralph Macchio appearing in the accompanying video.
On June 8, 2011 Danko Jones announced on the band's website that drummer Dan Cornelius was no longer with the band. In the same statement Danko Jones said Atom Willard had joined as a replacement. In a March 2012 question-and-answer session with fans on Twitter Danko Jones said: "Dan's time with the band had run its course but it was completely mutual from both sides. An amicable split."
2012: New Album
In early 2012 Danko Jones revealed the band was working on a new album, posting footage of the writing process on the band's YouTube channel. Jones said the album was likely to be out in the European fall (autumn). He added a book and DVD about the band's history would also be released in 2012.
Albums
Born a Lion (2002) (Bad Taste Records / Universal Canada)
We Sweat Blood (2003) (Bad Taste Records / Razor & Tie)
Sleep Is the Enemy (2006) (Bad Taste Records | Aquarius Records)
Never Too Loud (2008) (Bad Taste Records / Aquarius Records)
Below the Belt (2010) (Bad Taste Records / Aquarius Records)
EPs and Others
Sugar Chocolate 7" (1998) (Sonic Unyon)
Danko Jones EP (1998) (Sonic Unyon)
My Love Is Bold (1999) (Sound King / Outside Music)
I'm Alive and on Fire (2001) (Bad Taste Records)
Ritual of the Savage 10" (split with Gluecifer & Peter Pan Speedrock) (2003) (Drunken Maria / Suburban)
B-Sides (2009) (Bad Taste Records)
This Is Danko Jones (2009) (Canadian-only greatest hits release) (Emd Int'l Records)
Having Fun on Stage with Danko Jones 7 (2009) (Yeah Right! Records)
Mouth to Mouth (2011) (digital-only release)
Bring On the Mountain (2012) (DVD)
Cheater
Danko Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can tell I kinda think that you don't
It took you only just a couple of days
You walked on and left me for broke
Well all the girls know your name
All the guys play your game
The heart is always alone
Your (?bro’ raised?), but you ain't never home
You're a cheater, baby
Kinda like it anyway
I like the way you laugh
When I cry all day
Like cheap cheat can be to a face
You always move it on with (?I’m a go?)
How many times I catched you out of my town
I knew that (?you’re hoping?), all alone
Well all the girls know your name
All the guys play your game
The heart is always alone
And when I call you up to ask you out
Your (?bro’ raised?), but you ain't never home
You're a cheater, baby
Kinda like it anyway
I like the way you laugh
When I cry all day
The lyrics to Danko Jones's song "Cheater" tell a story of a relationship with someone who consistently cheats and manipulates their partner. The song's protagonist is painfully aware of their lover's infidelity but continues to cling to the relationship, indicating a potential codependency. In this sense, the chorus, "You're a cheater, baby, Kinda like it anyway, I like the way you laugh When I cry all day," reveals the singer's twisted satisfaction in the catch-22 of being hurt by their partner's actions but unable to let go.
The verse "All the girls know your name, All the guys play your game, The heart is always alone" speaks to the fact that the cheater is a known player, constantly moving from person to person, never truly committing themselves to anyone. The singer feels the sting of knowing that they are not the only one being played, but struggles to distance themselves from their partner despite the pain they cause.
Overall, "Cheater" is a song that speaks to the complexities of relationships, addiction, and the pull of lustful desire over our better judgement. The lyrics explore the darker side of love, where the need for intimacy runs so deep that we forgive and even enjoy our lover's treachery.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, cheap cheater, you remember my name
Addressing the cheater, the singer acknowledges that they know each other's name but suspects that the cheater has forgotten.
I can tell I kinda think that you don't
The singer is confident that the cheater has no recollection of their name.
It took you only just a couple of days
The cheater abandoned the singer quickly, after just a few days of being together.
You walked on and left me for broke
The cheater left the artist feeling financially and emotionally bankrupt.
Well all the girls know your name
The cheater is well-known among women for their behavior.
All the guys play your game
Men are familiar with the cheater's methods and tactics.
The heart is always alone
The singer reflects on the loneliness that comes with being cheated on.
And when I call you up to ask you out
The artist tries to set up a date with the cheater.
Your (?bro’ raised?), but you ain't never home
Despite the cheater's supposed busy-ness or unavailability, they might actually be avoiding the artist.
You're a cheater, baby
The artist addresses the cheater directly as a deceitful person.
Kinda like it anyway
Despite knowing that the cheater is untrustworthy, the singer has a strange attraction to them.
I like the way you laugh
The artist is attracted to the cheater's charming qualities, such as their laugh.
When I cry all day
The singer acknowledges that their emotions are affected by the cheater's actions, to the point of crying all day.
Like cheap cheat can be to a face
The singer compares the cheater's behavior to an insult directed at someone's face.
You always move it on with (?I’m a go?)
The cheater quickly moves on from one partner to the next, leaving the singer behind.
How many times I catched you out of my town
The artist has caught the cheater cheating on them on multiple occasions in different locations.
I knew that (?you’re hoping?), all alone
The artist suspects that the cheater might be hoping for something more, despite their infidelity.
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
banedeath
This has become my new favorite song by Danko...
Stycks32
I know Atom Willard is in the band, but why has it taken me 10 years to learn of this band? This is unfortunate. They need more publicity! Danko Jones!!!
ThatMetalGirl
Go Don! TMS rocks \m/
Ray Smith
F'n loving this shit!!!
Zach Pabor
Sounds like a mix of Judas Priest, RHCP, and Queens of the Stone Age.
xXtechnomaticXx
Holy shit o.O These guys are awesome but they only have 655 views. Wait, make that 656.
Aleshanation
So appropriate. Got fucked over by my ex again today, luckily I found this song before I broke something.
CrackersL
Advertising Justin Bieber before a Danko Jones video has killed all the good left in me.
Melted Fro
what the fuck 500 views danko jones is better then all the mainstream shit right now