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)
Love Is Unkind
Danko Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that's easy to tell, that girl's just puttin' you through hell
Papa said my turn, step outside you gotta learn Women and girls will make your head turn
But daddy I'm doin' fine without her
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Couple comes up to me, they're in love, plain to see
I take a step back and start to laugh, you know love can never last
'cause love comes in then falls out, that's when you learn what it's about
'I love you' always ends, with 'I think we should just be friends'
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Now I want to talk about love
I want to talk about love
Because all my life I've been told, that love'll keep you together, love is all you need, and all you need is love, love is the answer
But I remember the time, that my momma sat me down and she looked me in the eye, the little pea-bone with a smile, and her smile turned into a laugh, and her laugh turned into a cackle, and you know what she said
You know what she said?
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
That's what she said
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
It don't like nobody
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
It don't got no friends
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
It don't like nobody
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
It don't got no friends
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna prove my point tonight, I'm gonna tilt my head up to the sky
I'm gonna look at the good lord in the eye and if the good lord, wants to strike me down tonight, and I haven't found my true love I haven't found her
If I haven't found my true love, Baby
If the good lord wants to strike me down tonight and I haven't found my true, I haven't found my true love
I'm gonna die a happy man
In Danko Jones's song "Love Is Unkind," the singer talks about the harsh reality of love. The lyrics are essentially a warning to the listener to watch out for love as it can be unkind and cruel. In the first verse, the singer's parents warn him about the dangers of love. His mother warns him about a woman who is just putting him through hell, while his father tells him to be aware of women who will turn his head. Despite their warnings, the singer insists that he is doing fine without anyone.
In the chorus, Danko Jones repeats the phrase "love is unkind" multiple times, emphasizing the message that love isn't always positive or easy. In the second verse, the singer observes a couple who are in love and laughs because he knows that love rarely lasts. He sings about how love comes in and falls out, leaving people to learn what it's really about. Despite the fact that the phrase "I love you" is often used, it often ends with "I think we should just be friends."
The last verse features the singer reflecting on his experiences with love. He talks about how he was always told that love would keep you together, but his mother's laughter and comment that "love is unkind" has stuck with him. The repetition of the chorus at the end emphasizes the message that love can be unkind and isn't always what people expect it to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama said, watch out son, skinny top, heavy bottom
My mother warned me to be careful because the girl in question is causing problems for me.
I know that's easy to tell, that girl's just puttin' you through hell
I realize that it's evident that the girl is making my life miserable.
Papa said my turn, step outside you gotta learn Women and girls will make your head turn
My father advised me to go out there and experience dating because women will catch my attention.
But daddy I'm doin' fine without her
However, I am doing perfectly fine without her.
Couple comes up to me, they're in love, plain to see
I saw a couple who were obviously in love approaching me.
I take a step back and start to laugh, you know love can never last
I laughed and stepped back because we all know that love is fleeting.
'cause love comes in then falls out, that's when you learn what it's about
Love comes then goes, and that's when you realize what it truly is.
'I love you' always ends, with 'I think we should just be friends'
When someone says 'I love you', it often ends with the phrase 'I think we should just be friends'.
Now I want to talk about love
I want to discuss love now.
Because all my life I've been told, that love'll keep you together, love is all you need, and all you need is love, love is the answer
I've always been taught that love is the answer to everything - the thing that holds people together and the only thing we need in life.
But I remember the time, that my momma sat me down and she looked me in the eye, the little pea-bone with a smile, and her smile turned into a laugh, and her laugh turned into a cackle, and you know what she said
However, I remember a time when my mom sat me down and looked me in the eye with a small smile. Her smile soon turned into a loud laugh, and she said something significant.
That's what she said
She said something crucial that I'm about to reveal.
It don't like nobody
Love is indifferent to everyone.
It don't got no friends
Love doesn't have any friends.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna prove my point tonight, I'm gonna tilt my head up to the sky
I'm going to demonstrate my point tonight, and I'm going to look up at the sky.
I'm gonna look at the good lord in the eye and if the good lord, wants to strike me down tonight, and I haven't found my true love I haven't found her
I'm going to look at God in the eye and if he wants to take me tonight, and I haven't found my true love, then I haven't found her.
If I haven't found my true love, Baby
If I haven't found my true love.
If the good lord wants to strike me down tonight and I haven't found my true, I haven't found my true love
If God wants to take me tonight, and I haven't found my true love.
I'm gonna die a happy man
I'll happily return to the afterlife when the time comes.
Love is unkind, Love is unkind, Love is unkind
Love is cruel, and it pains me to say so.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alexlambert
honestly one of the best songs from the best band in rock music. imo
Avonidsed
Amen brother Danko. Preach it!
Silvio F. Lodi
this is poetry!
Lou
One of the best songs...
Kai Adam
Very Great !!!
Claudia de Jong
Epic 😎
Kai Adam
ssssooooOOOO cool !!!
Tina P.
True!!!
Александр Полещук
So fast...