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)
Ravenous
Danko Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't tell ya wrong from right
I know they say it can never come true
But it was love at first sight
Everybody's talking about you you're a big commotion
You're like the ocean
You're all around me baby
'Cause when I fell I felt you there
But you held on to me
'Cause I
I found my legs when you stood by my side
The air around you makes me high
'Cause I'm ravenous for your love
I got back up when you held out your hand
The more you see you understand
That I'm ravenous for your love
When I met you my feelings grew
What in the world was happening to me
You made it right you brought me back in the light
You made this deaf dumb blind man see
I though I'd never meet anyone like you
But when I did you felt it too
'Cause I
I found my legs when you stood by my side
The air around you makes me high
'Cause I'm ravenous for your love
I got back up when you held out your hand
The more you see you understand
That I'm ravenous for your love
But if you ever want out
I won't stand in your way
That's not what I'm about
'Cause I need you
I'll be there when you need me around
The choice is yours of course I need you to stay
Without you I'm lost, with you I'm found
But you should know that my love never will end
From far away your honour still I'll defend
I've got it bad for you my heart you can take and break
Again and again and again
'Cause I
I found my legs when you stood by my side
The air around you makes me high
'Cause I'm ravenous for your love
I got back up when you held out your hand
The more you see you understand
That I'm ravenous, ravenous for your love
The lyrics of Danko Jones's song "Ravenous" describe the feeling of falling in love at first sight and the exhilaration that comes with it. The singer acknowledges the doubts that people might have about the possibility of love at first sight, but asserts that it happened to him. He describes the object of his affection as a powerful force, like the ocean, that surrounds him and makes him feel alive. The singer found himself lost before he met this person, but in their presence, he feels like he has found his way. He describes himself as being "ravenous" for their love, meaning that he is deeply hungry for it, craving it with intensity.
The lyrics also highlight the singer's devotion to this person. He acknowledges that they have the power to leave him, but he won't try to keep them if they want to go. He also promises to be there for them whenever they need him, and he declares that his love for them will never end, even if they are far away. Overall, the song portrays an intense and passionate love that makes the singer feel like he has found his purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I was lost like a child in the night
At the time of meeting you, I was directionless and confused.
I couldn't tell ya wrong from right
I was incapable of making sound decisions and differentiating between good and bad.
I know they say it can never come true
People believe that love at first sight is a mere myth.
But it was love at first sight
However, I felt an instant connection and attraction towards you when we first met.
Everybody's talking about you you're a big commotion
You are the topic of discussion among many, and you create a stir wherever you go.
You're like the ocean
Your presence is vast and overwhelming as the ocean.
You're all around me baby
Your influence and impact are everywhere in my life, my thoughts and my feelings.
I need to know you will always care
I want to be assured that you will never stop loving and caring about me.
'Cause when I fell I felt you there
During my low times, I felt your support and presence, which kept me going.
But you held on to me
You have held strong and remained supportive of me through my struggles.
I found my legs when you stood by my side
Your presence has given me the courage and strength to stand up for myself.
The air around you makes me high
Being around you elevates my mood and makes me feel elated and happy.
I'm ravenous for your love
I crave and desire your love intensely.
I got back up when you held out your hand
I stood up, dusted myself off with your help and encouragement.
The more you see you understand
The more you get to know me as a person, you'll realize how much I'm drawn towards you.
That I'm ravenous for your love
My passion for you and my desire to be with you cannot be tamed or substituted.
When I met you my feelings grew
Upon meeting you, my heart swelled with emotions and feelings.
What in the world was happening to me
I was taken for a spin by the intensity of my feelings towards you.
You made it right you brought me back in the light
Your presence and love brought me out of my darkness and into the light.
You made this deaf dumb blind man see
Your love has opened my eyes, ears, and heart to the beauty of life.
I thought I'd never meet anyone like you
I never believed that someone like you could exist in this world.
But when I did you felt it too
But upon meeting you, it became evident to both of us that we were meant for each other.
If you ever want out I won't stand in your way
If you ever choose to leave my life, I won't stop you, as true love means letting go.
That's not what I'm about
I'm not the kind of person who would hold anyone back from following their heart.
'Cause I need you
However, I do need you in my life, and I hope you stay with me.
I'll be there when you need me around
I'll always be there for you when you need me and make sure that you're okay.
The choice is yours of course I need you to stay
Ultimately, the decision to stay or leave is yours, but I want and need you to stay by my side.
Without you I'm lost, with you I'm found
Without you, I feel directionless and lost, but with you, my life has purpose, and I have found my way.
But you should know that my love never will end
No matter what happens in our lives, my love for you will never fade or end.
From far away your honour still I'll defend
Even if distance separates us, I'll always stand up for you and defend your honor.
I've got it bad for you my heart you can take and break
My love for you is all-consuming, and you have the power to either make it or break it.
Again and again and again
But no matter what happens, my love for you will keep coming back.
Contributed by James E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.