Fred Cole has engineered most of the band's recordings and mastered them on a mono lathe that was used for The Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie."
Their early records, such as In the Graveyard, were released on the Tombstone Records label, named for the musical equipment store Fred and Toody operated at the time. Soon they caught the attention of the German label Music Maniac, and toured Europe successfully. Not until the mid-nineties did they tour the United States. Much of their following is in Europe.
A U.S. filmmaking team (Kate Fix and Jason Summers) produced a 2004 documentary, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, which played in independent theaters around the U.S., New Zealand, and Melbourne International Film Fest, and might be offered with the upcoming Dead Moon box set on Sub Pop Records. Dead Moon has recorded for labels such as Empty Records, but most releases are on Music Maniac abroad and Tombstone in the U.S. The Tombstone label has also provided cheap mastering and duplication for other bands, serving more as a cooperative than a promotional vehicle.
Fred and Toody are in their sixties. They currently own the Tombstone General Store in Clackamas, Oregon, and are building a shopping center nearby.
Pearl Jam often covers the song It's OK.
In December 2006 they retired:
2006-12-13 - AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DEAD MOON
After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning!
--Fred Cole
(from http://www.subpop.com)
2007-05-18 PIERCED ARROWS
For the first time in a long time, Fred and Toody Cole were nervous. Six months after the breakup of their legendary garage-rock outfit, Dead Moon, the Coles were about to debut a new group—something they haven’t had to do for 20 years. And their new trio, Pierced Arrows, had only six practices under its belt at showtime.
http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/23/pierced-arrows-at-ash-street-saloon-may-18-2007/
Never Again
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw my future cave in from the roots of decay
The dark cloud started dancing all over the sun
Whatever it took to make my blood run
I had a ways to go
Sorrow that you'll never know
But lately it's beginning to show
The armies of doubt were playing war in my head
I couldn't recover from the things that they said
Crash landed in the safehouse under the stairs
Last place on earth where anyone cares
Never dreamed I'd fall to this
Something that I couldn't resist
And now I just clench my fists
And I tell myself never again
Run silent, run deep, run as fast as you can
Let the rest of the world slide through your hands
Old habits die hard like a fatal disease
They cut you so deep, you can never come clean
I've got a past to pay
I got demons to face
I can't just run away
But I tell myself never again
Dead Moon's "Never Again" is a melancholic song about a person who has reached the end of their rope. The lyrics start off by conveying a poignant message that there are always two sides to a blade; a metaphor for the fact that there are two sides to every story. The singer then describes watching his future collapse before his eyes as everything around him disintegrates. The dark cloud starts to take over, and desperation sets in. Despite feeling lost and hopeless, the singer remains convinced that he must never let this happen again.
In the next verse, the singer talks about the armies of doubt that he cannot silence. Negative voices in his head lead him to a place of despair, and he finds himself in a safe spot where he can finally feel some solace. However, this peace is short-lived. The singer finds himself addicted to something that he knows is slowly tearing him apart. He admits that he has demons to face and a past to pay. Despite this, he must stay resolved and tell himself never to fall into the same trap again.
"Never Again" is a song that speaks to those who have struggled with addiction, depression, and the fragility of their mental health. It conveys the idea that life is a constant battle and that one must always be prepared to fight on. The song's lyrics, combined with its haunting melody, give voice to a struggle with which many can relate.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to tell you that there's always two sides to the blade
I attempted to explain that every situation has both positive and negative aspects
I saw my future cave in from the roots of decay
I witnessed my prospects deteriorating irreparably from a fundamental level
The dark cloud started dancing all over the sun
The oppressive force obscured any hope or joy from my life
Whatever it took to make my blood run
I was willing to do anything to feel alive and stimulated
I had a ways to go
There was still a long journey ahead of me
Sorrow that you'll never know
The level of sadness that I experienced is beyond your comprehension
But lately it's beginning to show
Recently, the effects of my pain and suffering have become visible
And I tell myself never again
I repeat to myself that I cannot allow myself to experience that again
The armies of doubt were playing war in my head
My mind was consumed by internal conflicts and insecurities
I couldn't recover from the things that they said
I was unable to overcome the negative thoughts and comments that plagued me
Crash landed in the safehouse under the stairs
I ended up in an isolated and hidden place to protect myself
Last place on earth where anyone cares
This is the only location where there are people who genuinely care about me
Never dreamed I'd fall to this
I never imagined that I would succumb to this level of despair
Something that I couldn't resist
I was powerless to prevent myself from giving in to my demons
And now I just clench my fists
Now, I just tense up my hands in frustration and anger
Run silent, run deep, run as fast as you can
Escape the problems, ignore them, or try to outpace them
Let the rest of the world slide through your hands
Don't be affected by what's happening around you
Old habits die hard like a fatal disease
Negative patterns and behaviors are difficult to change or overcome
They cut you so deep, you can never come clean
The damaging effects are so severe that it's impossible to recover fully
I've got a past to pay
I have to face the consequences of my past actions
I got demons to face
I have personal battles and struggles that need to be confronted
I can't just run away
I can't avoid or evade my problems indefinitely
But I tell myself never again
I repeatedly remind myself that I cannot allow myself to slip into that state again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind