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/
Raise Up the Dead
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reaching to raise up before you climb
Think you've got it made, I don't know why
Sooner or later, you're gonna fly
Into the night to raise up the dead
Put me on trial before I talk
I gotta get away before I walk
Running from a chainsaw in a dreaded dream
Into the night to raise up the dead
Can you see the rings inside their eyes?
Did you know that justice was never blind?
I know what the world is coming to
I've got a place in my heart for you
Into the night to raise up the dead
Dead Moon's "Raise Up the Dead" is a song about breaking free from the past and embracing a future that lies ahead. The lyrics are about a person who is looking to take flight in their life and break from the chains of their past, represented in the line "running from a chainsaw in a dreaded dream." They are looking to rise up and leave their old life behind, which is reflected in the repetition of the line, "into the night to raise up the dead."
The song also touches on themes of justice, with the line "did you know that justice was never blind?" This could be interpreted as a commentary on the flaws in the justice system, and how it often fails to truly serve the needs of those seeking it. Similarly, the line "put me on trial before I talk" could be seen as a statement on people being judged before they have a chance to speak their piece.
Overall, "Raise Up the Dead" is a song about seeking a brighter future and rising above the challenges that life can present.
Line by Line Meaning
Out on the wing of another life
Starting anew on a different path
Reaching to raise up before you climb
Striving to improve before achieving success
Think you've got it made, I don't know why
Feeling overconfident without reason
Sooner or later, you're gonna fly
Eventually, you will succeed
Into the night to raise up the dead
Venturing into the unknown to bring back the forgotten
Put me on trial before I talk
Accusing me before hearing my side of the story
I gotta get away before I walk
Fleeing before being forced to take action
Running from a chainsaw in a dreaded dream
Being haunted by a terrifying nightmare
Your mouth's moving , they can't hear you scream
Having something important to say but being ignored
Can you see the rings inside their eyes?
Observing the true intentions hidden beneath
Did you know that justice was never blind?
Questioning the fairness of the justice system
I know what the world is coming to
Predicting a bleak future for society
I've got a place in my heart for you
Feeling deep affection for someone
Into the night to raise up the dead
Going on a quest to revive what is lost
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.