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/
Signed D.C.
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My comedown i'm scared to face
I've pierced my skin again, lord
No one cares for me
My soul belongs to the dealer*
He keeps my mind as well
I play the part of the leecher
Look out, joe, i'm falling
I can't control my arms
I've got one foot in the graveyard
And no one cares for me
Cares for me
Cares for me
Signed d.c.
The lyrics to Dead Moon’s “Signed D.C.” are a poignant expression of loneliness and isolation. The opening line, “Sometimes I feel so lonely,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is struggling with a “comedown” – perhaps from drugs, or from the despair of his situation – and is “scared to face” it. The reference to piercing his skin again suggests a self-destructive impulse, possibly self-harm, and the line “no one cares for me” reinforces the sense of disconnection and isolation.
The next lines suggest that the singer is in thrall to a drug dealer, who “keeps my mind as well.” He feels that he is playing the part of a “leecher,” someone who is dependent on others, and again emphasizes the idea that he is alone and unsupported.
The chorus carries the theme of abandonment through to even more extreme symbolism: the singer is “falling” and “can’t control [his] arms,” with “one foot in the graveyard.” The repetition of “cares for me” emphasizes the futility of his situation – no one is there to help him or save him from his despair. The final line, “Signed D.C.”, is cryptic, but it could be a reference to the District of Columbia – a place where social support systems might be available, but where the singer feels no connection.
Overall, “Signed D.C.” is a powerful expression of loneliness and despair. The singer feels disconnected from others, trapped in a cycle of addiction and self-destruction, and abandoned by society. The song is a poignant reminder of the toll that isolation and disconnection can take on a human being.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes i feel so lonely
Occasionally, I experience an intense feeling of isolation and emptiness.
My comedown i'm scared to face
I am frightened of confronting the negative repercussions of my drug use.
I've pierced my skin again, lord
I have inflicted self-harm by piercing my skin, most likely as a coping mechanism for my inner turmoil.
No one cares for me
I feel neglected and unimportant, as if nobody has any concern for my well-being.
My soul belongs to the dealer*
I am trapped in a cycle of drug addiction, where my soul is essentially owned by the drug dealer who supplies me.
He keeps my mind as well
The dealer not only has control over my body, but also over my mental faculties and decision-making ability.
I play the part of the leecher
I am aware that I am essentially a parasite who feeds off of the drug dealer and contributes nothing meaningful to society.
And no one cares for me
Despite being caught in this destructive cycle, I still feel completely alone and unsupported.
Look out, joe, i'm falling
I am addressing someone named Joe and warning them that I am experiencing a significant decline, both physically and mentally.
I can't control my arms
I have lost autonomy over my body and movements, perhaps due to a drug overdose, withdrawal symptoms, or other physical ailments.
I've got one foot in the graveyard
My physical and mental health have deteriorated to such an extent that I feel like I am on the brink of death.
And no one cares for me
This line is repeated, reiterating my sense of abandonment and hopelessness.
Signed d.c.
This serves as a signature to the song, perhaps symbolizing the finality and desperation of my situation.
Contributed by Liliana B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.