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/
Walking on My Grave
Dead Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't stay, darkness on the edge of town
Streetwise kids in an act of defiance
Out to defeat what's already behind us
Rattle and shake their political cans
Giving directions without any plans
There's a new kid on the block
And he's taking my place
I can't stay staring down a .44
I can't stay dying on the killing floor
A man in blue and he's drawing a gun
A child in the shadows too scared to run
Crack on the mirror of a teenage dream
Like a lost generation on l.s.d.
There's a new kid on the block
And he's taking my place
Walking on my grave
I can't stay knowing what's going down
I can't stay, darkness on the edge of town
The brain's still twitching but the eyes are closed
My best friends dying from an overdose
A red light flares unacounted for
It's happening now and it's happened before
There's a new kid on the block
And he's taken my place
Walking on my grave
Dead Moon's song "Walking on My Grave" is a powerful and poignant statement about societal decay, crime, hopelessness, and betrayal. The lyrics describe a world where streetwise kids are fighting against what's already behind them, where fear and violence are commonplace, and where even the best of friends can fall to addiction and overdose. The singer is unable to stay in such a world, unable to stare down the barrel of a gun or die on the killing floor. Instead, they leave, knowing that a new kid is taking their place, walking on their grave.
The song is an indictment of society and government, of the systemic issues that lead to a world where children are left to fend for themselves and succumb to violence and drugs. The lack of plans or direction, the political cans rattling without any real change, and the man in blue drawing his gun are all symbols of a society that has lost its way. The teenage dream of the cracked mirror and the lost generation on LSD are haunting reminders that youth are often left to suffer the consequences of an adult world that has failed them.
But despite the darkness, there is hope in the song's message. The singer acknowledges that they can't stay, that it's time for a new kid to take their place, to fight against the darkness and take their chance at a better world. "Walking on My Grave" is a call to action, a warning, and a message of hope, all in one.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't stay knowing what's going down
I cannot remain idle and oblivious to the ongoing unpleasant events around me.
I can't stay, darkness on the edge of town
I cannot tolerate the bleak environment of this place, which is on the periphery of civilization.
Streetwise kids in an act of defiance
Rebellious and experienced children, who are wise beyond their years, are counteracting something they perceive is against them.
Out to defeat what's already behind us
They are struggling to overcome something that has already passed and should not affect them anymore.
Rattle and shake their political cans
They are promoting their political agenda with a lot of noise and passion.
Giving directions without any plans
They are providing guidance without having any concrete strategies.
There's a new kid on the block
A new person with distinct qualities has arrived.
And he's taking my place
That new person is replacing the current status quo.
Walking on my grave
His presence is so significant that it feels like walking on someone's grave.
I can't stay staring down a .44
I cannot tolerate the threat of death looming in front of me.
I can't stay dying on the killing floor
I cannot accept the prospect of dying on the battlefield.
A man in blue and he's drawing a gun
A police officer is brandishing his gun.
A child in the shadows too scared to run
An innocent kid is hiding in the dark, too petrified to flee.
Crack on the mirror of a teenage dream
A visible flaw on a teenager's aspiration to be successful.
Like a lost generation on l.s.d.
Their experience is akin to that of a disoriented group of youths having an LSD trip.
The brain's still twitching but the eyes are closed
They are brain dead, but their body is still exhibiting some signs of life.
My best friends dying from an overdose
A person's closest ally is passing away from a lethal excessive intake of a substance.
A red light flares unaccounted for
A red flag is raised, but no one is acknowledging it.
It's happening now and it's happened before
A catastrophic event is unfolding, which we've witnessed in the past as well.
There's a new kid on the block
Another person with a fresh perspective is present.
And he's taken my place
He has replaced me, and his influence is shaping the new reality.
Walking on my grave
His impact is so profound that it's as if he is stepping on my grave.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
~Yukisanmori~
proud to have him as my grandfather!!
ben kee
Me too! Such a wise grandpapa
ginnoveffect
i like to think Dead Moon is what Neil Young would sound like if he made a punk album.
Joel Vela
Holy shit. I see it.
Tony dragon
Garage Punk and dead moon Forever. Απλά γαμανε
GraveyardTale
FUCK YEAH!!! there's soo much freakin' energy in this song!!! I swear I can listen to this song over and over.
nanku42
This song is one of the best things my ears have ever heard. Seeing them live was fuckin unreal! WALKING ON MY GRAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
caleb mcfadden
Makes me proud to have been born and raised in Portland, OR!
strobo lazer
Dead Moon >>> [insert your band]
So many fond memories, saw them the first time in 1990 at the Reitschule in Bern.
Dead Moon forever!
Barrel Shape
Love this band, love this song, love the raw primal sound, enough said.