Since 1996, an evolving lineup of the band, always fronted by singer/songwriter John Easdale, has been performing in one incarnation or another (initially billed as Easdale solo but usually with assistance from former band mates), and from then until 2003 played occasional shows in the L.A. area, as well as in New Jersey. However, amid renewed interest since the Bands Reunited episode in January 2004 and a large-scale appearance at KROQ-FM's annual Inland Invasion festival concert (attended by more than 78,000 fans) in September 2003, Dramarama has been touring nationally in 2004 and 2005, and released their first new, full-length studio CD, titled "everybody dies," on October 25, 2005.
In 1982, Dramarama formed in and around Wayne, New Jersey, where founding member Chris Carter owned a record store called Looney Tunez Records. The initial line-up consisted of singer/songwriter John Easdale, "Mr. E Boy" (Mark Englert) and Carter, later joined by Peter Wood on guitars, Jesse Farbman on drums. Jesse would leave the group after the third album, and was eventually replaced with drummer Clem Burke, whose prior band was Blondie. Other early bandmates included keyboardists Theothorous Athanasious "Teddy" Ellenis and "Secret Weapon" Tommy Mullaney, who doubled as the band's tour manager.
The current lineup consists of frontman John Easdale and several players from Dramarama's former incarnation, including lead guitarist Mark Englert and rhythm guitar player Peter Wood (the only band member who moved back to New Jersey and still maintains a residence there). Rounding out the band are Los Angeles-based musicians Tony Snow on drums, and Craig Ballam (guitar) and Mike Davis (bass), the two of whom also maintain a side project called Shobud. In addition, Mike Davis is the official bass player for Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford's eponymous solo band, and appears on Halford's upcoming CD, Halford IV.
A number of prominent musicians has joined the band for studio sessions on specific tracks over the years, perhaps most notably pianist Benmont Tench of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and guitarist Mick Taylor, late of the Rolling Stones, on Vinyl. In addition, fellow power pop artist Dwight Twilley lent vocals to several songs on hi-fi sci-fi, on which The New York Dolls' Sylvain Sylvain also made a vocal appearance.
In addition, other artists often join Dramarama onstage or in the studio, including bassist Steve "Muddy Shews" Shewchuk from seminal Jersey shore band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes; keyboardist Morley Bartnoff from Cosmo Topper (formerly of the 1980s band Burning Sensations), and harmonica player "Trashcan" Ray Barwick, as well as former No Soap Radio members Danny Roselle on keys and guitar, and drummer Chris O'Hara.
No Regrets
Dramarama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all your books and pens
On a sofa, legs and fingers crossed
With all your husband's freinds
It isn't easy
When you're standing in your kitchen
Elbow deep in pots and pans
Of all your hopes
Your dreams
Your plans
And your mother
And your children
They are not your biggest fans
It isn't easy
Woah
You're not the greatest dancer
Woah
You call but there's no answer
Woah
Smell perfume on his hands
No regrets
Yeah, no regrets
No regrets
When you're fixing up them dumplin's
And that fifteen minute rice
Did you find it strange
To find out wine was not the blood of Christ
And you're shopping at the KMart
They are reasonably priced
When you're sitting in your widows weeds
And quitting ciggarettes
Do you wonder what you're gonna do
When everyone forgets
All the clothes you washed
And food you cooked
And hair up in barettes
It wasn't easy
You're not the greatest dancer
Woah
You call but there's no answer
Woah
And age spots on them hands
No regrets
Yeah, no regrets
No regrets
The song "No Regrets" by the American alternative rock band, Dramarama, is a melancholic anthem that is championed by its mundanity. The lyrics reflect on the mundane and monotonous aspects of life, and the dissatisfaction that comes with it. The song starts by describing a person who is sitting in their sitting room, surrounded by books and pens, but also by the friends of their husband. The lyrics then move onto describing the person standing in their kitchen, elbow-deep in pots and pans, thinking about their unfulfilled hopes, dreams, and plans.
The song then mentions the person's mother and children, who are not supportive of their endeavors. The song acknowledges that life is not easy, and being a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter, and a good friend all at once is impossible. The chorus of the song highlights this with the lyrics, "You're not the greatest dancer/Woah/You call but there's no answer/Woah/Smell perfume on his hands/No regrets/Yeah, no regrets/No regrets."
The second verse talks about fixing dumplings, cooking fifteen-minute rice, and shopping at KMart. The lyrics highlight the mundane and banal aspects of the person's life as she reflects on it. The song describes the person washing clothes, cooking food, and doing her hair up in barettes. The song ends with references to the person being a widow and quitting smoking as they contemplate what will happen when everyone forgets the everyday things they did.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're sitting in your sitting room
With all your books and pens
On a sofa, legs and fingers crossed
With all your husband's freinds
It isn't easy
Sitting in a room full of your husband's friends with all your books and pens is not an easy task.
When you're standing in your kitchen
Elbow deep in pots and pans
Do you wonder what's become
Of all your hopes
Your dreams
Your plans
Standing in the kitchen with your hands deep in pots and pans, do you ever think about what happened to your plans, dreams, and hopes?
And your mother
And your children
They are not your biggest fans
It isn't easy
Woah
Your children and mother are not always supportive of you and it's not an easy situation to deal with.
You're not the greatest dancer
Woah
You call but there's no answer
Woah
Smell perfume on his hands
Though you may not be the best dancer, and there may be no answer when you call, the smell of perfume on his hands makes you suspicious.
No regrets
Yeah, no regrets
No regrets
The singer has no regrets about the decisions she has made.
When you're fixing up them dumplin's
And that fifteen minute rice
Did you find it strange
To find out wine was not the blood of Christ
And you're shopping at the KMart
They are reasonably priced
While cooking dumplings and fifteen minute rice, you realize that wine is not actually the blood of Christ and you shop at Kmart because it has reasonable prices.
When you're sitting in your widows weeds
And quitting ciggarettes
Do you wonder what you're gonna do
When everyone forgets
All the clothes you washed
And food you cooked
And hair up in barettes
It wasn't easy
When you're all alone in your widow's weeds and have quit smoking, you may wonder what you'll do when everyone forgets about all the washing, cooking, and hair-styling you have done. It wasn't an easy life.
You're not the greatest dancer
Woah
You call but there's no answer
Woah
And age spots on them hands
You're not the best dancer, and although you call, there's no response, and you start noticing age spots on your hands.
No regrets
Yeah, no regrets
No regrets
The singer still has no regrets about the decisions she has made.
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.