Originally comprising vocalist, bassist and songwriter Duff McKagan (formerly of Guns N' Roses), guitarist Michael Barragan (formerly of Plexi), guitarist Dez Cadena (formerly of Black Flag) and drummer Taz Bentley (formerly of The Reverend Horton Heat), the band released Episode 1999: Live in 1999.
In 2000, McKagan began recording Dark Days, which was released in 2001, with drummer Geoff Reading (formerly of New American Shame and Green Apple Quick Step) and Dave Dederer (formerly of The Presidents of the United States of America) with additional guitar parts added by touring guitarist Mike Squires (formerly of Nevada Bachelors and Harvey Danger). For the tour, bassist Jeff Rouse (formerly of Alien Crime Syndicate) was added to the group. During the tour, both Squires and Rouse left to rejoin Alien Crime Syndicate with gutiarist Dave Kushner, formerly of Wasted Youth and Electric Love Hogs, and bassist George Stuart Dahlquist, formerly of Asva and Burning Witch, replacing them.
With both McKagan and Kushner going on to form Velvet Revolver with McKagan's former Guns N' Roses bandmates, Slash and Matt Sorum, and then former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland in 2002, Loaded were put on semi-hiatus with the band playing a few shows each year with former members Rouse and Squires returning to the group.
Loaded regrouped in 2008, with the lineup still consisting of McKagan, Squires, Rouse and Reading. The band released extended play Wasted Heart in September in support of their UK/European tour. The follow up to Dark Days, Sick, was released on April 7, 2009 and charted at number 43 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart. A tour of the US and Europe as well as South America followed along with stints supporting Black Stone Cherry and Mötley Crüe.
In September 2009, drummer Reading announced his departure from the group with Isaac Carpenter, formerly of Loudermilk, Gosling and The Exies, announced as his replacement. The group are currently working on new material for their next release.
Dead Skin
Duff McKagan's Loaded Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You confuse and frustrate me,
Why must we both go through it?
I said you, it isn't so hard to see
Those things that you did to me,
Why must you keep them secret?
Break through those clouds
And peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin
You can leave it all behind
Because I, can't seem to get through to you
Your past is something I can't undo,
It's so clear you've been wounded
So why, must I pay now for his deeds
I'm not the one who steals and cheats,
What must I do to prove it?
Break through those clouds
See the stars shine down find solid ground
And peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin
You can leave it all behind
I will not bend, I am not him!
The past has spoken
You're not dead and broken
Break through those clouds
See the stars shine down, find solid ground
Forget all what has been
Past scars and sins
Peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin
And peel off all that dead skin you can leave it all behind
"Dead Skin" is a song by Duff McKagan's Loaded that delves into the complexities of a damaged relationship. The song talks about the difficulty of understanding and pleasing the other person, who has been hurt in the past. The singer wants to help his partner break free from the past, but he feels frustrated and confused because he doesn't know all the secrets his partner is keeping. He sees his partner's scars and wants to help peel off the dead skin of the past so that they can start anew. He wants his partner to see the stars shining down, find solid ground, and leave everything behind to start fresh.
The song's lyrics can be interpreted in different ways. Some believe it is a relationship between friends, while others refer to a romantic link. The song's most striking feature is the chorus's repetition, urging the partner to shed the past and start afresh. The lyrics' tone shifts from confusion to frustration to empathy as the singer deeper understands his partner's difficulties. The song's overall message is one of hope, a belief that people can move beyond their pasts and create a future filled with possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you're so god-damn hard to please
You are extremely difficult to make happy.
You confuse and frustrate me,
Your actions and behavior either perplexes me or agitates me.
Why must we both go through it?
Why do we need to experience this agony and pain?
I said you, it isn't so hard to see
I spoke to you, and it is evident to me.
Those things that you did to me,
You performed those actions towards me.
Why must you keep them secret?
Why can't you disclose your past actions and emotions to me?
Break through those clouds
Overcome your obstacles.
See the stars shine down find solid ground
Look up to the stars and find something steady for yourself.
And peel off all that dead skin
Remove all the tired, old versions of yourself.
You can leave it all behind
You can let go of your former self and move forward.
Because I, can't seem to get through to you
I seem to be unable to communicate effectively with you.
Your past is something I can't undo,
Your former experiences are irreversible, and I cannot alter them.
It's so clear you've been wounded
It is evident that you have been emotionally damaged.
So why, must I pay now for his deeds
Why do I have to face the consequences of somebody else's actions?
I'm not the one who steals and cheats,
I am not the person who steals and deceives others.
What must I do to prove it?
What do I need to do to demonstrate that I am not that person?
I will not bend, I am not him!
I will not change, and I am not that individual!
The past has spoken
One's past has defined their present.
You're not dead and broken
You are not deceased and damaged.
Forget all what has been
Erase all of the former memories.
Past scars and sins
Past injuries and wrongdoings.
And peel off all that dead skin you can leave it all behind
You can abandon the old version of yourself and go forward with a fresh beginning.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DUFF MC KAGAN, ISAAC HEATH CARPENTER, JEFFREY JOHN ROUSE, MICHAEL JAMES SQUIRES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind