They were famous for performing free concerts, often on the backs of lorries (which is probably not that pertinent here, except to the extent that this was you had do, in those days, to ensure the achievement of complete political independence from the recording industry oligarchy, and, by implication, the political establishment. Their political aim was said to be 'subverting what's above'. Their bluesy and psychedelic hard rock, combined with their politics, led to their frequent inclusion in the bracket of protopunk..
Arguably, their original approach to music could also be interpreted, a little more liberally, by crediting them with the label protoheavy metal (given their pioneering, as well as creative, guitar work). This radical approach to music, art, and, pertinently,active (hence {hoperfully} effective) politics, also seems to have resulted in frequent hassle by the "filth" (police) for no (apparently) justifiable reason.
Edgar Broughton a Band that was clearly strongly influenced by Captain Beefheart , as evidenced, for example, by "Apache Dropout. This is a clear tribute to, and endorsement of, "Dropout Boogie" from Beefheart's first album (Safe as Milk), as well as a somewhat more tongue in cheek allusion to "Apache" (a big '60's hit for the Shadows).
Perhaps best known for their chant: "Out Demons, Out!" which was always played at length, with variations for political leaders on both sides of the 'pond'. Performing this at Keele University they handed out spray cans and the union bulding was covered in graphiti police arrived and a riot ensued.
In 1971, the band decided that existence as a power trio was limiting, and asked Victor Unitt, who had been playing meanwhile in The Pretty Things, to rejoin the band. In May 1971, with the new lineup, they released possibly their finest work: their eponymous third album, which contained the classic "Evening Over Rooftops" (again with strings by David Bedford which Edgar Broughton called "stunning"). Mike Oldfield also featured on "Thinking Of You".
Shortly after the release of Bandages in 1975, John Thomas left and was replaced by Terry Cottam. In 1976, having recorded the live album Live Hits Harder (which was not released until 1979), the Edgar Broughton Band dissolved.
Later, Edgar and Steve Broughton, together with Grant, re-grouped as The Broughtons to release Parlez-Vous English in 1979, with Tom Nordon and Pete Tolsen playing guitar and Richard DeBastion on keyboards.
After releasing Superchip in 1982 the band recorded no more studio material but did continue touring infrequently.
Following a lengthy hiatus with occasional gigs, the band returned to live action in 2006, after the re-issue of their back catalogue had stimulated new interest in their work. The band then completed a European tour in 2007, including an appearance at the German Burg Herzberg Festival.
The EBB disbanded in 2010.
Aphrodite
Edgar Broughton Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be here I came back, back is no place to be
The moon she serves to soothe me, the sun waits to remove me
To another place
I'm a pool in a stream, the sea is where I'm going to
Something tells me why I'm going is what I'm going through
Summer breeze caress me, a frozen road will best me
The night is long
Come and go s you please 'cos I don't live there no more
Aphrodite, in your see-through nightie
I can see through you
I wish you were a garden, but you're not
So I'll leave you be
You threw the sunshine in my eyes, made it hard for me to see
Aphrodite, in your see-through nightie
I can see through you
It had to be.
The Edgar Broughton Band's song Aphrodite is a deeply introspective and existential piece about the experience of being alone and searching for meaning. The opening lines immediately set the stage for this with the declaration that the singer finds themselves in the desert, both physically and metaphorically. The desert symbolizes isolation, emptiness, and a lack of direction. The line "to be here I came back, back is no place to be" suggests that the singer has returned to this state of being after having experienced something more fulfilling or meaningful which begs the question of why they would willingly come back to this state of emptiness.
The verses continue to describe the singer's journey through life, a journey that feels aimless and at times, fraught with hardship. Despite the pain and the long night, there is a sense of hope that is hinted at. The singer is a "pool in a stream", which signifies the fleeting nature of existence and the desire to move towards something new. The sea, which is where they are "going to" is a symbol of the infinite, the unknown, and the possibility of transcendence. However, there are also moments of cynicism such as in the line "I wish you were a garden, but you're not, so I'll leave you be" which shows the inability to retain faith or hope in something better.
Overall, the song is a deep and moving exploration of the human experience. It speaks to the longing for something more substantial than the emptiness that pervades the life of the singer. The use of symbols such as the desert, the moon, and the sea, as well as the invocation of the goddess Aphrodite, all contribute to the sense of otherworldliness and transcendence that Broughton tries to convey.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm out in the desert, the desert's in here with me
I am surrounded by emptiness, and I feel a sense of isolation and loneliness.
To be here I came back, back is no place to be
I returned to the same place that did not offer anything meaningful or fulfilling.
The moon she serves to soothe me, the sun waits to remove me, To another place
At night, I feel more relaxed and calm, but during the day, I want to leave to find another place.
I'm a pool in a stream, the sea is where I'm going to, Something tells me why I'm going is what I'm going through
I feel small and insignificant in the larger scheme of things, but I know that the sea represents something more significant, and I am trying to understand why I am searching for it.
Summer breeze caress me, a frozen road will best me, The night is long
The warmth and comfort of the summer breeze make me feel better, but the thought of the long and difficult road ahead worries me.
I was a cry for help, loneliness was my back door, Come and go s you please 'cos I don't live there no more
I used to cry out for assistance because I felt so alone, but now I have left that behind and no longer live in that state of mind.
Aphrodite, in your see-through nightie, I can see through you
I can see that you, Aphrodite, are not the perfect being that everyone believes you to be. Your outward appearance does not match your true self.
I wish you were a garden, but you're not, So I'll leave you be
I had hoped that you would be able to provide me with comfort and happiness, but it turns out that you are incapable of doing so. I will move on and not attempt to find those things in you anymore.
You threw the sunshine in my eyes, made it hard for me to see, Aphrodite, in your see-through nightie, I can see through you
You blinded me with your superficial beauty, which prevented me from seeing who you truly were. However, I can now see your true nature.
It had to be.
The situation I find myself in is inevitable and cannot be avoided.
Contributed by Hailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen Solar
on Death of an Electric Citizen
and the trickle was a stream.. (not raindrop was a stream)
Run, run, runnin' runnin' to the sea. (not ready... ready to the sea)