1. An alterna… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists that have used the name Electric Six
1. An alternative rock band from the United States
2. A musical group from South Africa
1. Electric Six is a six-piece Detroit-based rock band consisting of Dick Valentine (vocals), Tait Nucleus? (synthesizers), Johhny Na$hinal (guitar), Da Ve (guitar), Percussion World (drums), and Smorgasboard (bass) who play a mix of rock, funk and disco.
The band's first notorious formation comprised Valentine, Rock and Roll Indian (guitar), Surge Joebot (guitar), Disco (bass, former member of Detroit Cobras), and M (drums). Dick Valentine (real name Tyler Spencer) has always been the primary songwriter (both music and lyrics) of Electric Six, currently and under their former incarnation, when they were known as the Wildbunch. During the band's temporary split at the end of the 1990s, Spencer formed his own band called The Dirty Shame and released one CD entitled Smog Cutter Love Story which featured, among other tracks, a first version of Fire track "Vengeance and Fashion". The band reformed by 2001 to record and release the first release of 'Danger! High Voltage' and record the track 'Dealin' With Death N' Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord' with Troy Gregory for his Sybil album.
Electric Six fuses rock and punk with the laid-back funky rhythms and falsetto vocals of disco, and a distinctly comic touch. However, they tend to reject such genre classifications as disco-metal and disco punk. They formed the band in 1996 and were initially known as The Wildbunch, eventually dropping that name due to pressure from the Bristol trip-hop collection of the same name. Throughout the latter half of the '90s, they played about once a month at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Magic Stick, and the now-defunct Gold Dollar in Detroit, the center of a scene that produced breakout acts like the White Stripes.
Electric Six's 2002 breakout single "Danger! High Voltage" was an infectious dance-rock number, and Jack White from The White Stripes helped sing back up vocals to this track. White has denied this, though Spencer has confirmed it in several interviews. The single reached number 2 on the UK singles chart, and they enjoy icon status in that nation.
Their second single, "Gay Bar", released in 2003, became a hit as well in the UK, reaching #5 in the charts and further aided the group's growth. Curiously, in the American Radio Edit of this track, The words "Nuclear War" are censored with whip-crack sound effects. After fulfilling their recording duties (namely their debut album) three members left in June, leaving Dick Valentine, Tait Nucleus? (synthesizer), and M.
The Colonel (Zach Shipps, guitar, ex-member of Brendan Benson and Mood Elevator), John R Dequindre (guitar and whose stage name is a combination of two Detroit streets) and Frank Lloyd Bonaventure (bass) subsequently joined the group, though they had all been credited on the album and most had been associated with the group for some time. At that time, they were touring in the UK, and they managed to seamlessly replace the members without interrupting the gigs. In time, Johnny Na$hinal joined the group on guitar, Dequindre switched to bass, and Bonaventure switched to law school.
The band's sophomore album, Señor Smoke, was released in the UK on February 14, 2005. Percussion World replaced M on drums around the same time.
The first single from the album put the band at the center of controversy, especially with Queen fans following a cover of the Queen hit song "Radio Ga Ga". The controversial music video shows lead singer Dick Valentine as the ghost of Queen's flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury and a backing band of poodles. Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who wrote the song, said that he was "unimpressed" with the video; however, Queen guitarist Brian May reportedly liked it. Electric Six claims they were contractually obligated to commit the song to the album. Issues with Warner Brothers caused a switch to Metropolis Records, who released Señor Smoke in the US.
Switzerland was released in September 2006. A plethora of videos have also been released, and a fan contribution contest led to the video for the single "I Buy the Drugs."
I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being the Master was released in October 2007. Their next album, titled Flashy, was released in October 2008. In October 2009, their sixth album, KILL, was released. The 7th album, Zodiac was released on September 28, 2010, with one tour-exclusive single ("Jam it in the Hole") and the 8th, Heartbeats and Brainwaves, on October 11th 2011.
A double live album is set for release in 2012.
2. Electric Six was a Soweto-based South African combo active in the 1960s and 1970s
Rock and Roll Evacuation
Electric Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see with my eyes
I seen 'em walking around in their suits
And honey I seen the ties
Evil girls biting good girls
Turning good girls into evil girls
Evil boys eating evil hamburgers
This is an evil generation
Rock and roll evacuation
As far as the eye can see
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tune into this radio station
Rock and roll evacuation
In a fit of emergency
We are just hungry little creatures
Feeding upon lies
I seen 'em lining us up on the wall
And trading us for pies
Seen a man on the television telling me to listen to the radio
Hear the man on the radio, telling me no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
This is a bad, bad situation
Rock and roll evacuation
It's not looking too good to me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Evil spreads across the nation
Rock and roll evacuation
Apocalyptic insurgency
You kill the body child, but the head is still gonna live
You can give all your money now, until there's nothing left to give
You can play your electric guitar but it ain't gonna change the world
You can get all emotional on me, cry like a little girl
Cry
We are disposable creations, they're throwing us away
Ignoring everything that we do and everything that we say
Mr. President make a little money, sending people you don't know to Iraq
Mr. President I don't like you, you don't know how to rock
This is an evil generation
Rock and roll evacuation
As far as the eye can see
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Tune into this radio station
Rock and roll evacuation
In a fit of emergency
Electric Six's song "Rock and Roll Evacuation" is a commentary on the state of society and the music industry. The lyrics describe an "evil generation" where people are disposable creations and lies are being fed to the public. The singer has seen men in suits and ties, and the image is associated with evil. Evil girls are biting good girls and turning them into evil, and evil boys are eating evil hamburgers and fries.
The chorus is a call for a "rock and roll evacuation" because things are not looking good. The singer implores the audience to tune into the radio station to hear the message. The song suggests that music is a form of protest against this "apocalyptic insurgency" that is spreading across the nation. The bridge expresses the idea that even if you kill the body, the head will still live, indicating that the ideas and spirits of the artists will never die.
One interesting aspect of the song is that it was released in 2005, during the presidency of George W. Bush and the height of the Iraq War. The lyrics seem to refer to the government's treatment of soldiers and the public's disillusionment with the war effort. Another interesting fact is that Electric Six is a band known for their satirical and humorous lyrics. "Rock and Roll Evacuation" shows a more serious and critical side of the band. The song also features a prominent guitar riff and driving beat that make it a popular rock anthem.
Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for "Rock and Roll Evacuation" are not available at this time.
Line by Line Meaning
This is an evil generation
The current times are full of wickedness and vice.
I see with my eyes
I personally witness the corruption around me.
I seen 'em walking around in their suits
I've seen powerful people in positions of authority.
And honey I seen the ties
And they wear expensive and fancy clothing accessories.
Evil girls biting good girls
Immoral women corrupting virtuous women.
Turning good girls into evil girls
Leading good girls astray to become wicked like them.
Evil boys eating evil hamburgers
Immoral men consuming bad food.
Evil boys eating evil fries
Immoral men consuming unhealthy food.
Rock and roll evacuation
Fast-paced, energetic music as a way to escape the evils of the world.
As far as the eye can see
Everywhere I look, it seems to be the same.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
An exclamation to draw attention to what's being said.
Tune into this radio station
Listen to this music to get away from reality.
In a fit of emergency
In times of crisis or peril.
We are just hungry little creatures
Humans are always in search of something to satisfy their needs.
Feeding upon lies
People are gullible and fall prey to deceitful messages.
I seen 'em lining us up on the wall
Witnessing people being sorted and grouped together.
And trading us for pies
Treating people like commodities for someone else's profit or gain.
This is a bad, bad situation
The current predicament is extremely dire.
Evil spreads across the nation
Wickedness is pervasive and pervasive.
Apocalyptic insurgency
A rebellion against the societal norms.
You kill the body child, but the head is still gonna live
You may harm someone, but they will continue to survive and persevere.
You can give all your money now, until there's nothing left to give
Trying to buy your way out of the troubles, but it will only last so long.
You can play your electric guitar but it ain't gonna change the world
Being a rock star won't have a significant impact on the world.
You can get all emotional on me, cry like a little girl
Being excessively emotional won't change the world either.
Cry
An exhortation to express emotions and not hide them.
We are disposable creations, they're throwing us away
People are seen as expendable and replaceable by those in power.
Ignoring everything that we do and everything that we say
Those in authority don't care about the opinions or actions of the common person.
Mr. President make a little money, sending people you don't know to Iraq
Political leaders are exploiting war for personal gain.
Mr. President I don't like you, you don't know how to rock
The current political leader is seen as oppressive and not creative.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SPENCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NOVASimPilot
My favorite band no one else has ever heard of lol
Mighty Shiney
If my friends have bad taste in music then they're not my friends anymore. That's why i don't have friends(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
T. Shortte
My playlist only has E6 on it
Undefined Beanz
Absolute epic band, love them. But same problem over here... Friends with bad music taste. Rock on! 🤘🏻
NOVASimPilot
@Martin T. Conway. C. The kind with bad taste in music. Unfortunately :(
Barry Coad
nup
AUSTRALIA in
Robert Friel
If I was creating an "Electric Six Greatest Hits" collection, I would start with every song on this album.
Rhinus Breedt
This band is just sooooo feeeeeel goooooooood!!!! Been listening for 12 years straight lol
Elderly Channel
probably a bad sign if your taste/personality has not developed in 12 years
NOVASimPilot
I try to share this band with everyone I know!