The band formed when vocalist Chris Volz answered an ad in a local paper placed by guitarist Jason Daunt, looking for a singer for an alternative/industrial band. The band's rhythm section progressed through several line-ups but solidified with the addition of bassist Ryan Jurhs in 1996. That same year the band recorded their first independent record American Arrogance.
Because they were low on money, the band ordered everything they needed to record from the Musician's Friend catalog, then returned it using the 30-day return policy. Their album gave them the opportunity to open for acts including Fear Factory and Econoline Crush. A local radio station, The Fox, broadcast the songs from Flaw's indie disc, giving them further notoriety.
Two more independent records, 1998's self titled album Flaw and 2000's Drama were later produced.
Flaw signed to Universal/Republic Records in 2000, and proceeded to release their debut album, Through the Eyes in 2001. The album eventually topped the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, due to moderate rotation of their music videos "Payback" and "Whole" on MTV2 and rock radio stations. In 2002, the band played at Ozzfest.
In 2004, after three years without releasing a new album, Flaw returned to the studio to begin recording their second studio album, Endangered Species. The band had parted ways with guitarist Jason Daunt and drummer Chris Ballinger and added Micah Havertape as their new drummer. The only single released from Endangered Species was "Recognize" and it received little amount of radio play. A music video was supposed to be filmed for the single but it never happened.
Endangered Species debuted at #42 on the Billboard Top 200, selling 27,527[citation needed] copies in its first week.
Flaw was dropped by their label Universal Records in late 2004 and eventually broke up. The band's final days left many people angry. The band had scheduled a few shows within their surrounding states, and when the break-up news began to circulate, no one from the band stepped forward to confirm or deny it. Some reportedly drove hundreds of miles to see the shows only to be told by club managers that the band unexpectedly canceled without notice. The group's website had, at the time, still displayed a notice which read "Flaw is still playing".
After Flaw broke up, Chris Volz eventually started up an entirely new band with drummer Ivan Arnold who had played with Flaw from 1998 to 2000. The new band, Five Bolt Main, signed with Rock Ridge Records and released a studio album and a live album before disbanding.
After leaving Flaw, Jason Daunt played in another Louisville band called Into Another, as well as going back to school for a law degree. Chris Ballinger played in a few bands and Lance Arny began playing guitar for a band called Nailgun Strategy in Louisville.
Micah Havertape went on to play with Black Market Hero alongside past 40 Below Summer members. Ryan Jurhs was also temporarily played them as well.
In 2006, Flaw reunited with four of the founding members: Chris Volz, Jason Daunt, Lance Arny, and Chris Ballinger. The band recruited bassist Alex Cando, formerly of Five.Bolt.Main, on bass. On March 11, 2007, at Headliner's Music Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, the band played its first show since their breakup, sharing the stage with Powerman 5000 before heading out on their own reunion tour with Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy. On this tour, Flaw announced that they hoped to release an album in 2007 and were trying to find the right record company to sign with. Neither of those things ultimately happened that year.
The band went on to have numerous line-up changes and internal problems throughout 2007 and 2008. Daunt was only been able to make a couple of the shows due to his work as a full-time lawyer. For all the shows Daunt was unable to make, Andy Russ from Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy, performed in Daunt's place. Eventually, Daunt left the band and was replaced full-time by Russ. Alex Cando also left, and was replaced by past member Ryan Juhrs.
Internal strife continued, with Volz and Daunt leaving to form a new band called Foundation. At this point the other three members of Flaw. Ballinger, Arny, and Juhrs, tried to carry on as Flaw, but Daunt and Volz reclaimed the name Flaw and applied it to their new band.
In December 2008 a MySpace bulletin was posted by Flaw stating that all future concert dates had been canceled due to conflicts between Volz and current members of the band.
However, in 2009, the band later came forward claiming that former "hired guns" in Flaw hacked the official MySpace and wrote this false information. They revealed that they were still working on a new album, and had a new drummer Sean Rued. Their third album, Home Grown Studio Sessions was later independently released for digital download via the website DiGiSTATION on November 16. 2009, and at all concerts since its release.
The band continued to tour into 2010, with Chris Marple filling in on bass until Ryan Jurhs could return due to work/scheduling conflict. However, in early july of 2010, signs of internal problems arose with Russ leaving for "health and personal reasons". In Mid July of 2010 Arny once again brought Chris Marple (Caldera & Kentucky Death Wish) back into the picture. This time Marple would be playing guitar, along with Arny, Jurhs, Volz & Rued to complete the full line up once again.
Flaw tour dates were scheduled immediately & posted from July through October of 2010. During the course of each run, these tours were with TANTRIC/BURN HALO/SATURATE. Unfortunately, somewhere during the course of these 3 tours, there was animosity between certain members & Flaw canceled all remaining tour dates with no explanation, on November 2, 2010.
Members
Current members
Chris Volz - vocals (1995–2004, 2006–present)
Lance Arny - guitar (1998–2004, 2006–2007, 2008–present)
Chris Marple - guitar (2010–present)
Ryan Jurhs - bass, backing vocals (1995–2004, 2008–present)
Sean Rued - drums (2009–present)
Former members
Jason Daunt - guitar (1995–2002, 2006–2008)
Ivan Arnold - drums (1995–1998)
Nick Haupt - drums (1998)
Dave Wathen - drums (1998–99)
Chris Ballinger - drums (1999–2003, 2006–2007)
Micah Havertape - drums (2003–2004)
Alex Cando - bass (2006–2007)
Nathan McDaniel - guitar (2007–2008)
Tyler Mathews - bass (2007–2008)
Terry Harper - drums (2008–2009)
Andy Russ - guitar (2008–2010)
Amendment
Flaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Engulfed up in the rat race we hold our futures down
So just resist the plot and find the answer
Etched eternal
As we self destruct
[Chorus]
Day by day
More example of disrespect
That you seem to offer no more than complete neglect
A generation with fate all tied
This ain't a game
We don't enjoy this ride
Try to perceive the lie
All caught up in your own high
Opinions of yourself
Should be concerned about your life
There's been enough strife to crash a persons hope
And as the days delay our every other move
We've been consumed by apathy
That's right
It has become a pain
Inside my brain is screaming
Look what you've done to me
[chorus]
Break
Its just the break we're givin em
Break
Its just the break that you're givn' em
Break
Laid to waste out in the open
Turned away once again
This isn't right
This ain't supposed to happen
Now life's too short
We shouldn't have to die
And I have had to stop all of my emotions
Why
Oh bittering faith escapes again, again
Just look at what we have done
Will you look at who we've become
Priorities astray
It goes on and on each day
We've wrecked their only try
And still we wonder why
We're recipients
Of hate Motherfucker
Break your back
Just once and then you know
You gotta
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
Face your fright
That's right
Yeah
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You just
The lyrics to Flaw's song Amendment speak to the frustration and hopelessness of the younger generation. The song is a call to action, urging listeners to resist societal pressures and find their own way. The opening lines, "Come on and brace your face / Engulfed up in the rat race we hold our futures down," depict a feeling of being trapped in a never-ending cycle of competition and struggle. The chorus repeats the idea that disrespect and neglect are rampant and that younger generations are facing a bleak future.
The second verse speaks to the idea of personal responsibility and the need to focus on oneself instead of worrying about the opinions of others. The lines, "Opinions of yourself / Should be concerned about your life," encourage listeners to prioritize their own well-being before seeking validation from others. The verse also references the pain and apathy that result from feeling ignored and undervalued.
The song ends with a message of empowerment, encouraging listeners to take control of their lives and not be held back by fear. The repeated line, "Face your fright," calls on listeners to confront their fears and move forward with purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on and brace your face
Get ready for what's to come
Engulfed up in the rat race we hold our futures down
We're trapped in society, limiting our potential
So just resist the plot and find the answer
Fight against the system and seek truth
Etched eternal
Forever engraved in history
As we self destruct
We destroy ourselves
Day by day
Slowly over time
One by one
Individually
More example of disrespect
Increasing displays of lack of respect
That you seem to offer no more than complete neglect
You don't care about anything but yourself
A generation with fate all tied
Our destiny is predetermined
This ain't a game
This is serious
We don't enjoy this ride
We are not happy with the way things are going
Try to perceive the lie
Realize the deception
All caught up in your own high
Obsessed with your own success
Opinions of yourself
Your self-image
Should be concerned about your life
You should care more about what really matters
There's been enough strife to crash a persons hope
We have faced too many difficulties that crush our hope
And as the days delay our every other move
We are stuck, unable to progress because of time
We've been consumed by apathy
We have become indifferent
That's right
You know it
It has become a pain
This reality hurts
Inside my brain is screaming
I am overwhelmed with emotions
Look what you've done to me
You are responsible for my pain
Break
Pause in the song
Its just the break we're givin em
We're taking a break for the listeners
Laid to waste out in the open
People are being neglected and left to die
Turned away once again
We ignore and reject their pleas for help
This isn't right
This is wrong
This ain't supposed to happen
This is not how things are supposed to be
Now life's too short
Life is brief
We shouldn't have to die
We should not have to suffer or die
And I have had to stop all of my emotions
I am overwhelmed and have become numb
Oh bittering faith escapes again, again
Our hope fades away repeatedly
Just look at what we have done
We are responsible for this mess
Will you look at who we've become
We have become terrible people
Priorities astray
We got our priorities mixed up
It goes on and on each day
This cycle continues daily
We've wrecked their only try
We have ruined their one chance to succeed
And still we wonder why
We are confused about why things are the way they are
We're recipients
We get what we deserve
Of hate Motherfucker
We are hated because we are terrible people
Break your back
Work hard
Just once and then you know
Give it a try and you'll see
You gotta
You have to
Face your fright
Confront your fear
That's right
Exactly
Yeah
I agree
With your five second morals and your three second smile
You have superficial values and a fake smile
You just
All you can do is
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS VOLZ, CHRISTOPHER BALLINGER, JASON DAUNT, LANCE ARNY, RYAN JURHS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind