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 (1995โ2004, 2006โpresent)
Lance Arny - guitar (1998โ2004, 2006โ2007, 2008โpresent)
Chris Marple - guitar (2010โpresent)
Ryan Jurhs - bass, backing vocals (1995โ2004, 2008โpresent)
Sean Rued - drums (2009โpresent)
Former members
Jason Daunt - guitar (1995โ2002, 2006โ2008)
Ivan Arnold - drums (1995โ1998)
Nick Haupt - drums (1998)
Dave Wathen - drums (1998โ99)
Chris Ballinger - drums (1999โ2003, 2006โ2007)
Micah Havertape - drums (2003โ2004)
Alex Cando - bass (2006โ2007)
Nathan McDaniel - guitar (2007โ2008)
Tyler Mathews - bass (2007โ2008)
Terry Harper - drums (2008โ2009)
Andy Russ - guitar (2008โ2010)
Walls
Flaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think that I gotta say that there is a difference
And the memories that stay inside a box I locked away
You say I'm under the influence
How long have you known you've been wrong?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression that are being sent my way
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
And the miles again saw the things that we wanted
Seems to crumble away from everything we started
That why I'm here to say I'm sick of everything you play
But you're still in the way, under the influence
How long have you known you've been wrong?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression being sent my way
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
I want more, I need more, that's for sure
I can't decide the kind of things I'd die for
I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe
Am I alive here any more?
Still waiting for a change of pace (I want more, I need more)
Can't stay here locked away (I want more, I need more)
I want more, I need more, that's for sure
I can't decide the kind of things I'd die for
I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe
Am I alive here any more?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression being sent my way
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
The song "Walls" by Flaw is about the difficulties of breaking down one's own emotional barriers, or "walls," that they have put up as a way of protecting themselves. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges that they have had similar experiences in the past, but this time the situation feels different. Memories that they have locked away are now resurfacing, and the person they are addressing accuses them of being influenced by their past. However, the singer knows that it is not just their history affecting them - they are also struggling to break down their walls and let someone in.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the struggle of wanting to let someone in while also being afraid of the pressures and aggression that may come with it. The singer is waiting for a change of pace, but they also cannot stay locked away forever. They want to break down their walls and be able to express themselves freely, but they are unsure how to do so without also putting themselves in danger.
The second verse continues with this struggle, as the singer expresses their frustration with the situation. They want more, but they do not know what they are willing to die for. They cannot even eat or sleep properly, and they are unsure whether they are even truly alive anymore. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing the desire for change and the fear that accompanies it.
Overall, "Walls" is a song about the emotional struggles of letting people in and breaking down one's own barriers. It acknowledges the fear and difficulty that can come with opening oneself up to others, while also recognizing the need to do so in order to live a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
You think that I've had my way a thousand times before today
You assume that I've always gotten what I wanted, but that's not necessarily true
I think that I gotta say that there is a difference
I need to clarify that my situation is unique
And the memories that stay inside a box I locked away
There are certain memories I have intentionally hidden away
You say I'm under the influence
You believe that my actions are being influenced by someone or something else
How long have you known you've been wrong?
Have you considered that your assumptions about me may be incorrect?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
I'm hoping for things to change in my life, but I'm not sure when it will happen
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression that are being sent my way
I can't keep hiding from the stress and negativity that surround me
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I'm questioning whether or not it's healthy to always keep up my defenses and not show vulnerability
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
I need to confront my issues instead of constantly putting up barriers
And the miles again saw the things that we wanted
Despite our goals, we keep encountering obstacles
Seems to crumble away from everything we started
Our plans and progress seem to be falling apart
That why I'm here to say I'm sick of everything you play
I'm tired of your games and manipulation
But you're still in the way, under the influence
You continue to obstruct my path and have a negative impact on me
I want more, I need more, that's for sure
I desire something greater and important in my life
I can't decide the kind of things I'd die for
I'm not sure what I value enough to sacrifice for
I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe
My struggles are overwhelming and consuming
Am I alive here any more?
I'm questioning if my current state is really living
Contributed by Elena I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Stonehopper1067HMG
I'll do that next, when they took down my channel I was bummed. But stay tuned, and keep checking, I will try and put all of it back up.
@jynxiejaymes4919
This one was actually really good. Dont get me wrong, Im A huge flaw fan. Have been for almost two decades now. But man this album is rough. This song had a really groovy vibe to it.
@andrewleonard2577
Just don't understand why this album and foundation haven't been re-recorded
@FatBodiesInc
You think that I've had my way a thousand times before today
I think that I gotta say that there is a difference
And the memories that stay inside a box I locked away
You say I'm under the influence
How long have you known you've been wrong?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression that are being sent my way
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
And the miles again saw the things that we wanted
Seems to crumble away from everything we started
That why I'm here to say I'm sick of everything you play
But you're still in the way, under the influence
How long have you known you've been wrong?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression being sent my way
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today
I want more, I need more, that's for sure
I can't decide the kind of things I'd die for
I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe
Am I alive here any more?
Still waiting for a change of pace (I want more, I need more)
Can't stay here locked away (I want more, I need more)
I want more, I need more, that's for sure
I can't decide the kind of things I'd die for
I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't breathe
Am I alive here any more?
Still waiting for a change of pace to come around my way here any day now
Can't stay here locked away from all the pressures and aggression being sent my way
I want to know how it's a way to let a guard be the only thing that I say
I can't let you get away because the walls that I put up are gonna lead today