Fu Manchu's first album, No One Rides for Free (1994), was released by Bong Load Custom Records, an independent label. No One Rides for Free marked the beginning of the band's heavy focus on muscle cars and drag racing, common themes in the stoner rock genre.
Abshire left Fu Manchu before they recorded their second album, Daredevil, in 1995. He was replaced by Brad Davis. The band promoted Daredevil with extensive touring throughout the US and Canada, and reached a wider audience thanks to an opening slot with Monster Magnet, who at the time were the commercial darlings of the stoner rock genre.
Romano and Glass left shortly after the release of Fu Manchu's third album, In Search Of... (1996), citing personal and musical differences with Hill. They were replaced by Brant Bjork and Bob Balch, respectively. Glass, Romano and Abshire soon regrouped to form Nebula, a power trio that took the jam-influenced side of Fu Manchu and expanded on it. Members of Nebula have commented that "we're all family" to fans wearing Fu Manchu shirts at their concerts.
Fu Manchu went on to release several successful albums and reinforce their reputation as a powerful live act. The band had gained this reputation over the years due to their performance when touring with notable bands such as Kyuss, Monster Magnet, Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Corrosion of Conformity, White Zombie, Sevendust, and P.O.D., among others.
In 2001, the band released an album, California Crossing. Brant Bjork left the band soon after to pursue a solo career and was replaced by former Sunshine and Smile drummer Scott Reeder (often confused with bassist Scott Reeder, of Kyuss, Unida, and Goatsnake fame). In 2004, Fu Manchu released their eighth album, Start the Machine.
Fu Manchu's ninth album is called We Must Obey which was released on February 19, 2007. The band spent most of 2007 and 2008 on tour, playing several shows in North America and Europe.
In February 2008, the track "Mongoose" (from the California Crossing album) was featured in a Super Bowl ad for the Toyota Sequoia.
Their tenth album Signs of Infinite Power was released on October 19, 2009, in Europe and October 20 in North America.
On March 10, 2010, it was announced that Scott Reeder would play drums for Social Distortion for the South American tour dates in April. In June 2012, the band stated they had begun writing for a new record. In 2014, the band released its eleventh album, Gigantoid.
In December 2017, they announced their twelfth album, Clone of the Universe, which released on February 9, 2018.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Manchu_(band)
Studio albums
No One Rides for Free (1994)
Daredevil (1995)
In Search Of... (1996)
The Action Is Go (1997)
Godzilla's/Eatin' Dust (1999)
King of the Road (2000)
California Crossing (2001)
Start the Machine (2004)
We Must Obey (2007)
Signs of Infinite Power (2009)
Gigantoid (2014)
Clone of the Universe (2018)
Anodizer
Fu Manchu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatcha get... is whatcha see
Full code.... get it straight
Top of the line... never late
Showpiece.. on the bars
Expired sails.. kt scars
Out ridin... backin' day
4130.. only way!
(chorus)
Better check your code, cause he never king (i thought.. better check your coat)
Table toping load like we ain't ever seen!
Pro perform.. throwin tabs
Hefty doubles.. tuff mags
Numbered plate.. ahhh kiss this
Chicken scratch.. hit or miss
Pimp suds... spaced invade
Mouthful.. fade away
White knuckle.. pitched out
Full bore.. all about
(chorus)
Flyin'...overmy...head
The lyrics to Fu Manchu's "Anodizer" can be interpreted in a few ways, but one possible explanation is that they describe the process of riding BMX bikes. The first verse talks about what you see is what you get, getting it straight, and being top of the line and never late. These lines suggest that the rider is confident and knows what they want. The "bars" mentioned in the next line could refer to handlebars on a BMX bike or even a bike shop where riders gather. "Expired sails" and "kt scars" could be references to the wear and tear on a bike from riding hard and taking risks.
The second verse continues the description of the rider's skills, talking about "Pro perform" and doing "hefty doubles" on "tuff mags" (magnesium rims). "Numbered plate" could refer to racing plates used in BMX competitions. "Chicken scratch" might be slang for tricks that aren't well-executed, whereas "pimp suds" could describe something flashy and impressive, like how some riders might decorate their bikes. "Pitched out" could refer to a wipeout or bail during a trick, but the rider is all about going full speed ahead and pushing their limits.
The chorus seems to suggest that even though the rider is confident and skilled, they shouldn't get too cocky or underestimate their competition. "Check your code" could be a warning to make sure their equipment is up to par, or it could be a play on words with "coat" as a reminder to humble oneself. "Table toping load" could refer to a type of jump or trick in BMX biking, and the line "like we ain't ever seen" suggests that the rider is impressed with what they or someone else can do.
Line by Line Meaning
Whatcha get... is whatcha see
What you receive is exactly what you observe
Full code.... get it straight
The complete instructions should be learned correctly
Top of the line... never late
The highest quality, always on time
Showpiece.. on the bars
A notable item on display on the handlebars
Expired sails.. kt scars
Worn out necessities with significant abrasions
Out ridin... backin' day
Cruising during the good ol' days
4130.. only way!
The best choice is to trust 4130 steel
(chorus)
The repeating part of the song
Better check your code, cause he never king (i thought.. better check your coat)
Verify your belongings, because no one rules here
Table toping load like we ain't ever seen!
Jumping like never before, with the force landing on the flat surface
Pro perform.. throwin tabs
A skillful execution, displaying tricks
Hefty doubles.. tuff mags
Solid dual components
Numbered plate.. ahhh kiss this
A unique identity's plate might as well be kissed
Chicken scratch.. hit or miss
Rough and illegible writing can lead to uncertainty
Pimp suds... spaced invade
A luxurious soap invading empty spots
Mouthful.. fade away
One mouthful then gone
White knuckle.. pitched out
A nerve-wracking experience, being thrown off track
Full bore.. all about
Going full speed, in it for everything
(chorus)
The repeating part of the song
Flyin'...overmy...head
It all went over my head
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB BALCH, BRAD DAVIS, BRANT BJORK, SCOTT HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind