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)
Boogie Van
Fu Manchu Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got your boots on
Gearjammer set
Boogey van so far
How do you read me?
Three's and eight's high
Some kind of joyride
Double-nickel right by
Style - built for speed
Mother trucker runnin' low
Four wheels - overflow
Others passin' by
Still movin' down the line
So say~ the written word
Two down - now the third
The greatest thing I've seen
Do why'all know what I mean?
Meeting twenty was the plan
Me and my boogey van
Like most - Chevys coast to coast
People start to ride
Dream machine burnin' wides
Layin' a furious yard it smokes awful far
Highback chair is low
Rollin' faster off they go
Tires roll flare to flare
Custom shine everywhere
One-fifty I don't care
Half-way cross the land
Me and my boogey van
Movin' on down the line
Here we go one more time
The song "Boogie Van" by Fu Manchu is an ode to the classic American van culture of the 1970s. The lyrics describe the experience of cruising down the highway in a customized van, designed for speed and style. The first few lines set the scene with a reference to the CB radio culture, where the singer asks if he is being heard and describes his van as a "boogey van." The reference to the "double-nickel" (55 miles per hour, the speed limit at the time) and "gearjammer" (a truck driver) give a sense of the era and culture being portrayed. The joyride is conveyed through the description of the van's speed, power, and unique features, such as the "highback chair" and "custom shine."
The chorus is a celebration of the freedom and individuality of the van lifestyle. The singer asserts that he has "everything I need" in his van, and emphasizes his disregard for others who are "passin' by." The final lines suggest a deep connection to the van and its culture, with the singer declaring that "the greatest thing I've seen" is "me and my boogey van" cruising "down the line." The repetition of "movin' on down the line" and "here we go one more time" gives a sense of the endless possibility and thrill of the open road.
Line by Line Meaning
Break - one nine
Asking for acknowledgement of their transmission
Got your boots on
Ready for action and adventure
Gearjammer set
Vehicle is prepared to accelerate at full speed
Boogey van so far
The Boogey Van has gone on a long, exciting journey
How do you read me?
Checking for confirmation that their message is being received
Three's and eight's high
Referring to the radio channel frequency used for communication
Some kind of joyride
Thrilling and exciting adventure
Double-nickel right by
Driving at 55 mph
In here - everything I need
The van has everything necessary for the journey inside
Style - built for speed
The Boogey Van was designed to be fast
Mother trucker runnin' low
The gas tank is running low
Four wheels - overflow
The Boogey Van has four wheels and is filled with excitement
Others passin' by
Other vehicles are driving past the Boogey Van
Still movin' down the line
The van is continuing along its journey
So say~ the written word
Asking for written confirmation or response
Two down - now the third
Two legs of the journey are complete, and onto the third
The greatest thing I've seen
The Boogey Van is the most amazing thing they've encountered
Do why'all know what I mean?
Asking if the listener understands the thrill of the experience
Meeting twenty was the plan
The plan was to meet at exit 20
Me and my boogey van
The driver and their vehicle, the Boogey Van
Like most - Chevys coast to coast
Chevy vans are seen throughout the country
People start to ride
Others want to join in on the adventure
Dream machine burnin' wides
The Boogey Van is a dream come true and full of excitement
Layin' a furious yard it smokes awful far
Driving fast and causing a lot of smoke
Highback chair is low
The driver's seat is positioned low to the ground
Rollin' faster off they go
Driving faster and further away
Tires roll flare to flare
The tires are wide and give the van a cool look
Custom shine everywhere
The vehicle has unique features and accessories that stand out
One-fifty I don't care
Driving at 150 mph, and not caring about the speed limit
Half-way cross the land
Halfway across the country
Me and my boogey van
The driver and their faithful Boogey Van
Movin' on down the line
Continuing the journey and having fun
Here we go one more time
Excited to continue the adventure one more time
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOB BALCH, BRAD DAVIS, BRANT BJORK, SCOTT HILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dan Newcomer
I want these vans from the 70’s to comeback in style so I can get one & blast some Fu Manchu while cruising.
Lukas harmon
saving up for a 70s or 80s van along side my comanche right now
Trustworthy Whiteboy
Make them come back my man....get one and I will get one and so on...
CarterCountyCruisers
Why wait for someone else to say it's cool again? Make it happen yourself. BTW - They are still in fashion with the cool kids.
Yolo F. Swaggins
This is why my girlfriend won't let me get a van. I'll just be bumpin fuzz with random chicks
Yolo F. Swaggins
@velouric someone with a GG Allin thumbnail made a comment missing the actual joke
velouric
@Yolo F. Swaggins bumpin fuzz?, GG?, the world...
Yolo F. Swaggins
You appear to be a G.G. allin fan so I understand that if it isn't a fart joke it's over your head
J Sites
Probably the best video I've ever seen. Beauty!
Clint Mullins
It's a good one