1982 saw GBH's first LP, City Baby Attacked By Rats. The album was marked lyrically with harsh criticism of British and European culture, typical of UK punk. It was also full of violence, morbidity (especially in reference to the song "Passenger On The Menu", which describes in graphic detail the experiences of the passengers on the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571), atheism, nihilism, social anarchism, and generalised absurdity. However not political, the album's lyrics do seem remarkably socially aware. This kind of content would later follow up in later GBH releases. Musically, the album was loud, and fast, with most songs staying under three minutes, typical of the hardcore punk genre. This is also a trademark of future GBH releases.
In 1983 the band changed their name to simply GBH, arguably just because the word "Charged" in front of their name had dropped from the lingo of many of their fans. (The name change was announced at a gig in the now defunct 'Golden Eagle' public house, where GBH were playing along with ex-Hawkwind sax player Nik Turner's 'Inner City Unit').
GBH are known to be pioneers of the UK82 second wave of British punk rock in the 1980s, along with fellow pioneers Discharge, Broken Bones, The Exploited, The Varukers. and The Skeptix.
The band has, for the most part, kept true to its original punk rock roots since its formation, unlike many other former punk bands, especially hardcore bands, who later formed the Post-Punk genre of the mid to late 80s. However the band has experimented with, alongside many other hardcore punk bands, notably The Exploited, a bit of what is known as metal crossover. Metal Crossover is when punk bands use riffs of heavy metal in their music, usually just as a break in the monotony of the traditional two and three chord, punk rock sound. Some punk rock purists argue that when punk bands do this they break from the original punk sound, and therefore become simply metal bands. The band, though, maintains that they are, in fact, still a punk rock band. However, the band has done this quite a lot, especially experimenting with it heavily in their 1992 release Church of the Truly Warped. This sound carried over even into their latest LPs. However, they have been falling back more on their original punk rock sound roots recently.
The band is still active and touring, even among many circulating rumours about a break up. The band maintains a strong cult following both in England and the rest of Europe, as well as in America and Japan, where some say that punk is still in its elementary to mid-stages.
Midnight Madness and Beyond
GBH Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing that this journey would come to an end.
Rolling stoned I'm listing to the gussler,
I want a wash, I wanna' phone my friend.
When the sun comes down, we enter our forbidden zone.
When the sun comes down, you can't reach us on the phone.
Oh no, oh no, bang the drum, beat the gong .
Midnight madness and beyond .
Ginseng roots have many mystic powers.
Bowing so much that my back is getting sore,
There's lots of gifts, lots of lovely flowers.
Now it seems that this lot don't want us,
Bilingual forms to fill before we go.
We're not a gang of international terrorists,
We're just a band that's come to play a show.
So beat the drum and bang the gong,
Midnight madness and beyond . .
In these lyrics, the singer expresses their exhaustion with the journey they're on, staring through the monotonous Montana skyline and yearning for it to come to an end. Rolling stoned, they listen to the "gussler" (assumed to be a reference to a car engine) and wish for a chance to rest and call a friend. They describe entering a "forbidden zone" when the sun goes down, making communication impossible. The singer then sings "bang the drum, beat the gong" before declaring the arrival of "midnight madness and beyond." Despite claiming to be just a band that's come to play a show, the singer notes the group has been required to fill out bilingual forms and seems unwelcome. Nonetheless, they maintain their excitement and energy for the performance.
The lyrics appear to be about the excitement and chaos that can come from going on tour as a band, with the long drives and uneventful scenery contrasting with the thrill of playing live shows. The "forbidden zone" and reference to being mistaken for terrorists could be an allusion to the heightened security measures in place after the 9/11 attacks. The lyrics could also be seen as a celebration of the music itself and the camaraderie that comes from it, with the singer excitedly calling for the drum to be banged and the gong to be beaten in preparation for the show.
Line by Line Meaning
Staring through the boring Monatana skyline,
Looking at the dull Montana skyline, wishing that the journey would end.
Wishing that this journey would come to an end.
Wanting the journey to end for relief after being bored.
Rolling stoned I'm listing to the gussler,
Listening to the gussler when high.
I want a wash, I wanna' phone my friend.
Wanting to clean up and call a friend.
When the sun comes down, we enter our forbidden zone.
Going into a forbidden zone when it's dark out.
When the sun comes down, you can't reach us on the phone.
Being unreachable by phone when it's nighttime.
Oh no, oh no, bang the drum, beat the gong .
Exclaiming 'Oh no' and starting to play the drums and gong.
Midnight madness and beyond .
Playing music until after midnight, madness included.
I'm only five foot eight but I'm a giant,
Feeling like a giant despite being short.
Ginseng roots have many mystic powers.
Believing ginseng roots have mystical powers.
Bowing so much that my back is getting sore,
Bowing a lot and causing back pain.
There's lots of gifts, lots of lovely flowers.
Receiving many gifts and flowers.
Now it seems that this lot don't want us,
Feeling unwanted by the crowd.
Bilingual forms to fill before we go.
Having to fill out forms in two languages before leaving.
We're not a gang of international terrorists,
Stating that they are not terrorists, just a band.
We're just a band that's come to play a show.
Clarifying that they are simply there to perform.
So beat the drum and bang the gong,
Encouraging everyone to play the drums and gong.
Midnight madness and beyond . .
Continuing the music beyond midnight.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GBH, Abrahall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind