The blatantly image conscious group soon secured management, fired their first drummer, and auditioned over 50 drummers before settling on Mark Laff of Subway Sect. They were photogenic and signed a worldwide long term deal to Chrysalis (also home of Blondie) and had popsmith Phil Wainman, producer of The Bay City Rollers and Sweet mix their debut album. In September 1977 they became the first punk group to "sell out" and lip synch their debut single Your Generation on TV's Tops of The Pops, and also that month performed on Marc Bolan's TV show just days before the T-Rex frontman's death. Generation X also appeared in films like DOA and in Don Letts' Punk Movie.
In October of 1978, recordings for a second Generation X album produced by Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople followed, the resulting Valley Of The Dolls hitting the streets in 1979. Guitarist Bob Dagwood Anderson eventually quit the lineup after completing a Japanese tour and the recordings for a third album in 1979.(The final Derwood lineup LP actually doesn't resurface for almost 20 years until 1998, and was finally released on an indie against Idol's wishes as Sweet Revenge).
After a troubling two year period of uncertainty due to legal and financial battles with manager Stewart Joseph, Billy Idol and Tony James re-recruited & re-christened for their re-dubbed Gen X project. Friends, foes, pros and fellow fools then convened and attempted to get another record out. Outside the core Idol/James duo, studio collaborators like ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, ex-Clash drummer Terry Chimes, Chelsea guitarist James Stevenson, Steve New of Rich Kids, Danny Kustow of Tom Robinson Band, as well as John McGeogh later of Siouxsie & the Banshees.
With renewed spirit and producer Keith Forsey at the helm, Gen X would go on to release one more LP Kiss Me Deadly in 1981. After neither the album nor the singles "Dancing With Myself" and "Kiss Me Deadly" took the charts, the band broke up. Idol joined up with NYC based Kiss manager Bill Aucion, re-releasing "Dancing with Myself" and the rest, as they say, is history.
A one off Generation X reunion occurred in 1993 at London's Astoria. Hopes for future reunions have popped up infrequently, but, with the band members ensconced in their own projects, prospects have seemed unlikely.The group's music remains popular among punk rock, new wave, and power pop revivalists in the U.K. and elsewhere, with a cult following lasting into the new millennium.
The Invisible Man
Generation X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything he does
Everything proves to him
That he don't exist for them
'cause they don't understand what
The invisible man understands
Everyday he tries
Looking for someone like him
Someone who don't walk by him
Someone who knows what
The invisible man understands
He doesn't sell cars
He doesn't sell clothes
Never famous
And know one knows
Stick and stone ain't hurt him
You can dance on his grave when he's gone
But the invisible man will still touch your hand
Until you understand what he wants
Do you think you know him
Do you think that you know him
The lies and deceit you give
The curses and cries you give
Do you understand what the invisible man understands
Invisible man do you understand
Maybe it is you?
Invisible man do you understand
Maybe it is you?
Maybe it is you?
Maybe it is you?
Maybe it is you?
Maybe it is you?
Do you think you understand
Do you think you understand
The song "The Invisible Man" by Generation X is a poignant representation of the sense of invisibility that people often experience in society. The lyrics describe a person who feels unnoticed and ignored by the people around him. Everywhere he goes and everything he does only serves to reinforce his belief that he does not exist for others. He longs for someone who can relate to his plight and understands what it means to be invisible.
The song explores the idea that there are certain people in society who are overlooked and not considered in the same way as others. The lyrics suggest that these people may not be famous, wealthy or influential. They may be considered insignificant and not worthy of attention. The invisible man is a representation of this group of people who feel like they are not seen and are struggling to find their place in the world.
Furthermore, the song's message is a challenge to listeners to acknowledge these ignored individuals' existence and try to understand their struggles. The invisible man, though ignored, can still touch people's lives and inspire them to greater empathy and awareness.
Line by Line Meaning
Everywhere he goes
No matter where he goes or what he does, he feels ignored and invisible.
Everything he does
All of his actions seem to go unnoticed and unappreciated.
Everything proves to him
All of the evidence he sees confirms that he is invisible to others.
That he don't exist for them
People around him do not acknowledge or recognize his presence.
'cause they don't understand what
The reason for his invisibility is that people do not understand or empathize with him.
The invisible man understands
The singer of the song (the invisible man) is aware of his invisibility and understands why people cannot see him.
Everyday he tries
Despite feeling invisible, he continues to make an effort to be seen and understood by others.
Every night he dies
Each night, his sense of isolation and alienation intensifies and he feels like a part of him has died.
Looking for someone like him
He longs to find someone who understands his struggle and shares his experience of invisibility.
Someone who don't walk by him
He seeks out someone who will not ignore him or overlook his presence.
Someone who knows what
He wants to find someone who understands the same things that he understands about the nature of invisibility.
He doesn't sell cars
The artist does not have a glamorous, high-profile job or profession that might make him stand out.
He doesn't sell clothes
The singer does not work in a conventional or mainstream industry where he might interact with a lot of people or customers.
Never famous
He has never achieved any kind of public recognition or acclaim that would make him visible to others.
And know one knows
Despite his existence, no one seems to know or care about him.
Stick and stone ain't hurt him
He has developed a thick skin and emotional resilience that prevent him from being hurt or affected by the negative comments or actions of others.
You can dance on his grave when he's gone
Even if he were to die, his sense of invisibility would still persist and people would continue to overlook him.
But the invisible man will still touch your hand
Despite being invisible, the singer will continue to have an impact on the lives of others.
Until you understand what he wants
He hopes that eventually, people will come to understand his perspective and experience.
Do you think you know him
The artist challenges the listener to consider whether they truly understand his experience.
The lies and deceit you give
The artist has encountered people who have been dishonest or manipulative towards him, adding to his sense of alienation.
The curses and cries you give
He has also attracted negative attention or criticism from others, further contributing to his sense of invisibility.
Do you understand what the invisible man understands
The singer emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding for others who may be going through similar experiences.
Invisible man do you understand
The artist turns the question of understanding back on himself, questioning whether he truly understands his own experience of invisibility.
Maybe it is you?
The singer muses on the possibility that the listener (or himself) might also be experiencing invisibility or emotional isolation.
Do you think you understand
The song ends with a final challenge to the listener to examine their own sense of empathy and understanding towards those who may feel unseen and unheard.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL, TONY JAMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind