After playing piano in Cuby + Blizzards and several other bands since 1964, Brood started his own group, Herman Brood & His Wild Romance, in 1977. The band had their first hit single, Saturday Night, in 1978. It was taken from their best known and most succesful studio album, 1978's Shpritsz. A a live band, the leather-clad Wild Romance took The Netherlands (and Germany) by storm.
But even more than his music, it was his outspoken statements in the press about sex and drug use that brought Herman Brood into the public arena in The Netherlands. In the early 1980s he was romantically involved with the German artist, Nina Hagen, with whom he appeared in the film Cha Cha. Brood relished the media attention and became the most famous hard drug user in the Netherlands. In the 1990s he took up painting and soon became more successful as a painter athan he was as a musician (for a rock musician as legendary as Herman Brood, his studio LPs after 1980 sold remarkably poorly).
Brood swore off most drugs, reducing his drug use to alcohol and a daily shot of speed. Sadly (and ironically), this healthier lifestyle turned him into a vulnerable man almost overnight. He decided to take matters into his own hands and committed suicide: on 11 July 2001 he jumped off the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton hotel, at aged of 54.
Close friend, Bart Chabot, wrote about Brood's life in a string of biographies: "Broodje gezond", "Broodje halfom", "Brood en spelen" and "Broodje springlevend". Admirer, Black Francis, recorded a studio album (Bluefinger) as a tribute to Herman Brood.
Tattoo song
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance Lyrics
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Temptation is strong and the job ain't cheap
I've seen the spike up and down my arm
Sailors grave and tattooed snakes and broken hearts
Workin' like a charm
Skinboppin', skyboppin'
Baby, let the needle burn (Skin, scar)
It's the point of no return
Get yourself a tattoo, don't think twice
You show it of in the disco, at school
Around the corner
Ain't no lie
Goin' down the road with a pistol in my hand
Johnny tattoo is lookin' for you
Skinboppin', skyboppin'
Baby, let the needle burn (Skin, scar)
Skydivin', mainlinin'
It's the point of no return (Made scar)
You never ever gonna regret
You've got a tattoo (What y're gonna tell her?)
You tell your baby: "I did it for you"
Got it under my skin
For the rest of my life
I don't mind, I show it of around the neighbourhood
Ain't no lie
I've seen the spike up and down my arm
Sailors graves and tattooed snakes and broken hearts
Workin' like a charm
Skinboppin', skyboppin'
Baby, let the needle burn (Skin, scar)
Skydivin', mainlinin'
It's the point of no return (Made scar)
Hey, honey don't tell your mama, keep her out of the blue
(What y're gonna tell her?)
You tell your ma: "I did it for you"
Skinboppin', skyboppin'
Baby, let the needle burn
Skydivin', mainlinin'
It's the point of no return
Your lover will discover some day you've got a tattoo
(What y're gonna tell her?)
You just tell her: "Honey, I did it for you"
The song "Tattoo Song" by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance is an ode to the world of tattoos and the thrill that comes with defying societal norms. The song starts with a commentary on how beauty is only skin deep and how people are often tempted to go to extreme lengths to transform their appearance. The singer then talks about his own love for tattoos, mentioning the various designs he has inked on his arm such as sailors grave, tattooed snakes, and broken hearts. He admits that it's an addiction that's working like a charm.
The chorus of the song talks about the point of no return that one crosses when they get a tattoo. The singer compares it to the rush of skydiving or mainlining, indicating that the experience is just as addicting. He encourages listeners to get themselves a tattoo, promising that they will never regret it. He also references the secrecy that often surrounds tattoos and how people might hide them from others, including their parents and lovers. However, he suggests that true love will accept and appreciate a person's tattoos.
Overall, "Tattoo Song" celebrates the subculture of tattoos and encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and rebel against conventional norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Beauty today is only skin deep
In today's society, beauty is only valued based on one's outer appearance.
Temptation is strong and the job ain't cheap
Getting a tattoo, which is a form of self-expression, can be very tempting even though it can be expensive.
I've seen the spike up and down my arm
The lyricist has experienced getting tattooed on their arm with the needle going up and down as the ink is being applied.
Sailors grave and tattooed snakes and broken hearts
Tattoos can represent various symbols and themes such as a sailor's grave, snakes or broken hearts.
Workin' like a charm
Tattoos can have a positive impact on one's self-confidence as it helps them express themselves.
Skinboppin', skyboppin'
Skinboppin' and skyboppin' refer to getting tattoos on one's skin and skydiving to experience a thrill, respectively.
Baby, let the needle burn (Skin, scar)
The lyricist encourages others to get a tattoo and feel the sensation of the needle burning, which will eventually leave a scar on their skin.
Skydivin', mainlinin'
Skydivin' and mainlinin' represent taking risks, which is similar to the risks involved in getting a tattoo.
It's the point of no return
Getting a tattoo is a permanent decision that cannot be easily reversed, hence it's the point of no return.
Get yourself a tattoo, don't think twice
The lyricist encourages others to get a tattoo without hesitating or overthinking about it.
You show it off in the disco, at school, around the corner
Tattoos can be flaunted anywhere and everywhere, be it at a disco, school or around the corner.
Ain't no lie
The lyricist assures that getting a tattoo is nothing to be ashamed of or hide, it's the truth.
Goin' down the road with a pistol in my hand, Johnny tattoo is lookin' for you
This line could represent a rebellious or badass attitude of someone who's gotten a tattoo and is now confidently flaunting it around.
You never ever gonna regret, You've got a tattoo (What y're gonna tell her?)
The lyricist assures that getting a tattoo is something one won't regret in the future, and prompts the listener to think about how they'll explain the tattoo to someone else.
You tell your baby: "I did it for you"
The lyricist suggests that a tattoo can be dedicated to someone you love and it can hold a special meaning for both.
Got it under my skin, For the rest of my life
A tattoo is something that's engraved under your skin and stays with you for your whole life.
I don't mind, I show it off around the neighbourhood
The lyricist doesn't mind prominently displaying their tattoo, even around their neighbourhood, for others to see and admire.
Hey, honey don't tell your mama, keep her out of the blue (What y're gonna tell her?)
The lyricist suggests that getting a tattoo is something that shouldn't concern one's mother, and prompts the listener to think about how they'll explain their tattoo to her.
Your lover will discover some day you've got a tattoo (What y're gonna tell her?)
The lyricist suggests that getting a tattoo is not something that should be kept a secret from one's lover, and prompts the listener to think about how they'll explain it to them.
You just tell her: "Honey, I did it for you"
The lyricist suggests that a tattoo can be dedicated to someone you love and it can hold a special meaning for both, which could be a justification for getting it.
Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.