House of Lords' eponymous debut was released in 1988, featuring a heavier sound than Giuffria with slightly less emphasis on keyboards, the debut received critical acclaim and the band toured with Cheap Trick and opened for Scorpions in 1989. The album featured one major hit, "I Wanna Be Loved" (Hot 100 #58). The Stan Bush penned "Love Don't Lie" was the second single but aside from some airplay on MTV it failed to ignite. Despite a successful tour, original guitarist Lanny Cordola left in 1990, replaced by Michael Guy.
Their next effort, 1990's Sahara, features Michael Guy and an impressive list of guest musicians. Other notable contributions to the album came from Doug Aldrich, Rick Nielsen, Chris Impellitteri, Mandy Meyer, David Glen Eisley, Robin Zander, Mike Tramp, Steve Plunkett and Ron Keel. The first single & video was the Blind Faith cover "Can't Find My Way Home" which did well on Album Rock radio peaking at #10.. The second single "Remember My Name" was a bigger hit at Top 40 radio hitting #72 on the Hot 100 and a Top 5 regular on DIAL MTV. Soon after the single peaked, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary (drummer) would leave.
1992's release Demons Down, described by Christian as his favorite release, features Dennis Chick (guitars), Sean McNabb (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums) as well as, sole original members, James Christian and Gregg Giuffria. The album spawned two singles for the title track and the ballad "What's forever for" which would have been massive in a pre-grunge climate. After recording demos to shop for a new label, the band parted ways.
From a business point of view, House of Lords never reached the same level of popularity that Giuffria did in the mid-eighties until Jeff Kent was called to pull the band out of its black hole at the Frontier Records, ready to drop the House of Lords after the bands disastrous ratings of "The Power And The Myth" CD. The sacking of original Giuffria vocalist David Glen Eisley by Gene Simmons was not the most clever decision, but accepted by Gregg Giuffria.
A new album was rumored to be released in 2002, with original members Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary. Two years later The Power And The Myth was released by Frontiers Records with lack luster ratings and songs, however Greg Giuffria had pulled out and keyboard work was done by guests Derek Sherinian, Allan Okuye, Sven Martin and Ricky Phillips.
In 2006 House of Lords released a truly new album with most all the melodies and lyrics written by Jeff Kent (formerly of Pierce Arrow, Dreams, CBS songwriter, MTM Songwriter, and Producer of countless songs and projects, including songs on Robin Beck's "Trouble or Nothin" CD, including the 20th Anniversary newly released version, her "Living on a Dream" CD lyrics written almost exclusively with Jeff Kent) and World Upside Down with a new lineup including Jeff Kent as a “full band member” pictured in his barrette on the CD cover as well as all over the inside jacket of credits. Jeff Kent also played all the Keyboard parts in spite of what their fans were told about Gregg Giuffria, who backed out at the last minute, but was paid for the use of his name and credits to keep the band’s continuity with their fans.
Soon to follow was a live album HOL released Live in the UK which was released in January 2007. To the band’s great pleasure, Melodicrock.com also included two of Jeff Kent's co-compositions on the double 20th Anniversary CD, regularly released by MELODICROCK.COM, the greatest authority on Heavy Melodic Rock music in the world today.
2008 was marked with the release of the long awaited next new studio album, where Jeff Kent was again solicited to write “all the lyrics and melodies” with the exception of one song on this new amazing CD. Even the title came from Jeff Kent's Lyric on the song “Come to My Kingdom”, used as the title of the entire CD Come to My Kingdom, which was again followed by a limited European, US tour. However, unfortunately, due to poor business decisions, this barely supported and promoted new album rated at 97% on Melodicrock.com's website. Jeff Kent's work on the World Upside Down CD raised the bar on Melodicrock.com to being rated at 96% after the bands poor effort on "The Power And The Myth." Recently, the band was asked to play for the first time in Brazil, together with White Lion and Tyketto (both for the first time in Brazil as well), in the Hard in Rio II Hard Rock Festival.
In 2009, the band plans to resume limited touring and continue the infamous Come to My Kingdom tour of Europe, starting in September 2009.
Living In A Dream World
House of Lords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mark Baker - James Christian - Jimi Bell
Turn away, turn away
Turn away from the masses
There's no way to be saved
When you follow the iconoclasts
Everything you hear, celestial choirs
A preacher for your pain
Will teach you all in vain
Time slips away
Everyone prays
You're
Living in a dream world
Sleeping as it unfurls
Dreaming of a free world
Gogol knew what's inside you
We are all in a dream
Close your eyes fantasize
It's as real as it seems
You can lose your way in icons and pyres
You can run away or run through the fire
No blinding ray of light
Will guide you through the night
Time slips away
Everyone prays
You're
Living in a dream world
Sleeping as it unfurls
Dreaming of a free world
Living in a free world
No blinding ray of light
Will guide you through the night
Time slips away
Everyone prays
You're
Living in a dream world
Sleeping as it unfurls
Dreaming of a free world
Living in a dream world
Sleeping as it unfurls
Dreaming of a free world
The song "Living in a Dream World" by House of Lords is a commentary on the dangers and allure of blindly following popular opinion and authority figures, or "iconoclasts". The lyrics warn against losing oneself in fantasies and delusions, which can be especially tempting in a world that seems unsatisfying or oppressive. The singer urges listeners to question and be critical of the things they see and hear, and to resist the illusion of a utopian "free world".
The lyrics also suggest that we are all prone to living in a dream-like state, with our fantasies and desires feeling just as real as waking life. The reference to Gogol may relate to the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol, who often explored themes of identity, illusion, and the tension between image and reality. The repeated line "no blinding ray of light will guide you through the night" reinforces the idea that there is no easy path to truth or enlightenment; we must rely on our own judgment and perception to navigate the world around us.
Overall, "Living in a Dream World" is a cautionary tale about the power of narrative and the danger of mistaking our own desires for objective reality. It encourages listeners to be mindful of the stories they tell themselves and to stay grounded in the present moment, rather than chasing after unattainable ideals or illusions of perfection.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn away, turn away
Avoid the masses and their beliefs
Turn away from the masses
Do not follow the majority's opinions and attitudes
There's no way to be saved
There is no guaranteed path to salvation
When you follow the iconoclasts
Rejecting traditional or popular beliefs can lead to uncertainty and confusion
You can see the world as all you desire
You have the power to shape your perception of the world
Everything you hear, celestial choirs
You can filter your experiences and interpret them in a favorable way
A preacher for your pain
Someone who makes grand promises but cannot deliver solutions
Will teach you all in vain
Promises of salvation or relief may not match reality
Time slips away
Time is fleeting and cannot be regained
Everyone prays
Everyone hopes or strives for something greater
You're living in a dream world
You may be distorting reality with your perceptions and beliefs
Sleeping as it unfurls
Unaware or indifferent of the consequences of your views
Dreaming of a free world
Aspiring to a better, more idealized state of society
Gogol knew what's inside you
A reference to Nikolai Gogol, suggesting the complexity and ambiguity of human nature
We are all in a dream
Human perception and understanding is subjective and changeable
Close your eyes fantasize
Imagining a different version of reality that may not exist
It's as real as it seems
What seems real may not be completely truthful or accurate
You can lose your way in icons and pyres
Religious symbols and rituals may lead one astray from true faith
You can run away or run through the fire
When facing challenges or doubts, one can either avoid or confront them
No blinding ray of light
There is no clear, definitive answer or solution to life's problems
Will guide you through the night
Life is filled with uncertainties and difficulties but needs to be navigated
Living in a free world
Living in a state of future peace and harmony
Contributed by Adeline S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.