Gene Simmons signed Giuffria to his record label Simmons Record. He changed… Read Full Bio ↴Gene Simmons signed Giuffria to his record label Simmons Record. He changed the band's name to House of Lords and replaced the band's original vocalist[1] David Glen Eisley with James Christian. Simmons liked the material presented to him by Gregg Giuffria, a demo for Giuffria's third record, however wasn't a fan of the voice. James Christian was suggested by Chuck Wright, the bassist as the two had worked together in L.A. Rocks.

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.

One Foot In The Dark
House of Lords Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's something on my mind
I got a hungry disposition
I got the fever inside
Girl, you better jockey for position

Oh, all around the world
I've been on a rock 'n' roll mission
Girl, I got my fingers on fire

Running up and down my condition

It happens over and over
Getting closer and closer

The light keeps shining on me
The past is right behind me
I know that you'll remind me
To step aside and keep
One foot in the dark
One foot in the dark

There's someone always tugging
On the wings of my heart
I gotta make it to the summit
Girl, I gotta climb so far

I'm running faster and faster
On the edge of disaster

The light keeps shining on me
The past is right behind me
I know that you'll remind me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The light keeps shining on me
The past is right behind me
I know that you'll remind me
To step aside and keep
One foot in the dark

It happens over and over
Getting closer and closer, oh...

The light keeps shining on me
The past is right behind me
I know that you'll remind me
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The light keeps shining on me
The past is right behind me
I know that you'll remind me
To step aside and keep
One foot in the dark

One foot in the dark

One foot in the dark
One foot in the dark

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to House of Lords's song "One Foot in the Dark" are about a person's hunger for success and the challenges they face as they pursue their dreams. The singer acknowledges that they have a restless soul and a feverish drive to succeed. They liken their pursuit of success to running a "rock 'n' roll mission" with their "fingers on fire." However, they also acknowledge that success comes with a price: there will always be someone tugging at the wings of their heart, and they will always be on the edge of disaster.

Throughout the song, the singer is haunted by their past, represented as a light shining on them and their past right behind them. The chorus reinforces the theme of balance: "to step aside and keep one foot in the dark" means that they must acknowledge the darkness in their life as well as the light. The darkness represents the struggles and challenges that they must face, while the light represents their goals and achievements. By keeping one foot in the darkness, they will never forget where they came from and what they have overcome.

Overall, "One Foot in the Dark" is a song about the duality of success and the importance of maintaining balance in one's life. While it is natural to pursue one's dreams with all of their might, it is also important to remember where they came from and to acknowledge the challenges that they have overcome.

Line by Line Meaning

There's something on my mind
I have a lot of things bothering me

I got a hungry disposition
I am eager and ambitious

I got the fever inside
I am passionate and driven

Girl, you better jockey for position
You need to compete for my attention and love

Oh, all around the world
I have traveled extensively

I've been on a rock 'n' roll mission
I have been pursuing a career in music

Girl, I got my fingers on fire
I am talented and skilled

Running up and down my condition
I am excited and energetic

It happens over and over
This is a recurring pattern in my life

Getting closer and closer
The situation is intensifying

The light keeps shining on me
I am in the spotlight