Idiot Box are also a quirky power pop/rock band based in Bradford, UK. They formed in 1998 around Rick Idiot (guitar/vocals) as original members' Gaz Idiot (drums), and Adam Cockburn (guitar), previous band That Man There dissolved during the hard Winter of '97. The original lineup was fleshed out by Mickey Motorvator on bass. Mickey left around the time of the Serbian/Bosnian conflict to concentrate on sticking it to the Man, so Gaz switched to bass whilst Steven Wilson joined on drums. Ben Holden also joined on guitar, and Adam left shortly afterwards. This lineup saw a rise in popularity locally, but also the start of many lineup changes. In 2000, after a successful appearance at Bradford Festival where the band appeared in labcoats and sunglasses, both Ben and Ste left. Kris Barford joined on drums and the band played quite successfully as a 3-piece, supporting I Am Kloot at Lincoln University in 2001. A second guitarist was added, Rick's brother Matty Bolton, and the band enjoyed a short spell of great songwriting and creativity. Yet again, this was curtailed as family commitments saw Matty quit after only six months. Tension and frustration also meant that Kris followed shortly after and the band went back to searching for a drummer and a guitarist. After several months, one Mark Cawthra formerly of Cardiacs replied to an advert in a Leeds music store. Ben also rejoined and the band resurfaced with new songs a few months after that. Sadly, the band's poor luck continued and Ben left again, eventually to form This Et Al with Steve Wilson. By this time, they were preparing to record an album, a process which saw the arrival of Simon Stathers but the departure of mainstay Gaz, again due to the frustrations and tensions around the revolving-door lineup. Work on the album fizzled out and the band broke up in early 2003.
Rick continued to write and Mark continued working his own material too, even producing an early This Et Al demo and Gaz's new band Lowlife UK's 3rd album Barstool Preaching. Meanwhile, Kris formed hardcore metal outfit Trench and the Seattle-rock inspired 2nd Sky, which included Gaz on bass in it's last year.
In 2007, Mark and Rick began recording some of the songs that they had planned to be on the album and a chance meeting with Gaz saw him become involved again too. 6 tracks were recorded, including "Valentine" which inspired them to pick it up again. Kris jumped back on board immediately and Russ Petcher of Aviator Ray was asked to join on guitar.
May 2008 - The band is currently rehearsing their old material along with new and are playing live again.
The early songs were much more pop-oriented in the vein of That Man There, but this sound gradually hardened as old songs were gradually replaced with Rick's own songs. At the same time, the band began exploring unusual time signatures and arrangements. This developed into what the band dubbed "No Disco" and quickly became their signature style.
Pandemonium
Idiot Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of chaos and anti-lazy
The sinister minister of rave and party
When you get so high on life
You feel like you could fly
Pandemonium has got your eye
CHORUS:
Pandemonium's got your eye
When you feel like you could die
Pandemonium keeps you alive
Pandemonium
The year two million BCE
Chaos was the land and the sea
And his brother was none other than Pandemonium
That was he
Because he was the craziness of the land and the sea
Pandemonium was humanity
They ruled the world only to see
They did their work signed to thee
CHORUS (x2)
The lyrics to Idiot Box's song Pandemonium capture the feeling of being caught up in chaos and the excitement that comes with it. The opening lines describe the frenzy and mystery of chaos – an unpredictable force that defies explanation – and contrast it with the idea of anti-lazy, or the ability to resist inertia and embrace change. The sinister minister of rave and party perhaps refers to the figure of a DJ who controls the mood and energy of a dance floor. When the music is good and the vibes are right, it can make you feel like you're flying. Pandemonium – the name itself suggests disorder and upheaval – has got your eye, meaning that you're drawn in by its energy and can't look away.
The chorus repeats the idea of Pandemonium being both an escape and a source of vitality. When you feel like you could fly, Pandemonium's got your eye – implying that it's the thing that's lifting you up and giving you wings. Conversely, when you feel like you could die, Pandemonium keeps you alive – suggesting that it's the thing that's keeping you going when everything else seems bleak. The repetition of the word "Pandemonium" throughout the song reinforces its power and presence as a force to be reckoned with.
The mention of the year two million BCE and the concept of Chaos as a deity suggests a mythological or historical reference point for the song. The line "his brother was none other than Pandemonium" implies that Pandemonium is a kind of complementary or opposing force to Chaos, which is an interesting dynamic to explore. The idea that Pandemonium is humanity – or at least a manifestation of our wild and untamed nature – fits with the overall theme of the song as a celebration of madness and energy.
Overall, Idiot Box's Pandemonium is a song that captures the feeling of being swept up in chaos and reveling in it. Whether it's the energy of a dance floor or the unpredictability of life itself, Pandemonium is a force that can both free and enslave us.
Line by Line Meaning
The crazy, the frenzy, the unsolved mystery
The wild and chaotic energy that's hard to understand and explain.
Of chaos and anti-lazy
Chaos mixed with activity and motion to create something that's almost unsettling.
The sinister minister of rave and party
An embodiment of the uncontrolled energy and excitement of a wild celebration.
When you get so high on life
When you feel like you're on top of the world and nothing can bring you down.
You feel like you could fly
A feeling of invincibility and limitless potential that comes when you truly feel alive.
Pandemonium has got your eye
You're captivated by the mania and frenzy surrounding you.
When you feel like you could die
A sensation of danger and recklessness that comes with being caught up in the chaos.
Pandemonium keeps you alive
In spite of the danger, the energy and excitement of the moment keeps you feeling fully alive and present.
The year two million BCE
A reference to the dawn of humanity and the chaos that came with it.
Chaos was the land and the sea
The wild, unpredictable nature of early life on Earth.
And his brother was none other than Pandemonium
A personification of the chaos and mania that defined that era of history.
Because he was the craziness of the land and the sea
A reminder that pandemonium and chaos are a natural part of life on this planet.
Pandemonium was humanity
Humans themselves are often the source of the frenzy and chaos that surrounds them.
They ruled the world only to see
Despite their reign, humans have often been unable to fully control the chaotic forces around them.
They did their work signed to thee
Despite the challenges they faced, humans have left behind a legacy of creativity and innovation.
CHORUS (x2)
A repetition of the main point of the song - that pandemonium is both dangerous and exhilarating, and that it has the power to make us feel more alive than ever.
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.