The group's earliest incarnation included German drummer En Esch and British vocalist Raymond Watts, the latter of whom left and rejoined the group several times over its history. The trio recorded the band's earliest albums in Germany before Konietzko and Esch moved to the United States, where they found much greater success with seminal industrial record label Wax Trax!. German guitarist Günter Schulz joined in 1990; both he and Esch continued with the band until KMFDM broke up in 1999. Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 (Esch and Schulz declined to rejoin) on Metropolis Records, and by 2005 he had assembled a consistent line-up that included American singer Lucia Cifarelli, British guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White, and British drummer Andy Selway. Konietzko and Cifarelli moved back to Germany in 2007, while the rest of band stayed in the U.S. In addition to these core members, dozens of other musicians have worked with the group across its nineteen studio albums and two dozen singles, with sales totaling in excess of two million records worldwide.
Critics consider KMFDM to be one of the first bands to bring industrial music to mainstream audiences, though Konietzko refers to the band's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". The band incorporates heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, samples, and both male and female vocals in its music, which encompasses a variety of styles including industrial rock and electronic body music (EBM). The band is fiercely political, with many of its lyrics taking stands against violence, war, and oppression. KMFDM normally tours at least once after every major release, and band members are known for their accessibility to and interaction with fans, both online and at concerts. Members, singly or working together and with other musicians, have recorded under many other names, primarily Watts' PIG, Konietzko's Excessive Force, and Esch and Schulz's Slick Idiot.
KMFDM (Discogs): https://www.discogs.com/artist/11606-KMFDM
KMFDM (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (MySpace): https://myspace.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (Official Site): http://www.kmfdm.net
KMFDM (Reddit): https://www.reddit.com/r/kmfdm
KMFDM (SoundCloud): https://soundcloud.com/kmfdm_official
KMFDM (Store): http://kmfdm.fulfillmentmerch.com
KMFDM (Tumblr): https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/kmfdm
KMFDM (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kmfdmofficial
KMFDM (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/user/officialkmfdm
---Current Members---
Sascha Konietzko – vocals, guitar, bass, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
Lucia Cifarelli – vocals, keyboards
Jules Hodgson – guitar, bass, keyboards
Andy Selway – drums
Steve White – guitar
---Former Members---
En Esch – vocals, drums, guitar, programming
Raymond Watts – vocals, programming
Günter Schulz – guitar, programming
Mark Durante – guitar, steel guitar
Tim Skold – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming
Classic KMFDM Discography (1984-1999)
---Studio Albums---
1984 - Opium
1986 - What Do You Know, Deutschland?
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1989 - UAIOE
1990 - Naïve
1992 - Money
1993 - Angst
1995 - Nihil
1996 - Xtort
1997 - Symbols
1999 - Adios
---Compilations---
1986 - 84-86 (compilation)
1994 - Naïve/Hell to Go (remix)
1996 - Retro (compilation)
1998 - Agogo (compilation)
---Singles---
1987 - Kickin' Ass
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1988 - More & Faster
1989 - Virus
1990 - Godlike
1991 - Naïve + The Days of Swine and Roses (split with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult)
1991 - Split
1992 - Vogue
1992 - Money
1992 - Help Us/Save Us/Take Us Away
1992 - Sucks
1993 - A Drug Against War
1994 - Light
1994 - Glory
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel (The Moroder Mixes)
1995 - Brute
1995 - Trust
1995 - Year of the Pig
1996 - Power
1996 - Rules
1997 - Anarchy
1998 - MDFMK
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
1991 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your House
1992 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your World
1992 - En Esch - Cheesy
1993 - Excessive Force - Blizkrieg
1994 - Excessive Force - Gentle Death
1994 - KMFDM vs. PIG - Sin Sex & Salvation
---Modern KMFDM Discography (2002-present)
---Studio Albums---
2002 - Attak
2003 - WWIII
2005 - Hau Ruck
2007 - Tohuvabohu
2009 - Blitz
2011 - WTF?!
2013 - Kunst
2014 - Our Time Will Come
2017 - Hell Yeah
2019 - Paradise
2022 - HYËNA
2024 - LET GO
---Compilations---
2002 - Strum & Drang Tour Live (live)
2004 - WWIII Live 2003 (live)
2006 - Ruck Zuck (remix)
2008 - Brimborium (remix)
2008 - Extra Vol. 1 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 2 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 3 (compilation)
2009 - Krieg (remix)
2010 - Würst (compilation)
2010 - Greatest Shit (compilation)
2014 - We Are KMFDM (live)
---Singles---
2002 - Boots
2010 - Day of Light
2010 - Godlike 2010
2010 - Light 2010
2011 - Krank
2011 - Amnesia
2014 - Salvation
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
2000 - MDFMK - MDFMK
2001 - Schweinstein - Schweinstein
2001 - Slick Idiot - DickNity
2002 - Schweinstein - Son of Schweinstein
2003 - Slick Idiot - ReDickUlous
2004 - Slick Idiot - Screwtinized
2004 - Lucia - From the Land of Volcanoes
2006 - Slick Idiot - xSCREWciating
2006 - KGC - Dirty Bomb
2009 - Slick Idiot - Sucksess
2009 - Skold vs. KMFDM - Skold vs. KMFDM
2011 - OK●ZTEIN●OK - PROLET●KULT
2014 - En Esch - SPÄNK
Son of a Gun
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Atomic blast - Son of a gun is back
Chaos - Panic - No resistance
Detonations in a distance
Apocalypse now - Walls of flame
Billowing smoke - Who's to blame
Forged from steel - Iron will
Shit for brains - Born to kill
Son of a gun - A simple equation
Son of a gun - Master of fate
Bows to no god - Kingdom or state
Watch out
Son of a gun
Superhero number one
The lyrics to KMFDM's "Son of a Gun" depict a character who is both fearsome and unstoppable, wreaking havoc with bombs and weapons. The lines "Shockwave - Massive attack / Atomic blast - Son of a gun is back" convey a sense of a powerful and destructive force that leaves no stone unturned. While the lines "Forged from steel - Iron will / Shit for brains - Born to kill" suggest that the character is the product of a military environment, with a tough exterior and a willingness to execute orders without questioning.
However, there is also a hint of moral ambiguity in the song's lyrics. The line "All are equal - No discrimination / Son of a gun - A simple equation" suggests that the character is indifferent to the identity of their targets, leaving the listener to wonder whether the Son of a Gun is fighting for a just cause or pursuing their own agenda. Despite the ambiguity, the chorus of the song suggests that the Son of a Gun is a force to be reckoned with, and that they are unstoppable: "Son of a gun - A simple equation / Son of a gun - Master of fate / Bows to no god - Kingdom or state / Watch out / Son of a gun / Superhero number one".
Overall, "Son of a Gun" is a provocative and intense song that invites the listener to explore the darker aspects of human conflict and the actions that people are willing to take in the service of their beliefs or interests.
Line by Line Meaning
Shockwave - Massive attack
The impact of the singer's presence is immense and powerful.
Atomic blast - Son of a gun is back
The singer brings destruction and chaos wherever they go, and their return is inevitable.
Chaos - Panic - No resistance
The people are overwhelmed with disorder and fear, and are unable to fight back against the singer.
Detonations in a distance
Explosions are happening in the vicinity of the artists arrival.
Apocalypse now - Walls of flame
The artist brings forth the end of the world, with flames consuming everything.
Billowing smoke - Who's to blame
The aftermath of the singer's actions leaves confusion and uncertainty about who should be held accountable.
Forged from steel - Iron will
The singer is tough and fierce, unbreakable and unyielding.
Shit for brains - Born to kill
The artist is not intellectual, but instead has a natural affinity towards violence and aggression.
All are equal - No discrimination
The artist is not biased towards any particular group of people, as all are equally under threat.
Son of a gun - A simple equation
The artist's identity is straightforward and uncomplicated, they are simply a force of destruction.
Son of a gun - Master of fate
The singer is in complete control of their own destiny and the destiny of others they come across. They hold the power.
Bows to no god - Kingdom or state
The artist is not subservient to any higher power or governing body, they operate only for themselves.
Watch out
A warning to the general population to stay alert and be prepared for the singer's arrival.
Son of a gun
Reiteration of the singer's identity.
Superhero number one
The singer is elevated to the status of a hero, despite their destructive tendencies.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GUENTHER SCHULZ, JOHN VAN EATON, Sascha Konietzko
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind