Gus and Jamie grew up in the suburbs south of London and went to school together. In search for a new band member, they posted advertisements, including on MixB, an online bulletin board for Japanese expatriates, largely due to their interest in Japanese rap. They selected Sarah based on her background in art, and their interest in her bilingual ability. Although she had collaborated with a Japanese girl group previously, Sarah did not have a background in professional singing; instead, she was interested in collaborating with Gus and Jamie simply because she "wanted to try it".
The band released their debut mixtape Intro Bonito through Double Denim Records in August 2014. They wrote many of their songs featured on the mixtape using a Casio SA-45 mini-keyboard. The band also contributed "Flamingo" to Ryan Hemsworth's compilation EP shh#ffb6c1. In September 2014, Kero Kero Bonito released Bonito Recycling, a compilation of Intro Bonito remixes by artists including Danny L Harle and Spazzkid.
On October 21, 2016, their official debut album Bonito Generation was released through Double Denim Records. The album featured previous singles such as "Picture This" released in March 2015, "Lipslap" released in February 2016 and "Break" released in June 2016.
On February 12, 2018, the band released their single Only Acting which featured a more darker, rock-influenced style compared to their previous releases. On February 20, 2018, the band released their EP, TOTEP. The EP included the aforementioned single Only Acting, and other songs following the rock-influenced style. On May 8, 2018, the band released the single Time Today, and announced their second studio album, Time 'n' Place, which was released on October 1, 2018 The album was inspired by radical changes in the band's personal lives and featured a similar sound to TOTEP.
On July 8, 2019, the band uploaded "KKB Life" to their YouTube channel, a vlog video recorded during the Time 'n' Place era, announcing that a new era is starting. They later released the single When the Fires Come in September 2019 and their EP Civilisation I later that month. The EP and lead single featured an electronic style, similar to the band's production in their earlier work. In 2020, the band wrote and performed It's Bugsnax!, the theme song for the video game Bugsnax, which was featured in its announcement trailer. The members of the band recorded their parts of the song remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 21, 2021, Kero Kero Bonito published their EP Civilisation II, a sequel to their previous EP Civilisation I, after releasing the single The Princess and the Clock earlier on February 24, 2021. This EP continued the electronic style the band established in the first EP. On September 10, 2021, the band published a compilation, Civilisation, combining EPs Civilisation I and Civilisation II, with the added track Gateway in between them.
The Open Road
Kero Kero Bonito Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Swerving on the wet slush below
Just as well we did 'cos
That lorry in front of us
Was gonna tip over
So we peeled off for a break
Though we knew it meant we'd be late
It felt pretty good to taste
The strawberry milkshake
And still we carried on
Our entire lives upon
The open road
Guided on the asphalt by
The traffic lines and burger signs
'Til we're in the motel gone for the night
Way out on the north golden coast
Just as we were ready to go
Bandits broke into the van
And took all we had
In the city we were stranded
And still we
Somehow rolled through
Onto the next town
Always somewhere new
I've seen mountains pierce the sky
Deserts frosted under ice
But some days I just miss mum and dad
Though I think it makes them happy
I finally managed to see
The open road
'Til I'll make quite sure there's nowhere
Left to get to know
The open road
The open road
Will take me home someday
"The Open Road" by Kero Kero Bonito is a song that tells the story of a journey through life, symbolized by a road trip. The lyrics explore the unpredictability and excitement of being on the road, as well as the unexpected challenges and moments of reflection that come with it.
The song begins with the singer coming to a halt in the snow, narrowly avoiding a potential accident. Despite the delay caused by the incident, they decide to take a break and enjoy a strawberry milkshake, appreciating the fact that they are alive and safe. This momentary pause allows them to savor the simple pleasures that life has to offer.
The journey continues, with the singer navigating through different towns and landscapes, guided by the asphalt, traffic lines, and burger signs. However, their adventure takes a turn when bandits break into their van and steal everything they have. Suddenly stranded in a city, the singer must face the reality that not everything about the open road is glamorous or idealized. Yet, they find the strength to keep going and roll onto the next town, always seeking somewhere new.
Throughout the song, there is a bittersweet tone that emerges. The singer acknowledges the beauty they have witnessed, such as mountains piercing the sky and deserts frosted under ice. However, amidst all the experiences and exploration, they admit to missing their parents. Despite this longing, they recognize that their journey brings happiness to their parents, and they feel a sense of accomplishment in finally embracing the open road.
Line by Line Meaning
We came to a halt in the snow
We stopped in the snow unexpectedly
Swerving on the wet slush below
Avoiding the slippery slush on the road
Just as well we did 'cos
Fortunately, we did because
That lorry in front of us
The truck ahead of us
Was gonna tip over
Was about to overturn
So we peeled off for a break
So we took a break
Though we knew it meant we'd be late
Even though we knew it would make us late
But we were alive and
But we were alive and
It felt pretty good to taste
It felt quite satisfying to experience
The strawberry milkshake
The strawberry-flavored milkshake
And still we carried on
And still we continued
Our entire lives upon
Our entire lives on
The open road
The endless highway
Guided on the asphalt by
Led by the asphalt road with
The traffic lines and burger signs
The painted road markings and fast food signs
'Til we're in the motel gone for the night
Until we reach the motel to spend the night
Way out on the north golden coast
Far away on the golden coastline in the north
Just as we were ready to go
Just when we were prepared to leave
Bandits broke into the van
Criminals forced their way into the van
And took all we had
And stole everything we owned
In the city we were stranded
In the city, we were left without resources
And still we
Yet we still
Somehow rolled through
Somehow continued
Onto the next town
To the following town
Always somewhere new
Always somewhere we haven't been
I've seen mountains pierce the sky
I have witnessed towering mountains
Deserts frosted under ice
Deserts covered in a layer of ice
But some days I just miss mum and dad
But sometimes I simply miss my parents
Though I think it makes them happy
Although I believe it brings them joy
I finally managed to see
I ultimately succeeded in experiencing
The open road
The vast expanse of highway
'Til I'll make quite sure there's nowhere
Until I'm absolutely certain there's no place
Left to get to know
Left to discover
The open road
The endless journey on the road
The open road
The boundless opportunity of traveling
Will take me home someday
Will eventually lead me back home
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sarah Midori Perry, Gus Lobban, Jamie Bulled
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
undercoverdudes
Who instantly dislikes KKB wtf.
Cyro Power
Surprised to see you here
🎿 Zurturtaern 🎖
🙍♂️🤕😱😱😭😭😭
Benzeee
@Ryoma Hoffman fax 😂
Ryoma Hoffman
Some peace of shit person that’s who
Birzhansal Mukanov
The song mentions about their stolen documents and things in November, which caused much uncomforts to the band and cancellage of some shows. Hope to see the band in the future
Давид Бурлюк
@Afroctopus yeah they cancelled a few, the show in Russia is only going to be in September lol
sol_r
@Afroctopus They did cancel a couple unfortunately
Blue North
@Afroctopus Wow, that has to be really tough :(
I think it was Nosaj Thing that got his laptop with all his work and all the songs he'd been working in stolen. That must be devastating.
It just sucks so much.
But hey, at the very least KKB and Nosaj Thing got inspiration from those events to create new music. :/
Greco-Romano
@Afroctopus
Wow.
That's pure passion.
They didn't let the bumps in the road throw them off course.