The group traces its beginnings to 1980, when Doug Pinnick and Jerry Gaskill, who had previously met while recording and touring with Phil Keaggy and touring with the band Petra, recruited Ty Tabor to join them. Calling themselves The Edge, the group extensively performed on the Springfield, Missouri bar and club circuit. The band specialized in Top 40 covers. By 1983, the name of the band had changed to Sneak Preview and they started to record original material. Sneak Preview released a self-titled LP with all original material in 1984.
The group relocated to Houston, Texas with the promise of a recording contract, but the deal fell through. However, it was there that the group met Sam Taylor, then vice president of ZZ Top's production company. Taylor quickly became the group's mentor and convinced them to change their name to King's X. Taylor was instrumental in helping the group secure a contract with Megaforce Records in 1987. Taylor would soon become the group's manager, producer and mentor, and was declared to be the fourth member of the group (according to some).
The group released its first album as King's X, entitled Out of the Silent Planet, in 1988. Despite being hailed by music critics, the album did not fare well commercially, peaking at #144 on the Billboard album charts. The band's 1989 sophomore release, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, fared slightly better from a commercial standpoint. Significantly, the song "Over My Head" received moderate airplay on MTV and radio. The increase in exposure would prove beneficial when the band released their third album, Faith, Hope, Love, in the fall of 1990.
Faith, Hope, Love was the group's first album to crack the US Top 100, with the help of the successful single "It's Love". The band landed a gig opening for AC/DC in the U.S. and Europe for the first half of 1991. They also toured with Living Colour, themselves near the peak of their popularity. The band was signed to major label Atlantic Records for their next release.
The band released their fourth album, King's X, in the Spring of 1992. But rising tensions with Taylor led to the group's most unfocused effort, and the album did not sell as well as Faith, Hope, Love. The only single from the album, "Black Flag" received only moderate airplay on MTV. Not long after the release of King's X, the band parted ways with Taylor. The details of the split have not been made public, but it was believed to be rather acrimonious. In the aftermath, King's X took over a year off to consider their collective future together. The band members followed other, non-musical pursuits - most notably, guitarist Ty Tabor took up semi-professionally racing motocross motorcycles.
In any case, by 1992 grunge was at the peak of its popularity and the group's trademark sound in no way resembled that of commercially successful acts such as Soundgarden or Pearl Jam (though, ironically, King's X were partly responsible for inspiring grunge; Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once said, "King's X invented grunge"). Looking for a new sound and flavour (although not necessarily grunge), the band enlisted veteran producer Brendan O'Brien, who had recently produced Stone Temple Pilots' first album and Pearl Jam's second.
The resulting album, 1994's Dogman, showcased a much more muscular and heavy sound from the group, along with less abstract and spiritual lyrics. The record received a heavier promotional push from Atlantic and the band enjoyed a very successful tour, capped by an appearance at the Woodstock 1994 festival in August. But despite a return to the Top 100 for the group, the album failed to sell as well as Atlantic had hoped, and the label's support for the group quickly faded.
The band's third release under Atlantic, 1996's Ear Candy, would also be their last (not including a subsequent compilation) for the label. Although it sold to the band's sizeable core following, it lacked the mainstream success of previous efforts. The record was soon out of print, and it seemed that the group's chance for commercial success had come and gone.
The group moved to Metal Blade Records in 1998. Their first album for Metal Blade Records, Tape Head, signaled a new era for the band. They modified their creative methods by writing and recording the album together in the studio, rather than coming together to record songs that the individual members had written separately. Their next two albums, Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous and Manic Moonlight were created in this same way.
For their next album, Black Like Sunday, the group arranged and recorded an album full of songs that the band had regularly performed prior to releasing their first album for MegaForce Records, Out of the Silent Planet. The cover art for this album was selected from artwork submitted by fans.
Live All Over The Place was the band's final album for Metal Blade Records, and their first official live release. During the band's time with Metal Blade Records, the members of King's X (as a group and individually) have been musically prolific, releasing a number of solo albums (such as Doug Pinnick's two PoundHound albums and Emotional Animal, Ty Tabor's Naomi's Solar Pumpkin, Moonflower Lane, and Safety, and Jerry Gaskill's musically intriguing Come Somewhere,) and side projects (such as Ty Tabor's work with Platypus, Jughead, and The Jelly Jam). Doug Pinnick will be standing in for lead singer Corey Glover on Living Colour's August 2006 European tour.
The band's latest album, entitled Ogre Tones, was released in September 2005 on the InsideOut label. It was produced by famed rock producer Michael Wagener (Dokken, Extreme, Stryper, White Lion, Skid Row).
May 2008 will see the next studio release from the band, "XV", also on the InsideOut label. Production has again been handled by Michael Wagener.
King's X has in the past struggled with being identified as a Christian metal band. Many of their lyrics have a clear spiritual influence, but this comes from the individual faith of the members rather than an attempt to tap into that market in the way groups such as Stryper did. Their albums used to be marketed highly in Christian book stores, but after Pinnick announced in 1998 that he was a homosexual, their albums were removed from such places. This also caused the band to lose a large number of their Christian fans.
Ty Tabor has indicated in several interviews that King's X was not a Christian rock band.
King's X spiritually-tinged lyrics are less prominent in their later releases, though the band continues to infuse spiritual themes into their music.
The band's lineup has not changed since its inception:
* Doug Pinnick - Vocals, bass guitar
* Ty Tabor - Vocals, guitars
* Jerry Gaskill - Drums, percussion, vocals
Discography
* Out of the Silent Planet (March 23, 1988)
* Gretchen Goes to Nebraska (June 27, 1989)
* Faith Hope Love (October 23, 1990)
* King's X (March 10, 1992)
* Dogman (January 18, 1994)
* Ear Candy (May 20, 1996)
* Best of King's X (November 11, 1997)
* Tape Head (October 20, 1998)
* Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous (May 23, 2000)
* Manic Moonlight (September 25, 2001)
* Black Like Sunday (May 20, 2003)
* Live All Over the Place (November 2, 2004)
* Ogre Tones (September 27, 2005)
* XV (May 16-20, 2008)
Billboard positions
* KING'S X - Out Of The Silent Planet Weeks on Chart: 11 Peak: #144
* KING'S X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska Weeks on Chart: 18 Peak: #123
* KING'S X - Faith Hope Love Weeks on Chart: 24 Peak: #85
* KING'S X - King's X Weeks on Chart: 3 Peak: #138
* KING'S X - Dogman Weeks on Chart: 4 Peak: #88
Vegetable
King's X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I couldn't feel no pain
And the longing to be happy
If I didn't have a name
And everybody looked the same
Maybe I could see the difference
I would give it all away
Everything that I became
Maybe I could find some loving
If I didn't have a dream
or the rest of everything
Well I'd still be missing something
I would give it all away
If I didn't have a life
And freedom didn't have a price
Maybe I would be a rich man
If I wasn't incomplete
And could control the rest of me
I'd fill this hole and let it bleed
I would give it all away
The song "Vegetable" by King's X is a melancholic reflection on the complexities of life and the longing for simplicity. The artist questions the value of intelligence and individuality in a world where conformity seems easier. The lyrics suggest that having a brain and a name often leads to pain and loneliness, which would disappear if everyone were the same.
The artist expresses a desire to give up everything they have become if it means they could find happiness and love. They feel incomplete and long for something more, a sense of purpose that goes beyond their dreams and ambitions. The final verse reflects on the price of freedom and the struggles that come with trying to control one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
If I didn't have a brain
The singer is suggesting that without a brain, they would be free from the pain associated with thinking too much and experiencing negative emotions.
Then I couldn't feel no pain
The singer implies that emotional pain is directly linked to the intellect and the ability to perceive the world in a certain way.
And the longing to be happy
The singer describes a universal desire for happiness and emotional well-being, which can be hindered by the limitations of our mental capacity.
If I didn't have a name
The artist speculates that without a personal identity, they might be able to see people as individuals rather than members of certain groups, which could help promote unity and understanding.
And everybody looked the same
The artist is imagining a world where everyone is on equal footing, without the biases and prejudices that stem from differences in appearance or background.
Maybe I could see the difference
The singer is suggesting that only when differences are acknowledged and respected can true diversity and acceptance be achieved.
I would give it all away
The singer is acknowledging the value and worth of their current existence, but is open to the idea of letting it all go for the chance of something better.
If I didn't have to change
The artist is aware that personal growth and change can be difficult and painful, and is wondering if life would be easier without it.
Everything that I became
The artist is referring to their personal identity and the experiences that have shaped them to be the person they are today.
Maybe I could find some loving
The artist speculates that by shedding their identity and starting anew, they might have a better chance at finding love and connection.
If I didn't have a dream
The singer is acknowledging the importance of personal goals and aspirations in life, but is considering the possibility of foregoing them.
or the rest of everything
The artist is referring to all the other things that make up life, such as relationships, work, and leisure activities.
Well I'd still be missing something
The singer realizes that even if they were to give up everything and start anew, there would still be something missing.
If I didn't have a life
The singer is contemplating the value of life and the different aspects that give it meaning.
And freedom didn't have a price
The singer is acknowledging that freedom, like all things in life, comes at a cost and is wondering if it is worth it.
Maybe I would be a rich man
The artist is considering the possibility of wealth and financial security, which might make life easier in some ways but could also come at a cost.
If I wasn't incomplete
The artist is acknowledging their own imperfection and is wondering what life would be like without the flaws and limitations that make them human.
And could control the rest of me
The singer is considering the idea of being in complete control of their thoughts, emotions, and actions, which would make them immune to negative experiences but would also rob them of the full spectrum of human experience.
I'd fill this hole and let it bleed
The singer acknowledges a sense of emptiness or lack within themselves, and is considering the idea of addressing it and letting their emotions flow freely.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DOUG PINNICK, JERRY GASKILL, TY TABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind