The band has 11 releases through Fat Wreck Chords: eight studio albums, one EP, one live album and a collection of B-sides, compilation tracks and demos. Lagwagon has never had, nor have they seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America, Europe and Asia. Their moderate success reflected a growing interest in punk rock during the 1990s, along with fellow California bands Rancid, Green Day and The Offspring. Their song 'May 16' was also featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
The story about the name Lagwagon is that Joey’s mom was often late picking him and his brother up from school. She drove a station wagon, which his brother dubbed the "lagwagon". After signing to Fat Mike's label Fat Wreck Chords, Lagwagon released their debut album for the label, Duh, in 1992. Frontman Joey Cape commented on how the album was made, "Back then, we were inexperienced in the studio. It was less about the recording process and more about rehearsing. We recorded and mixed Duh in 4 days. There's something to be said for a budget. You have to have your shit together before you go into the studio and the end result is a record that better reflects the band's sound at the time." Two years later, Lagwagon released Trashed, their second record on Fat, which turned out to be highly successful, leading to the eventual production of a video for "Island of Shame." During this time, a number of punk bands, such as Green Day, The Offspring and Rancid, had hit the mainstream and Lagwagon turned down offers to join several major labels. Hoss, the third Lagwagon album, was released on November 21, 1995. After the release of that album and an extensive tour in Europe, Australia, and Japan, both guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde would leave the band and be replaced temporarily by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) on guitar, and permanently by Dave Raun (RKL) on drums. Shawn Dewey, already in the side project band Buck Wild on Lobster Records would go on to release two full-length LPs Beat Me Silly and Full Metal Overdrive and do two European tours with Good Riddance and Ten Foot Pole.
After two more albums, Double Plaidinum and Let's Talk About Feelings, the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2000, due to all members working on side projects. Lagwagon resurfaced in 2002, and released their sixth album Blaze the following year. In 2004, frontman Joey Cape released a split album with No Use for a Name vocalist Tony Sly featuring acoustic versions of songs by both bands. On November 1, 2005, Lagwagon released Resolve, which is a homage to the life of Derrick Plourde, original drummer for Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut.
In 2008, Lagwagon released an EP titled I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon. Despite earlier reports that the band would begin recording their next full-length studio album by 2009, Lagwagon had gone on hiatus from touring and writing again, due to Cape launching a solo career, releasing Bridge in 2008 and Doesn't Play Well with Others in 2010.
In January 2010, Joey Cape announced during an interview with Canada's Exclaim! magazine[4] that Jesse Buglione had left Lagwagon, having been with the band since its foundation in 1990. However, Cape dismissed rumors of Lagwagon breaking up. While he was not sure if Lagwagon would record a new album or embark on another full-scale tour, he said that he was open to playing shows and possibly recording and releasing new Lagwagon songs sporadically. Jesse Buglione confirmed his departure on Lagwagon's official message board himself, as reported by sputnikmusic.com and punknews.org. Lagwagon toured with No Use for a Name that summer. In an interview with fasterlouder.com.au Joey Cape, revealed former RKL bassist Joe Raposo is Lagwagon's new bassist. In a June 2011 interview with ExploreMusic however, Joey Cape said that things didn't work out with Raposo, and the band is testing a new bassist. After first announcing Patrick Solem as the new bass player in August 2011, the band decided that Raposo would remain in the band permanently.
On September 22, 2011, Fat Wreck announced they would be re-issuing expanded editions of the first 5 albums on CD, vinyl, and digital download. The albums were available both separately and in a box set titled Putting Music In Its Place. The reissues were released November 22, 2011, with a short line-up of concerts in the USA played in December and January, and a European tour following in April 2012. As of October 2012, Lagwagon is headlining a full U.S. tour titled The Fat Tour 2012, with Dead To Me, The Flatliners, and Useless ID as support.
In October 2012, Joey Cape stated that there will be a new Lagwagon album, which will be their first since 2005's Resolve. While details and release dates are not yet known, the band announced on its Twitter feed that songs are being written for a new album. The September 22 Tweet reads, "Writing, writing, writing. New album... It's gonna happen!"
The band recorded their eighth album, Hang, with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room, Ft Collins, CO. The album was released on October 28, 2014, and debuted at #95 on the Billboard 200.
On October 4, 2019, the band released their ninth studio album Railer.
Falling apart
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thought we broke up years ago
What's up, I just shit my pants
Gambled and I lost
Good times, just blew out my knee
I've fallen and I can't get up
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Where's the wheelchair?
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Second verse, the same as the first
I forgot the words again
Railer, lost my inhaler
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Alright, I feel better now
Take it to the bridge
I'll never be Ozzy
On stage when I'm fifty
I'm gonna look like Elvis
By the time I'm forty
We're already bogus
We're already fading
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Dementia and senility
My failing muscles atrophy
I've lost all ability,
Falling apart
Blue hair, brown teeth
Failing livers, defeat
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
The song “Falling Apart” by Lagwagon is a humorous and ironic take on getting older, losing the vitality and energy of youth and the physical frailties and ailments that come with aging. The song opens with a pithy and sardonic greeting of “Hello, welcome to the show,” which sets the tone for what's about to unfold. The opening lyrics of the song state, “Thought we broke up years ago. What's up, I just shit my pants. Gambled and I lost. Good times, just blew out my knee.” The lyrics depict the misfortunes and mishaps that can occur with old age: incontinence, financial mistakes, health issues, and physical accidents that leave one incapacitated.
The lyrics further emphasize the effects of aging, “I'm old school, I'm played out, Osteoporosis, glaucoma, and neurosis, The vultures circling above our balding heads.” The songwriter humorously conjures up the image of aging rockers and their decline into irrelevance, especially when compared to the vibrancy and energy of youth. The chorus, “I'll never be Ozzy, On stage when I'm fifty, I'm gonna look like Elvis, By the time I'm forty,” speaks to the fact that the physical decline accelerates with time, and what once might have been a youthful rockstar, becomes a frail and aging person.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, welcome to the show
Addressing listeners and welcoming them to the music show
Thought we broke up years ago
People might have thought the band had already split
What's up, I just shit my pants
Referring to an embarrassing accident that just happened
Gambled and I lost
Took a risk that didn't pay off
Good times, just blew out my knee
Experiencing both good and bad times, with the bad times seeming to outweigh the good
I've fallen and I can't get up
Referencing the old commercial for Life Alert medical alarm system, conveying a sense of helplessness and vulnerability
Oh shit, I think I broke my back
Feeling an intense pain and possibly a severe injury
Where's the wheelchair?
Asking for support after an injury
I'm old school, I'm played out
Feeling outdated, out of touch, and irrelevant
Osteoporosis, glaucoma and neurosis
Listing various age-related health problems and illnesses
The vultures circling above our balding heads
Symbolizing the approaching death and the sense of being preyed upon
Second verse, the same as the first
Admitting that the song, like life, is cyclical
I forgot the words again
Displaying a lack of memory or focus
Railer, lost my inhaler
Referring to a need for medicated support when breathing difficulties occur
Who's got a smoke for the Caper?
Asking for a lighter and cigarette
Hold on, let me catch my breath...
Taking a pause to rest and recover
Alright, I feel better now
Feeling better after the moment of rest and recovery
Take it to the bridge
Asking to bring the mood of the song and performance to the next level
I'll never be Ozzy
Accepting the fact that the singer will never reach the level of success and recognition of Ozzy Osbourne
On stage when I'm fifty
Thinking about how the singer would look performing on stage at an old age
I'm gonna look like Elvis
Predicting that the singer will age with little grace and will resemble Elvis Presley
By the time I'm forty
Noting that it's already too late to prevent the ravages of aging
We're already bogus
Acknowledging that their music and performance is already fake and counterfeited
We're already fading
Conceding that their relevance and audience is diminishing
We'll never be The Rolling Stones
Realizing that they will never achieve the longevity, cultural impact, or enduring status of The Rolling Stones
I'm staying home
Admitting defeat and committing to a more subdued lifestyle
Dementia and senility
Referencing the inevitable cognitive decline and frailty of old age
My failing muscles atrophy
Noting the weaker muscles and physical deterioration
I've lost all ability,
Acknowledging the loss of skills, faculties, and independence
Falling apart
Everything is unraveling quickly and uncontrollably
Blue hair, brown teeth
Describing the physical attributes and appearance of old age
Failing livers, defeat
Listing a common medical problem of old age and the sense of defeatism associated with it
Maybe we will try to pull it off for another year
Holding onto hope that they can still make music and perform for at least another year
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES FUKAI, DON GILMORE, JOSHUA MOATES, KEVIN PALMER, JASON SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ovidio
on Never Stops
twin towers coming down