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.
Shaving Your Head
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we saw them distraught
But the attention that they got,
It surrounds them
For years we watched them enslaved,
And we could only laugh
What a loser what a shame,
Said we'd never play the
[Chorus]
And now it seems you
Haven't learned the lesson
I guess you have to share the pain
And now your tainted blood
Leaves stains behind your back
And in their words I hear your shame
How can you lie to me,
In your eyes I can see
Glazed and vacant,
As you're caught in the act
You've always wanted this,
Now you feel the stab
Are you happy to be sad,
Is there pleasure in the
[Chorus]
As it make you sick,
Do I make you scared
When you see what you once were
As you're shaving your head
The scared boy thinks he's safe
If you can't read his eyes
but you can read,
You can read his eyes
His lies
The song "Shaving Your Head" by Lagwagon is about the consequences of fame and the pressure that comes with it. The lyrics describe the downfall of a famous person who was once admired, but is now caught in scandal and shame. The singer acknowledges watching this person's rise to fame and fall from grace. The attention that they received when they were successful has now turned into scrutiny and judgement. The chorus implies that the person didn't learn from their mistakes, and now they must deal with the consequences. The bridge of the song reveals the person's desperation to escape their situation, even to the point of shaving their head.
The lyrics of "Shaving Your Head" conveys the message that the price of fame may ultimately lead to one's downfall. The lyrics are poignant and straightforward, describing in detail the struggles and shame experienced by the singer. The line "Are you happy to be sad, is there pleasure in the pain?" depicts the self-destructive nature of fame and the illusion of happiness that it can bring. The song is a cautionary tale about the fleeting nature of fame and the dangers of losing oneself in the pursuit of it.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to watch them fall,
In the past, we witnessed people experiencing difficulties and failures.
And we saw them distraught
We observed them being upset and troubled by their problems.
But the attention that they got,
However, the negative attention they received was still significant.
It surrounds them
The adverse effects of their actions encompassed them.
For years we watched them enslaved,
We had been watching them trapped in their destructive behavior for a long duration.
And we could only laugh
Sadly, our reactions were only to find humor in their destructive actions.
What a loser what a shame,
We disapproved of their actions and found them dishonorable and regrettable.
Said we'd never play the
Claimed that we would never engage in such behavior.
And now it seems you
Currently, it appears like you
Haven't learned the lesson
Did not learn from the past mistakes.
I guess you have to share the pain
The consequences of your actions now must be confronted by you.
And now your tainted blood
The bad reputation you got from those actions will forever linger behind.
Leaves stains behind your back
Your bad reputation is affecting you even when you are not aware of it.
And in their words I hear your shame
The discussions and gossip about you reveal that you are ashamed of your actions.
How can you lie to me,
Why do you deceive me even though I know what you're up to?
In your eyes I can see
By looking into your eyes, I know the falseness in your words.
Glazed and vacant,
Your look is expressing insincere and emotionless feelings.
As you're caught in the act
You are presently discovered in your wrongdoing.
You've always wanted this,
You have always desired to do this.
Now you feel the stab
But now that you are enduring its consequences, it hurts.
Are you happy to be sad,
Do you take delight in experiencing sorrow over your actions?
Is there pleasure in the
Do you find enjoyment in the destruction you have caused?
As it make you sick,
Now that the actualization of your desires appears, does it make you anxious and fearful?
Do I make you scared
Do I terrify you?
When you see what you once were
When you remember your past actions and what you used to be like,
As you're shaving your head
As you are trying to change yourself,
The scared boy thinks he's safe
The nervous and fearful person may believe that he is secure.
If you can't read his eyes
If you cannot interpret his look,
but you can read,
You can still perceive the truth.
You can read his eyes
You can still interpret his deceitful behavior.
His lies
The lies he tells to cover his past mistake.
Lyrics © DRISTANTA MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tommy Nguyen
This song is definitely about a friend that used to laugh and look down at junkies with him, then his friend becomes one himself. So many Lagwagon songs are about derrick plourde... ride the snake also comes to mind. Very sad, thats why derrick left lagwagon after this album, he was given an ultimatum by the band and he didn't want to get sober.
The Worst Channel You Have Ever Seen
I think it's about a guy looking down on someone with cancer (with the usage of the word sick and being afraid that he has cancer and not wanting no one to see him like this.)
Rodrigo
I fell in love with this song Lagwagon 3 years ago, a lot of nostalgia and an eternal debt, I love you Lagwagon!
MegaKODIAK
Right on Augustus. The memories are overflowing. Soundtrack of my youth!
wildinthestreets101
Pretty soon there's going to be a day where I shave my head to this song. Thanks for inspiration Lagwagon haha
Sweatpants00
Did it on January 17th of ‘98 in a gas station bay (Bay #1) where I worked at about 9pm with song playing. Gonna run it back on the anniversary. She’s growin’ and ready for the sheers.
M. Senkel
Did this 4 weeks ago 😂
RockedThe/CrapOut
Are you gat too! dude? o_0
telenofunken
But the message of the lyrics is really sad dude :(
wildinthestreets101
My hats off to you brother.