The history of the band is short and sweet. Their debut release Start Over EP was released in November 2002, enjoys a few spins on Triple J and Triple M and ends up selling just over 2000 copies in Australia before getting licensed by Japanese punk rock specialists, Big Mouth (Brand New, Yellowcard, One Dollar Short) who sell a further 6000 copies in Japan and then getting a track on a US compilation put out by Nice Guy Records which put them alongside bands like Midtown, Blueline Medic and Strike Anywhere.
The release and success of Start Over (2002) would see the band work hard on the live front in their hometown of Perth, and providing the foundations for their 1st tour of Australias eastern states. Hard work on the live front resulted in great turnouts to the bands shows resulting in support slots throughout 2003 and early 2004 with high profile international and national bands such as No Use For A Name, Guttermouth, Frenzal Rhomb, Bodyjar, Useless ID, Yellowcard, Strung Out, Less Than Jake and One Dollar Short, plus performances at the Cosmonautical and Yak It Up youth festivals performing to crowds of over 5000.
2004 was a massive year for the band. The release of their very successful debut album TELL YOU WHEN (2004) saw them tour the Australian country side relentlessly and embark on their first international tour. The album has been well received and has been a success throughout Australia due to the band making trips to the east coast four times in 2004 including the Triple J and Blunt Magazine presented national album tour. Meanwhile as well as the album doing well in Australia, it was going through the roof in Japan, selling over 7000 copies and staying in the top ten punk charts at Tower Records for weeks including at stint in the number 1 spot. This led to an amazing 6 date SMASH JPN presented tour of Japan with US punk rockers Rufio, Pulley and Dont Look Down in November 2004. The tour was a huge success winning over crowds and adding to their ever growing popularity.
On the home front LYH played a number of high profile festivals and shared the stage with numerous big name outfits from across the globe. The Soundwave Festival was a highlight for the band, playing to thousands of people and sharing the stage with US bands Lagwagon, MXPX and Unwritten Law. The perfect end to the year was just ahead scoring the sold out Perth New Found Glory/Reggie and the Full Effect support slot.
2005 kicked off to a great start, with LAST YEARS HERO scoring their first appearance on the BIG DAY OUT which was something special for the band to be a part of, and quickly followed up with support slots for Strung Out in April, which were the last shows for the band before knuckling down to start writing material for their new record. The band has spent some time refining their sound and is almost ready to unleash their refreshing brand of Power Pop/Rock, combined with their punk rock ethos that makes for an energetic, exciting and entertaining experience. With the band in the pre-production stages of the new record, and having secured recent support slots for Silverstein and Taking Back Sunday, Last Years Hero continue work building audiences for their music.
With new drummer Ryan McNally in tow, and the search currently on to secure a new label for release of their forthcoming second album, Last Years Hero are a band looking forward to a year of change, and with it, the possibilities that lay ahead.
If the potential coming out of the new songs is anything to go by, 2007 could well be the year that Last Years Hero step into the limelight and show the world that a bunch of young rockers from the most isolated city in the world can mix it with the best.
My Own Worst Enemy
Last Years Hero Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Being known as a failure
For choosing what I've chosen to be
Always told that I'm destined for greater things
But Rock n Roll still means more to me
Wrote this song as a tribute
To those who believe in
I'm my own worst enemy
I've ignored all they've said to me
I've made so many mistakes
But I've learnt so much and
I owe it all to me
Years spent finding my purpose
With no guarantees
Shadowed by my own family tree
All my hopes still in question
Not to mention
That dirty word they call destiny
Wrote this song as a tribute
To those who believe in
Following their dreams
I'm my own worst enemy
I've ignored all they've said to me
I've made so many mistakes
But I've learnt so much and
I owe it all to me
One chance left to get it right
I hope this was meant to be
No choice but to wait and see
Cause nothing in life's for free
In “My Own Worst Enemy”, Last Years Hero sings about their struggles with following their dreams and the criticism they receive from others for their choices in music. The lyrics express the feeling of being trapped between pursuing a passion for rock n roll and the pressure to conform to society’s expectations. The first verse speaks of a lifetime of failure and being told that they are destined for greater things, but they choose to continue with their love for music. The chorus repeats the theme that the singer is their own worst enemy, ignoring the advice of others while making mistakes and learning from them.
The second verse implies that the band has spent years trying to find their purpose, but with no guarantee of success. They feel overshadowed by their family tree and the expectations placed upon them by society in general. The line “that dirty word they call destiny” suggests that society views the pursuit of music as a waste of time rather than a valid career path. However, the band remains true to themselves and their passion, writing the song as a tribute to those who follow their dreams.
The final verse suggests that the band has one last chance to make it in the music industry, and they are hopeful that this is meant to be. Despite the uncertainty of their future, they are committed to their love of rock n roll and are willing to work hard to make it a reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I've spent most of my life
I have dedicated the majority of my existence
Being known as a failure
To be recognized as a person who has not succeeded at life
For choosing what I've chosen to be
For selecting the path I have decided to take in life
Always told that I'm destined for greater things
Repeatedly informed that I have a predetermined future of becoming something significant
But Rock n Roll still means more to me
However, the genre of music, Rock n Roll, holds more importance in my life
Wrote this song as a tribute
Created this musical composition as an acknowledgment
To those who believe in following their dreams
For individuals who have faith in pursuing their aspirations
I'm my own worst enemy
I am the main obstacle in my life
I've ignored all they've said to me
I have chosen to neglect the advice given to me by others
I've made so many mistakes
I have committed numerous errors
But I've learnt so much and
However, I have gained an abundance of knowledge and
I owe it all to me
I am indebted to myself for this knowledge
Years spent finding my purpose
Experienced a prolonged period searching for my reason for being
With no guarantees
Without any guarantees of success
Shadowed by my own family tree
Overshadowed by my family ancestry
All my hopes still in question
My aspirations remain uncertain
Not to mention
In addition
That dirty word they call destiny
The concept of fate that society views as negative
One chance left to get it right
Only one opportunity remaining to succeed
I hope this was meant to be
I desire this was preordained
No choice but to wait and see
No other option than to be patient and observe
Cause nothing in life's for free
Due to the fact that in life, nothing is given at no cost
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Snesable One
Classic