Poetic Justice was their most successful album, which hit the streets in January of 1992. Fueled by the hit single, "True Believer" and followed by their cover of the Badfinger classic, "No Matter What", Poetic Justice reached the upper 100 of the Billboard album charts. The bands first album, on MCA Records, was produced by Ratts's Robbin Crosby in 1988.
The band disbanded in 1995, and re-united in 1999. However, Fall 2004 brought the resignation of vocalist Ron Taylor and the introduction of new vocalist Derrick LeFevre. In May 2006 Darrin DeLatte decided to leave and commit himself full-time to his band Lowside. Replacing him was bassist Eric Morris.
After several line-up changes, the band recruited as lead vocalist Derrick LeFevre, who appeared on Waters Rising (2007), Sad Day on Planet Earth (2009) and Deep Red Shadows (2010). On June 23, 2010, Ronny Munroe, formerly of Metal Church, replaced LeFevre, but he departed four months later before recording any material with the band. On March 7, 2011 Munroe was replaced by Brian C. Jones, who can be heard on the album XI The Days Before Tomorrow (2012).
In 2010, Lillian Axe was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, as the first hard rock band to be inducted. In 2011 it was announced that the original lineup of Steve Blaze, Johnny Vines, Danny King and Michael "Maxx" Darby would reunite to record an album of classic unreleased songs from the band's early days. The project, entitled Circle of Light, was named for one those early songs. The album was released in 2012. Lillian Axe released One Night in the Temple, an acoustic live album, early in 2014.
On November 29, 2014, former guitarist Jon Ster died from heart failure at the age of 52.
On January 12, 2017 Lillian Axe received the 2017 Jackson Indie Music Week Icon Award at Duling Hall in Jackson, Mississippi. On June 4, 2017, Steve Blaze announced that the band was recording a new song entitled "The Weeping Moon", which was to be featured on the album The Forgotten Art of Melancholy. According to Blaze, the album would feature "the best of the epic ballads" and was scheduled to be released in the fall of 2017.
On November 30, 2018 Steve Blaze announced the next Lillian Axe album is in the works, tentatively entitled From Womb to Tomb, and it will be in large part an autobiographical work. Blaze also states the album will feature "strings, piano, big vocals" and describes it as a "celebration type record - of life - good and bad." The album, however, was not released until August 19, 2022.
On February 13, 2020, Steve Blaze announced that Lillian Axe were amicably parting ways with lead vocalist Brian Jones. The announcement also stated that Jones would still be a part of the Lillian Axe family in many capacities, and Blaze wished Jones luck in his solo career. On February 21, 2020, Blaze announced the new singer would be Brent Graham. Graham was the original vocalist for Blaze's side project "Sledgehammer," and vocalist of the New Orleans-based band Supercharger.
In September 2021, Lillian Axe announced that they had signed to the newly-formed label Global Rock Records, and had started recording their first studio album in nearly a decade, entitled From Womb to Tomb. In October 2021, the entire Lillian Axe catalogue (with the exception of the first 2 records on MCA) were re-released on all digital formats worldwide by Global Rock. On November5, 2021 Steve Blaze was inducted for the second time into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame for his contributions as a guitarist and songwriter.
August of 2022 saw new horizons for Lillian Axe and an influx of fans old and new. The band performed and continues to perform at many huge festivals across the Unites States and embarked on their first UK tour in decades. The band currently consists of Steve Blaze - band founder, songwriter and lead guitarist, Brent Graham - lead vocals, Sam Poitevent - guitar, Michael Maxx Darby - Bass, and Wayne Stokley - drums.
Steve describes the band's latest effort, "From Womb to Tomb" as his personal opus. Stating the effort would be best listened to in one sitting, as it brings you on a journey through life - from birth to ascention - and is based on life lessons he has experienced. The band recorded a video for "I Am Beyond" and is currently on tour.
Discography
1988 Lillian Axe — MCA
1989 Love + War — MCA
1992 Poetic Justice - I.R.S. Records
1993 Psychoschizophrenia - I.R.S. Records
1999 Fields of Yesterday - Z Records
2007 Waters Rising — Locomotive Records
2009 Sad Day on Planet Earth — Blistering Records
2010 Deep Red Shadows — Love and War Records
2012 XI The Days Before Tomorrow - AFM Records
2022 From Womb to Tomb - Global Rock Records
Babylon
Lillian Axe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As ignorance freeze now it’s just power
My mercury wings, the humming bird sings
The message that stands the final hour now
To lead us, out of temptation
Guide us into salvation
Curse my hand, when the dark has a light it’s a cloak for the innocent
The time is in hands, to nurture the lands
To drink from the sand under the seasons
The stories unheard, the fame in the word
Defining a certain know the reason’s now
Save us from medication
Fill us with …sensations
Curse the land
When the dead walk the earth it’s a sign for the innocent
When the base turns to gold it’s a secret that the magic’s hiding place is find out
My spirit’s at ease, at one with the seas
At one with the seas
I hear the decrees, now it’s just power
The voices of sweet, so one day we’ll meet
The end of the seed, the secret hour now
Lead us, out of temptation
Guide us into salvation
Curse my hand, when the dark has a light it’s a cloak for the innocent
When the blood disappears it’s a foney absolution for the sheep with no sight
When the dead walk the earth it’s a sign for the innocent
When the base turns to gold it’s a secret that the magic’s hiding place is find out.
The lyrics of Lillian Axe's Babylon display a strong message of hope and redemption. The singer's mind is at ease as he finds what he sees, implying that he is now free of ignorance and possesses power over his own destiny. He soars on mercury wings and hears the hummingbird sing the message that stands as the final hour, possibly hinting at a sense of urgency to find redemption before it's too late. He urges us to be guided towards salvation and away from temptation, cursing his hand when darkness cloaks the innocent.
The song references biblical themes such as the dead walking the earth as a sign of the innocent, and the base turning to gold as a secret hiding place of magic. The lyrics suggest that we should save ourselves from medication and be filled with sensations as we nurture the lands and drink from the sand under the changing seasons. The singer emphasizes the importance of the stories unheard and fame in the word to define certain reasons why saving ourselves may be necessary. Ultimately, the singer's spirit is at ease, at one with the seas, and he feels empowered by the sweet voices, confident in a happy ending that awaits.
Line by Line Meaning
My mind’s at ease, to find what it sees
As ignorance freeze now it’s just power
I am comfortable with what I know, and as I become more informed, I gain more power.
My mercury wings, the humming bird sings
The message that stands the final hour now
My versatile talents and skills are finally being recognized as valuable.
To lead us, out of temptation
Guide us into salvation
We need guidance to avoid vices and find redemption.
Curse my hand, when the dark has a light it’s a cloak for the innocent
When the blood disappears it’s a foney absolution for the sheep with no sight
Evil can disguise itself as good, and we must be careful not to be fooled by false notions of purity and innocence.
The time is in hands, to nurture the lands
To drink from the sand under the seasons
The stories unheard, the fame in the word
Defining a certain know the reason’s now
We have a responsibility to take care of our environment and learn from the stories left untold, so that we can understand the purpose of our existence.
Save us from medication
Fill us with …sensations
Curse the land
We should seek natural ways to heal ourselves and find true pleasure, instead of relying on artificial substances and destroying the environment.
When the dead walk the earth it’s a sign for the innocent
When the base turns to gold it’s a secret that the magic’s hiding place is find out
When strange and impossible things happen, it may be a sign to look beyond what is obvious to find hidden treasures and truths.
My spirit’s at ease, at one with the seas
At one with the seas
I hear the decrees, now it’s just power
The voices of sweet, so one day we’ll meet
The end of the seed, the secret hour now
I feel a sense of calm and unity with nature, and I am confident that my beliefs will come to fruition and that there is a purpose to everything.
Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.