Lillian Axe is a rock/glam metal band founded in the late 1980's in New Orl… Read Full Bio ↴Lillian Axe is a rock/glam metal band founded in the late 1980's in New Orleans. The most well-known lineup of the band was Ron Taylor (lead vocals), Steve Blaze (lead guitar), Jon Ster (rhythm guitar), Darrin Delatte (bass), and Gene Barnett (drums).

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

Diana
Lillian Axe Lyrics

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Come with me my sweet Diana
I'll show you things you've never seen before
All your life you were upon a pedestal
Now it's time you get down on the floor

She's the girl I want my sweet Diana
She's got a lot of questions on her mind
She needs to know why everyday

It seems like everyone is so unkind, why, why, why

She always runs away my sweet Diana
Go into a place she knows quite well
She'll find escape in the Garden of Eden
Before too long she'll realize she's in hell

She's the girl I want my sweet Diana
She's got a lot of questions on her mind
She needs to know why everyday
It seems like everyone is so unkind, why, why, why

Come with me my sweet Diana
I'll give you love you never had before
Come with me my sweet Diana
I'll be your love forevermore

She needs to know why everyday
It seems like everyone is so unkind, why, why, why

Come with me my sweet Diana
I'll give you love you never had before
Come with me my sweet Diana
I'll be your love forevermore

Come with me my sweet Diana, (Come on, come on with me)
Come with me my sweet Diana (Take my hand by me, yeah)
Come with me my sweet Diana (I'll be your love)
I'll be your love forevermore

Come with me my sweet Diana
Come with me my sweet Diana

Overall Meaning

The song "Diana" by Lillian Axe tells the story of a girl who has always been put on a pedestal and seen as perfect, but she is now growing tired of this idealized version of herself. She has questions on her mind about why people are unkind and doesn't understand why this is so. The singer, who is in love with Diana, offers to take her away from all of this and show her a new way of life. He wants to give her love that she has never experienced before and be with her forever.

The lyrics of "Diana" convey the idea of escaping from society's expectations and finding a deeper, more meaningful relationship with someone. The Garden of Eden is used as a symbol of escape, but the realization of being in hell showcases the fact that life is not perfect and there will always be struggles. The lyrics also hint at the idea of loneliness and the need for someone to love and understand Diana. It's a poignant and heartfelt song that speaks to the problems many people face in their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Come with me my sweet Diana
Inviting Diana to come along with him

I'll show you things you've never seen before
Promising to introduce her to something new

All your life you were upon a pedestal
Diana lived a privileged life

Now it's time you get down on the floor
Asking Diana to come down to his level

She's the girl I want my sweet Diana
Expressing his affection for Diana

She's got a lot of questions on her mind
Acknowledging Diana's curious nature

She needs to know why everyday
Diana seeks answers for why things happen the way they do

It seems like everyone is so unkind, why, why, why
Diana is questioning the harshness of people and the world

She always runs away my sweet Diana
Diana tends to escape her problems

Go into a place she knows quite well
Diana finds solace in a familiar location

She'll find escape in the Garden of Eden
Diana seeks refuge in a peaceful setting