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
Fool's Paradise
Lillian Axe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But anyone who's ever known you knows that you've seen better days
So here's a lesson, to be learned
In a mirror, disillusioned, images you cannot turn
In a Fools Paradise
Will you ever realize
In a Fools Paradise
Another step in, the wrong direction
Never to return again, misery can be your friend
In your wasted dreams, nothings what it seems
Take a look at what you've done, cowards only shoot and run
In a Fools Paradise
Will you ever realize
In a Fools Paradise
It's all gonna come to an end
You think you're happy, maybe just too high
All you love's been lost in dreams and don't you ever wonder why
Tomorrow's history, anyway do you care
You can run forever but your getting nowhere
In a Fools Paradise
Will you ever realize
In a Fools Paradise
Oh ... Oh
In a Fools Paradise
Will you ever open your eyes
In a Fools Paradise
It's all gonna come to an end
The lyrics in Lillian Axe's song "Fool's Paradise" point to a person who is living in a fantasy world. The singer is calling out this person on their dissatisfaction with their life and how they continue to make wrong decisions. The opening lines: "You say you're happy, with your ways, But anyone who's ever known you knows that you've seen better days" suggest that this person is putting on a facade for others but deep down, they are not content with their current situation.
The chorus "In a Fool's Paradise, will you ever realize" continues to highlight the idea that this person is not living in reality. They continue to make the same mistakes over and over again, stuck in a "wasted dream" where "nothing's what it seems." The singer warns that this sort of lifestyle leads to ruin and ultimately "it's all gonna come to an end."
In the final verse, the lyrics become more poignant. The singer questions if this person is truly happy or if they are just using drugs to escape reality. They remind the person that "all you love's been lost in dreams and don't you ever wonder why." The lyrics end with a somewhat pessimistic tone: "It's all gonna come to an end." suggesting that the singer doesn't believe this person will change their ways and will inevitably face consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
You say your happy, with your ways
You pretend to be content with your lifestyle
But anyone who's ever known you knows that you've seen better days
But people who are familiar with your past can tell that you are not as happy as you appear to be
So here's a lesson, to be learned
Therefore, there is an important message you should learn
In a mirror, disillusioned, images you cannot turn
You cannot change the unsatisfactory reflection you see in the mirror
Another step in, the wrong direction
You continue to make poor choices
Never to return again, misery can be your friend
You are stuck in your current state of despair
In your wasted dreams, nothings what it seems
Your hopes and aspirations have led you nowhere
Take a look at what you've done, cowards only shoot and run
Examine your actions and realize that it takes courage to face the consequences of your choices
You think you're happy, maybe just too high
You believe that substance abuse makes you happy, but it only provides temporary relief
All you love's been lost in dreams and don't you ever wonder why
Your relationships have suffered because of your addiction, and yet you refuse to acknowledge the reason behind it
Tomorrow's history, anyway do you care
Your future has already been shaped by your past actions, and you seem indifferent about it
You can run forever but your getting nowhere
You may avoid facing your problems, but they will continue to haunt you
It's all gonna come to an end
Your current lifestyle is unsustainable and will eventually catch up to you
In a Fools Paradise
You are living in a fabricated sense of happiness
Will you ever realize
Will you ever acknowledge the truth?
Oh ... Oh
Will you ever open your eyes
Will you ever see things for what they truly are?
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.