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

Ignite
Lillian Axe Lyrics

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Ignite Lilllian Axe

I watched the world coming apart
The soul of man become diseased
The hide behind their walls of shame
Too scared to fight their enemis
I´ve got a way to change it
It´s all a state of mind

A plan to advocate the right
It´s how you take your time
The strength to hold the line down
It´s how you take your time
The strength to hold the line down
It´s how you solve the crime
The will to win the fight while the world dies

We have now come to that place
Where we will stand down and face our demons
One spark, sets the fire
Ignite ignite
Today I set you free
The way it ought to be
Determination gives you strengh and power
Winnings a good thing
When it´s done right
No badge of courage
Circle of light
Dire situations
It´s all a state of mind
Can lead us to the grave
It´s how you take your time

I´ll fire off a cosmic round
That will blind every devil on a planet that´s save

Overall Meaning

The song Ignite by Lillian Axe is a powerful anthem that speaks about the decay of the world and the soul of humanity. The lyrics describe a world that is falling apart, where people are hiding behind their walls of shame instead of fighting their demons. The singer of the song proposes a way to change this situation and advocates for the right, stating that it's all a state of mind. He emphasizes the importance of taking one's time and having the strength to hold the line down to solve the crime and win the fight while the world dies.

The chorus of the song is an empowering call to action to ignite a spark that will start a fire to face our demons and set ourselves free. The singer explains that determination gives us strength and power, and winning is a good thing when it's done right. He encourages us to embrace the circle of light instead of getting badges of courage, and how dire situations are all a state of mind that can lead us to the grave. The song ends with the singer firing off a cosmic round that will blind every devil on a planet that's saved.

Line by Line Meaning

I watched the world coming apart
The singer observed the world falling apart

The soul of man become diseased
The essence of humanity has become corrupt

The hide behind their walls of shame
People are hiding behind their emotional barriers due to fear

Too scared to fight their enemies
People are too afraid to confront their adversaries

I´ve got a way to change it
The artist has a solution for this issue

It´s all a state of mind
One's attitude shapes their reality

A plan to advocate the right
The singer has a strategy to promote justice

It´s how you take your time
Success requires patience and perseverance

The strength to hold the line down
One should have the endurance to withstand challenges

We have now come to that place
We have reached a moment in time

Where we will stand down and face our demons
We are ready to confront our fears