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
Inside Out
Lillian Axe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You turn them inside out
You're stealing our words
For something to write about
It's a secret joke to you
To twist the facts all upside down
But it's fallacy
CHORUS:
We're gonna turn you - inside out
You'll twist and turn - inside out
It's time you learn - inside out
Fear for your integrity
You can't hear
What we're trying to say
We're not marionettes
It's our turn to play
Sitting on your throne of greed
Trying to take our thoughts away, away
Stand up for the cause
Cause we're all here to stay, yeah
CHORUS
Inside out, inside out
Now it's a secret joke to you
To twist the facts around, around, around
But it's fallacy
It's time you hear from me
We're gonna turn you - inside out
Turn you around - inside out
It ain't like it sounds - inside out
I'm the one who speaks for me
We're gonna turn you - inside out
You'll twist and turn - inside out
That is why I sing this song
I know I'm right and you are wrong
Inside out (repeat)
The lyrics to Lillian Axe's song Inside Out are a call-out to those who manipulate and misrepresent the words of others. The first verse accuses the subject of the song of stealing words and twisting their meaning to create their own stories. The chorus is a threat to turn the tables on the manipulator and expose their deceit, which the subsequent verses reinforce by insisting on the value of individual opinions and the need to take a stand against those who try to suppress them.
The song's message is particularly relevant in today's media landscape, where fake news and propaganda are rampant. The lyricist's refusal to be silenced and willingness to call out the manipulator is an empowering message for anyone who has felt their voice be suppressed. The repeated references to "inside out" serve to underscore the manipulation and subversion taking place, while the insistent chorus provides a rallying cry for those who refuse to be silenced.
Line by Line Meaning
You're taking our words
You are plagiarizing our words
You turn them inside out
You manipulate them in a twisted manner
You're stealing our words
You are taking credit for our ideas
For something to write about
To come up with new material for yourself
It's a secret joke to you
You find it amusing to deceive others
To twist the facts all upside down
To distort the truth to suit your narrative
But it's fallacy
Your claims are untrue
It's time you hear from me, yeah
It's time you are confronted with the truth
CHORUS:
Chorus begins
We're gonna turn you - inside out
We will expose your lies
You'll twist and turn - inside out
You will be discredited
It's time you learn - inside out
It's time you learn to tell the truth
Fear for your integrity
You should be worried about your reputation
You can't hear
You refuse to listen
What we're trying to say
What we are explaining
We're not marionettes
We are not puppets to be controlled
It's our turn to play
We have the right to express ourselves
Sitting on your throne of greed
You are motivated by selfish desires
Trying to take our thoughts away, away
Trying to suppress our ideas
Stand up for the cause
Defend what you believe in
Cause we're all here to stay, yeah
Our presence will continue to be felt
CHORUS
Chorus begins
Inside out, inside out
Repetition of the song's title
Now it's a secret joke to you
The deception is now your source of amusement
To twist the facts around, around, around
To constantly manipulate the truth
But it's fallacy
Your claims are still untrue
It's time you hear from me
It's time to expose your lies
We're gonna turn you - inside out
We will continue to expose your deception
Turn you around - inside out
We will make you pay for your deceit
It ain't like it sounds - inside out
Your lies are not what they seem
I'm the one who speaks for me
I am the only one who can express my ideas
That is why I sing this song
This is why I am making this statement
I know I'm right and you are wrong
I am confident in the truth and your deceitfulness
Inside out (repeat)
Repetition of the song's title
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind