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
Psychoschizophrenia
Lillian Axe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seems I've lost my mind
I'm one strange personality.
Have I gone crazy?
Yeah, Please take me somewhere new.
I don't associate with people, you see,
Maybe that's what's troubling me,
So chain me up now,
You'll get what's coming to you
[Chorus]
Hey, I'm Schizophrenia
Thunderstorms evolving inside of me,
Straight jacket quick and swallow the key,
My sanity lives on the edge
But I'm so happy,
I'm going away,
[Chorus: x2]
It's all in your mind, it's all in my mind.
In Lillian Axe's song "Psychoschizophrenia," the lyrics delve into the inner turmoil and chaos of a person trying to come to terms with their own mental state. The first line already introduces this sense of confusion, as the singer asks their brother for help because they feel as though they have lost their mind. They describe themselves as a "strange personality" and question whether they have gone crazy. This sense of disorientation is reflected in the desire to go somewhere new, to escape the confines of their own mind.
The second verse delves deeper into this theme, as the singer describes how they do not associate with people, which may be what is causing their troubles. They feel as though rebellion is brewing within them, and they almost seem to challenge their listener by daring them to chain them up, as if to say they will not be silenced. The chorus then plays on the theme of schizophrenia, with the singer proclaiming "Hey, I'm Schizophrenia." The second verse brings back the sense of chaos, as the singer describes the thunderstorms, the straight jacket, and the idea that their sanity is living on the edge.
The final line, "It's all in your mind, it's all in my mind," brings the song full circle, with the realization that the struggles and confusion portrayed throughout the song are not necessarily external, but internal. Ultimately, "Psychoschizophrenia" portrays the internal battle that one can face when struggling with their own mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey brother, can you spare some time?
Asks for someone's time to express what's on their mind
It seems I've lost my mind
The singer feels like they are losing their sanity
I'm one strange personality.
The singer recognizes that they have an eccentric personality
Have I gone crazy?
The artist is questioning their mental state
Yeah, Please take me somewhere new.
The artist wants a change of environment to alleviate their issues
I don't associate with people, you see,
The singer does not feel a connection to others
Maybe that's what's troubling me,
The singer thinks their lack of social interaction is causing problems
I feel rebellion's overdue,
The artist has a desire to rebel against something
So chain me up now,
The artist wants to be restrained to prevent them from doing something harmful
You'll get what's coming to you
The artist may be harmful or dangerous to others
[Chorus]
Repeats the chorus of 'Hey, I'm Schizophrenia'
Thunderstorms evolving inside of me,
The artist's emotions are intense and volatile
Straight jacket quick and swallow the key,
The singer needs to be physically restrained to prevent harm to oneself or others
My sanity lives on the edge
The singer's mental state is fragile and unstable
But I'm so happy,
Despite the turmoil, the singer is content
I'm going away,
The artist is leaving to improve their condition
[Chorus: x2]
Repeats the chorus two more times
It's all in your mind, it's all in my mind.
The singer recognizes that their mental state influences their reality
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: STEVIE BLAZE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind