<… Read Full Bio ↴Link 80 was a punk rock/ska punk band from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Link 80 started in early 1994 in the famous East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members (guitarist Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, drummer Joey Bustos, bassist Adam Pereria and singer Jeff Acree) played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr. Slave-Unit, before settling on Link 80.
The name came from the interstate highway I-80 which they used to get to the drummer's garage for band practice and connected the band members' homes.
In July 1995, Nick Traina joined the band after meeting Adam at a show in San Francisco's Mission District. Nick's passion and voice combined with the rest of the band to make them different from most ska bands and gave Link 80 the "against the rest" attitude they display throughout their lyrics. Far more punk than ska and with an energy and a sense of immediacy lacking in pop-oriented ska bands, Link 80 was able to avoid the clichés of ska-punk characterized by their peers. As Asian Man Records describes them, they are an energetic blend of ska, punk rock, and hardcore.
After some demos, split EPs, complilation releases, "17 Reasons" and "Killing Katie" (both on Asian Man Records) Nick left Link 80 and started another band called Knowledge. Knowledge released one record on Asian Man Records named "A Gift Before I Go". Shortly thereafter Nick Traina committed suicide, at the age of 19... Ryan Noble took over as lead singer of Link 80 and released "The Struggle Continues," as well as some split EPs.
In 2002, the band consisting of Adam Davis, Aaron Nagel, Steve Borth, Joey Bustos, Barry Krippene, and singer Ryan Noble went on hiatus. Steve Borth would join Rx Bandits, before forming his own band Satori in 2006. The remaining Link 80 members would form DESA. They have since maintained that Link 80 would return, but for now they are focused on their respective projects.
Joey and Ryan are now in The Soft White Sixties. Matt formed a band called Dolores (with Nick's brother Todd Traina) and is a member of the comedy trio Chad, Matt & Rob. Aaron runs Two Twenty Two Design Studio and is an artist whose work can be seen on the covers of The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun. Adam Pereria played with Thought Crime after leaving Link 80.
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Face Down
Link 80 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Link 80's song "Face Down" describes the feeling of being lost in life and the struggle to overcome one's mistakes. The first line, "fall from grace onto the floor," suggests a loss of innocence or a mistake that has caused the singer to feel shame. However, the line "promising myself this won't happen anymore" indicates that the singer is determined to change and improve their life. Despite this promise, the "same thing happens every night" and the singer is left wondering why they're not living the life they want to live. The line "a dreamer dies every night" emphasizes the disappointment and hopelessness that the singer feels.
The next verse describes a feeling of disconnection from reality ("fall awake into this life") and a sense of clarity without needing to physically see ("don't need to open my eyes, to see what's right"). The following lines describe a struggle to move forward from past heartache and pain ("carry the torch through the rain. drown it in memories of heartache and pain"). The singer is haunted by the feeling of regret and the idea that things will get better ("they tell me it gets better, but it hasn't yet").
Overall, "Face Down" is a song about the struggle to overcome past mistakes and the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness that can come with feeling stuck in life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is struggling to keep going, but who is determined to push through and make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
Fall from grace onto the floor.
I have stumbled from my high position and collapsed on the ground.
Promising myself this won't happen anymore.
I am making myself a pledge that I will not let this happen again.
Same thing happens every night.
My life is stuck in a repetitive cycle of failure and disappointment.
Wait and wonder why I'm not living this life.
I often question why I am not able to live the life that I truly desire.
A dreamer dies every night.
My dreams and aspirations are crushed every night.
Fall awake into this life.
I reluctantly wake up and continue living my unfulfilling life.
Don't need to open my eyes, to see what's right.
I am well aware of what is right, even without having to open my eyes.
Carry the torch through the rain.
I am struggling to persevere through difficult times and hardships.
Drown it in memories of heartache and pain.
I am using painful memories to cope with my struggles.
Can't seem to shake the feeling of regret.
I am unable to let go of the remorse I feel for past mistakes and missed opportunities.
They tell me it gets better, but it hasn't yet.
Despite what others say, my life has not improved and continues to be a struggle.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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