<… 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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Termination
Link 80 Lyrics
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To take us over
They talk to them
You know the government
The aliens, they're here
Empire built on blood and bones
Take a look at where we're going
Stepping over fallen friends
Here they come to overtake
We're their toys
They've come to overtake
They've come to break us down to the ground
TERMINATION
We're their toys, perfect society, they fuck with our heads
And kidnap the face,
They fuck it up
This fucked up place
Empire built on blood and bones
Take a look at where we're going
Stepping over fallen friends
Time and time again
Here they come to overtake
We're their toys
They've come to overtake
They've come to break us down to the ground
TERMINATION
They may wipe off this shitty place
This ruined planet
This dying race.
Link 80's "Termination" is a confrontational and politically-charged song that speaks to the fear and paranoia surrounding government control, conspiracy theories, and the possibility of alien intervention. The lyrics suggest that some "they" - a powerful and unknown force that could be either extraterrestrial or governmental - are coming to take over the world and enslave humanity. The song warns about the dangers of blindly following authority and notes that building empires on the backs of others is a surefire way to create a hostile and unstable society. The lyrics imply that the current state of society is already unsustainable, with friends and allies being stepped over in the pursuit of power, and that this takeover could be the final straw that breaks the camel's back.
Line by Line Meaning
They are coming you know who
The group that is coming to take over is already known to us, but we choose to ignore it.
To take us over
Their primary objective is to dominate us by force.
They talk to them
The people in power are communicating with the invaders, indicating that they may be working together.
You know the government
It is clear that the ruling bodies are aware of the situation but have not informed the public.
The aliens, they're here
The extraterrestrial beings have already arrived on Earth.
Empire built on blood and bones
The invaders have a history of conquering by force and oppression.
Take a look at where we're going
There will be dire consequences if we do not change our current direction.
Stepping over fallen friends
In our pursuit of progress, we've left behind those who were once close to us.
Time and time again
This has been a recurring pattern in history.
Here they come to overtake
The invaders have arrived to seize control.
We're their toys
We are completely at their mercy and subject to their whims.
They've come to break us down to the ground
Their ultimate goal is to completely destroy us and everything we have built.
TERMINATION
This is the end, and there is no turning back.
Perfect society, they fuck with our heads
The invaders will not hesitate to manipulate us to further their own agenda, despite claiming to create a perfect society.
And kidnap the face,
They will take away our identities and turn us into faceless drones.
They fuck it up
The invaders are not interested in preserving our way of life or our planet.
This fucked up place
Our world is already in disarray and may not be worth saving.
They may wipe off this shitty place
The invaders may choose to completely obliterate our planet.
This ruined planet
Our world is already in a dire state of decay and destruction.
This dying race.
Our species may already be on the brink of extinction due to our own actions or those of the invaders.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: NICHOLAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind