For the most part Love Battery was an unusual group in the early 90's Seattle music scene. Blending intense swirling psychedelic guitar work, pulsating rhythms, driving beats and heartfelt vocals derived from '60s garage/psych, '70s punk rock, '80s post punk and '90s grunge, their music was significantly more complex than most of the music associated with that era.
Although they never achieved the commercial success of many of their contemporaries, they nonetheless retained a fervent cult following that continues to this day.
Love Battery was formed in 1989 by former Room Nine leader Ron Nine (b. Ron Rudzitis), guitarist Kevin Whitworth (ex-Crisis Party), bassist Tommy "Bonehead" Simpson (also ex-Crisis Party) and Mudhoney drummer Dan Peters. Their name came from a song of the same name by British punk band the Buzzcocks.
Before releasing their first single Peters left the group and was replaced by ex-Skin Yard drummer Jason Finn. With this lineup the band released their debut single Between The Eyes for seminal Seattle record label Sub Pop. By 1990 Simpson had been replaced by ex-U-Men bassist Jim Tillman. With this lineup the band released their debut EP Between the Eyes in 1990, again on Sub Pop. This record was later expanded and released as their first full-length album in 1991. Following the Between The Eyes EP were the Foot singles and Out Of Focus EP.
In 1992 the band recorded and released what many consider their finest record Dayglo. In the Sub Pop catalog, Dayglo was listed as "Blotter not included" a play on "Batteries not included" instead referring to LSD. Soon after, Tillman left to pursue other interests. He was replaced at first by original bassist Tommy Simpson, who in turn was replaced by ex-Green River and Mother Love Bone guitarist Bruce Fairweather.
In 1993 the Far Gone album appeared, which to many was considered a disappointment following Dayglo's critical success. Initially Far Gone was to be released by PolyGram Records but due to contractal problems with Sub Pop Records, Far Gone was dumped by the major label. Instead an inferior 'rough mix' of the album was released by Sub Pop, a problem which Love Battery planned to rectify by remixing and reissuing but never did.
Following the Far Gone fiasco, Love Battery signed with Atlas Records in 1994 releasing the Nehru Jacket EP late in the year. It contained 2 songs that also found their way onto 1995's Straight Freak Ticket album which was also released on Atlas in 1995. The label failed to promote the band and album properly however which resulted in poor sales. Shortly thereafter Finn left the group to join The Presidents of the United States of America who quickly found success later in the year.
A prolonged period of uncertainty ensued following Finn's departure with an array of drummers brought in as his replacement including original drummer Dan Peters and ex-Posies and Fastbacks drummer Mike Musburger. The band practically disappeared until the release of their fifth album Confusion Au Go Go in 1999. This time around drummers Peters, Musburger and Finn all contributed to the album although Peters took on a majority of the work.
Following the release of Confusion Au Go Go Love Battery remained for the most part quiet. A few one off performances were made in 2002 featuring Tommy Simpson returning on bass and Finn and Peters on drums. After a prolonged period of inactivity the band played their first show in 4 years on June 23, 2006 at Neumoes in Seattle, WA. The current lineup consists of Nine, Whitworth, Simpson and Musburger.
In 1996 Love Battery was featured in the documentary Hype!, chronicling the rise of the Seattle "grunge" music scene. A clip is shown of a live performance of "Between the Eyes", and the song also appears on the documentary's soundtrack.
A video for "Out Of Focus" appears on Sub Pop Video Network Program, Volume Two. They also made videos for "Fuzz Factory" and "Harold's Pink Room" from the Straight Freak Ticket album. The "Fuzz Factory" video was shot in Las Vegas and featured the band driving around in a white Cadillac convertible, hinting at Hunter S. Thompson's famous book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas years before the film of the same name starring actor Johnny Depp was released.
A "Fuzz Factory" is also a creation of Z.Vex Effects, a musical stomp-box fuzz pedal hand crafted with vintage style '60s parts and hand painted with a psychedelic look.
Love Battery leader Ron Nine also plays in new band Down With People who have been significantly more active than Love Battery as of late.
Albums
* Between The Eyes (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Dayglo (Sub Pop Records, 1992).
* Far Gone (Sub Pop Records, 1993).
* Straight Freak Ticket (Atlas Records, 1995).
* Confusion Au Go Go (C/Z Records, 1999).
Singles/Eps
* "Between The Eyes" b/w "Easter" (Sub Pop Records, 1989).
* "Foot" b/w "Mr. Soul" (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Out Of Focus EP (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* Nehru Jacket EP (Atlas Records, 1994).
* "Snipe Hunt" b/w "Punks Want Rights" (Let Down Records, 1996).
Compilation/Soundtrack contributions
* "Between The Eyes" on The Grunge Years (Sub Pop Records, 1991).
* "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" on Another Damned Seattle Compilation (Dashboard Hula Girl Records, 1991).
* "Ball And Chain" on Milk For Pussy (Mad Queen Records, 1994).
* "No Matter What You Do" on We're All Normal And We Want Our Freedom: A Tribute To Arthur Lee and Love (Alias Records, 1994).
* "White Bird" on Star Power! K-Tel Hits Of The '70s (Pravda Records, 1994).
* "Fuzz Factory" on Turn It Up & Pass It On, Volume 1 (1995).
* "Straight Freak Show" on huH Magazine CD6 (promo only) (RayGun Press, 1995).
* "Out Of Focus (Live)" on Bite Back: Live At The Crocodile Cafe (PopLlama Records, 1996).
* "Color Blind" on Home Alive: The Art of Self-Defense (Epic Records, 1996).
* "Commercial Suicide" on Teriyaki Asthma, Vols. 6-10 (C/Z Records, 1999).
* "Half Past You" on Sleepless In Seattle: The Birth Of Grunge (LiveWire Recordings, 2006).
67
Love Battery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
사랑의 배터리가 다 됐나봐요
당신 없인 못살아 정말 나는 못살아
당신은 나의 배터리
얼짱이 아니라도 좋아요
몸짱이 아니라도 좋아요
나만을 위해 줄 당신이 바로 내겐 짱이랍니다
한번 더 나를 안아주세요
가슴이 터지도록 안아주세요
사랑의 약발이 떨어졌나봐
당신이 필요해요
나를 사랑으로 채워줘요
사랑의 배터리가 다 됐나봐요
당신 없인 못살아 정말 나는 못살아
당신은 나의 배터리
내겐 당신만이 전부에요
당신이 너무 좋아 완전 좋아요
하나뿐인 내사랑 둘도 없는 내사랑
당신이 짱이랍니다
사랑을 가득 넣어주세요
가슴에 넘치도록 넣어주세요
사랑의 약발이 떨어졌나봐
나 지금 외로워요
나를 사랑으로 채워줘요
사랑의 배터리가 다 됐나봐요
당신 없인 못살아 정말 나는 못살아
당신은 나의 배터리
내겐 당신만이...
The lyrics to Love Battery's "67" express a deep need and dependency on the love of the other person. The chorus, "나를 사랑으로 채워줘요, 사랑의 배터리가 다 됐나봐요" (fill me up with love, it seems my love battery is dead) reflects a sense of emptiness and desperation, suggesting that the only thing that can "charge up" the singer's love battery is the love of the other person. The second verse, "얼짱이 아니라도 좋아요, 몸짱이 아니라도 좋아요" (I don't need a pretty face or a perfect body), shows that the singer is not focused on superficial qualities, but rather is seeking something deeper and more meaningful in their relationship.
As the song progress, the chorus repeats and builds urgency, "한번 더 나를 안아주세요, 가슴이 터지도록 안아주세요" (hug me once more, until my heart bursts with love), the singer expresses a greater and greater need for the object of their love, suggesting that their love battery is not only weak or depleted, but that it might actually fail without the other person. The bridge of the song further reiterates the depth of the singer's feelings, "내겐 당신만이 전부에요, 당신 이 너무 좋아 완전 좋아요" (to me, you are everything, I love you so much).
Overall, "67" can be interpreted as an intense exploration of what it means to need and depend on the love of another person at the deepest level.
Line by Line Meaning
나를 사랑으로 채워줘요
Fill me up with love
사랑의 배터리가 다 됐나봐요
Looks like my love battery is running out
당신 없인 못살아 정말 나는 못살아
I can't live without you, really can't live
당신은 나의 배터리
You are my battery
얼짱이 아니라도 좋아요
Even if you're not a pretty face, that's okay
몸짱이 아니라도 좋아요
Even if you're not a great body, that's okay
나만을 위해 줄 당신이 바로 내겐 짱이랍니다
You, who give yourself only to me, are the best for me
한번 더 나를 안아주세요
Hold me once more
가슴이 터지도록 안아주세요
Hold me so tight that my heart explodes
사랑의 약발이 떨어졌나봐
Looks like the sparks of love have fallen
당신이 필요해요
I need you
내겐 당신만이 전부에요
You are everything to me
당신이 너무 좋아 완전 좋아요
I like you so much, really like you
하나뿐인 내사랑 둘도 없는 내사랑
My love is unique, there is no other like it
사랑을 가득 넣어주세요
Please fill me up with love
가슴에 넘치도록 넣어주세요
Fill me up until my heart overflows
나 지금 외로워요
I'm lonely right now
당신 없인 못살아 정말 나는 못살아
I can't live without you, really can't live
당신은 나의 배터리
You are my battery
내겐 당신만이...
To me, there is only you...
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.