In 1978, having received a substantial royalty payment for his work with The Yardbirds, Georgian music entrepreneur Giorgio Gomelsky relocated to New York in an attempt to open up the American market to the European progressive rock/jazz-rock bands he was working with, such as Gong, Henry Cow and Magma. He established the Zu Club in Manhattan and after meeting 24 year old bass player Bill Laswell, encouraged him to form a band. Three young friends, Michael Beinhorn (17, synthesizer), Martin Bisi (17, engineering) and Fred Maher (14, drums), responded to Laswell's advert in The Village Voice and the band began rehearsing in the club's basement.
The band became known as the "Zu Band" until Gomelsky hooked them up with former Gong front-man Daevid Allen for a performance at his Zu Manifestival at the Zu Club on October 8, 1978, for which they became New York Gong. Guitarist Cliff Cultreri, who was replaced by guitarist Michael Lawrence for the Manifestival, and second drummer Bill Bacon joined them for a Spring 1979 tour of the USA in an old school bus playing most of Gong's "Radio Gnome Invisible" trilogy. In autumn, they recorded the album About Time. Allen and the band amicably parted company when they "discovered they couldn't stand the European way of life" during a tour of France.
The band then took the name Material, from the Laswell/Cultreri composed instrumental "Materialism" on the About Time album. Their debut recording was 1979's instrumental post-punk industrial funk Temporary Music 1 EP for Gomelsky's Zu Records. The band then signed to Celluloid Records, and the single "Discourse" was issued in 1980.
They were reduced back to the trio of Beinhorn, Laswell and Maher for the 1981 EP Temporary Music 2. Their first full album, Memory Serves, which featured strong jazz leanings, had contributions from guitarists Sonny Sharrock and Henry Cow's Fred Frith, cornetist Olu Dara, saxophonist Henry Threadgill and violinist Billy Bang.
They started working with singers and their music became more melodic and funkier. Their next single "Ciquiri" (included on their American Songs EP) which featured guitarist Robert Quine, became popular in New York City dance clubs. The 1981 "Bustin' Out" single was released as an extended club mix, and they were fronted by singer Nona Hendryx with support from guitarist Ronnie Drayton. This line-up also recorded "It's a Holiday" for a split single with Cristina.
By 1982's One Down, drummer Maher had left the band, and they embraced a multitude of singers including Hendryx, B.J. Nelson, Bernard Fowler and Whitney Houston in one of her first lead singer recordings. Houston's vocal was on a cover version of Hugh Hopper's Memories, which also featured a lead break by saxophonist Archie Shepp. Critic Robert Christgau of the The Village Voice called her contribution "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard". As an indication of the direction the band headed for, Chic's guitarist Nile Rodgers was involved alongside Frith and Drayton, but perhaps more significantly, was one of the first appearances of longtime Laswell collaborator Nicky Skopelitis.
Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn settled into a duo and began working with other musicians, producing, writing and performing. They worked initially in the electro genre, but quickly moved into the fields of hip-hop and rap, collaborating with turntablist D.St (AKA Grandmixer D.S.T.) graffiti artists PHASE 2 and Fab Five Freddy.
A chance meeting between Laswell and Herbie Hancock at Elektra Records, in which the latter expressed interest in making music in the vein of Malcolm McLaren's "Buffalo Gals" lead to a collaboration that brought forth the Future Shock album and the hit single "Rockit". They would collaborate with Hancock on two further albums released under his name, 1984's Sound-System and 1988's Perfect Machine. Hancock himself would go on to contribute to many of Material and Laswell's projects.
In 1984, under the name Timezone, they released the single "World Destruction" which featured disc jockey Afrika Bambaataa and John Lydon (former singer of the Sex Pistols).
In 1985 Laswell and Beinhorn parted company. Beinhorn went into record production for the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Marilyn Manson. Laswell retained the Material name and was calling upon a large group of musicians with, at its core, guitarist Nicky Skopelitis, keyboardist Jeff Bova, percussionist Aiyb Dieng, former Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell and bassist Bootsy Collins, plus Jamaican reggae duo Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie).
By 1989, Laswell had ceased using the Material name as an umbrella for his own activities and began to use it as a front for specific projects. The first of these projects was the album Seven Souls, featuring William S. Burroughs reading portions of his novel The Western Lands. In 1998, the album was subject to a series of re-mixes by Laswell, Talvin Singh, Spring Heel Jack, DJ Olive and released as The Road to the Western Lands.
The Third Power was released in 1991, with duo Sly & Robbie and Bootsy Collins being Laswell's main collaborators. Vocal performances were given by the Jungle Brothers' Baby Bam and Mike G, The Last Poets' Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin, and Shabba Ranks. Other musicians included members of Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock, Henry Threadgill and Olu Dara.
1993's Hallucination Engine was a fusion of jazz, Indian and Middle Eastern influences. Noted jazz players included Wayne Shorter, Jonas Hellborg, and from John McLaughlin's Shakti tabla player Zakir Hussain, violinist Lakshmi Shankar and Vikku Vinayakram (on ghatam). Palestinian violinist Simon Shaheen and Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu also contributed.
The last studio release under the name Material was 1999's Intonarumori. Sub-titled "Rap is still an art", it featured contributions from Rammellzee, Kool Keith, Flavor Flav and Killah Priest.
Laswell has on occasion used the name for live performances, the last being at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 13, 2004 with, among others, his wife Gigi, drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia and guitarist Buckethead (both from Laswell's other project, Praxis). In late 2010, Laswell's new label, M.O.D. Technologies releases 'Mesgana Ethiopia', a live album credited to Gigi w/ Material.
Playin' With Fire
Material Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I was standin on the verge, just about to get off
Cause I was losin my crew in a society war
Pipin the pipe every night, and when
The moon came up, they was gone with the wind
And every night the dope sold they desired
Last one hired and first one fired
Fixed in the mix, and I couldn't stand still
[Mike G]
Girlfriend smoked out and her mind's burnt out
Losin weight and her legs and her stomach stickin out
Knowin daddy's uptown in his work all around
Keep your ear to the ground and your soul heaven bound
Now ain't no use in screamin loud
Cause yo, money's gone off chasin clouds
Leavin you once again to pick up slack
But where you're goin is where you're at
(Concentrate) you got to think a little harder
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
(On the big payday)
Yeah
(Concentrate) you got to think a little harder
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
Playin with fire - don't you know that you're gonna get lit?
Playin with fire - don't you know when to quit?
Playin with fire - don't you know that you're gonna get lit?
Playin with fire - don't you know how to quit?
[ Mike G ]
Grandma's runnin to the old number spot
Spendin what she saved tryin to hit the jack-pot
Brotherman swearin what he is or is not
Landlord smilin and my motor's not hot
Pretty little sister should be kept in a cage
She thinks she's grown up cause she looks older than her age
She chose the streets over a chance on stage
Found dead in the river, story made the first page
Devils snatchin souls into a little glass being
Sayin (if you got problems I can - I can change your way of seein em)
It's not as easy as it surely may seem
You lose your life over the price of a dream
Blow
Yeah
Ha-ha
(Concentrate) you got to think a little harder
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
(On the big payday)
Yeah
(Concentrate) you got to think a little harder
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
(Concentrate)
Playin with fire - don't you know that you're gonna get lit?
You're playin with fire, don't you know it don't make no sense
[ Mike G ]
Yeah
Different colors for different brothers
That gives no reason to kill off each other
We're dyin at a pace as if we're in a race
The President sendin our money to space
Our very short lives and a very long strive
Some start their lies, so some get high
Some do both and cut their own throat
No paddle in the boat, just goin for a float
Fool
Equal opportunity
Biological lunacy
[ Jungle Brothers ]
The tracks is slammin
The tracks is slammin
No question
Brothers got to get a fix on what they're doin
What we're talkin about here is..
You just keep playin with fire
You keep playin with fire
Equal opportunity, brother
That's what we need
Word is bond
[ Afrika Baby Bam ]
Now the brothers be doggin
The sisters be hoggin
They're playin with the fire, and they're gonna get burnt
Word up
Smokin and puffin and sniffin and riffin
They don't get enuffin, but it don't make a difference
Cause they be lovin the heat
Feelin the beat, walkin the street
But they don't never concentrate
All alone, walkin along
Standin alone
Stoned to the bone
And the lunacy's on
Check it out
Playin with fire - don't you know you're gonna get lit?
Playin with fire - don't you know when to quit?
Playin with fire - don't you know you're gonna get lit?
Playin with fire - don't you know it don't make no sense?
[ Mike G ]
Cigarette's pokin blood pressure
Somebody's gettin paid cause they're all insured
Second step to your mind, first step to your heart
And nothin will work if somethin don't start
No meat on my plate cause I choose my own faith
My peoples movin out at a very high rate
Either to the grave, or way upstate
I better concentrate
[ Afrika Baby Bam ]
You got to think a little harder
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
Woke up one mornin after a nightmare
Heart full of fear, oh darlin, my dear
A man's got it all, and don't want to share
No clothes on my back, now I swear it ain't fair
Follow me, good God, and I'll lead ya
Oh Lord, can't you see that we need the
Equal opportunity
Biological lunacy
Concentrate
"Playin With Fire" by Material is a song that critiques the societal ills of the time, emphasizing the dangers of engaging in drugs, gambling, and self-destructive behaviors. The verses by Afrika Baby Bam and Mike G explore the struggles of individuals caught up in the cycle of addiction and poverty. Baby Bam's verse describes how he is losing his friends, and how he can't keep a job because of his constant drug use. Mike G's verse talks about the various ways that people seek to escape their problems, like his girlfriend who is using drugs to cope with her issues, and his grandma who is gambling away her savings. Both artists emphasize that these behaviors will lead to destruction, and they plead with society to choose a different path.
The chorus warns against the dangers of playing with fire (metaphorically), suggesting that constant risky behaviors can only end in disaster. The beat is intense and heavy, mimicking the feeling of being caught in a cycle of addiction. The song also emphasizes the importance of concentration and clear thinking, suggesting that those who can concentrate and think hard will have a better chance at avoiding the pitfalls of addiction.
Overall, "Playin With Fire" provides a powerful critique of societal issues, emphasizing the importance of self-control and clear thinking in the face of societal pressures to engage in self-destructive behaviors.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I was standin on the verge, just about to get off
I was on the verge of quitting my destructive lifestyle.
Cause I was losin my crew in a society war
I was losing my friends to the societal pressures and conflicts.
Pipin the pipe every night, and when
Using drugs every night, and when...
The moon came up, they was gone with the wind
My drug-using friends would disappear when the night was over.
And every night the dope sold they desired
My friends desired the drugs that were sold every night.
Last one hired and first one fired
They were constantly in and out of employment.
Fixed in the mix, and I couldn't stand still
I was caught up in the mix, unable to stay still.
So I win a war, but it wasn't my will
I may have won battles, but it wasn't truly what I wanted.
Girlfriend smoked out and her mind's burnt out
My girlfriend is consumed by smoking and her mind is impaired.
Losin weight and her legs and her stomach stickin out
She's losing weight and her legs and stomach are becoming thin.
Knowin daddy's uptown in his work all around
I know my father is busy with work uptown.
Keep your ear to the ground and your soul heaven bound
Stay vigilant and keep your soul in a good place.
Now ain't no use in screamin loud
There's no point in yelling loudly.
Cause yo, money's gone off chasin clouds
Because money is being spent aimlessly.
Leavin you once again to pick up slack
Leaving you to pick up the pieces once again.
But where you're goin is where you're at
You must accept where you are in life right now.
(Concentrate) you got to think a little harder
Focus and think more deeply.
Come here, let me show you before you even start to
Let me show you before you begin.
(On the big payday)
When the big payday comes.
Playin with fire - don't you know that you're gonna get lit?
You're going to get burned if you keep taking dangerous risks.
Playin with fire - don't you know when to quit?
You need to know when to stop engaging in risky behavior.
Playin with fire - don't you know how to quit?
You need to learn how to control your impulses and quit while ahead.
Grandma's runnin to the old number spot
Grandma is running to the numbers game.
Spendin what she saved tryin to hit the jack-pot
She's spending her savings trying to win big.
Brotherman swearin what he is or is not
My brother is making false promises.
Landlord smilin and my motor's not hot
The landlord is taking advantage of me when I'm down on my luck.
Pretty little sister should be kept in a cage
My sister should be kept away from the negative influences of the world.
She thinks she's grown up cause she looks older than her age
She thinks she's mature because of her appearance.
She chose the streets over a chance on stage
She chose a life on the streets instead of a career on stage.
Found dead in the river, story made the first page
She was killed and her story made front-page news.
Devils snatchin souls into a little glass being
Evil is tempting us into a small container.
Sayin (if you got problems I can - I can change your way of seein em)
Evil is promising to change our perspective and solve our problems.
It's not as easy as it surely may seem
It's not as simple as it appears.
You lose your life over the price of a dream
Dreams can come at a high cost, even one's life.
Blow
Ha-ha
(Concentrate)
An instruction to use stronger focus and concentration.
You're playin with fire, don't you know it don't make no sense
Engaging in dangerous activities is illogical and self-destructive.
Different colors for different brothers
Different people come from different backgrounds and cultures.
That gives no reason to kill off each other
That is not a justification for harming one another.
We're dyin at a pace as if we're in a race
We are dying at an alarming rate.
The President sendin our money to space
The government is spending money on space exploration instead of helping its own people.
Our very short lives and a very long strive
Our lives are short, but we must still work hard to achieve our goals.
Some start their lies, so some get high
Some people cope with their problems through lying, while others turn to drugs.
Some do both and cut their own throat
Some people do both lying and drugs, which is self-destructive.
No paddle in the boat, just goin for a float
We are going through life without direction.
Fool
An insult used to describe someone acting foolishly.
Equal opportunity
Everyone should have the same opportunities in life.
Biological lunacy
The insanity of human biology.
The tracks is slammin
No question
Brothers got to get a fix on what they're doin
What we're talkin about here is..
The situation is intense, and we need to focus on what we're doing.
You just keep playin with fire
You keep playin with fire
You're continuing to engage in dangerous activities.
Equal opportunity, brother
That's what we need
Word is bond
What we need is equal opportunity for everyone.
Now the brothers be doggin
The sisters be hoggin
They're playin with the fire, and they're gonna get burnt
Word up
Men are being unfaithful and women are using drugs, which is self-destructive.
Smokin and puffin and sniffin and riffin
They don't get enuffin, but it don't make a difference
Cause they be lovin the heat
Feelin the beat, walkin the street
But they don't never concentrate
People are engaging in dangerous and addictive behavior, but they're not getting anything out of it because they're not focused.
All alone, walkin along
Standin alone
Stoned to the bone
And the lunacy's on
People are alone and stoned, which is a crazy and self-destructive situation.
Check it out
Playin with fire - don't you know you're gonna get lit?
This is a warning to stop engaging in dangerous activities before something bad happens.
Cigarette's pokin blood pressure
Somebody's gettin paid cause they're all insured
Second step to your mind, first step to your heart
And nothin will work if somethin don't start
No meat on my plate cause I choose my own faith
My peoples movin out at a very high rate
Either to the grave, or way upstate
I better concentrate
The cigarette industry is causing health issues, while businesses are getting rich off of insurance policies. Mental and emotional strain can cause physical problems. Nothing will improve if we don't take action. My family is leaving town in large numbers, either dying or moving away. I need to concentrate and focus on my own life and beliefs.
Woke up one mornin after a nightmare
Heart full of fear, oh darlin, my dear
A man's got it all, and don't want to share
No clothes on my back, now I swear it ain't fair
I woke up scared after a bad dream, and my heart was full of fear. Some people have everything and refuse to share, while others have nothing and suffer. It's not fair that I don't even have clothes to wear.
Follow me, good God, and I'll lead ya
Oh Lord, can't you see that we need the
Concentrate
Follow me and I will show you the way. We need to focus and concentrate if we want to improve our lives.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WILLIAM EARL COLLINS, N BABY BAM, SLY DUNBAR, BILL O. LASWELL, N MIKE G, ROBBIE SHAKESPEARE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind