However, Ellison met bassist Ted Ansani while both were attending Columbia Music School in Chicago in 1986, and they soon hit it off. Drummer Mike Zelenko was recruited when the duo found him through an ad in the 'Illinois Entertainer' later that year. With the Material Issue lineup set, Ellison– with Ansani and Zelenko eager to join him and ready to follow– set his sights on conquering the pop/rock world.
In 1987, Material Issue released an EP on their own Big Block Label, so named for the big block engines of the 1970s muscle cars Ellison loved) which. That label operated out of Ellison's bedroom at his parents home in Addison, Illinois. In 1988, "Sixteen Tambourines" appeared on College Music Journal's compliation and CMJ glowingly referred to Material Issue's music as a "hooky brand of high-powered psycho-pop". In 1989, their buzz grew further with the release of the single "Renee Remains The Same" which got heavy airplay around Chicago and seemed poised to be an underground rock smash.
Over the next two years, the band toured extensively across the midwest and found time to record what would become their debut album. In early 1991, Material Issue broke on to the national scene with their debut album International Pop Overthrow (IPO) which sold over 300,000 copies for Polygram Records. Ironically enough, their debut video for the single "Diane" appeared on MTV's 120 Minutes in late December 1990 which was the episode of the final appearance of Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson of The Replacements in sort of a fitting segue between the lesser-known music genres of the two decades (Material Issue and The Replacements would share the stage at Taste of Chicago in 1991 which would prove to be the swansong for The Replacements). IPO spawned nationwide radio hits "Diane" and "Valerie Loves Me" which were just as popular in Chicago as they were in places such as Phoenix, Minneapolis and Dallas. 1992 saw the follow-up to IPO with Destination Universe which featured the searing powerpop gem "What Girls Want" and Material Issue continued to tour heavily across the country in support of both albums. 1994 saw the release of Freak City Soundtrack which featured the hit "Kim The Waitress" (a cover written by Jeff Kelly of Green Pajamas). However, by the time Freak City Soundtrack was released, the momentum they had generated in the previous five years began to subside. Freak City sold less than 50,000 copies as the Seattle scene and the emergence of ska dominated both mainstream and alternative music markets. Other Chicago acts to break national following Material Issue, such as Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill and Liz Phair, had music more fitting for the times and Material Issue, feeling left behind by their label, parted ways with Polygram in early 1995.
Material Issue continued to play live, sold out shows throughout the upper midwest and were one of the headline acts in the first Edgefest (so named for The Edge alternative radio station in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the time which sponsored the event) in the summer of 1995 in Somerset, Wisconsin. Throughout the remainder of 1995 and in to 1996, Material Issue had recorded a new set of songs which they had hoped to shop to a new label. However, Material Issue came to a tragic end when Ellison committed suicide on June 20, 1996 by suffocating himself with carbon monoxide poisoning from his scooter in his garage. No one knows for sure what compelled Ellison to end his life, but two circumstances that seem to be the catalysts were the end of a relationship with a woman on his birthday on April 18, 1996 and the loss of his band's record deal from the previous year. A suicide note was found by police, but the contents of that note remain known only to Ellison's family. The recordings from the work done in 1995 and 1996 would be released posthumously on Telecommando Americano in 1997 by Rykodisc. Telecommando Americano would be the final Material Issue release, but also included the 6-song EP released back in 1987 as a bonus.
Diane
Material Issue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah man you're just what this world needs.
Diane lives in a sanctuary,
she swears to Jesus she'll never marry.
Yeah man you're everything to me.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
Diane is everywhere pretending that she just don't care.
Diane I hear you're just nineteen.
Diane's a superstar, she's everything you hoped you were.
Diane you're all these things to me.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
She's got everything she wants in the world, Diane.
Pretending to be some kind of calendar girl,
well I'll pull you out and pin you down, Diane.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane,
Diane, Diane, Diane.
The lyrics to Material Issue's song "Diane" seem to tell the story of a wealthy, independent and powerful woman who seems to have everything including a helicopter and a submarine. "Diane lives in a sanctuary, she swears to Jesus she'll never marry" suggests that Diane is in a league of her own and she is unafraid to claim her independence. The lyrics repeat "Yeah man you're everything to me" which suggests that Diane still has a need for someone or something, despite her apparent self-sufficiency. The repetition of the word "Diane" creates a sense of repetition and obsession, further emphasizing the importance of Diane in the singer's thoughts.
The second verse seems to suggest that Diane is putting up a front, pretending that she doesn't care about the opinions of others, even though she is actually a superstar who has achieved everything one could hope for. The phrase, "Diane's a superstar, she's everything you hoped you were" suggests that the singer admires Diane's life and wishes to live vicariously through her. However, the lines "Pretending to be some kind of calendar girl, well I'll pull you out and pin you down, Diane" suggests that there is some kind of facade that Diane is using to shield herself from the outside world. The chorus is repeated again with even more emphasis on Diane's name and the song ends without a clear resolution.
Overall, "Diane" seems to be a song about a powerful and wealthy woman, who despite having everything she needs, still feels the need for something more. The lyrics are repetitive and obsessive, almost as if the singer is fixated on Diane and all that she represents.
Line by Line Meaning
Diane's got everything, a helicopter and a submarine.
Diane has everything she wants, including luxuries like a helicopter and a submarine.
Yeah man you're just what this world needs.
The singer thinks Diane is exactly what the world needs.
Diane lives in a sanctuary, she swears to Jesus she'll never marry.
Diane lives in a place of safety, and has vowed to never get married.
Yeah man you're everything to me.
The artist has strong feelings for Diane and considers her everything to him.
Diane is everywhere pretending that she just don't care.
Diane puts on a facade of not caring and is omnipresent.
Diane I hear you're just nineteen.
The singer has heard that Diane is only nineteen years old.
Diane's a superstar, she's everything you hoped you were.
Diane is a celebrity and embodies all the qualities the listener wishes they had.
Diane you're all these things to me.
To the artist, Diane embodies all the qualities they admire and look up to.
She's got everything she wants in the world, Diane.
Diane has everything she desires in life.
Pretending to be some kind of calendar girl,
Diane acts like a model, posing as if for a calendar.
well I'll pull you out and pin you down, Diane.
The singer will forcefully take Diane out of her current situation and make her stay with him.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane
The repetition of Diane's name emphasizes her importance and presence in the artist's life.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
The repetition continues to emphasize Diane's importance and presence in the singer's life.
Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane, Diane.
The repetition continues to emphasize Diane's importance and presence in the singer's life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES MINGUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jake Voluntaryist
Grew up listening to MI. Almost every song they have ever written is genius! Great hooks, great riffs, fantastic music! Never really given the credit I think they deserve. RIP Jim Ellison, you are sorely missed!
Rob Kingrey
Great! I got to spend a lot of time with these guys when I was with Mercury Records in the 80's and 90's. I first saw them work out of an old Van then Alabama's old tour bus (we crashed into an old gas station, due to brake failure} and on to headlining. Jim's death was quite a waste to the music world. All great guys with extreme talent and personality.
Megan Becker
I remember hearing the news when it happened and I was numb. RIP, Jim. <3
ValaBlake
I love this song! Material Issue was such a great band. The lead singer had a great voice too! Thank you for posting!
Scott Leipski
My god, it took me forever to remember these guys, and this song! So glad I finally found it! So worth the effort!!!!! I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!! This is so kickass!!!!!
Now maybe I can survive this fuckin virus. Thank to members of this overlooked band! You made my year!!!!!! Great fuckin tune, play this one LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so HAPPY im crying!!!!!!!!!! Shoud have been HUGE!!!!
Robert Hansen
I definitely remember this song from the early 90s. Back in the day when we had a decent FM radio station in Chicago. Before alternative was ruined. Never saw this Band in concert but I definitely remember this band. Stuff was pretty decent back then. A happy time in life.
Clappingpig
They are a Chicago band.
Thirsty cadaver
Robert A. Hansen
there was a couple of halfway good college stations in south Chicagoland,I think I heard this on wlra the Lewis university station in Romeoville,or maybe wxrt.
David Coleman
thirsty cadaver I was listening 25 plus yrs ago. Awesome college music . Better than drivin n crring
Thirsty cadaver
David Coleman
Sometimes I put my headphones on and for a while I'm 25 years younger.