Dangers and Stephens left Perennial Divide in 1988 to record an album, but the tapes were burnt in a studio fire. They then recorded the EP Storm The Studio, which found them pigeonholed as an industrial act. In response, they recorded 99% in 1990 which was more techno-influenced. Later that year, they released Armed Audio Warfare, which was an effort to re-record the burned tapes of the would-be debut album.
The band's live show was conceived as an intense audio-visual experience, with dancers, led by choreographer Marcus Adams, in costumes designed by artist Craig Morrison and video clips accompanying live instruments, sequenced electronic instruments, and live DJing. In the United States, they opened for Nine Inch Nails on their debut national tour in 1990. Adams appeared in many of the band's promo photos with his trademark "popcorn" hairstyle (mostly shaved, with scattered tufts of braided hair) until Satyricon in 1992.
In 1992, the band released Satyricon which continued to show Meat Beat as more of an electronica band. In 1994 Dangers relocated from England to San Francisco, resulting in Stephens' departure from the band. Dangers continued the band as a solo-plus-collaborators form, releasing Subliminal Sandwich in 1996. While this album represented MBM's major-label debut on Trent Reznor's Nothing records, it failed to reach the critical and commercial successes of previous releases.
In 1997 Dangers recruited drummer Lynn Farmer and guitarist Jon Wilson to record and release Actual Sounds and Voices in 1998, which found the group's earlier flirtations with jazz fusion featured more prominently; the record included appearances by saxophonist Bennie Maupin. The album yielded the single Prime Audio Soup which was featured in the film The Matrix.
In 2002 MBM released RUOK?, which demonstrated great steps in the evolution of their sound and prominently featured Dangers' newly acquired EMS Synthi 100. In 2003 they released a remix album for Storm The Studio, followed by ... In Dub, a remix album of RUOK?.
At the Center was released in May 29, 2005. A part of independent label Thirsty Ear's Blue Series, the album is a collaboration between Jack Dangers and jazz musicians Peter Gordon, Dave King, and Craig Taborn. It has been well-received by many critics, with one reviewer calling it "one of the best albums of the year in any genre." An EP titled Off-Centre, consisting of outtakes, a remix, and a live track, was released several months later, as well as a limited edition live album recorded during the extensive touring for At the Center. Later, in 2006, Dangers put out a DVD featuring a live MBM show at the Metro in Chicago.
Meat Beat Manifesto's 9th studio album, Autoimmune, was released on April 8th, 2008. Originally slated to be a double disc, twenty song affair, it was pared down to a single disc with fourteen tracks upon release. It features the first lyrical work from Dangers since his limited vocal appearances on 1998's Actual Sounds & Voices. In addition, Azeem and DJ Z-Trip make guest appearances. A remix EP was released on iTunes prior to the album's street date, and at least one B-side has been put up for free download on the official MBM website.
AlbumAnswers Come In Dreams was released in 2010 by Metropolis label. This time Dangers use deep dubstep bass and dark ambient sounds.
Studio albums
1989 Storm the Studio
1990 Armed Audio Warfare
1990 99%
1992 Satyricon
1996 Subliminal Sandwich
1998 Actual Sounds + Voices
2002 RUOK?
2005 At The Center
2008 Autoimmune
2010 Answers Come in Dreams
2012 Test EP
Cancer
Meat Beat Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is cancer
A warning sign
I only wanted to touch you
I thought you wanted to be here
And I don't know your name
But I could meet you on Thursday or Friday
Nobody, of course, was listening
This is cancer
A warning sign
This is cancer
A warning sign, cancer
Society is a drag, so why not drop it?
This is cancer
This is cancer
A warning sign
Society is a drag, so why not drop it?
This is cancer
This is cancer
This is cancer
A warning sign
This is cancer
This is cancer
The lyrics of Meat Beat Manifesto's "Cancer" seem to be cryptic and obscure, leaving the listener to interpret the meaning of the verses.The chorus "This is cancer, a warning sign" is straightforward and appears to be a message of caution, perhaps referring to the insidious nature of cancer, which can go unnoticed and grow undetected. However, the lines that precede the chorus appear to be ironic, as the singer talks about wanting to touch someone and meet them, suggesting a casual affair, while the observation "Nobody, of course, was listening" implies a lack of interest or even indifference. Overall, the lyrics of "Cancer" seem to be a commentary on modern society and its apathy, detachment, and lack of empathy, with disease and suffering becoming mere statistics or background noise.
Line by Line Meaning
This is cancer
The singer proclaims that something is going terribly wrong, and compares it to a disease that spreads and destroys everything in its path.
This is cancer
The singer repeats the line to emphasize the gravity of the situation and to urge the listener to take it seriously.
A warning sign
The singer suggests that there were signs and symptoms that should have alerted them to the danger, but they were ignored or overlooked.
I only wanted to touch you
The artist implies that they had good intentions and wanted to get close to someone, but something went wrong and it led to the cancerous situation.
I thought you wanted to be here
The artist assumed that the other party was willing to participate in whatever activity they had in mind, which might have contributed to the escalation of the problem.
And I don't know your name
The singer acknowledges that they don't have a personal connection with the other party, which adds to the mystery and danger of the situation.
But I could meet you on Thursday or Friday
The singer suggests that they made a flexible appointment with the other party, which could have been a mistake that led to the cancerous situation.
Nobody, of course, was listening
The artist suggests that they tried to warn others or seek help, but nobody took them seriously or cared about their concerns.
Society is a drag, so why not drop it?
The artist voices their frustration and disappointment with the status quo, and suggests that it might be better to reject it altogether and start anew.
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.