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
What's Your Name
Meat Beat Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Operator get me through
Got to get me through to you, to you
Can you see them, they all look the same
Did you hear them they cried out your name
Can you feel them they're dying in shame
They're dying in shame
They're dying in shame
Operator get me through
Got to get me through, to you
Operator get me through
Destination the common view
The common view
The common view
What's your name?
What's your name?
What's your name?
What's your name?
The lyrics of Meat Beat Manifesto's song "What's Your Name?" are cryptic and open to interpretation, but they seem to be addressing a person who is somehow separated from the singer. The repeated plea to the "operator" to "get me through" suggests a sense of urgency, a desire to communicate or connect with the other person. The lines "can you see them, they all look the same / did you hear them they cried out your name / can you feel them they're dying in shame" could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be describing people who are all blending together or conforming, with the person the singer is trying to reach as the one stand-out individual. Or it could be saying that many people are calling out for the person, but they are not responding. The phrase "dying in shame" is particularly interesting as it suggests a sense of guilt or regret, perhaps on the part of the person the singer is trying to reach. The chorus of "what's your name?" repeats over and over, as if the singer is trying to jog the person's memory, or establish a more personal connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Operator get me through
I need assistance to communicate with someone else, urgently.
Operator get me through
I need assistance to communicate with someone else, urgently.
Got to get me through to you, to you
It's important that I reach you specifically.
Can you see them, they all look the same
Everyone looks identical here.
Did you hear them they cried out your name
Others are trying to get your attention.
Can you feel them they're dying in shame
Others feel extremely embarrassed and ashamed.
They're dying in shame
The shame they feel is causing them serious pain.
They're dying in shame
The shame they feel is causing them serious pain.
They're dying in shame
The shame they feel is causing them serious pain.
Operator get me through
I still need assistance to communicate with someone else.
Got to get me through, to you
It's still important that I reach you specifically.
Operator get me through
I still need assistance to communicate with someone else.
Destination the common view
Our destination is whatever is in front of us, the ordinary things we see every day.
The common view
We're all looking at the same things and seeing the same world.
The common view
We're all looking at the same things and seeing the same world.
What's your name?
I'm asking you what your name is.
What's your name?
I'm asking you what your name is.
What's your name?
I'm asking you what your name is.
What's your name?
I'm asking you what your name is.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JACK DANGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind