Frequent topics of Avalon's songs are his experiences with substance abuse and prostitution. His family upbringing was tumultuous and both he and his parents were involved with drugs. Avalon's paternal grandparents are Holocaust survivors; both endured lasting injuries from their imprisonment at Auschwitz.
Avalon is friends with Antonio, who encouraged Avalon to write lyrics and perform when Mickey was broke and living on Anton's sofa. Avalon soon gained a following in the Los Angeles nightclub scene. He has since enjoyed a surge in popularity partly due to promotion of his music on the MySpace website.
In the media
Avalon appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show on Friday the February 23, 2007.
He appeared in an episode of The Simple Life where he auditioned to perform the song "Friends and Lovers" at a lesbian wedding.
Avalon's sexually-themed song "Jane Fonda" was featured in HBO's Entourage.
Avalon appeared on Steven's Untitled Rock Show on Wednesday the April 3, 2007
Avalon replaced Gnarls Barkley as the opening act for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on March 12, 2007 in Oklahoma City. At that show John Frusciante joined Avalon onstage and criticized the audience for their poor reception and "booing" of Avalon. Avalon repeatedly told the audience he wasn't wanting to get in the way of the Chili Peppers performing, he was just there to "pay the rent". Frusciante also sent a very long and heated letter to the fans of www.redhotchilipeppers.com explaining how upset he was at the audiences' disrespect of Avalon.
Avalon appeared onstage with Shaun Ryder and the rest of the Happy Mondays at the 2007 Coachella Music Festival in Indio, Calif.
Avalon opened for T.I. at the University of California, Santa Barbara's "Extravaganza" event in May 2007.
Avalon's "What Do You Say?" was featured in the 2009 movie "The Hangover."
Collaborations
On Unwritten Law's 2007 greatest hits/remix album, The Hit List, Avalon performs "Shoulda Known Better".
Avalon is a member of the trio Dyslexic Speedreaders with Simon Rex (AKA Dirt Nasty) and Andre Legacy. The group tours occasionally with Avalon's solo act.
Avalon's DJ and manager is DJ Kev E Kev.
Friends and Lovers
Mickey Avalon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some from cheap narcotics and others from...lead
The filthy rich and the dirt-dirt poor
Are all the same when they can't take no more
'Cause all my friends and all my lovers are...dead
A slit wrist leaves a mess
On the breakfast table, oh yes
But in the morning you're the one who gonna have to clean
Days I've seen make a priest lose his beliefs
Like Kathy crawlin' 'cross the carpet in the bloodstained briefs
Chewin' pills like she was starvin' for a taste of relief
Her last wind was in the trash can; couldn't beat the disease
All my friends and all my lovers are...dead
Some from cheap narcotics and others from...lead
The filthy rich and the dirt-dirt poor
Are all the same when they can't take no more
'Cause all my friends and all my lovers are...dead
Johnny made a record, went straight to number one
But Johnny had a little fascination with guns
And cocaine, he couldn't stand to take the slow train
Got a little fortune, lost his breaks in the rain, ooo
What to do when your luck is through
Whether you come from the slums or live in Malibu
Seen runnin' down the avenue
Mickey Avalon with an attitude
All my friends and all my lovers are...dead
Some from cheap narcotics and others from...lead
The filthy rich and the dirt-dirt poor
Are all the same when they can't take no more
'Cause all my friends and all my lovers are...dead
Lean Lee Tucker was a mean motherfucker
Seen him knock a man clean out his corduroy slippers
And that same man's queen (?) monster truck and hit him
Found him lifeless as a log in the Mississippi river
Tara was a stripper
Tara done that shit with a smile on her face and her hand on her liver
But I ain't mad, I forgive her
I just get a little sad every time I fuck her sister
The song "Friends and Lovers" by Mickey Avalon is a dark and raw reflection on the theme of death. The lyrics talk about the singer's friends and lovers who have passed away, some from drugs and others from suicide. The song opens with the line "All my friends and all my lovers are...dead," which sets the somber tone of the piece immediately. The singer goes on to describe the violent and tragic ways in which some of these people died, like Kathy, who crawled across the carpet in bloodstained briefs, and Johnny, who had a fascination with guns and cocaine. The chorus repeats the line "all my friends and all my lovers are dead" over and over, emphasizing the sense of loss and hopelessness.
The song suggests that death is a great equalizer, as it affects both the filthy rich and the dirt-poor in the same way. The line "the filthy rich and the dirt-dirt poor are all the same when they can't take no more" suggests that everyone has a breaking point, and that no amount of wealth or privilege can protect someone from the pain of losing loved ones to drugs or suicide. The lyrics also describe the aftermath of suicide in graphic detail, like the line "A slit wrist leaves a mess on the breakfast table." The singer seems to be grappling with feelings of sadness, anger, and helplessness in the face of all this death.
Overall, "Friends and Lovers" is a stark and powerful commentary on the devastating effects of drug addiction and suicide, and the toll that they can take on those left behind. It's a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the people we have while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
All my friends and all my lovers are...dead
Everyone I've loved or befriended has passed away
Some from cheap narcotics and others from...lead
Some died from drugs and others died from being shot with a gun
The filthy rich and the dirt-dirt poor
No matter if someone is rich or poor
Are all the same when they can't take no more
Everyone faces the same fate when they reach their end
A slit wrist leaves a mess
Suicide by cutting the wrist results in a bloody scene
On the breakfast table, oh yes
The person who dies by suicide may leave behind gruesome evidence
Betta' cut deep 'fore you go to sleep
If someone wants to die, they should make sure they cut deep enough to be successful
But in the morning you're the one who gonna have to clean
The person who finds the suicide victim must clean up the gore
Days I've seen make a priest lose his beliefs
The days the artist has witnessed have made even a religious person lose faith
Like Kathy crawlin' 'cross the carpet in the bloodstained briefs
Kathy was so desperate for drugs that she was crawling on the ground in bloody underwear
Chewin' pills like she was starvin' for a taste of relief
Kathy was swallowing pills so quickly it was like she was starving for a sense of relief
Her last wind was in the trash can; couldn't beat the disease
Kathy was ultimately unable to overcome her addiction and died
Johnny made a record, went straight to number one
Johnny was a successful musician
But Johnny had a little fascination with guns
Johnny had a dangerous interest in firearms
And cocaine, he couldn't stand to take the slow train
Johnny preferred the fast and dangerous lifestyle of using cocaine
Got a little fortune, lost his breaks in the rain, ooo
Johnny made some money but lost control of his life
What to do when your luck is through
What can someone do when their good fortune has run out
Whether you come from the slums or live in Malibu
It doesn't matter where you come from, everyone is susceptible to tragedy
Seen runnin' down the avenue
The singer has seen lots of people who have lost control of their lives
Mickey Avalon with an attitude
The author of the song, Mickey Avalon, has an edgy personality
Lean Lee Tucker was a mean motherfucker
Lean Lee Tucker was an aggressive and violent person
Seen him knock a man clean out his corduroy slippers
Witnessed Lean Lee Tucker violently knock a man unconscious
And that same man's queen (?) monster truck and hit him
That same man's significant other ran him over with a large vehicle
Found him lifeless as a log in the Mississippi river
The man was found dead and floating in the river
Tara was a stripper
Tara had a job as an exotic dancer
Tara done that shit with a smile on her face and her hand on her liver
Tara did drugs and drank alcohol while enjoyably doing her job as a stripper
But I ain't mad, I forgive her
The singer isn't angry with Tara, he forgives her
I just get a little sad every time I fuck her sister
The artist feels sad when he has sex with Tara's sister
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK REITMAN, YESHE PERL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind