MxPx started as three 15-year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid pounding out music inspired by and similar to The Descendents and other Southern California punk rock bands. They didn’t really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist’s penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri’s handwriting, periods become “X“‘s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.
Andy Husted, the former guitarist, left the band in 1995 to continue college.
Andy was replaced by Tom to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe Tom’s background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early ’80s.
Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail Records when they played a “showcase” for the T&N label in 1993 in Herrera’s parents’ garage. Mike Herrera had practiced so much before the first show, he lost his voice.
MxPx released three albums with Tooth & Nail Records: Pokinatcha in 1994, Teenage Politics in 1995, and Life in General in 1996. After a falling out with Tooth & Nail, MxPx left the label and signed with A&M Records.
In July 2010 drummer Yuri Ruley announced he would be retiring from the band to focus on his family. Ruley played his last show with the band in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2010. In a recent video message from Mike, he stated that Tom and Yuri have both finished touring full time, but will continue to play one-off shows with the band.
Biased Bigotry
MxPx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In everyone else & not look at myself
I'm getting used to not having to
Look at the facts of where I'm at
You don't know me so don't judge me
Your biased bigotry can't control me
You see my skin God sees my heart deep within
The way I see the way it seems to me
I won't agree you can't live my life for me
In MxPx's "Biased Bigotry," the lyrics reveal a struggle with self-reflection and projection. The first verse expresses the tendency to criticize others without acknowledging one's own flaws. The singer is "getting used" to avoiding personal accountability and ignoring the truth of their own circumstances. The second verse responds to the judgment of others and asserts the belief that only God can truly judge a person. The singer invites the listener to see beyond external characteristics, such as skin color, and recognize the value of their inner self. The final statement emphasises personal agency and the right to make individual choices.
Overall, "Biased Bigotry" is a reflection on the complexity of human identity, the dangers of prejudice, and the importance of individualism. The song suggests that true freedom comes from embracing one's own unique qualities and respecting differences in others.
Line by Line Meaning
It's so easy to find the faults
I tend to focus on other people's mistakes instead of my own
In everyone else & not look at myself
I am quick to judge others without examining my own flaws
I'm getting used to not having to
I am becoming comfortable with avoiding self-reflection
Look at the facts of where I'm at
I am neglecting to objectively assess my current situation
You don't know me so don't judge me
It is unfair for you to make assumptions about me without truly knowing me
Your biased bigotry can't control me
I will not be influenced by your prejudiced beliefs
God's son my judge only He & not you who ar you
I believe that only God has the right to judge me, not you
You see my skin God sees my heart deep within
My character is what really matters, not the color of my skin
The way I see the way it seems to me
I have my own perspective and beliefs
I won't agree you can't live my life for me
I will not conform to your expectations and I am responsible for my own life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Michael Herrera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind