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.
Fallen Angel
MxPx Lyrics
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[Originally by Poison]
She stepped off the bus out into the city streets,
Just a small town girl, with her whole life packed in a suitcase by her feet,
But somehow the lights didn't shine as bright as they did on her mama's TV screen,
And the work seemed hard, and the days seemed longer than she ever thought they'd be.
But you know you got to stick to your guns when it all comes down,
'Cause sometimes you can't choose,
It's like heads they win, and tails you're gonna lose.
Win big,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose big,
Living out her lies,
Wants it all,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose it all,
Rolling the dice with her life.
Now she found herself in the fast lane, living day to day,
Turned her back on her best friends yeah, and let her family slip away,
Just like a lost soul caught up in the Hollywood scene,
All the parties and the limousines,
Such a good actress, hiding all of her pain,
Trading memories for fortune and fame.
Just a step away from the edge of a fall,
Caught between heaven and hell,
Where's the girl I knew a year ago?
Win big,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose big,
Living out her lies,
Wants it all,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose it all,
Rolling the dice with her life.
Too much, too soon, or just a little too late,
'Cause when the ship came in she wasn't there, and it just wouldn't wait.
Win big,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose big,
Living out her lies,
Wants it all,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose it all,
Rolling the dice with her life,
Win big,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose big,
Living out her lies,
Wants it all,
Mama's fallen angel,
Lose it all,
Rolling the dice with her life.
The song "Fallen Angel" by MxPx tells the story of a young girl who leaves her small town and heads to the big city looking for success and fame. However, she quickly realizes that the reality of being a part of the Hollywood scene is not as glamorous as she thought it would be. She struggles to make it through each day, feeling lost and alone, and eventually turns to a life of drugs and partying. Despite everything, she continues to dream of making it big, but ends up losing everything she worked for in the end.
The lyrics are a warning against the superficiality of the entertainment industry and the damage it can cause to young people. The chorus, "Win big, lose big, wants it all, lose it all," highlights the dangerous nature of gambling with one's life and dreams. Ultimately, the song is a message of caution to those who aspire to fame, advising them to be careful of the sacrifices they may have to make along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
She stepped off the bus out into the city streets,
A small town girl starts her journey to achieve big in the city
Just a small town girl, with her whole life packed in a suitcase by her feet,
She comes to the big city with all her belongings in her suitcase
But somehow the lights didn't shine as bright as they did on her mama's TV screen,
The big city doesn't seem as glamorous as she thought it would be
And the work seemed hard, and the days seemed longer than she ever thought they'd be.
She feels that the work is tough and days are long in the city
But you know you got to stick to your guns when it all comes down,
One has to stay steadfast in the face of adversity
'Cause sometimes you can't choose,
At times, life does not give a choice
It's like heads they win, and tails you're gonna lose.
Sometimes it feels like no matter what decision you make, it will end in loss
Win big,
Achieve great things
Mama's fallen angel,
A daughter who has lost her way
Lose big,
Risk everything and lose it all
Living out her lies,
Living a life of deceit
Wants it all,
Desire for everything
Lose it all,
Risk everything and lose it all
Rolling the dice with her life.
Taking a chance with one's own life
Now she found herself in the fast lane, living day to day,
She finds herself living a fast-paced life
Turned her back on her best friends yeah, and let her family slip away,
She has distanced herself from her loved ones
Just like a lost soul caught up in the Hollywood scene,
She feels lost in the glamorous world of Hollywood
All the parties and the limousines,
Engaging in luxurious events and using expensive cars
Such a good actress, hiding all of her pain,
She is an excellent pretender, concealing her struggles
Trading memories for fortune and fame.
Sacrificing memories for the sake of wealth and recognition
Just a step away from the edge of a fall,
Close to a point of no return
Caught between heaven and hell,
Struggling to choose between good and evil
Where's the girl I knew a year ago?
Wondering about her past self, a year ago
Too much, too soon, or just a little too late,
Maybe it was either too early or too late to achieve everything she desired
'Cause when the ship came in she wasn't there, and it just wouldn't wait.
Missed an opportunity and had no chance of redemption
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK PRICE, TANYA SELF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind