Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band. They are considered on… Read Full Bio ↴Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band. They are considered one of the pioneers of hardcore punk, along with bands like Minor Threat, Bad Brains and Black Flag. Formed in Detroit, Michigan, Negative Approach existed from 1981-1984, and now again from 2006-present. Like most hardcore bands, they were little known in their day outside of their hometown. They are now idolized in the Detroit underground and the punk subculture, considered to be one of the elite bands of the “old school” era, and continue to be influential.

NA's brand of hardcore was savage and nihilistic, exuding frustration, alienation and rage. This was personified in the band's vocalist John Brannon, an intimidating and intense young man with a shaved head, piercing stare and belligerent attitude. His vocal style and stage presence set the standard for those that followed. NA's musical style was based on Detroit proto-punk icons The Stooges, British punk rock (especially Discharge) and Oi! music (Blitz, 4-Skins, et al.), although from the start their sound and demeanor were considerably more aggressive and brutal than that of their influences.

Negative Approach was formed in August 1981 by John Brannon and Pete Zelewski, supposedly after seeing a Black Flag/Necros show. The first NA lineup consisted of Brannon on vocals, Rob McCullough on guitar, Pete Zelewski on bass and Zuheir on drums. Not long after, Zelewski left the band to form The Allied and was replaced by Rob McCullough's brother Graham. Zuheir was later replaced by Chris "O.P." Moore. The lineup of Brannon/McCullough/McCullough/Moore would remain unchanged until NA disbanded.

NA's first gig was in the basement of Necros drummer Todd Swalla's mother's home. Soon after, they recorded a demo, and followed that up with an appearance on the Process of Elimination compilation 7” EP, released on Meatmen frontman Tesco Vee's fledgling Touch & Go label, named after his fanzine of the same name. The comp also featured the Necros and The Meatmen, among others. NA, the Necros and the Meatmen then embarked on the Process of Elimination tour. Though this “tour” consisted of a mere three shows (Boston, New York City and Washington, DC), it is cited as being a key event in the early spread of hardcore.

The first proper Negative Approach studio release came in 1982 with their self-titled 7” EP, also on Touch & Go. It contained now-legendary songs such as “Can't Tell No One,” “Ready To Fight” and “Nothing,” which is considered by many to be the quintessential NA song. The sound quality of the recording is average, but the performances themselves are powerful, and the record is now held in nearly universal high regard by hardcore fans.

The following year saw the release of the Tied Down LP, also venerated as a hardcore classic. While it mostly contains more of the same ultra-fast, angry music as the 7”, the band also branched out somewhat and included a plodding dirge (“Evacuate”) and a (relatively) mid-tempo rocker (“Dead Stop”) on the album.

The classic line-up fell apart in 1983 during their tour in support of Tied Down, playing their last show in Memphis.

Afterwards, Brannon assembled a new line-up with members Kelly Dermody (guitar), Dave (bass) and Mike (drums). This version of Negative Approach played a series of live shows throughout 1984 which featured some new songs, such as "Obsession," "Tunnel Vision," "Kiss Me Kill Me" and a cover of "I Got A Right" by the Stooges. This line-up can be heard on the Live at the Newtown Theater bootleg 7" and some live tracks recorded at Boston's Paradise club that appear on the Total Recall discography CD.

It was announced in May 2006 that Brannon and Moore would play a Negative Approach reunion show, of sorts, for Touch & Go's 25th Anniversary show on September 9, 2006, as well as two later shows in the UK - London on December 7 and at All Tomorrow's Parties on December 10. Despite repeated efforts by Rob and Graham McCulloch to be a part of the reunion and have the classic NA lineup play, John refused; it was instead announced that Harold Richardson (of Brannon's current band Easy Action) and Ron Sakowski (formerly of Easy Action, Laughing Hyenas, and Necros) would complete the lineup. Rob and Graham maintain that the appearance shouldn't be labeled as Negative Approach without the classic NA lineup. The whole affair has generated controversy, and there is little agreement as to who is in the right and for what reasons.

Negative Approach closed out the No Fun Fest in Brooklyn, NY on May 20, 2007.

Live Your Life
Negative Approach Lyrics

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Took one route
It wasn't yours
Wanted truth
Nothing more

Live your life for you

Learned what's right

You know it now
Need no one
To tell you how

If you don't
Live your life for you
You've got nothing but to lose
If you don't
Live your life for you
You've got nothing but
Nothing, but to

Lose
Lose

Overall Meaning

These lyrics speak to the importance of living a life that is true to oneself. The singer urges the listener to take their own path in life and seek out the truth, rather than relying on the opinions or guidance of others. The repeated refrain of "live your life for you" speaks to the central message of the song - that living a life that is not authentic to oneself is a recipe for unhappiness and disappointment.

The opening lines, "took one route, it wasn't yours," suggest that the singer has made this mistake in the past, perhaps following someone else's path or taking a job or pursuing a goal just because it was expected of them. But they've learned from that experience and now understand that living a life that is not true to oneself is ultimately unsatisfying. The second verse reinforces this message, with the singer asserting that they now know "what's right" and don't need anyone else to tell them how to live their life.

Overall, the lyrics of "Live Your Life" are a call to embrace authenticity and reject conformity. By urging the listener to live their life for themselves, the singer is encouraging them to find what makes them truly happy and pursue it, rather than settling for a life that doesn't fulfill them.

Live Your LifeNegative Approach Lyrics

Live Your Life
Negative Approach Lyrics