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.
Nothing
Negative Approach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nothing's where you're at
When you ain't got something
You'll never get it back
It's coming on like a drug
The universal power of one
But it don't mean nothing
If it all comes undone (uh-huh)
Fly away
If you fly away
You might die today
If you fly
Fly
Gimme some love
Gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing
Gimme some love
Gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
You're left with nothing
And nothing's what you've got
When you ain't got no-one, no-one
You could have had the lot
And if it's over today
You'll never get that thing you had together, no way
You only get it once
Fly away
If you fly, If you fly
Gimme some love
Gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing
Gimme some love
Gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
We ain't got nothing
A day's a number
Don't remember how you found it
You will never feel the same
And forever have to take
It for granted, don't remember our mistake
We ain't got nothing
A day's a number
Don't remember how you found it
You will never feel the same
And forever have to take
It for granted, don't remember our mistake
Gimme some love
So gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
Gimme some love
So gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
Gimme some love
So gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
Gimme some love
So gimme some skin
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
The lyrics to Negative Approach's song "Nothing" deal with the theme of the emptiness and futility of life without connection and love. The opening lines express the idea that without something to hold onto, there is no sense of purpose or meaning in life. "And nothing's where you're at / When you ain't got something / You'll never get it back." This sense of longing for something more is compared to the feeling of being hooked on drugs. "It's coming on like a drug / The universal power of one / But it don't mean nothing / If it all comes undone."
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Gimme some love / Gimme some skin", emphasizing the need for physical and emotional connection to others. The lines "You're left with nothing / And nothing's what you've got" show the consequences of not having such connections. Even if one had everything before, without people to share it with, it is meaningless. The idea of how fleeting life can be is touched upon in the lines: "A day's a number / Don't remember how you found it / You will never feel the same."
Overall, "Nothing" expresses the importance of love, connection, and the universal human need for belongingness.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing
Being in a state of nothingness.
And nothing's where you're at
You are left with nothing and nowhere to go.
When you ain't got something
When you don't have what you want or need.
You'll never get it back
What you lose, you can never regain.
It's coming on like a drug
It's a rush of feeling that is addictive.
The universal power of one
The force that connects all things as one.
But it don't mean nothing
It has no value, no meaning, no purpose.
If it all comes undone (uh-huh)
If everything falls apart and fails.
Fly away
Escape, run away, or leave this place.
If you fly away
If you leave and never come back.
You might die today
You might face death or danger when trying to escape.
If you fly
If you escape or leave this place.
Fly
Leave and never look back.
Gimme some love
Give me affection, care, and attention.
Gimme some skin
Give me a hug, a touch, or physical contact.
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
If we don't have love and affection, our lives are empty.
And we ain't got nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
You're left with nothing
You lose everything and are left with nothing.
And nothing's what you've got
Your life is empty, meaningless and has no value.
When you ain't got no-one, no-one
When you don't have anyone in your life.
You could have had the lot
You could have had everything, but you lost it all.
And if it's over today
If everything ends today and it's all gone.
You'll never get that thing you had together, no way
You'll never have what you had before, it's all lost.
You only get it once
You have only one chance, one opportunity in life.
A day's a number
Each day counts and has value, but it's limited.
Don't remember how you found it
Don't forget how you got here or how valuable it is.
You will never feel the same
You will never experience the same thing twice.
And forever have to take
You have to accept what you have and cannot change it.
It for granted, don't remember our mistake
Don't forget how valuable life is or make the same mistakes.
We ain't got nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
Gimme some love
Give me affection, care, and attention.
So gimme some skin
Give me a hug, a touch, or physical contact.
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
If we don't have love and affection, our lives are empty.
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
We ain't got nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
Gimme some love
Give me affection, care, and attention.
So gimme some skin
Give me a hug, a touch, or physical contact.
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
Gimme some love
Give me affection, care, and attention.
So gimme some skin
Give me a hug, a touch, or physical contact.
If we ain't got that then we ain't got much
If we don't have love and affection, our lives are empty.
And we ain't got nothing, nothing
We have nothing, no purpose, no value.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: BRANDON ALY, EDIE ARLISA BRICKELL, JOHN BRADLEY HOUSER, KENNETH NEIL WITHROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind