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.
Pressure
Negative Approach Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too many things are too extreme
There's too much shit, too many schemes
It never makes sense, it's just a hype
Forget about it, live your own life
Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure
Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure
The lyrics of Negative Approach's song Pressure deal with the idea of feeling overwhelmed and under intense pressure. The repeated use of the word pressure emphasizes the intensity and severity of this feeling, leaving the listener with a sense of urgency and desperation. The opening line "I can't take this pressure" establishes the theme of the song, with the repetition making it clear that the feeling is all-encompassing and inescapable.
The second verse delves into some of the causes of this pressure, with the lyrics "too many things are too extreme, there's too much shit, too many schemes". Here, the song seems to be commenting on the state of the world and the various pressures and stresses that come with modern life. The reference to schemes suggests a more insidious force that is causing anxiety and uncertainty. The line "it never makes sense, it's just a hype" suggests that much of what is causing this pressure is superficial and unnecessary, adding to the general feeling of overwhelm.
The final line of the chorus "forget about it, live your own life" suggests a possible solution to this pressure: to focus on oneself and one's own goals, rather than the constantly shifting and often meaningless pressures of the outside world. Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the perils of modern life and the struggle to remain centered in the face of intense pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't take this pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure
I am overwhelmed and cannot handle the excessive stress and demands of the situation.
Too many things are too extreme
There are too many extreme elements to deal with, making the situation unbearable.
There's too much shit, too many schemes
There are too many issues and deceptive plans that complicate the situation.
It never makes sense, it's just a hype
The situation is irrational and lacks any logical reasoning. It's only a temporary phase of overblown excitement.
Forget about it, live your own life
One should disregard this situation and focus on their own path in life.
Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure
Reiterating the intense and overwhelming pressure of the situation.
Pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure
Reiterating the intense and overwhelming pressure of the situation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: PIERRE BAIGORRY, FRANK ALLESSA DELLE, JEROME BUGNON, TOBIAS CORDES, VINCENT GRAF VON SCHLIPPENBACH, SEBASTIAN KRAJEWSKI, RUEDIGER KUSSEROW, TORSTEN REIBOLD, MORITZ SCHUMACHER, ALFRED TROWERS, DEMBA WENDT NABE, KENDALL REY JONES, ANGELO MOORE, ANGELO CHRIS
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