The band have never had, or have ever seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America and Europe. They tour fairly often on both continents and maintain a dedicated fan base.
The band was formed in 1979 by brothers Rob Wright (bass guitar and vocals) and John Wright (drum set, keyboards and vocals). Their name derives from an anti-date rape slogan. For their first four years the duo's music would seem to be influenced as much by jazz and progressive rock as punk rock. The musical press described their earliest recordings as "Devo on a jazz trip, Motörhead after art school, or Wire on psychotic steroids." NoMeansNo have been credited with being an influence on, and perhaps even the genesis of, math rock.
The brothers Wright began recording as a two-piece in their parents' basement in 1979. These recordings, heard on their first two self-released 7"s, consisted of full rock band arrangements and had a new wave, warped-pop sound, different from subsequent recordings. When, in the early 1980s, the duo began gigging simply with bass, drums and vocals, the present form of their distinct sound slowly took shape. The songs they played in this period are documented on the "Mama" LP (re-released in 2004 on their own Wrong Records.)
In 1984, they added Andy Kerr (who played with John Wright in Infamous Scientists) on guitar and vocals. Kerr preferred pseudonymity and used such pseudonyms as "Buttercup" or "None-Of-Your-Fucking-Business". He brought a distinct hardcore punk edge to the group, and stayed until 1991. He is often erroneously credited for penning the lyrics of NoMeansNo songs on which he sang, perhaps due to deliberately vague liner notes and frequent vocal moonlighting (Kerr sings lead or co-lead vocals on nearly half the songs on Wrong for example). Kerr's vocals were a necessity for a period of time in the 1980s when Rob Wright was recovering from nodules on his vocal cords. While Rob Wright is the band's lyricist and main songwriter, all members have contributed songs to NoMeansNo records, and nearly all their material is credited to the entire band.
Wrong is widely considered the band's best and most representative record ("The playing is incredibly skilled, with the Wright brothers effortlessly shifting tempos and time signatures and Kerr's razor sharp lyrics clicking right into place").
After Kerr's departure, the Wright brothers recorded "Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?" as a duo. They subsequently recruited guitarist Tom Holliston from Showbusiness Giants and The Hanson Brothers, and have continued touring and releasing records, including "Worldhood of the World (as such)", "Dance of the Headless Bourgeoisie", "One", and most recently, "All Roads Lead to Ausfahrt" which was released on August 22, 2006. The album was released by AntAcidAudio in the United States and Southern Records in Europe.
The album "One", released in 2000, featured "two stunning covers that only make sense coming from NoMeansNo": a slow stoner rock-styled version of The Ramones' Beat On The Brat, and rather authentic fifteen-minute version of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, (complete with electric piano and congas) featuring lyrics by Rob.
NoMeansNo initially released records with seminal punk rock record label Alternative Tentacles. This relationship ended in 2002. The band has since been reissuing old albums through Southern Records under their own Wrong Records imprint.
Even their earliest recordings demonstrate impressive instrumental technique ("some of the most complex instrumentation you're ever likely to find in punk rock"). Jazz has been an influence on the group; Rob's basslines have a loping, melodic quality often reminiscent of Charles Mingus, and John's drumming sometimes sounds a bit like Elvin Jones or Art Blakey.
NoMeansNo's output features a seemingly endless flow of "Wright/wrong/right" puns, and significant measures of black humour, with "pointedly warped lyrics", such as on "Dad" from Sex Mad. The song was a minor college radio hit, and has been called "a bit chilling, even though it's spit out at slam-pit's pace". The first person narrator details a rampaging father's physical and sexual abuse, ending with what's been called a "killer end touch—the baldly delivered line 'I'm seriously considering leaving home.'". One critic (while noting the group's "savage intelligence") suggests that NoMeansNo might well be "the secret influence on a fair amount of both early-'90s math rock and emo, what with the barely controlled fervour of the singing and the sudden jerks back and forth in the rhythm section."
Equally striking about the band's back catalogue is their ability to jump from style to style and still maintain their musical identity. They leap from dirge to thrash, complication to simplicity, discordant to melodic and still sound like themselves.
John's drumming style has been mentioned as an influence to others, including Dave Grohl.
NoMeansNo's alter ego is TheHanson Brothers, a quartet with John singing and different drummer. Nearly a Ramones tribute band, the Hanson Brothers play fun punk rock as a mock group of backward Canadian ice hockey fans. The lyrics centre on ice hockey, beer and girls. The name comes from characters in the 1977 George Roy Hill film Slap Shot, starring Paul Newman.
Rob Wright's alter ego is Mr. Wrong, who dresses as an authoritarian priest and often poses with a shotgun. Mr. Wrong is simply Wright on bass and vocals with no other instrumentation. It is rumoured that Wright also plays upright bass in a traditional jazz band who play standards, but he keeps this side of his life fuzzy in interviews.
Tom Holliston released several albums with his band Showbusiness Giants as well as three solo albums.
Andy Kerr and John Wright played in the early 1980s in the Infamous Scientists. Kerr, after leaving NoMeansNo, released a solo CD and collaborated with Victoria musician Scott Henderson in Hissanol. Kerr most recently has begun a duo called Two Pin Din in the Netherlands.
Oh No! Bruno!
NoMeansNo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Too much, but that's alright
Too much, do it ot it
Too much, now do it again
Too much, play for stienes
Too much, play for cash
Too much, put uo or sut up
Oh no! Bruno!
Too much is not enough
Too much, hit hat e nightclubs
Too much, drink champaign
Too much, double bullseye
Too much, do that again
Too much, stay out all night
Too much, but that's alright
Too much, such a big guy
Too much is not enough
Oh no! Bruno!
Too much is not enough
Too much, no escaping
Too much, You've been framed
Too much, the cops are knocking
Too much, no not again!
Oh no! Bruno!
Too much is not enough
Ten..twenty for two..thirty for six
You sonofabitch! Go!
Oh no! Bruno!
Too much, too much, too much, too much
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!
The lyrics to NoMeansNo's song "Oh No! Bruno!" seem to be centered around the theme of excess. The repetition of the phrase "too much" throughout the song is indicative of the idea that the singer (presumably Bruno) is living life to the fullest, and perhaps even to the point of overindulgence. The lyrics mention staying out all night, playing for stakes, drinking champagne, and constant repetition of certain activities, indicating a lifestyle of extreme excess. At the same time, however, the title phrase serves as a warning, implying that Bruno's actions may ultimately lead to his downfall.
Furthermore, the line "too much, put up or shut up" could be interpreted as a challenge to others to either match his level of excess or stay quiet. The final lines of the song punctuate this feeling of frustration and excess with the shouted exclamation "AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!"
It's important to note that the song's lyrics are somewhat open to interpretation, and NoMeansNo themselves have been known to be somewhat cryptic about the meanings behind their songs. However, the themes of excess and frustration seem to be central to the meaning of "Oh No! Bruno!"
Line by Line Meaning
Too much, stay out all night
The person is indulging in too much nightlife and is staying out all night.
Too much, but that's alright
Despite the excessive indulgence, the person finds it acceptable.
Too much, do it or it
The person can't get enough of the indulgence and wants to keep doing it.
Too much, now do it again
The person wants to repeat the excessive behavior again.
Too much, play for stienes
The person is playing for stakes, showing a tendency towards gambling.
Too much, play for cash
The person is indulging in games with monetary bets.
Too much, put up or shut up
The person is ready to take risks and is challenging others to do the same.
Too much is not enough
The person craves extreme indulgence and the current amount is not sufficient.
Oh no! Bruno!
A sudden realization or warning, possibly associated with someone named Bruno.
Too much, hit hat e nightclubs
The person frequents nightclubs excessively.
Too much, drink champaign
The person drinks excessive amounts of champagne.
Too much, double bullseye
The person aims for the highest rewards and is willing to take risks.
Too much, do that again
The person wants to repeat the excessive behavior again.
Too much, such a big guy
The person exhibits a sense of bravado and confidence as a big guy.
Too much, no escaping
The person is trapped in their excessive indulgence and cannot escape it.
Too much, You've been framed
The person is possibly being framed for their excessive behavior.
Too much, the cops are knocking
The person has gone too far and has caught the attention of law enforcement.
Too much, no not again!
The person has experienced negative consequences before and doesn't want to repeat it.
Ten..twenty for two..thirty for six
Possibly related to the stakes of a gambling game, where different amounts earn different rewards.
You sonofabitch! Go!
Directly addressed to someone with a derogatory term, which could possibly be Bruno as referred to earlier.
Too much, too much, too much, too much
The person is emphasizing the extremity of their indulgent behavior.
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!!!
A nonsensical, possibly frustrated exclamation.
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sagan1976
My name is Bruno and I endorse this song.
@countiblis1246
... and with that simple statement all is right with the world.
@MrBardoTube
Too much Is not enough
@ColdBaltBlue
Brunos unite!
@dawidklucz849
Oh nooooooo Bruno ,you can't break our hearts😂❤
@HermanWaldorf
in the book on the oral history of NMN, they explain who Bruno was
@brennand933
Rob Wright is easily the most underrated bassist of all time. His tone and technique are simply unmatched.
@briankooser3203
when the rhythm section grow up together it can make a very real difference in the music...
@michalwlosik3544
Somebody finally make an official chart of the most underrated artists, as it's getting confusing a bit
@Mr.Wrong1
Quite possibly the finest scream recorded on any track. Still makes me laugh to this day