Originating from the Erlangen/Nuernberg area of Germany, their first real public performance was at an annual punk rock festival in their hometown, along with other local bands. After the show, they were offered several slots as support acts for more established bands all over Germany.
In May 1994, they released their debut EP, Beware, Poisonous! on their own Oxyfactory Records label. The EP was soon reissued by Helen of Oi! Records in October of that year, which led to a full-length album deal. While recording Fuck The Nineties—Here’s Our Noize, bassist Filzlaus left the band, and was eventually replaced by a friend, Arne. Helen of Oi! Records originally released the album on vinyl in May 1995, and re-released it on CD in the United States in February 1996.
Following the release of Fuck The Nineties—Here’s Our Noize, which received great underground reviews, Oxymoron began to tour across Germany as well as in Europe. They band released a split EP with english band Braindance, entitled Mohican Melodies in September 1995. Oxymoron released the Crisis Identity EP in March 1996 on Arne’s short-lived Rough Beat Records label, and the band appeared on Helen Of Oi!’s Streetpunk Worldwide compilation EP in the same year. They also embarked on their first US tour, along the east coast with Braindance and The Casualties. Also in 1996, Oxymoron made the jump to the German Knock-Out Records label, which released the band's second full-length, The Pack Is Back, in April 1997. The release was followed by more touring in Europe, as well as a three-week summer tour in Japan with The Discocks. Oxymoron established themselves well in the American and German punk scene as an anti-racist streetpunk band.
In 1998, several tours were cancelled, Sucker had to be hospitalized for nerve damage, and Arne decided to leave the band just weeks before they were to head back into the studio. They released a split with Dropkick Murphys titled Irish Stout vs. German Lager. Chrissy, who temporarily had been a second guitarist and had played bass on the first US tour, stepped in on bass. March 1999 saw the release of the mini-album, Westworld, and was followed by more touring of Europe as well as a seven-week coast-to-coast US tour with Dropkick Murphys and the Ducky Boys. Chrissy left the band after the tour and was quickly replaced by Morpheus.
In October 2000, Oxymoron released a compilation album, Best Before 2000, which included all previous 7” singles, along with tracks from previous compilations. November 2001 marked the release of the Savage Output EP, which included three tracks from their upcoming full-length along and one unreleased track. Their third full-length album, Feed The Breed was also released in November 2001, and was followed by a six-week coast-to-coast US tour, as well as a European/German tour.
Martin, decided to leave the band, which led to Chrissy stepping in on guitar. They eventually found a replacement guitarist, but he left in the middle of the 2002 US tour. The band’s driver, Davey, filled the void for the remainder of the tour, and also on the following European tour.
While not announcing an official breakup, Oxymoron has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2002, when Oxymoron announced: "In the near future you won't hear much from us. Oxymoron will have a break for a while! We'll let you know what's going on here, but first of all we definitely [need to] take some time off with the band." In 2005 they reported that "the band is still on ice." 2006 saw the release of somewhat new material in the Noize Overdose split EP with Bonecrusher. The EP contained previously unreleased tracks, along with live footage from a 1999 Hamburg, Germany concert. 2006 also marked the release of the first album of Sucker’s solo project, Bad Co. Project, entitled Sucker Stories.
Current members
Sucker: Vocals (1992-Present)
Bjoern: Drums (1992-Present)
Morpheus: Bass (1999-Present)
Former members
Filzlaus: Bass (1992-1994)
Martin: Guitar (1992-2001)
Arne: Bass (1995-1998)
Chrissy: Bass (1996 US Tour, 1998-1999)
Chrissy: Guitar (2001)
Unknown Member: Guitar (Played for part of 2002 US Tour)
Davey: Guitar (2002)
Insane
Oxymoron Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't make headway with this pressure at all
My mind's upset I gotta get away
And jam the gearing of the whole machine
The people who suffer to get uniformed
Are wimps who needn't complain anymore
When they discover what's happened to their lives
They're gonna pay the fucking price
You make me sick, you drive me insane
You're gonna take my mind away
But I'm not scared of what you do
What the fuck is wrong with you?
You drive me insane, my back's to the wall
I can't make headway with this pressure at all
You declare me a yob but don't figure out
That I ain't gonna end up being so fooled
It seems that your mission is to blind-fold the crowd
As brainless masses can't complain anymore
And you create a new hoax everyday
While human brains keep rucking dying
Insane, go away, I gotta get out
Better get away with you
The lyrics in Oxymoron's song "Insane" express the frustration and anger of the singer who feels trapped and powerless in their situation. The repeated refrain "You drive me insane, my back's to the wall" illustrates a feeling of being cornered and unable to escape. The pressure and stress of the situation are overwhelming, and the singer wishes to "get away" and break free from the constraints that are holding them down.
The second verse takes aim at those in positions of power who perpetrate lies and hoaxes on the masses, not allowing them to think for themselves. The singer sees through the guise of control and manipulation, calling out those who blindly follow and brand others as "yobs" or troublemakers. The anger and frustration build until the final line where the singer screams for the source of their restraint to "go away".
Overall, "Insane" is a song that speaks to feeling trapped and constrained by external forces, as well as the anger that can come from such a situation. The singer bravely stands up against the lies and manipulation and demands the right to break free and live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
You drive me insane, my back's to the wall
The pressure you're putting on me is causing me distress and I'm at a loss for what to do.
I can't make headway with this pressure at all
This pressure is inhibiting my ability to make progress or find a way out.
My mind's upset I gotta get away
This situation is making me incredibly anxious and I need to escape.
And jam the gearing of the whole machine
I want to disrupt and sabotage the system that's causing these problems.
The people who suffer to get uniformed
Those who conform to societal expectations are weak and don't realize the consequences of their actions.
Are wimps who needn't complain anymore
They've given up their right to complain because they've accepted the status quo.
When they discover what's happened to their lives
They will realize the negative impacts of conforming to societal pressures.
They're gonna pay the fucking price
Their actions have consequences and they will suffer the consequences of their choices.
You make me sick, you drive me insane
Your actions are causing me to feel disgusted and overwhelmed with stress.
You're gonna take my mind away
Your actions are causing me so much stress that I feel like I'm losing my mind.
But I'm not scared of what you do
I refuse to be intimidated by your actions or the pressure you're putting on me.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Your actions and behavior are totally irrational and incomprehensible to me.
You declare me a yob but don't figure out
You label me as an undesirable, but you fail to understand why I act the way I do.
That I ain't gonna end up being so fooled
I refuse to be brainwashed or fooled by societal expectations or pressure.
It seems that your mission is to blind-fold the crowd
You're trying to deceive and manipulate people into conforming to societal expectations.
As brainless masses can't complain anymore
You're trying to silence and control people by making them feel powerless and without a voice.
And you create a new hoax everyday
You are constantly creating new lies or false narratives to reinforce societal expectations and manipulate people.
While human brains keep rucking dying
Your actions are leading to the degradation of human thought and the crumbling of individuals' identities and mental health.
Insane, go away, I gotta get out
This situation is intolerable and I need to escape or find a way out.
Better get away with you
It's in my best interest to remove myself from this situation and your negative influence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ACE FREHLEY, GENE MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Biochemist Ateo
Legendary band for punk souls
mariel !!!
You drive me insane, my back's to the wall
I can't make headway with this pressure at all
My mind's upset I gotta get away
And jam the gearing of the whole machine
The people who suffer to get uniformed
Are wimps who needn't complain anymore
When they discover what's happened to their lives
They're gonna pay the fucking price
You make me sick, you drive me insane
You're gonna take my mind away
But I'm not scared of what you do
What the fuck is wrong with you?
You drive me insane, my back's to the wall
I can't make headway with this pressure at all
You declare me a yob but don't figure out
That I ain't gonna end up being so fooled
It seems that your mission is to blind-fold the crowd
As brainless masses can't complain anymore
And you create a new hoax everyday
While human brains keep rucking dying
Insane, go away, I gotta get out
Better get away with you
petra atonomy
this is chill punk you always want with a joint and a drive to get fries.
grimreaper119
love this song
Spiritual Nick
Still insane.
MathisWops
oxymoron is sick and this song is sick!
Autism Social Cast
This goes out to 18 year old prodigies burnt out at 30.