Created in 1978 by Peter (vocals) and Del (vocals and guitar) in Peter's Dads garage in Peacehaven, Sussex, their early gigs were fun filled events with electrifying tunes and plenty of entertainment. Harmless humour of those early gigs was captured on their debut album, "Pissed And Proud". From those early gems, the Test Tubes just got better and better. The next crop of songs, "Jinx", "Blown Out Again" and "September" all featured on "The Mating Sounds Of South American Frogs", which stayed at number one for four months at the top of the independent charts. A US tour followed, climaxing with a 4,000 capacity sell out show at the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium.
The Test Tubes first US domestic release, "Soberphobia", is probably one of their finest moments. The use of keyboards and sax on some tracks may not have been what people expected but it worked a treat. The much sought after CDs "Cringe" and "The $Hit Factory" again proved the Test Tubes unpredictability in the early '90s.
The mid '90s saw the release of "Supermodels" and the departure from the band of originals 'Trapper' and 'Ogs' (bass and drums). The band brought in fresh blood. Local hero's, Rum and AD, on bass and drums respectively joined to promote the 'Supermodels' album. The band then went on a 25 date tour of Germany, Holland and Switzerland.
On their 20th anniversary in 1998 the band flew to Germany to record the "Alien Pubduction" album, their first with AD and Rum. The band also undertook a massive US and Canadian tour that lasted five weeks, lots of UK gigs and of course the annual German Christmas tour.
Rum & AD quit in 1999 due to the punishing tour schedule. Paul 'H' Henrickson, known to the band and a Brighton stalwart, took over on bass and Dave 'Caveman' 'O'Brien' was soon added behind, and sometimes on top of, the drum kit . The band hit the road again with renewed vigour touring repeatedly throughout the UK, Germany, Ireland, USA, France, Australia, New Zealand and making an impact on the summer festival circuits.
In 2005, after a seven year hiatus in the studio, the band released "A Foot Full of Bullets", recorded at Ford Lane Studios, Ford, West Sussex. The album was definitely worth the long wait demonstrating a familiar core sound matched with smart self assurance gained from decades of experience. Storming on with characteristic vigour, the Test Tubes gained praise as "the best band of the weekend" (Lars Friedrickson) at the WASTED festival before closing the year with the annual German Xmas Tour 2005. A remix of "A Foot Full of Bullets" was produced with contributions from Campino (Die Toten Hosen) and Olga (The Toy Dolls) at the start of 2006. "For a Few Bullets More".
Peter and the Test Tube Babies continue to tour and perform at festivals across the globe and remain one of the best punk bands to come out of Europe. See them live if you ever get the chance and check they're gig listings for all the latest show news and events!!
Disco
Peter & The Test Tube Babies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I strangle and kill any children I find.
I like meeting people when they're dead.
I take some of them back to bed.
I'm a maniac, insaniac
I'm a maniac, are you a maniac too?
Seducing people on telephone lines.
I like little girls of nine or ten.
I love making love to them.
I'm a maniac, insaniac
I'm a maniac, are you a maniac too?
Setting light to dogs and cats.
Breaking into old ladies flats.
Why is everyone laughing at me?
Why is everyone laughing at me?
It is important to note that the lyrics of Peter & The Test Tube Babies's song Disco are meant to be taken as satire and not to be taken literally. The song is a commentary on society's fascination with twisted and disturbing behavior. The lyrics paint the picture of a deranged individual who enjoys stalking and murdering children, and engaging in various other sadistic acts such as eating spiders and seducing people over the phone. The singer, who describes themselves as a maniac and insaniac, revels in their perverse desires and sees nothing wrong with their actions.
The chorus of the song, "I'm a maniac, insaniac / I'm a maniac, are you a maniac too?", is meant to highlight how the media often glorifies and sensationalizes psychopathic behavior, leading some individuals to believe that being a "maniac" is something to aspire to. The final lines of the song, "Why is everyone laughing at me?", suggest that the character is either delusional or trying to justify their behavior by seeking validation from others.
Overall, Disco is a commentary on how society's fascination with violence and insanity can lead to a dangerous and twisted mindset.
Line by Line Meaning
I creep down alleys and peep through blinds.
I am a voyeuristic stalker who enjoys looking through people's windows and lurking in alleyways.
I strangle and kill any children I find.
I am a violent psychopath who murders innocent children.
I like meeting people when they're dead.
I am attracted to corpses and enjoy being around dead bodies.
I take some of them back to bed.
I have a fetish for necrophilia and engage in sexual acts with dead bodies.
I'm a maniac, insaniac
I am a mentally unstable individual who exhibits erratic and unpredictable behavior.
I'm a maniac, are you a maniac too?
I am reaching out to others who may share my same deranged tendencies.
Catching, eating spiders and flies.
I engage in bizarre and repulsive behavior such as consuming insects.
Seducing people on telephone lines.
I harass and manipulate individuals over the phone for my own twisted pleasure.
I like little girls of nine or ten.
I am a pedophile who is sexually attracted to prepubescent girls.
I love making love to them.
I engage in sexual acts with young girls, which is a heinous and illegal crime.
Setting light to dogs and cats.
I am a cruel and sadistic person who derives pleasure from harming animals.
Breaking into old ladies flats.
I am a criminal who invades the privacy and safety of elderly women for my own gain.
Why is everyone laughing at me?
I am aware that my behavior is deviant and socially unacceptable, yet I do not understand why people find it amusing.
Why is everyone laughing at me?
I am aware that my behavior is deviant and socially unacceptable, yet I do not understand why people find it amusing.
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Menace1979
Love this band!
Ronnie Young
Still magic!!!
Serge Rentsch
yes, it kind of get(s) -got me to da disco understanding:thank you p&ttb!
Tommy Mason
hell yeah!
Georgi Todorov
[iminent=RsnazlR59l2] great band