In 1996 the band, now rounded out by Paul Poulos (guitars, backing vocals) and Danny "Jam" Kavadlo (drums), released their first full-length album, Number One, to critical acclaim in both the United States and Europe. Subsequent tours with Type O Negative and Marilyn Manson helped improve the band's notoriety. Within a year, they moved from the independent Mayhem/Fierce record label to a major label, Atlantic Records. Also around this time, Poulos and Kavaldo each made the decision to leave the band.
New members Burton Gans (guitars) and Jeff McManus (drums) joined in time to see an Atlantic rerelease of Number One with new photos, artwork, and, perhaps most obvious of all, spelling; the band's name shifted from "Pist.On" to the "friendlier" spelling "PistOn". The removal of the "." led to endless criticism that the band had "sold out". Under the guise of their new name and label, the band again toured exhaustively. During this time, drummer Jeff McManus was forced into a brief respite for medical reasons, with Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative graciously filling in.
During the years 1996-1997, the band seemed poised for greatness. Their debut album, successful on its face, had been picked up and rereleased by a major label, the band had deep friendships and histories with well-known acts such as Type O Negative, Marilyn Manson, the Misfits, and Queensrÿche, and had energetic new blood in the form of two members. However, the promises and possibilities of this era never panned out, and after a handful of tours and negative reviews, the band was unceremoniously dropped by Atlantic.
1999 saw the release of the band's sophomore effort, $ell.Out, again through Mayhem Records. No stranger to sarcasm, the record is rife with crooked and spiteful poking at the music industry, the band's former label, the press, and, most importantly, the band itself. The album met with lukewarm reviews and sales, and breakup rumors swirled. Jeff McManus then left the band, only to return months later as the band clamored to record and release the 3-song independent Saves EP in the spring of 2001.
Despite the optimism brought on by Saves, the core duo of Pist.On broke apart in late August 2001 when bassist Val Ium decided to leave the band. Though still not officially broken up, the Pist.On camp has been rather silent since.
Band Members
* Henry Font - vocals, guitars
* Val.Ium - bass, backing vocals (1993 - 2001)
* Burton Gans - guitars
* Jeff McManus - drums
* Paul Poulos - guitars, backing vocals (1993 - 1996)
* Danny "Jam" Kavadlo - drums (1993 - 1996)
* Johnny Kelly - drums (fill-in)
Down & Out
Pist.on Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shots from a tower the song of the hour
I have personal hatred for the selfish and jaded
How could this blade taste a part of your shadow?
Down and out..
Down and out..
She begs at my ankles at feeds on my bowels
I cant take this pressure, this timeless adventure
Something keeps tickling
I cant fucking think!
400miles from home
I wanna be alone
400miles from home
I wanna be alone
Down and out..
Down and out..
The lyrics of Pist.on's song "Down & Out" are packed with raw emotion and gritty imagery. The song starts with a commentary on the difficulty of change, especially for those who are lazy and sleazy. This sentiment is juxtaposed with the violence of gunshots from a tower, giving the impression of a world in turmoil. The vocalist then reveals a personal anger towards selfish and jaded individuals, questioning how they can live with themselves. The line "How could this blade taste a part of your shadow?" is particularly haunting, as it suggests an act of violence which may have been committed against someone who was once close.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Down and out," adds to the feeling of defeat and hopelessness conveyed by the lyrics. The second verse paints a picture of physical and psychological pain, with the singer describing his throbbing temples and a sense of something "tickling" him. The image of someone begging at his ankles and feeding on his bowels adds to the grotesque and unsettling atmosphere of the song. The final lines, "400 miles from home, I wanna be alone," suggest a desire to escape from whatever is causing this mental and physical anguish, but also a feeling of being trapped or isolated.
Overall, "Down & Out" is a bleak and intense song that explores the darker side of human nature. The lyrics seem to touch on themes of violence, alienation, and existential angst, and the music matches this mood with heavy riffs and pounding drums. It's a song that demands attention and provokes a strong emotional response in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Change dosent come easy for lazy and sleazy
People who are lazy and dishonest have a tough time changing their ways.
Shots from a tower the song of the hour
Gunshots fired from a tower create a mood of panic and frenzy.
I have personal hatred for the selfish and jaded
The songwriter despises people who are only concerned with themselves and cynical about everything else.
How could this blade taste a part of your shadow?
This line is a metaphor for how the singer is experiencing some kind of emotional turmoil and doesn't understand how they got into this situation.
I cant feel my temples this throbbing entangles
The singer is experiencing a headache that's causing them distress.
She begs at my ankles at feeds on my bowels
This line could be taken literally, describing a woman who's crawling on the ground and feeding on the singer's organs. But it's more likely a metaphor for someone who's taking advantage of the singer and feeding off their vulnerability.
I cant take this pressure, this timeless adventure
The singer can't handle the stress of their situation, which feels like it's been going on forever.
Something keeps tickling
The singer is feeling a sense of unease and discomfort that they can't shake.
I cant fucking think!
The singer is so overwhelmed by their emotions that they're unable to think clearly.
400miles from home
The singer is far from home, which may explain some of their feelings of loneliness and despair.
I wanna be alone
The singer wants to be left alone to deal with their own problems.
Down and out..
The phrase 'down and out' is a colloquialism that describes someone who's in a bad situation with no hope of getting out.
Contributed by Grace R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tortuga tortuga
One of the most underrated bands ever!
Serene Chaos UK
First heard this song, on any Pist.On track for that matter through the 'Brutal Bunch 4' CD that came free with Metal hammer in Xmas 1996. I was intrigued with their ability to make music that was loud, aggressive + bleak, yet simultaneously harmonic, resonant + loosely 'ethereal'. They should have been bigger considering such versalility; they appeal to both contrary sensibilities.
Richard Teggert
@GingerPimpernel I thought that was a glitch when it did that, just repeated this song over and over in the Syndicate Wars demo. I loved it either way.
Gareth Williams
@GingerPimpernel It was like it was perfectly choreographed to fit the intro to the game :D
Serene Chaos UK
@Greg in whatever varied shape or form !
GingerPimpernel
Every time I hear the opening chord to this song, my brain sees the big sweep over the city from Syndicate Wars.
Serene Chaos UK
@Slave to Darkness still remember; Sullen, NY Loose, Stuck Mojo, COF, Earth Crisis, Laberinto, Floodgate, Cathedral, etc !
Hurlelune
Even though I have a great respect towards Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly, you got to admit that Josh was the one behind the unique sound of Type O and Pist.On
dingo1666
One of the best songs ever!
Sam Wray
One of the most underrated bands in my opinion. Henry and Val's vocals were just perfect together.