An early version of the band formed in 1981 under the name From Eden; members included Clint Mansell, Adam Mole, Chris Fradgley, Malcolm Treece and Miles Hunt . Graham Crabb was recruited (Graham being the only respondant to replace the 'piss poor' Miles Hunt on drums). After From Eden splintered into two bands (Treece and Hunt went on to form The Wonder Stuff) Mansell, Crabb & Mole formed Wild and Wandering, recruiting Richard March on bass. They eventually became Pop Will Eat Itself in 1986, taking the name from a quote in an NME article about Pop 'eating itself' suggesting that popular music continues to recycle ideas.
The band honed their songwriting skills with a string of catchy two-minute pop songs released on EPs both as Wild and Wandering and Pop Will Eat Itself. With the help of DJ John Peel, these EPs saw some airplay and enjoyed some popularity among university students. After the band feared they had accomplished all they could with their sound, they found new influences in hip hop acts such as the Beastie Boys, Run DMC and Public Enemy. Graham soon dropped the drum sticks for a mic and was replaced by a drum machine called "Dr. Nightmare." Their style continued to develop with classics such as "There Is No Love Between Us Anymore' and the anthemic "Def Con One". As a result, PWEI were signed to major label RCA and they achieved top 40 hits with "Can U Dig It?" and "Wise Up! Sucker" off the album This Is the Day…This Is the Hour…This Is This!
RCA's larger studio budget allowed the band to develop its potential further, and they released 3 successful albums on that label. The first two (…This is This! and Cure for Sanity) were recorded with the aid of legendary producer Flood, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, U2 and many other popular 90s groups. Cure for Sanity was perhaps PWEI's most experimental album, with a more electronic sound than previous efforts. RCA, meanwhile, was more interested chart success and so wanted the band to cut the lengthy instrumentals from their songs.
On 1992's The Looks or The Lifestyle, the band recruited a live drummer to complement their standard array of loops and pre-programmed drums and brought back some live guitars. The record was their most commercial and polished work to date, and was arguably the Poppies' high point, featuring top 20 hits like 'Karmadrome' and 'Bulletproof.' The single 'Get the Girl! Kill the Baddies!' registered as the band's biggest hit in January 1993. By this point, RCA had already grown tired of PWEI's stuborness and dropped them before the single was even released (the song went on to peak at 9 in the UK singles chart). Because of this, the band became the first ever to perform on Top of the Pops without being on a record label. The British National Party had recently caused an uproar in Tower Hamlets by winning a council seat, and it looked possible that the UK would see a revival in far right politics. In response to this, The Looks or the Lifestyle introduced a hitherto understated political angle, as the album inlay used the "red arrow" emblem of the Anti Nazi League and offered the organisation's address.
Getting dropped from RCA turned out to be a blessing for the Poppies, as the label agreed to write off the massive debts that the band had accumulated in studio fees in return for PWEI's back catalogue. After a minor bidding war, the Poppies decided to sign to Infectious Records, a label recently started by friend Korda Marshell (who had signed them to RCA in the first place but had since left the label) that offered them the artistic freedom they required.
PWEI maintained their stubbornly "cartoon like" image, despite producing thoughtful and often surprisingly dark tracks (for instance "Wake Up! Time To Die!", "88 Seconds", and "Mother").
PWEI's political stance became more explicit with the release of the single "Ich Bin Ein Auslander." A collaboration with Asian group Fun-Da-Mental, the song was scathing attack on the far right and the apathy that seemed to greet its resurgence. A different version of this song later appeared as the opening track on the 1994 album, Dos Dedos Mis Amigos.
By this time the band had toned down its garish public persona and veered off in a new and more industrial-based direction with the aid of long time fan Trent Reznor. Many fans were upset that the 'Is everybody happy?!' pogoing Poppies were gone and put off by the new direction, but the band found new popularity after signing with Reznor's Nothing Records in the US and touring with Nine Inch Nails, as well as having their songs used on the Playstation game 'Loaded'.
The following year the band released the Dos Dedos remix album Two Fingers My Friends which featured remixes by The Orb, Apollo 440, Renegade Soundwave and many more. It was about this time that Graham Crabb left the band and they recruited 'The Buzzard' of Yeah! God (who had recorded 'wild guitar' on previous albums but was never a full time member) and Clint took over full vocal duties. The band continued down the industrial route and were still recording and touring until 1996, even recording a collaboration with Orbital. Unfortunately, the band took a break before finishing production of their next album with Trent Reznor, and while not officially splitting, failed to complete the work citing boredom and musical differences. One track from this period was released, a cover of Gary Numan's "Friends," and provides some indication of the band's direction at the time.
A reunion of sorts happened in 2005 when the members performed eight gigs in the UK. Demos were also recorded during this time. However, Clint Mansell and Richard March were unable to continue with the reformation, and the remaining members have decided to pursue what the reformed PWEI started under the name Vileevils.
On February 23, 2010, a press release was issued to those on the dPulse Recordings mailing list, stating that Crabb would be discontinuing work on the Vileevils project, to concentrate on reviving Pop Will Eat Itself with a new PWEI album, new band and tour dates to be announced. On 11 May 2010, PWEI released the "Axe of Men 2010" single on a CD/DVD combination, featuring "Axe of Men 2010", a remastered "Sonic Noise Byte", and a DVD with Vileevils material.
In July 2011, a new line-up was announced, featuring Graham Crabb as the only original member, and Mary Byker undertaking co-vocalist duties. On October 3rd 2011 the album, New Noise Designed By A Sadist, was released on Cooking Vinyl, followed by a UK tour.
TBC
Inject Me
Pop Will Eat Itself Lyrics
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The lyrics of Pop Will Eat Itself's song Inject Me paint a picture of a person who feels lost and disconnected from the world. The opening lines, "I'm the boy without a soul, no hot love, no worldly goal," suggest a sense of hopelessness and lack of purpose. The repeated line "Inject me, inject me" can be interpreted in different ways - as a plea for love or as a desire for escape through drugs or some other means.
The next few lines describe a state of confusion and disorientation - the person can see but can't feel their way, and their mind is distracted by refracted light. They feel disengaged and inactive, like they're not really there. The references to sci-fi and the "posistronic ray" suggest a desire to escape into a different reality, to find a place where they can belong.
The chorus, with its repeated "Inject me, inject me" and references to "use" and "abuse," suggests a desire to be controlled or even abused. The final lines, "I'm yours, inject me, inject me," suggest a willingness to give up control entirely.
Overall, the lyrics of Inject Me paint a bleak picture of a person who feels disconnected, hopeless, and desperate for something to give their life meaning. The repeated refrain of "Inject me" can be interpreted in a number of ways, from a plea for love to a desire for escape, but the overall feeling is one of surrender and submission.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the boy without a soul, No hot love, no worldly goal, Inject me, inject me
Feeling empty and purposeless, I am willing to do anything to feel something, even if it means injecting myself.
Cut the lights, and shut the doors, Use, abuse, take me I'm yours, Inject me, inject me...
I am vulnerable and willing to be used and abused by anyone. I am desperate to feel anything, so I am pleading for someone to inject me.
I can see a blur but I just can't feel my way, Sometimes I feel I'm just not real, My head's in disarray, I've no ambition and no direction Can't face today, today;
I feel disconnected from reality and can't find my way in life. I lack purpose and motivation and am struggling to face each day.
My mind's distracted by the light refracted... I drift offworld to avoid detection, Disengaged, A.W.O.L., inactive,
I am easily distracted and escape reality to avoid being noticed. I am emotionally disengaged and inaccessible to others.
Got to fix this empty head 'cause life's a bitch and then you're dead, Inject me, inject me...
I need to fill this void in my head because life is tough and short. I am desperate for someone to inject me with anything.
Obscene white light, too bright, too frightening, My friend, my bed's inviting, Time's elastic and passions are plastic In the land of quicksand: the psyche fantastic
The overwhelming brightness of reality scares me, so I escape to my bed. Time is flexible and my emotions are artificial in this imaginary world.
I'm on top of the world, can you see that far? Ha! Ha! Look at me Ma! I can fly as high as the sky, I am sci-fi! You care to say, "Hi!"...I say bye-bye
In my fantasy world, I am invincible and can achieve anything. I mock anyone who doesn't believe in me, and I isolate myself from reality even further.
My positronic ray will blast the day away So be warned! I'm surfin' the dead zone, And keep you all at bay.
I have a destructive force that I can use to fend off anyone who tries to interact with me. I am completely cut off from reality and living in a destructive world of my own making.
In the twilight, unknown, Singin' my own imaginary songs to hum alng to. A sex goddess, all mine, to belong to... You can play it for her, you can play it for me,
In my own imaginary world, I sing and create my own music to keep myself company. I envision having a beautiful partner who is completely devoted to me, and I don't care who else hears my music.
I'm the boy without a soul, A dream melody to resurrect me... Inject me, inject me... No hot love, no worldly goal, Cut the lights, and shut the doors, Use, abuse, take me I'm yours, Inject me, inject me...
I am completely empty inside and need something to lift me up. Anything is better than living in this emotional void. I am still begging for someone to inject me, even if I know it's wrong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GRAHAM CHARLES CRABB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind