Following the demise of the critically and commercially successful Jane's Addiction project, frontman Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros after acquiring guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNoble. Farrell named the band after viewing an ad for fireworks in a pornographic magazine. The name has also been connected through song lyrics to the LA riots which occurred in the band's hometown around the time of Porno for Pyros inception. Prior to releasing their eponymous first album, Porno for Pyros embarked on a nationwide tour to support the new band. By the time the band's debut album (Porno for Pyros) was released in 1993, anticipation surrounding the project was enough to briefly drive the album to the #3 position on the Billboard top 200 list. Reaction to the album was mixed, with some fans ecstatic and others disappointed. The video for the album's first single, "Pets," received heavy airplay on MTV. Following the album's release, Porno for Pyros continued a heavy touring schedule, including an appearance at Woodstock '94. Unlike the relatively straight-ahead rock shows that were the hallmark of live Jane's Addiction, Porno for Pyros live shows relied heavily on props, extras and special-effects (including, but not limited to, pyrotechnics).
For the band's follow-up album, Good God's Urge, bass player LeNoble quit after completing the majority of the bass tracks. Ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt was brought in to finish up the album tracks and join the band on tour. The album also featured the post-Jane's Addiction reunion of Farrell with guitarist Dave Navarro, who made a guest appearance on "Freeway," along with Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass player Flea. The band again set forth on a heavy touring schedule. On several tour stops Porno for Pyros played "Mountain Song," a popular Jane's Addiction tune, and was a foreshadowing of the later Jane's Addiction reunion efforts. Further touring by the band was scuttled when DiStefano was diagnosed with cancer in 1997.
Perkins and Watt subsequently formed the punk jazz improvisation group Banyan and, along with DiStefano, occasionally perform sets of the Stooges cover versions in the Los Angeles area under the band name Hellride.
The Jane's Addiction/Porno for Pyros book Whores (by Brendan Mullen) states that a third Porno for Pyros album was penned but never recorded.
In April 2009, the original lineup of Farrell, Perkins, DiStefano, and LeNoble performed at Farrell's 50th birthday party.
Freeway
Porno For Pyros Lyrics
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I'm on the freeway
Rain's so hard the sky's one color
The wettest coldest grey
Then she takes a look at me
I tell her it's O.K.
Driving around with her
She's taking trips on me
Left the sunset back in Cenice
I was on the freeway
Say you love me or I'll kill us!
But you won't say it
Reach across the seat
And push the bucket back all the way
Driving around with her
She's taking trips on me
I'm taking trips on her
I fell in love with her
I just don't mention it
To fall in love this much
It's very dangerous
She makes me so jealous
I want to kill us both...
Left the sunset back in Venice
I was on the freeway
Say you love me or i'll kill us!
But you won't say it
Reach across the seat? Push the bucket back all the way
Driving around with her
She's taking trips on me
I'm taking trips on her
I fell in love with her
I just don't mention it
To fall in love this much
It's very dangerous
I want to kill us both...
She makes me so jealous!
She makes me so jealous!
It's very dangerous
It's very dangerous
It's very dangerous
It's very dangerous
It's very dangerous!
The lyrics to Porno For Pyros's song Freeway describe a romantic and dangerous road trip experience. The song begins with the singer driving on the freeway in the rain, with the only color in the sky being the wet and cold grey. Then a woman comes into the picture, and he reassures her that everything is okay. They start to drive around together, taking "trips" on each other. The singer is clearly infatuated with this woman, but he's afraid to express his love for her.
As the song progresses, the couple leaves the sunset in Venice behind, and the intensity of their feelings escalates. The woman demands that the singer declares his love, threatening to harm them both if he won't. He still can't find the courage to do so, and instead they continue to bask in the dangerous excitement of their passion. The lyrics end with the singer expressing his intense jealousy, which makes him want to kill them both.
Overall, the lyrics of "Freeway" convey a sense of danger, desire, and fear that often come hand in hand when embarking on a new love affair. The rain and grey skies of the freeway reflect the turmoil in the singer's emotions, and the threat of death is a reminder that love can be both exhilarating and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't been twelve a couple of hours
It hasn't even been half a day
I'm on the freeway
I'm driving on the highway
Rain's so hard the sky's one color
It's raining so hard that everything looks gray
The wettest coldest grey
It's a really dreary day
Then she takes a look at me
Then my passenger looks at me
I tell her it's O.K.
I reassure her that everything is fine
Driving around with her
We're driving together
She's taking trips on me
She's enjoying the drive with me
I'm taking trips on her
I'm enjoying the drive with her
Left the sunset back in Cenice
The sunset was behind us when we left Venice
Say you love me or I'll kill us!
Express your love for me or else it will be dangerous for us
But you won't say it
But you won't express your love for me
Reach across the seat
I reach over to her side
And push the bucket back all the way
And adjust the seat all the way back
I fell in love with her
I have developed romantic feelings for her
I just don't mention it
I'm keeping my feelings a secret
To fall in love this much
To love someone this intensely
It's very dangerous
It can be risky
She makes me so jealous
I feel envious of her
I want to kill us both...
I'm feeling overwhelmed by my emotions
It's very dangerous
It can be risky
It's very dangerous
It can be risky
It's very dangerous
It can be risky
It's very dangerous
It can be risky
It's very dangerous!
It's extremely risky!
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: PERRY FARRELL, PETER DISTEFANO, STEPHEN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind