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.
Black Girlfriend
Porno for Pyros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I really wanted
Was a black girlfriend
They don't play around
They're hard enough
To keep any man in lineb
Thinking of my pale white skin
Thinking of her dark and smooth
(My black girlfriend) My black girlfriend
Black girlfriend
Saw her on the corner
Whre she lived, I asked her
Can you braid my hair?
She and her girlfriends
Laughed at me, said that
It was easy but it'll cost you some
Looking out her window
It's so exciting and foreign
But i'm staying
With my black girlfriend
Drivin' thru the 'hood
In my Chevy Nova '62
My arm around my
Little black girl
People on the corner
Looking in my car
Wanna do me
Cos I won't give back
My little black girl
Do you wanna come on in?
Do you wanna eat some?
Meet my family?
My black girlfriend
My black girlfriend
Ever since the riots
All I really wanted
Was a black girlfriend
The lyrics to Porno For Pyros's song Black Girlfriend express the fascination and desire of the singer for a black girlfriend after a period of riots. The lyrics reflect the singer's ignorance of the significant racial and social differences that exist. The singer acknowledges that black women don't play around, they're hard enough to keep any man in line, and this trait appeals to the singer, who believes that he needs such a woman to keep him in check. The singer has an attraction towards his new lover's dark and smooth skin, which is a stark contrast to his own light complexion.
The lyrics speak of the singer's lack of experience in the African American community and the assumptions he makes from afar. The singer is fascinated by the black girlfriend’s corner and the excitement of the foreign environment. However, the singer decides to stay with his black girlfriend, utterly smitten by her, even if it means facing the criticisms and mocking of her girlfriends. The final verse describes the singer driving through the ghetto in his Chevy with his black girlfriend, facing the scrutiny of the people on the corner.
The song Black Girlfriend has an underlying message that highlights the singer's ignorance towards the plight of the African American community. The lyrics could be interpreted as objectifying black women, portraying them as objects of fascination for white men who view them as exotic creatures. However, the singer's fascination and admiration for black women are undeniable in the song, which could be seen as a positive aspect.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since the riots
The riots made me realize that I want a black girlfriend
All I really wanted
My ultimate desire
Was a black girlfriend
Is a romantic partner who is black in ethnicity
They don't play around
Black women don't mess around
They're hard enough
Black women are strong-willed
To keep any man in line
Black women can keep a man in check and are assertive
Thinking of my pale white skin
Pondering about the contrast between our skin colors
Thinking of her dark and smooth
Describing the texture and color of her skin
She against me
Physical intimacy with her
(My black girlfriend) My black girlfriend
Addressing her as a term of endearment
Black girlfriend
Affectionate reference to her
Saw her on the corner
Encountered her in a specific location
Where she lived, I asked her
Inquiring about her dwelling
Can you braid my hair?
Request to have a hairstyle done by her
She and her girlfriends
Her female companions
Laughed at me, said that
Mocked me and commented that
It was easy but it'll cost you some
Acknowledging the simplicity but requesting compensation
Looking out her window
Observing the view through her window
It's so exciting and foreign
Feeling excitement and unfamiliarity
But I'm staying
Committing to the relationship
With my black girlfriend
Being with my beloved black partner
Driving through the 'hood
Cruising through my neighborhood
In my Chevy Nova '62
In a classic car model from 1962
My arm around my
Physically linked to my
Little black girl
Pet name for my black girlfriend
People on the corner
Individuals on the street
Looking in my car
Peering into my vehicle
Wanna do me
Desire to have a sexual encounter with me
Cos I won't give back
Because I refuse to relinquish possession of
My little black girl
Referring to her affectionately
Do you wanna come on in?
Inviting someone to enter a location
Do you wanna eat some?
Extending an invitation to share food
Meet my family?
Asking if someone wants to meet my relatives
My black girlfriend
Referencing my romantic partner
My black girlfriend
Endearment term for my black partner
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARTYN LENOBLE, PERRY FARRELL, PETER DISTEFANO, STEPHEN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind