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.
Cursed Female
Porno for Pyros Lyrics
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Beautiful, poor and female
There's none that suffer more
She's the queen of the bees
That buzz in the bars
Fresh as a strawberry
And she always loved dancing
Cursed to be born
Beautiful, poor and female
There's none that suffer more
Two girls in two nights
Got caught in the back of the alleyway
Fresh as strawberries
Two girls in two nights
When no one came out
Zipped up their clothes
And walked back on home
Cursed to be born
Beautifil, poor and female
There's none that suffer more
The lyrics to Porno For Pyros' song Cursed Female speak to the struggles and oppression faced by women, particularly those who are beautiful, poor, and female. The singer acknowledges that these women "suffer more" than others, suggesting that society places a heavy burden on them simply because of their gender and appearance.
The first verse then goes on to describe a specific woman who is "the queen of the bees" - someone who is popular and well-liked, perhaps even envied by others. This woman is "fresh as a strawberry" and loves to dance, suggesting a youthful and carefree spirit. However, despite her seemingly happy demeanor, the singer reminds us that she is still cursed by her gender and beauty, and thus subjected to societal pressures and inequalities.
The second verse describes a darker side to this narrative, where two girls get caught in the alleyway and are shamed and judged for their actions. Despite the fact that they are "fresh as strawberries," an innocent and natural image, they are still judged harshly and forced to conceal their actions by zipping up their clothes and walking home in shame. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the theme of oppression and the idea that women remain cursed simply because of their gender and beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Cursed to be born
Destined for a life of hardship from the moment of birth
Beautiful, poor and female
Specifically marked for a world of disadvantage due to physical appearance, financial status, and gender
There's none that suffer more
An acknowledgement of the extreme and pervasive oppression faced by women in society
She's the queen of the bees
A woman who is both celebrated and objectified for her beauty by men in social settings
That buzz in the bars
Men who gather in these settings to sexually objectify women they find attractive
Fresh as a strawberry
A young woman who is still considered pure and innocent in the eyes of society
And she always loved dancing
An attribute often associated with a carefree spirit and autonomy, but in reality is seen as an invitation for sexual advances
Two girls in two nights
The frequent occurrence of sexual assault on women, especially after dark
Got caught in the back of the alleyway
The private and hidden nature of these attacks, making victims feel isolated and unprotected
Zipped up their clothes
The shame and guilt placed on the victims of these attacks, often leading them to blame themselves and hide the evidence
And walked back on home
A display of the resilience of women, who often have no choice but to continue living in a world that constantly oppresses them
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MARTYN LENOBLE, PERRY FARRELL, PETER DISTEFANO, STEPHEN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind