The first incarnation of the band was under the name Aslan, after a character in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. With money earned from local shows and T-shirt sales, they recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1986. After discovering another band with the same name, they changed theirs to Psychotic Waltz and recorded a new four-song demo in 1988.
In 1990, they debuted with their independently financed debut A Social Grace, which was released in Europe via a licensing deal with the German label Rising Sun Productions. The album was very well received in Europe, being named album of the month in some European magazines,[citation needed] The situation in US was more difficult, as the album was released under the band's own Sub Sonic Records label. With practically no promotion and minimal distribution, it remained an extremely underground item. In 1991, the band appeared in the Dynamo Festival in Holland.
After the tour, the band's guitarist, Dan Rock, suffered a near-fatal accident after falling off a bridge while rappelling. The band went on to record their second album, Into the Everflow. The album was recorded from August–October, 1992, at Phoenix Studios in Herne, Germany, and was produced by Mekong Delta's main man, Ralph Hubert. After recording the album, but before its release, the band did a small tour while Dan Rock recovered from his accident. The CD was released in Europe on Dream Circle Records, and was very well received, getting album of the month honors in many European magazines.[citation needed] After Rock recovered, the band was nominated as the Best Hard Rock band at the 1992 San Diego Music Awards.
By that time, the band was at the peak of its popularity. They signed with Ralph Hubert's own label, Zardoz Music, for their third album, Mosquito. Recording took place in late 1994 in Record Plant and Madhatter studios in Los Angeles, with the help of the famous metal producer Scott Burns. The initial response for this album was mixed, as the more conventional songwriting that the band followed led some hardcore fans of the band to label it as a sell-out. This was the last album that was recorded with their initial lineup, as bassist Ward Evans left the band after two tours in Europe and was replaced with Phil Cuttino.
They entered the studio once again in 1996, for what proved to be their last studio work together, Bleeding. This time, Scott Burns did the engineering, but the record was mixed by Dan Rock and engineer Woody Barber. Before the band started touring in support for the new album, guitarist Brian McAlpine announced that he would not be able to follow the band due to familial obligations. He was replaced by Steve Cox for the band's final two European tours. Phil Cuttino filmed a promotional video for the track "Faded". This proved to be disastrous for the band, as a crew member sued the band in April 1998, claiming that a light on the set caused him to go blind.
The lengthy court battle that followed, coupled with the different musical interests that the band members had, contributed in the band's demise. Buddy Lackey was the first to leave the band. For a short while, the remaining band members tried to continue with the band, but eventually each went his own way. Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project Darkstar. Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band Teabag, and Buddy Lackey formed the band Deadsoul Tribe, where he performs using his real name, Devon Graves.
Psychotic Waltz reunited in 2010, will tour Europe in support of Nevermore and Symphony X, and are planning to write, record and release a new album.
Little People
Psychotic Waltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To find the peace I feel alone
My television friends have gone
Now I can take my time to talk about them
They're nice to me, they smile to me
They are what they'd like me to be
I let them keep my company
They're only selling
Look into these little boxes
Bluer weather, greener grass
Everyone has lots of money
Everyone's in style
Little people, little houses
Happy living little lives
When they wake up with perfect makeup
It makes me sick
Don't need a life of my own, you know I'm so satisfied
Deep in the screen they have made me believe
I'm so pacified
They keep me asleep with each day they repeat
This life they pretend to me
I took my television, unplugged it from the wall
Tiny people crawling as I broke it on the floor
I put them in my pockets, took them where they can't be found
Then I held them in my hands
Then I made them do really bad things
Now I'm afraid to be at home
Because I fear I'm not alone
My television friends have grown
Now I'm afraid of what they might be selling
What are they selling
The song "Little People" by Psychotic Waltz is a commentary on the toxic effects of television and pop culture on society. The lyrics speak of the seductive allure of TV, the ease with which we can become addicted to it and be consumed by the images and messages that it conveys. The first stanza talks about the comfort and company that TV provides to those who are lonely and how it can influence our perception of reality. The second stanza is a critique of the artificial world of advertising, where everything looks perfect and everyone looks happy. The third stanza explores the idea of rebellion against the media, as the singer takes his TV and breaks it apart, revealing the tiny people inside that he controls, but ultimately fears.
The chorus of the song repeats the idea of the "little people" who are manipulated and controlled by the mass media, unable to see beyond the fantasies and illusions that it creates. The final lines of the song are somewhat cryptic, as the singer questions what exactly his TV friends might be selling and what their true intentions are.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel again I'm coming home
Returning to the comfort and familiarity of watching television
To find the peace I feel alone
Television helps provide a sense of peace and comfort
My television friends have gone
No longer watching the same program or channel as before
Now I can take my time to talk about them
Can now critique and discuss the characters and events on the television show
They're nice to me, they smile to me
Characters on the show are friendly and likable to the viewer
They are what they'd like me to be
Idealized versions of people the viewer may aspire to be like
I let them keep my company
The characters are a source of companionship
And I don't even care what they're selling
Not concerned with the commercials or merchandise being advertised
They're only selling
Acknowledging the commercial nature of the show
Look into these little boxes
Watching the television screen
Bluer weather, greener grass
Idealized and unrealistic representations of reality
Everyone has lots of money
Characters on the show live affluent lifestyles
Everyone's in style
Characters are fashionable and trendsetting
Little people, little houses
Stereotypical representation of suburban life on the show
Happy living little lives
The characters lead content and satisfying existences
When they wake up with perfect makeup
Characters appear flawless without effort, creating unrealistic beauty standards
It makes me sick
Disgusted by the unrealistic portrayal of beauty
Don't need a life of my own, you know I'm so satisfied
Satisfied with the life depicted on television and has no need or desire for personal fulfillment
Deep in the screen they have made me believe
Content on the screen has convinced the viewer to rely on television for satisfaction
I'm so pacified
The satisfaction from the show makes the viewer feel calm and content
They keep me asleep with each day they repeat
The repetitiveness of the show creates a hypnotic effect on the viewer
This life they pretend to me
The show depicts a false and unrealistic version of life
I took my television, unplugged it from the wall
The viewer disconnects from the television show
Tiny people crawling as I broke it on the floor
Visualizes the characters as small and fragile, then deliberately breaks the TV
I put them in my pockets, took them where they can't be found
Uses the characters as a source of control and power by collecting them
Then I held them in my hands
Feels a sense of power and control over the characters
Then I made them do really bad things
Exercises power over the characters by making them do negative acts
Now I'm afraid to be at home
Fearful of being alone and disconnected from the television show
Because I fear I'm not alone
Believes that the characters from the television show may still be around
My television friends have grown
The characters from the show have become more real and significant to the viewer
Now I'm afraid of what they might be selling
Fearful of the messages and influence the characters hold over the viewer
What are they selling
Questioning the motives and influence of the characters from the show
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDREW TURNER, EDWARD HANDLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind