Guitarist Paul Gilbert first gained notoriety when he was featured in Mike Varney’s Spotlight Column in the February 1983 issue of Guitar Player magazine. Gilbert was 16 years old and was living in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Los Angeles and enrolled at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), part of the Musicians Institute. After graduating from GIT, Gilbert was hired as an instructor and recorded the album "[album artist=Black SheepTrouble in the Streets[/album]" with Los Angeles metal band Black Sheep, released on Enigma Records in November 1985. While at GIT, Gilbert met fellow student Juan Alderete. Searching for a drummer, Alderete and Gilbert first turned to Scott Travis, who was living in Virginia at the time, but he turned down the offer due to his commitment to the band Hawk. Travis was receiving a salary from Doug Marks, the band's lead guitarist, and would not turn down the income. Alderete and Gilbert instead sought the services of fellow student Harry Gschoesser. After acquiring Gschoesser, Gilbert, with the help of Varney, recruited Jeff Martin of the Phoenix metal band Surgical Steel. Martin, who still lived in Phoenix and could not regularly write songs with Racer X in Los Angeles, began writing lyrics immediately for demo tapes that Gilbert had sent him. Recording for their first album began quickly. The band began the recording process in 1985, and Racer X's debut album Street Lethal was released on January 1, 1986 on Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label.
Popularity boost
With the release of Street Lethal, Paul Gilbert suddenly burst into the mainstream as one of the members of the Neoclassical genre, popularized by Randy Rhoads and Yngwie Malmsteen. While Racer X was not playing neo-classical pieces as frequently as Rhoads or Malmsteen, Gilbert was often mentioned alongside Malmsteen and Rhoads in many guitar and music magazines. Gilbert acknowledged his debt to Malmsteen on the Street Lethal album with the neoclassical instrumental "Y.R.O.". The title is an acronym for "Yngwie Rip Off". He would repeat such a reference on a later song, "B.R.O.", which stands for "Bach Rip Off".
Racer X was rapidly becoming a popular live act on the Sunset Strip. Around this time, Gilbert secured an endorsement deal with Ibanez guitars, which continues to this day. The song "Getaway" received limited airplay on Los Angeles' heavy metal radio station, KNAC.
Lineup change
After the release of the first album, Gilbert was still teaching at GIT for a steady income. One of Gilbert's students, Bruce Bouillet, gained his attention. Gilbert asked him to join Racer X, and the two guitarists would soon work out synchronized harmony passages that would redefine Racer X's sound. In 1986, Harry Gschoesser's visa expired, so he returned to his native country, Austria. He was initially replaced with Todd "Vito" DeVito, who had played on Black Sheep's Trouble in the Streets LP alongside Gilbert, but was soon replaced by Scott Travis. DeVito went on to become a drum technician for Mikkey Dee of Motörhead.
The band headed to Prairie Sun Studios in Cotati to record their second studio album. Second Heat was released in February 1987 by Shrapnel Records, and solidified Racer X's style of double-lead guitar solos using techniques such as fast alternate-picking, two-handed tapping, string skipping, and sweep picking. The album also has two tracks written by other artists. "Moonage Daydream" was a David Bowie cover, and "Heart of a Lion" was a Judas Priest song dropped from the Turbo album.[14] The song was a birthday gift by Rob Halford, who had befriended Jeff Martin in the band's early days. Halford later recorded the track with his band, Halford.
Dissolution
While the Los Angeles music scene was at the peak for glam metal, Racer X were reaching the height of their popularity with their live shows. The band was selling out and packing their usual rotation of The Roxy Theatre, Troubadour, and the Country Club in Reseda, California. The years of unsuccessfully searching for major label representation finally took its toll on the band, and the group's last gasp came with two nights of back-to-back live shows at the Country Club, which were recorded and released as Extreme Volume Live (1988) and Extreme Volume II Live (1992). But even as Extreme Volume Live was getting ready for release, the dismantling of the band was near. Billy Sheehan, bass player of the band Talas, approached Paul Gilbert about forming a new band; in mid 1989, the two formed the band Mr. Big. Gilbert had mentally detached himself from Racer X during the final shows. The rest of the group, searching for an explanation to the lack of major label interest, focused their frustrations on Jeff Martin. Both Gilbert and Martin left the band on the same day. Juan Alderete, Bruce Bouillet, and Scott Travis initially brought in Guitar Spotlight player Chris Arvan in 1989 as a replacement and performed a few shows, including one with Oni Logan from Lynch Mob. Soon, the members of the band went separate ways. Racer X's hiatus carried on well into the late 1990s.
Separation
After Gilbert left for Mr. Big, other members also went on to other projects. Jeff Martin formed a short-lived outfit named Bad Dog with drummer Todd DeVito and former War & Peace and future Fight and Steel Panther guitarist Russ Parrish; the latter had also been part of Electric Fence, a side project featuring Martin and Paul Gilbert. Martin eventually went on to replace Eric Singer in Jake E. Lee's band, Badlands. After the demise of the final Racer X line-up, with former Roxanne vocalist Jamie Brown briefly taking over for Martin, Juan Alderete, Bruce Bouillet, and Scott Travis teamed up with former Angora vocalist John Corabi to form the band Black Cloud – which would later become The Scream. The four played one show at the Troubadour before Travis received an offer from Judas Priest, who were looking to replace the recently departed Dave Holland. Jeff Martin, a friend of Judas Priest, relayed the message to Travis, who was ecstatic at the opportunity, and accepted the offer. Travis would go on to record several albums with Judas Priest, and remains a member of the band to this day.
In 1992, Shrapnel Records released Extreme Volume II Live, which featured songs from the farewell Racer X concerts at the Country Club. Like the first live record, it included several previously unreleased songs, like "Poison Eyes" and "Give It to Me". The release gave die-hard Racer X fans hope that new material was on the way, but nothing came to fruition. The one most notable track is Racer X's cover of KISS' "Detroit Rock City". Recording the song, Gilbert and Bouillet, wanting to make the song unique and fitting to their style, stood side by side and played the famous solo with their teeth. One other KISS song was played the night before, "Cold Gin", but it never appeared on either of the first two live releases.
Technical Difficulties
In 1999, Racer X released their third studio album entitled "Technical Difficulties". The album soon became one of the band's most successful albums to date. Many recognizable songs such as the album cover namesake and instrumental "Technical Difficulties". Other songs such as fan-favorite "Miss Mistreater" and "Snakebite" are most thought of off the album.
Reemergence
After departing Mr. Big in 1997 after the recording of the Hey Man album, Gilbert started a solo career releasing King of Clubs. Paul received an email from a man Australia bashing him with anger, the famous "Snakebyte" email. In the email he chastised Paul for the more pop-oriented music on his solo records and accused him of forgetting his shred metal roots. Paul was apparently inspired to record heavy metal and decided to reform Racer X. Gilbert was joined by every original member except Bruce Bouillet, who did not choose to return. In mid-1999, the band recorded Technical Difficulties. The album went gold in Japan, and Racer X's new record label requested a follow-up. In late 2000, the band released what is recognized by many fans as their best album to date, Superheroes. The album's packaging featured pictures of the band members dressed as superheroes. Gilbert became the Electric Bat, Martin became Motorman, Alderete became The X-tinguisher, and Travis became Cowboy Axe. The record was mixed by former Racer X guitarist, Bruce Bouillet. In order to further capitalize on their new-found success in Japan, Universal Japan requested that the band record a live show for another live CD and DVD. On May 25, 2001, the band played their first live performance in thirteen years at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. The show was recorded for both audio and video, and in 2002, both the CD and DVD were released under the name Snowball of Doom, which is a reference to fact that the band is still "rolling along" after fifteen years, but was still unable to secure a major American record label contract.
Getting Heavier
In January 2002, in support of Superheroes and Snowball of Doom, Racer X toured Japan and Taiwan. The band performed these shows in their Superheroes costumes. For the final show, in Yokohama, the performance was hastily recorded in two tracks on the sound board, and this was later released as Snowball of Doom 2.
Gilbert returned to his solo career, recording the album Burning Organ. However, in 2002, Universal Japan pushed for another Racer X release, notifying the band that they would release an official bootleg of the Yokohama concert to promote a new album. In October 2002, all four members of Racer X gathered at Gilbert's house in Las Vegas to record a new album. For the first time in the history of the band all four members were together at the same time to record a Racer X album. The outcome of the recording was Getting Heavier, which was sold alongside Snowball of Doom 2 in a package deal.
After the release of Getting Heavier, Racer X's progress came to a halt. Scott Travis, with Judas Priest, toured with Ozzfest in 2004 and recorded Angel of Retribution. Jeff Martin began recording and touring with George Lynch, Kevin DuBrow, Michael Schenker, recorded a 3-song demo with the band Leatherwolf, and began a solo career with the release of The Fool in 2006. Juan Alderete joined the band The Mars Volta in 2003, which has toured regularly and recorded several albums. Paul Gilbert has released several solo albums, as well as compilation albums and tours with Dream Theater's previous drummer Mike Portnoy. Gilbert has toured with his supporting band in support of his latest albums.
Reunion
Racer X performed at the 2009 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California (the performance actually took place at the Sheraton Park Hotel ballroom next to the convention center), with a line-up consisting of Paul Gilbert, Scott Travis, Jeff Martin, and Juan Alderete. On October 13, 2009, the video game Brütal Legend was released. The game's soundtrack featured two Racer X songs - "Y.R.O.", from Street Lethal, and "Technical Difficulties", from Technical Difficulties.
Discography
Street Lethal (1986)
Second Heat (1987)
Technical Difficulties (1999)
Superheroes (2000)
Getting Heavier (2002)
Sacrifice
Racer X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You took it for granted you broke it apart
Oh oh oh oh
You never wanted to be
Mine and now I see
It's touch and go
I know you know that I need you so
You've taken the stars you robbed the moon
My glass heart it shatters shatters for you
Ou ou ou ou
Cut on the jagged edge
I'm bleeding for you
My world is red
I'm fading fast
Don't think I can last
I feel myself goin'
Sacrifice
I'd die for you
You've sacrificed
Our love is true
I'll never see
Why you want me to be your sacrifice
I wished a thousand wishing stars
To Earth they come crashing since we broke apart
Oh oh oh oh
Up in flames go my dreams
Burnt into ash or so it seems
My world is black there's no going back
There's no starting over
Sacrifice
I'd die for you
You've sacrificed
How we are through
You've sacrificed
Our love could do
Why can't you see
What you're doin' to me
I'll never be
What you want me to be
Your sacrifice
The song "Sacrifice" by Racer X tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who doesn't feel the same about him. The lyrics convey his pain and frustration as he realizes that their love is not reciprocated. From the very beginning, he gave her his heart only for her to take it for granted and break it apart. He expresses his need for her and his desperation for her to see how much he loves her despite the fact that their love is one-sided.
The chorus of the song reveals the depth of his love for her as he says he would die for her and be her sacrifice if that's what it took to make her see how much she means to him. He acknowledges that she has sacrificed their love, but he still holds onto the hope that their love is true and that they can start over. However, he quickly realizes that his dreams are up in flames, burnt into ash, and there's no going back. He's left with a broken heart and is fading fast.
The song is a powerful ballad that highlights the agony and desperation of unrequited love. It's a common theme in love songs, and Racer X did an outstanding job of capturing the emotions of the situation. The lyrics are hauntingly beautiful, and the melody is perfectly crafted to convey the sadness and heartbreak of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
From the first day you stole my heart
You have had my heart since the beginning
You took it for granted you broke it apart
You did not appreciate it and now it is broken
You never wanted to be
You did not want to be with me
Mine and now I see
You never wanted to be mine, and I can see that now
It's touch and go
Our relationship is uncertain
I know you know that I need you so
You are aware that I need you
You've taken the stars you robbed the moon
You have taken everything from me
My glass heart it shatters shatters for you
My heart is fragile and it has broken because of you
Cut on the jagged edge
My heart has been broken in a painful way
I'm bleeding for you
I am hurting for you
My world is red
I am in pain
I'm fading fast
I am losing strength quickly
Don't think I can last
I do not think I can continue like this much longer
I feel myself goin'
I feel like I am slipping away
Sacrifice
I am willing to give up everything for you
I'd die for you
I would give my life for you
You've sacrificed
You have given up on us
Our love is true
Our love was real
I'll never see
I will never understand
Why you want me to be your sacrifice
I do not understand why you want me to suffer for your sake
I wished a thousand wishing stars
I have made countless wishes
To Earth they come crashing since we broke apart
Since our break up, my hopes have been crushed
Up in flames go my dreams
My dreams have been destroyed
Burnt into ash or so it seems
It seems like there is no hope for my dreams anymore
My world is black there's no going back
My world is dark and there is no turning back
Our love is through
Our love has ended
Our love could do
Our love could have been amazing
Why can't you see
Why can you not understand
What you're doin' to me
What you are doing is hurting me
I'll never be
I will never become
What you want me to be
What you want me to be is not who I truly am
Your sacrifice
If I do what you want, I will sacrifice myself
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOHN PETER ALDERETE, BRUCE ALLAN BOUILLET, PAUL BRANDON GILBERT, JEFF L. MARTIN, MARK SCOTT TRAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NickH
This album and Cacophany "Speed Metal Symphony" both blew my mind when I heard them back in the 90's. Amazing playing.
B H
Fuck, these guys are just phenomenal musicians in every aspect. Simple remarkable
TOKYOprice
This song is so tragically beautiful
Attila_ATF
Love this era! Cacophony, Racer X, and Project Driver! Gooood Shit! Vinnie Moore's Mind's Eye as well.
dragonight10
i love this song
TheFors4kenOne
Absolutely Perfect!!! 5/5
gokurakuneko36
素晴らしい曲!プレイ!大好きな曲!
OlhoTurco2013
The term of 'super band', perfectly suits to RACER X.
YBF
C'mon man, Tech Difficulties and Superheroes both had some great tracks! Getting Heavier though, jeez... let's just forget that album happened.
L Chisholm
Bad ass 🤟