The vinyl debut LP "You Are The Victim" was released in 1983 through a small independent Italian label. In 1983 the band signed a deal with American indie-punk label Toxic Shock (Skin Yard, House Of Large Sizes...). "Screams From The Gutter" (Toxic Shock 1985) was most likely their best album so far. A rough mixture of seminal punk and sharp hard core. The same year the band flew over to the States for their first US tour (and have since then returned to tour the USA a total of six times). The reaction to the "Italian punk rockers" was great all around the States, and the album sold more than 40.000 copies strictly through independent distribution and shops.
"Wop Hour" (Toxic Shock - 1986), "After Your Brian" (Toxic Shock -1986) and "Mine To Kill" (Southern - 1989) helped to develop their heavier, more riff oriented sound. Raw Power, with only a small cult following in Italy, were considered in the States as one of the best examples of the "Crossover" sound, the music which evolved from punk and known to a much wider audience through bands like S.O.D., Corrosion of Conformity, D.R.I., and Attitude Adjustment.
During their long tours in the States Raw Power shared the stage with bands like the Circle Jerks, Adolescents, D.O.A., Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, Dead Kennedys, Suicidal Tendencies, and in a small club in Seattle in 1986 a then unknown band called Guns'n'Roses opened for the Italian cult.
The band never enjoyed much more than cult status in Europe. Even though the band continued to play explosive live performances all over Europe, they never managed to get a foothold. This was due to the fact that Raw Power suffered from a lack of professional managers and structure, especially in their home country, where they never had the support they deserved and needed. Raw Power never had the chance to express in a studio album the great potential that the band is able to unleash in a live concert. Their first recording for Godhead, "Fight" (1995), with the great interest MTV showed for their clip, was just a step in the process of re-creating in a studio what they can do live, which is the musical equivalent of a nuclear bomb.
This bomb exploded on the 1st of March, 1996 at the Maffia, a club in Reggio Emilia, Italy. That raw, live sound was captured in the only way possible, live, for their latest release, "Live From The Gutter" on Godhead records. Twenty-seven songs, recorded with no overdubbing, perfectly reproduce the barely controlled aggression and raw attitude that recall that "Screams From the Gutter" period, which has been ever-present at Raw Power gigs.
In 1998 the band had several new songs ready for release and began shopping for a label in the U.S. to release them. The end result was "Reptile House", their greatest album yet, released on their original label Toxic Shock, now known as Toxic Ranch Records. Three American tours in support of the album followed.
Then in the year 2000 they released "Trust Me" through a new, and short lived American label called Hello Records. The record was given fantastic reviews, and at the bands 20 year mark, they were stronger than ever. In the summer of 2001, the band flew to Atlanta, Georgia USA and started the most successful American tour to date. The band was wildly welcomed in most major American cities. No matter how many member changes, label changes, etc., the two brothers that started Raw Power remained the core of the band, and as far as the world knew, would never stop!
In 2002, Raw Power went back into the studio to record yet another full length release. The new material was a celebration of the bands longevity, and the band decided to call it "Still Screaming After 20 Years". Shortly after the record was finished, on October 6, founding member Giuseppe Codeluppi suffered a fatal heart attack while playing soccer. Many thought the band would not recover from such a loss, but now in 2003 they are more active than ever. There has been no replacement for Giuseppe, the bands leader. Now the band consists of 4 members, carrying on the name and the music and proving the words that Guiseppe wrote....."Raw Power WIll Never Die!!""
http://www.rawpowerhc.com
Bastard
Raw Power Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are just like slaves at your altar
We work for you and you won't even give us bread
'Cause you're a bastard
The first line of the song "You can do everything" gives the impression that the person being referred to has power and control over everything. The next line "We are just like slaves at your altar" reveals that this person is being worshipped and idolized by others. The line "We work for you and you won't even give us bread" shows a clear picture of exploitation and abuse of power. The final line of the verse "Cause you're a bastard" sums up the emotions of the oppressed people who feel frustrated and angry at their situation.
The chorus of the song "You're a bastard" repeats the same phrase over and over again, emphasizing the feelings of anger and frustration towards this person in power. The repetition also serves to amplify the message of the song.
Overall, "Bastard" is a song that exposes the abuse of power by a person in a position of authority. It highlights the feelings of the oppressed and their frustrations towards the abuse of power that they have to endure.
Line by Line Meaning
You can do everything (x4)
You have complete control over everything.
We are just like slaves at your altar
We are completely subservient to you and worship you like a god.
We work for you and you won't even give us bread
We labor under your command but receive nothing in return, not even the basic necessities of life.
'Cause you're a bastard
You are an unfeeling, cruel, and heartless person who takes advantage of your power to oppress and exploit others.
Contributed by Nathaniel O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nicola Sassi
You can do everything (x4)
We are just like slaves at your altar
We work for you and you won't
even give us bread
'Cause you're a bastard