The group was founded by Richard 23 and Luc Van Acker with Al Jourgensen as their producer. According to Jourgensen, the band got their name after a fight in a Chicago bar in 1983. Jourgensen, Richard 23 and Luc Van Acker celebrated the formation of the new band with a few drinks. The evening then ended up in a brawl, with bar stools being thrown through the establishment's windows. As he was throwing the trio out, the owner, a man Jourgensen recalls was named Dess, shouted, "I'm calling the police! You guys are a bunch of revolting cocks!" The trio subsequently decided to use the name for their band.
Their first release was No Devotion on Wax Trax! Records in 1985. The single was quickly followed by an album, Big Sexy Land (1986), featuring a mix of industrial, hard rock, and EBM with dominating sampling and strong synthesized beats.
Losing Richard 23 due to creative differences, the group's remaining two members were augmented by a rapidly changing set of musicians centered on Chris Connelly (Cocksure, Bells Into Machines, Murder Inc., and Damage Manual), Paul Barker (Ministry, Lead Into Gold, Flowering Blight, and Bells Into Machines), and Bill Rieflin (Ministry, Pigface, R.E.M., and King Crimson), with around twenty others as irregular contributors or guest artists.
The following live album, You Goddamned Son of a Bitch (1988), featured a return to Ministry-like industrial rock - the Big Sexy Land tracks embedded in shouting and noise. This trend continued on Beers, Steers, and Queers (1990), layering sample over sample and pushing ever further into distortion. Linger Ficken' Good (1993) was released by Sire Records and was a tamer affair, most tracks returning to the less layered material. Included was a cover of Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?," also released as a single. A tour was planned but cancelled, and the band quietly came to an end in 1994.
In 2004, Jourgensen and Phildo Owens (Skatenigs, Snow Black) revived the group. They released an album entitled Cocked and Loaded (2006). Caliente (Dark Entries), a cover of sorts of Dark Entries by Bauhaus, with vocalist Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), was featured on the soundtrack to Saw II in 2005.
After assembling a touring line up to open for Ministry on the MasterBaTour of 2006, Jourgensen chose vocalist Josh Bradford (Stayte, Simple Shelter, V.H.S.), keyboardist Clayton Worbeck (Stayte, Simple Shelter), and guitarist Sin Quirin (Society 1, Ministry and ReVamp) as the new full-time members for the Revolting Cocks, now simply being called RevCo. The group recorded Sex-O Olympic-O and officially released the album on March 3, 2009. It was followed up by the last RevCo album Got Cock?, released on April 13, 2010.
In celebration of Wax Trax! Records, the "Wax Trax! Records Retrospectacle: 33 1/3 Year Anniversary" was held from April 15-17, 2011 at the Metro in Chicago, Illinois, United States. As a part of the lineup, Chris Connelly, Paul Barker and Luc Van Acker performed Revolting Cocks songs with various guests. For their performance on the 17th, Richard 23 joined them on stage to sing lead vocals on No Devotion.
In 2014, Chris Connelly and Jason Novak (Acumen Nation, DJ? Acucrack, Iron Lung Corp) formed Cocksure, a project that bridges the gap between Wax Trax! era industrial dance music and the future sounds of mass corruption. The project is very influenced by the early RevCo sound, and has been described as "where the Revolting Cocks left off in 1994."
Previous Members:
Al Jourgensen - production, programming, and various instruments (1985–1993, 2004–2010)
Luc Van Acker - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards (1985–1991, 2006)
Richard 23 - vocals, programming (1985–1986)
Bill Rieflin - drums, keyboards, programming (1986–1993)
Paul Barker - bass, keyboards, programming (1987–1993)
Chris Connelly - vocals, programming (1987–1993)
Phildo Owen - vocals, programming (1989–1991, 2004–2006)
Duane Buford - keyboards (1993)
Josh Bradford - vocals (2006–2010)
Sin Quirin - guitars, bass, keyboards (2006–2010)
Clayton Worbeck - keyboards, bass (2006–2010)
Live Lineups:
--------- 1987 ---------
Al Jourgensen - keyboards, vocals, guitar
Paul Barker - bass, keyboards
Luc Van Acker - guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards
Chris Connelly - vocals, keyboards
Bill Rieflin - drums
--------- 1988 ---------
Al Jourgensen - keyboards, vocals, guitar
Paul Barker - bass, keyboards
Luc Van Acker - guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards
Chris Connelly - vocals, keyboards
Bill Rieflin - drums
Nivek Ogre - vocals
--------- 1990 ---------
Al Jourgensen - guitar, backing vocals
Paul Barker - bass
Chris Connelly - vocals
Phildo Owen - vocals
Jeff Ward - drums
Mark Durante - guitar, backing vocals
Michael Balch - keyboards
Kevin "Doc" Sullivan - keyboards, backing vocals
Trent Reznor - vocals
--------- 1991 ---------
Al Jourgensen - guitar, backing vocals
Paul Barker - bass
Chris Connelly - vocals
Phildo Owen - vocals
Bill Rieflin - drums
Mark Durante - guitar, backing vocals
Michael Balch - keyboards
Luc Van Acker - vocals
--------- 2006 (Ministry's MasterBaTour) ---------
Al Jourgensen - guitar, backing vocals
Phildo Owen - vocals
Luc Van Acker - vocals
Josh Bradford - vocals
Sin Quirin - guitar
Clayton Worbeck - keyboards
Anna K - bass
Seven Antonopoulos - drums
--------- 2009 (Ministry's LubricaTour) ---------
Josh Bradford - vocals
Sin Quirin - guitar
Clayton Worbeck - keyboards, guitar
Murv Douglas - bass
Aaron Rossi - drums
Mike Scaccia - guitar (selected dates)
Al Jourgensen - guitar, backing vocals
--------- 2011 (Wax Trax! Retrospectacle - April 15-17) ---------
Luc Van Acker - vocals
Paul Barker - bass
Chris Connelly - vocals, keyboards
Duane Buford - keyboards
Jamie Duffy - guitar
Dan Brill - drums
Richard 23 - vocals
Discography:
1985 - No Devotion (single)
1986 - Big Sexy Land (LP)
1986 - You Often Forget (single)
1988 - You Goddamned Son of a Bitch (live)
1989 - Stainless Steel Providers (single)
1989 - (Let’s Get) Physical (single)
1990 - Beers, Steers, and Queers (LP)
1991 - Beers, Steers, and Queers (The Remixes) (single)
1993 - Linger Ficken' Good (LP)
1993 - Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (single)
1994 - Crackin’ Up (single)
2006 - Cocked and Loaded (LP)
2007 - Cocktail Mixxx (remix)
2009 - Sex-O Olympic-O (LP)
2009 - Sex-O Mixxx-O (remix)
2010 - Got Cock? (LP)
2011 - Got Mixxx (remix)
Physical
Revolting Cocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No pain no gain
Physical
I want something that is soft and sweet
And I can see it, that lady's the treat
I'm gonna kill her if she turns me down
You know, I mean it man
Gonna work it up and down across the floor
Until I know that you're begging for more
Don't try and stop me, don't say no
I said, "Now listen, come on let's go"
I think you know how far I'll go
Hahahaha
Physical
I'm getting closer
Physical
All I want is body-talk
Body-talk
Always in the mood for
BODY-Talk talk talk talk
Physical
I got a way with a pack of lies
Don't give a damn, I'll make you mine
You turned me down the last time
You know, I mean it man
You know, I mean it man
Don't think it's easy, it's not the reason
You're back here at my motel
A fly on the wall would be disgusted by all
Welcome to my mattress, my yellow-stained fortress
I think you know how far I'll go!
Hahahaha
Physical
I'm getting closer
Physical
All I want is body-talk
Body-talk
Always in the mood for
BODY
Talk Physical
Talk Physical
Talk Physical
Talk Physical
Talk
Physical
Just pull your pants down, come with me now Ooh BABY
Ahahaha
Hahahahah
Ahahahah
The lyrics to Revolting Cocks' song "Physical" are highly sexual and concerning. The opening two lines of "No pain baby no gain / No pain no gain" suggest that the singer is willing to inflict pain in order to achieve physical pleasure. This is highly problematic, as true physical pleasure is consensual and based on mutual respect and care.
The singer then goes on to describe a woman he is pursuing, stating that he will "kill her if she turns me down." This is another highly concerning line that suggests a willingness to resort to violence if his advances are not accepted. The overall tone of the song is highly aggressive and predatory, with lines like "Don't try and stop me, don't say no" and "Just pull your pants down, come with me now" suggesting a lack of concern for the feelings and desires of the other person involved.
Overall, the lyrics to "Physical" suggest a very troubling approach to physical intimacy and relationships. It is important to recognize and reject any messages that condone or encourage behaviors that are harmful or non-consensual.
Line by Line Meaning
No pain baby no gain
Working hard is necessary to achieve something valuable
I want something that is soft and sweet
The singer desires a person who is gentle and attractive
And I can see it, that lady's the treat
The person being described is viewed as an object of desire
I'm gonna kill her if she turns me down
The artist is expressing a violent and unacceptable reaction to rejection
Gonna work it up and down across the floor
The artist plans to engage in physical activity with the person they desire
Until I know that you're begging for more
The singer wants to continue until they have exhausted their partner
Don't try and stop me, don't say no
The singer is not willing to accept any refusal or limits
I think you know how far I'll go
The artist is warning the person that they are willing to cross boundaries or do anything to get what he wants
Physical
The overall theme of the song is about getting physically intimate
I got a way with a pack of lies
The artist has a talent for deceiving people
Don't give a damn, I'll make you mine
The singer is determined to take and possess the person they are attracted to
You turned me down the last time
The person being addressed has previously rejected the artist's advances
Don't think it's easy, it's not the reason
The singer is acknowledging the difficulty and potential consequences of what they want to do, but ignores it
You're back here at my motel
The person has come to the singer's place voluntarily
A fly on the wall would be disgusted by all
If someone else were present and observing, they would be repulsed by the situation
Welcome to my mattress, my yellow-stained fortress
The artist's bed is described in a way that implies it is used for intimate activities and in a state of decay
Just pull your pants down, come with me now, Ooh BABY
The artist is demanding the person engage in sexual activity with them
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Kipner, Terry Shaddick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind