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)
Beers Steers & Queers
Revolting Cocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You might find out, the truth is hard to swallow
There's a place down there, where heads are square
Laws are tough, you are bare
Who is the right and who is the wrong man
It doesn't take much to kill that guy
Don't get in my face and ask me why
Texas is the place, hang 'em high
Beers, steers and queers
Beers, steers and queers
Texas is full of women and willies
Eyes too close, [Incomprehensible] hillbillies
Who are these people, raised in bars
[Incomprehensible] sex on farms
Texas hoedown, this is the lowdown
You're full of shit, destined to go down
Let's go down, herd 'em up
If you agree, then let's word 'em up
And if you don't then shut the fuck up
Beers, steers and queers
Beers, steers and queers
I've spent my life, go kicking shit
Not gonna give up, ain't about to quit
Life is a bucket of gettin' rough, feeding stock
Get in my way? I'll knock you off
Beers, steers and queers
Beers, steers and queers
Beers, steers and queers
Beers, steers and queers
I'm a crazy mother in a drunken state
A redneck asswipe, who thinks he's great
So full of shit, diarrhea for fingers
Everywhere I go, personality lingers
Say you don't like my dialect
I don't give a damn, so fuck your respect
If you're looking for a reason, don't look any further
'Cause I'll give it to you baby, just like your father
Take what you get if it does the job
Texas has religion, Revolting Cocks
Beers, steers, and queers
Beers, steers, and queers
This is outta the house
And outta the house music
I am the creator
...
The lyrics of Revolting Cocks’ “Beers, Steers and Queers” are a commentary on the toxic, macho culture prevalent in Texas, particularly in rural areas. The song derisively observes that the minds of people in Texas are empty, and the laws are tough. The lyrics suggest that there is a place where people are conformist and square-headed, with no capacity for independent thought. The state's laws are depicted as harsh, with no leeway for tolerance or diversity. The singer suggests that whoever is holding the lawbook determines what is right or wrong.
The second verse is a more specific critique of the state's cowboy culture, which the singer sees as being full of ignorant, closed-minded people. The state is depicted as being full of both women and men who engage in beasts, drink beer excessively, and look down upon non-conformists. The chorus repeats as the lyrics become more pugnacious, with the singer threatening to knock anyone down who gets in his way. In summary, the song's lyrics are a scathing commentary on Texas culture, which the singer sees as oppressive, ignorant, backward, and unfriendly to outsiders.
Line by Line Meaning
Minds are empty, heads are hollow
People lack intelligence and creativity
You might find out, the truth is hard to swallow
The truth is difficult to accept
There's a place down there, where heads are square
Texas is a place where people stubbornly cling to tradition and narrow-mindedness
Laws are tough, you are bare
The laws in Texas are strict and unforgiving
There is a law and there is a lawman
There are rules and enforcers of the rules
Who is the right and who is the wrong man
It is unclear which side is correct
It doesn't take much to kill that guy
Violence is common in Texas
Don't get in my face and ask me why
Don't confront me or question me
Texas is the place, hang 'em high
Texas is a place where people are executed
Beers, steers and queers
Texas is known for beer, cattle, and homosexuals
Texas is full of women and willies
Texas has a lot of men and women
Eyes too close, [Incomprehensible] hillbillies
People from Texas are uneducated and backwards
Who are these people, raised in bars
The people of Texas are like animals, never having left their bars and ranches
[Incomprehensible] sex on farms
People in Texas engage in bestiality
Texas hoedown, this is the lowdown
Texas is a place of debauchery
You're full of shit, destined to go down
You are lying and deceitful and will come to a bad end
Let's go down, herd 'em up
Let's engage in depravity and round up some cattle
If you agree, then let's word 'em up
If you are in agreement, then let's engage in illegal activities
And if you don't then shut the fuck up
If you disagree, then shut up
I've spent my life, go kicking shit
I have wasted my life on useless endeavors
Not gonna give up, ain't about to quit
I will not surrender or stop
Life is a bucket of gettin' rough, feeding stock
Life is hard and requires constant effort to survive
Get in my way? I'll knock you off
Don't interfere with my goals or I will harm you
I'm a crazy mother in a drunken state
I am irrational and intoxicated
A redneck asswipe, who thinks he's great
I am a deranged hillbilly who believes in his own superiority
So full of shit, diarrhea for fingers
I am a compulsive liar who can't stop talking
Everywhere I go, personality lingers
People can't forget my personality due to my behavior
Say you don't like my dialect
If you say you don't like my accent
I don't give a damn, so fuck your respect
I don't care about your opinion or respect
If you're looking for a reason, don't look any further
If you want an explanation, here it is
'Cause I'll give it to you baby, just like your father
I'll give it to you straight, like your father would
Take what you get if it does the job
Take what you can get if it works for you
Texas has religion, Revolting Cocks
Texas is a place where people are devoted to religion and the band Revolting Cocks
This is outta the house
This music is original and not conventional
And outta the house music
This music is unbound by social conventions
I am the creator
I am the one who made this music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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