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)
Keys to the City
Revolting Cocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
She is the one who speaks in tongues. She's wicked as it comes
She is the box that's locked away. Saving herself for a rainy day
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
I'm gonna get the Key to The City so I can unlock your door
I'm gonna get the Key to The City so I can hear you scream my name
Goddamn right
She is the whore that makes me beg "I wanna tie you down"
She is the thief in your house that never makes a sound
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
All aboard for the train to sin city
Don't forget to leave your conscience at home
All aboard for the train to sin city
It's only money It's only money
Vicodin
Darvon
Percaset
Do you know what I mean?
Vicodin
Cocaine I'm gonna get the Key to The City
So I can unlock your door
I'm gonna get the Key to The City
So I can hear you scream my name
You're gonna crawl home You're gonna crawl home
All aboard for the train to sin city
Don't forget to leave your conscience at home
All aboard for the train to sin city
You're gonna crawl home
All aboard for the train to sin city
Don't forget to leave your conscience at home
All aboard for the train to sin city
It's only money It's only money, It's only money It's only money
The song "Keys to the City" by Revolting Cocks is a hard rock anthem that revolves around the theme of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. The lyrics speak about the desire to indulge in these vices and the exhilaration that accompanies it. The lines "She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock" and "I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock" emphasize the fervent desire for rock music and the lifestyle that comes with it. The singer speaks about his lover as a wild and enigmatic character, someone who speaks in tongues, is wicked and wants to rock. The lines "She is the whore that makes me beg 'I wanna tie you down'" and "She is the thief in your house that never makes a sound," suggest that the singer is attracted to the darker aspects of human nature.
The chorus "I’m gonna get the Key to The City" represents the ultimate goal of the singer– to gain access to his lover's heart, to unlock the door, and to hear her scream his name. The use of "Keys to the City" as a metaphor for his lover's love shows that he regards her as someone special and wants to possess her love. The lyrics "All aboard for the train to sin city, don't forget to leave your conscience at home," and "It's only money, It's only money," show the carefree attitude that comes with indulging in vices. The reference to drugs like Vicodin, Darvon, Percaset, and cocaine further reinforces the themes of drug use and addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
She wants to rock, wants to rock, wants to rock (oh yeah)
She desires to let loose and have a good time
I want to rock, want to rock, want to rock (oh yeah)
I also desire to let loose and have a good time
She is the one who speaks in tongues. She's wicked as it comes
She is a unique individual who is exceptionally intimidating
She is the box that's locked away. Saving herself for a rainy day
She is withholding herself for a special occasion
I'm gonna get the Key to The City so I can unlock your door
I want to obtain the highest authority so I can have access to you
I'm gonna get the Key to The City so I can hear you scream my name
I want to hold power over you and make you scream out for me
She is the whore that makes me beg "I wanna tie you down"
She is the one who makes me want to exert control over her
She is the thief in your house that never makes a sound
She is the one who can sneak around undetected and take what she wants
All aboard for the train to sin city
Get ready to indulge in some wild and immoral behavior
Don't forget to leave your conscience at home
Morality has no place here, so don't bring it with you
It's only money It's only money
Money is not the issue, so don't worry about it
Vicodin
A prescription drug used for pain relief
Darvon
A prescription drug used for pain relief
Percaset
A prescription drug used for pain relief
Do you know what I mean?
Do you understand the level of intensity here?
Cocaine I'm gonna get the Key to The City
Referencing cocaine use as a means of obtaining power over another
You're gonna crawl home
You will be exhausted after indulging in this behavior
Contributed by Aubrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.