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)
Something Wonderful
Revolting Cocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a cold sweat on my skin
I'm fighting back the demons in a waking dream
Where my weakness will become a sin
I'm Holding onto terror, it's my guiding light
It's gonna pull me out of my mind
A never-ending telepathic testimony
Hell is not a place, it's a game you play
And suffer every move you make
Possession is the prize in the enemy eyes
You pay for every chance you take
A soul is not a soul until it lives in a hole
With a hacked up life and limb
The pain that you find can make you feel so fine
The alienation's dead
At the back of your mind
Go to the other side
Hello is anyone home?
But you've been left alone.
Maybe I'll submit to my own desire
Will the agony be too extreme?
Something deep inside pulled my legs wide open
And the whisper turned into a scream
Took my by surprise when I heard my cries
Because I didn´t recognize my voice
A schizophrenic call or a voodoo doll
Too terrified to make that choice
I´ve been stabbed in the back
By a maniac
And I thought it was me
But I didn´t have the guts to believe
Beyond good and evil lie the future ghosts
That surround us like a ring of flames
Summoned here by innocents and fools alike
For the pleasure of the game
I wish to hell I was a stronger man
And I could heal just as quick as scar
But I´m weak, when I´m in this deep,
It´s not a game anymore, it´s gone too FAR!
I´ve been stabbed in the back
By a maniac
And I thought it was me
But I didn´t have the guts to believe
The song "Something Wonderful" by Revolting Cocks delves into the darkest corners of the human mind and explores the concept of Hell as a game. The lyrics express the struggle of keeping one's sanity intact while fighting the demons inside. The words "crawling in my head with the walking dead" describe the feeling of being lost in the thoughts and emotions that overpower the mind. The pain and agony are evident in "I've got a cold sweat on my skin" and "The pain that you find can make you feel so fine." It's a fight with oneself where holding onto terror becomes a guiding light, and every chance taken comes with a price.
The line "Hell is not a place, it's a game you play" portrays how the demons and the darkness inside the mind can consume an individual's whole being. The lyrics "Possession is the prize in the enemy eyes" signifies how demons take over one's mind and turn them into an enemy, and the soul gets lost in a hole, which represents the abyss of darkness. The chorus "I´ve been stabbed in the back by a maniac, and I thought it was me, but I didn´t have the guts to believe" indicates the struggle within oneself to accept the darkness inside and confront it to overcome it.
Overall, "Something Wonderful" is an exploration of the human mind's struggles with darkness, the concept of Hell, and the fight to overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm crawling in my head with the walking dead
I feel trapped and overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions, like a living corpse.
I've got a cold sweat on my skin
My fear is so intense it's physical, I feel like I'm covered in icy sweat.
I'm fighting back the demons in a waking dream
I'm struggling to resist the dark impulses and negative thoughts that haunt me.
Where my weakness will become a sin
I fear that my vulnerability will be exploited for evil purposes.
I'm Holding onto terror, it's my guiding light
My fear is so strong it's become a compass, directing all my actions.
It's gonna pull me out of my mind
I'm so scared I feel like I'm losing my grip on my sanity.
A never-ending telepathic testimony
My thoughts and fears seem so overwhelming that they take on a sinister agency of their own.
To the fear that I feel inside
I suffer from intense, chronic anxiety that I can't seem to shake.
Hell is not a place, it's a game you play
I feel like I'm in a never-ending, torturous game with no way to win.
And suffer every move you make
Every choice I make seems to lead to even more pain and suffering.
Possession is the prize in the enemy eyes
Other people try to take advantage of my fears and anxieties for their own gain.
You pay for every chance you take
There is always a steep price to be paid for any risk or opportunity.
A soul is not a soul until it lives in a hole
I feel trapped and isolated, like my soul has been buried alive in a pit.
With a hacked up life and limb
My past traumas and pain seem to have physically damaged me as well as emotionally.
The pain that you find can make you feel so fine
There is a twisted pleasure in the suffering and despair, which only adds to the despair.
The alienation's dead
The sense of disconnection and loneliness has become so overwhelming that it no longer feels real.
At the back of your mind
Despite everything, there is still a small part of me that is hopeful and optimistic.
Go to the other side
I am willing to take risks and explore new possibilities, even if it means leaving my comfort zone.
Hello is anyone home?
I am reaching out for connection and support, even if I'm not sure if anyone is there to answer.
But you've been left alone.
Despite my desperation for help and companionship, I feel like I'm always ultimately abandoned.
Maybe I'll submit to my own desire
I am considering giving in to my darkest impulses, just to see what will happen.
Will the agony be too extreme?
Even as I fantasize about giving into my darkest impulses, I am painfully aware of the consequences.
Something deep inside pulled my legs wide open
There is a powerful force within me that is driving me to make extremely risky and dangerous choices.
And the whisper turned into a scream
My fantasies and impulses have become so loud and intense that they seem to be shouting at me.
Took my by surprise when I heard my cries
Even I am shocked by the intensity and desperation of my own impulses.
Because I didn´t recognize my voice
My urges and fantasies are so alien and disturbing that they feel like they belong to someone else entirely.
A schizophrenic call or a voodoo doll
I am completely torn between different impulses, with no idea which one to follow or trust.
Too terrified to make that choice
I am so paralyzed by fear and indecision that I can't even begin to make a decision.
I´ve been stabbed in the back
I have been betrayed and hurt by someone I trusted.
By a maniac
The person who hurt me is dangerous and unstable.
And I thought it was me
At first, I blamed myself for the pain and suffering I was going through.
But I didn´t have the guts to believe
I was too afraid to acknowledge the extent of my own suffering and despair.
Beyond good and evil lie the future ghosts
There is a whole world of unseen, unacknowledged pain and trauma lurking beneath the surface of reality.
That surround us like a ring of flames
The pain and trauma that we carry with us can feel like a wall of fire, impossible to pass through.
Summoned here by innocents and fools alike
We have all contributed to our own suffering and trauma, even if we didn't mean to.
For the pleasure of the game
There is some hidden, sinister pleasure to be had in all of this pain and chaos, which only adds to the despair.
I wish to hell I was a stronger man
Even as I struggle to survive in this world of pain and chaos, I feel like I am too weak and vulnerable to truly make a difference.
And I could heal just as quick as scar
I long for a way to recover and move on from my pain, but I fear it will take far longer than it took for my wounds to appear.
But I´m weak, when I´m in this deep,
Even as I try to find the strength to move on from my pain, I find myself weakened and paralyzed by fear and desperation.
It´s not a game anymore, it´s gone too FAR!
The pain and chaos of my life have become so overwhelming that I can no longer see them as just a game; they have become terrifyingly real.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL G. BARKER, WILLIAM FREDERICK RIEFLIN, CHRISTOPHER JOHN CONNELLY, LUC JOZEF ERIC VAN ACKER, ALIEN JOURGENSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind