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)
Ten Million Ways To Die
Revolting Cocks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Choose one
White women
Left handed ghost
Scotch tape
Asthma attacks
Cuban missles
They say that one of the fine slamming such blows north caterwaul magically as locusts
gathering for a feast into the fully open essence of a devouring arid sky
Right on.
Ten million ways to die x 8
Choose one
Old ladies' purses
Luncheon meat
Dominatrix
Six packs
Marshall ?
Afghani smack
They say that beautiful sister Africa laughs in the face of warrior pimp while
petitiong transport to a place where matchsticks send automobiles into a jeering
miniature sun
Right on.
Ten million ways to die x 8
Choose one
All passengers with universal gravity passes should transmit on frequency alpha
All others should transmit on frequency three
Any and all violators will be prosocuted to the fullest extent of the law
The Revolting Cocks would like to thank you for your cooporation
Right on.
It is greatly appreciated
Revolting Cocks... making this world a better place x 3
Right on.
Ten million ways to die x 8
Choose one
The lyrics to the Revolting Cocks's song "Ten Million Ways to Die" are a stream-of-consciousness list of various ways one could meet their demise. The repeated phrase "Ten million ways to die, choose one" reinforces the idea that every choice has consequences, and some could be fatal. The song mentions a range of seemingly unrelated items, from "white women" to "Scotch tape" to "Cuban missiles" to "dominatrix." The chaotic nature of the lyrics reflects the randomness of life and the potential dangers that exist around every corner.
The verses that follow each set of choices are nonsensical and surreal, with vivid imagery that borders on the hallucinatory. For example, the first set of choices is followed by the line "They say that one of the fine slamming such blows north caterwaul magically as locusts gathering for a feast into the fully open essence of a devouring arid sky." The meaning of this is unclear, but it suggests a violent and apocalyptic scene. The second set of choices is followed by the line "They say that beautiful sister Africa laughs in the face of warrior pimp while petitiong transport to a place where matchsticks send automobiles into a jeering miniature sun." Again, this imagery is strange and unsettling, hinting at a world that is both dangerous and absurd.
Overall, the lyrics to "Ten Million Ways to Die" are a reflection of the Revolting Cocks's unique style, which blends industrial, punk, and electronic music with a penchant for shock value and unconventional lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten million ways to die
There are endless ways to meet your demise
Choose one
You have the power to pick your own path
White women
Race and gender are irrelevant when it comes to death
Left handed ghost
Even supernatural beings can cause fatal harm
Scotch tape
Everyday objects can be deadly
Asthma attacks
Even medical conditions can lead to death
Cuban missles
Political conflicts can have fatal consequences
Afghani smack
Drug addiction can lead to a premature end
They say that one of the fine slamming such blows north caterwaul magically as locusts gathering for a feast into the fully open essence of a devouring arid sky
Rumors abound of a fatal force that consumes everything in its path
Old ladies' purses
Even harmless objects can carry risk
Luncheon meat
Food poisoning is a possibility
Dominatrix
Unconventional sexual practices can have unintended consequences
Six packs
Excessive drinking can be fatal
Marshall ?
Unclear reference
They say that beautiful sister Africa laughs in the face of warrior pimp while petitiong transport to a place where matchsticks send automobiles into a jeering miniature sun
Rumors of an unbeatable force that defies even the most powerful
All passengers with universal gravity passes should transmit on frequency alpha
Communication is key in avoiding fatal accidents
All others should transmit on frequency three
Follow protocol to ensure safety
Any and all violators will be prosocuted to the fullest extent of the law
Consequences will be severe for those who ignore safety measures
The Revolting Cocks would like to thank you for your cooporation
Gratitude is expressed for those who prioritize safety
It is greatly appreciated
Acknowledgment of the importance of safety measures
Revolting Cocks... making this world a better place x 3
By highlighting potential hazards, we can work towards a safer world
Contributed by Annabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.