Formed by songwriter/guitarist Al Barile (then a machinist at the General Electric plant in Lynn, Massachusetts and a student at Northeastern University), SSD started performing at smaller venues throughout the greater Boston metropolitan area in the summer of 1981. The band quickly gained notoriety within the local music scene for intense, charged performances and the provocative antics of their core group of followers, the Boston Crew.
The original lineup was Al Barile on guitar, Springa (David Spring) on vocals, Jaime Sciarappa on bass and Chris Foley on drums. They released their debut LP The Kids Will Have Their Say on their own X-Claim label in 1982. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat was a friend and supporter and his Dischord label's logo appeared on the back cover.
In 1983 they added second guitarist Francois Levesque and released the EP Get It Away. It is widely regarded to be their best record. The X-Claim pressings of it and The Kids Will Have Their Say are both highly collectable.
Like many hardcore bands - particularly those in the Boston area - SSD, as they were now officially called, were heading in a heavy metal direction. In 1984 they signed to the Boston label Modern Method and released the How We Rock EP which was rooted in the hardcore sound but exhibited overt heavy metal characteristics, such as a relatively high number of lengthy guitar solos. After signing to Homestead they released the Break It Up LP in 1985. It had both feet planted in the metal genre, leaving behind all trappings of punk and hardcore.
SSD broke up in 1985.
Jaime Sciarappa went on to play bass with the Boston hardcore band Slapshot for a short time.
After the breakup Springa went on to front the short lived band Razorcaine and the comedy rock projects Die Blitzkinder (with The Slaves) and Springa as Tom Jones. His flamboyant persona and lounge lizard lifestyle during this time stood in marked contrast to the straight edge rhetoric of SS Decontrol. In the early 1990s he would move to Chicago to pursue comedy further with The Second City.
In 1991 Al Barile compiled Power for Taang! Records. It spans SSD's entire career and is the only official release in print today. In the early 1990s he took up the bass guitar and he and Levesque formed the hardcore band Gage.
Chris Foley went on to play drums for Bulkhead, Jennifer Trynin and Star Ghost Dog. Today he plays with Heavy Stud.
In the summer of 2004 Springa was seriously injured in a car accident outside of Boston. A gala benefit featuring Evan Dando and reunions of The Outlets and Jerry's Kids raised money for his medical expenses. SSD did not perform.
Springa has since experienced a full recovery and is working on a rock opera.
~from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ss_decontrol
Headed Straight
SS Decontrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is your country
Be proud you were taught
Soldiers that died
All are forgot
Fight for some reason
You were not told
Die for some fuckers
Who is the enemy
I'm supposed to get
Shooting at each other
Yet we never met
Religion teaches
Not to kills
But it causes death
At its will
Each seek power
Church and state
As bombs of destruction
Seal our fate
Powerless puppets
Mixed up in war
They pull the strings
We enforce their laws
I'm not afraid to die
For something I believe in
Headed Straight, Headed Straight
I know what I'm doing
Headed Straight, Headed Straight
My sights are clear
Headed Straight, Headed Straight
My goals are there
Headed Straight, Headed Straight
Why do you live the way you do
Self-destructive, if you only knew
Everything you do, you don't give a damn
Your life is just full of scam
In SS Decontrol's song "Headed Straight," the lyrics express a critical commentary on war and the manipulation of individuals by those in power. The lyrics begin by highlighting the blind patriotism often instilled in citizens, emphasizing how people are taught to be proud of their country without questioning the reasons behind war or the forgotten soldiers who sacrificed their lives.
The lyrics then question the purpose of fighting and dying for unknown causes, suggesting that individuals are mere pawns in the hands of those who seek personal gain, symbolized by the mention of a "pot of gold." The song argues that the enemy is not necessarily an identifiable external force, but rather the institutions and ideologies that lead to conflict.
Religion is also critiqued for promoting peace, yet being responsible for countless deaths throughout history. The lyrics imply that both the church and the state crave power, leading to the destruction caused by bombs and ultimately sealing humanity's fate.
The song continues by describing the common people as "powerless puppets" caught up in the relentless cycle of war. They are manipulated by those in positions of control who pull the strings and enact laws that the masses are compelled to enforce.
Amidst this chaos, the song's protagonist claims not to fear death if it is for something they truly believe in. The repetition of "Headed Straight" throughout the chorus suggests a determination to stay focused on their cause. The lyrics express a sense of clarity and purpose, with the singer knowing what they are doing and with clear goals in mind.
The song concludes by criticizing the self-destructive nature of society and the lack of concern for one another's well-being. The lyrics highlight a disregard for the consequences of one's actions and a belief that life is filled with deception and scams.
Overall, "Headed Straight" offers a thought-provoking perspective on the nature of war, the manipulation of individuals, the power struggles of church and state, and the self-destructive tendencies of society. It encourages listeners to question authority, seek clarity, and pursue actions aligned with their own beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
War Threat
The threat of war looms over us
This is your country
Take pride in the nation you belong to
Be proud you were taught
Feel proud of what you have been taught
Soldiers that died
Those who gave their lives in military service
All are forgot
Their sacrifice has been forgotten
Fight for some reason
Engage in combat for an undisclosed purpose
You were not told
You were not informed about the true motives
Die for some fuckers
Lose your life for individuals without morals
Pot of gold
A reward that is often materialistic
Who is the enemy
Identify the adversary
I'm supposed to get
Who I'm supposed to target
Shooting at each other
Engaging in gunfire against fellow human beings
Yet we never met
Despite being enemies, we have not encountered each other
Religion teaches
Religious teachings emphasize
Not to kills
The value of not taking lives
But it causes death
Yet it still leads to countless deaths
At its will
As a result of its influence
Each seek power
Both religious and political entities strive for dominance
Church and state
Religious and governmental authorities
As bombs of destruction
While destructive weapons
Seal our fate
Determine our inevitable destiny
Powerless puppets
Helpless individuals manipulated by others
Mixed up in war
Involved in the chaos and violence of war
They pull the strings
They control and manipulate us
We enforce their laws
We are the enforcers of their rules
I'm not afraid to die
I am unafraid of facing death
For something I believe in
For a cause in which I firmly believe
Headed Straight, Headed Straight
Moving forward without deviation
I know what I'm doing
I am fully aware and confident in my actions
My sights are clear
My objectives are well-defined
My goals are there
I have specific targets to achieve
Why do you live the way you do
Questioning the lifestyle one chooses to live
Self-destructive, if you only knew
If only you were aware of your own harmful actions
Everything you do, you don't give a damn
You show a complete lack of concern for your actions
Your life is just full of scam
Your existence is filled with deceit and fraudulence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Al Barile, Chris Foley, David Spring, Jaime Sciarappa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@skottkoonz
the best!
@ajscitco90
well your opinion is totally correct they opened up this new hardcore venue in my town and like none of these kids know who any of the pioneering hc bands are
@lechanneldemysterieuxmante1807
Vicious Barile riffage