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
Screw
SS Decontrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can stick me with a knife
Never change, never give in
Knock me down, but you'll never win
I don't want your fuckin life
I don't need your fuckin life
I don't like your fuckin life
You can have your fuckin life
Deviants from society's lies
People think it's fuckin weird
Like to be different, but they never tried
In the first stanza of the song, the lyrics express a strong sense of rebellion against societal norms. The singer vehemently rejects the expectations and demands placed upon them by society, expressing a desire to not conform to the prescribed way of life. The line "I don't want your fuckin life" reflects their refusal to accept or follow the conventional path that is expected of them.
The mention of being "stuck with a knife" suggests that the singer is willing to face physical harm or pain rather than succumbing to the pressures of conforming. This line emphasizes the determination and resilience of the singer, implying that they won't be easily swayed or controlled.
The second stanza underscores the steadfastness of the singer's attitude, maintaining that they will never change or give in to societal expectations. They acknowledge the challenges they may face and the attempts to knock them down, but they assert that despite these efforts, they will never be defeated. This reinforces their refusal to conform and their commitment to maintaining their own identity and beliefs.
The repetition of the phrase "I don't want your fuckin life" further emphasizes the singer's rejection of societal norms. They make it clear that they have no desire for the kind of life that is expected of them. This repetition also serves to emphasize their defiance and resolve.
The final stanza celebrates the punk subculture, which is often associated with nonconformity and rejection of mainstream society. The lyrics suggest that punk is a way of life that defies societal norms and challenges the status quo. The reference to deviating from "society's lies" suggests that the punk lifestyle is seen as a more authentic and truthful alternative to the norms imposed by society.
The lyrics also address the misconceptions and judgments that people may have towards those who choose to embrace their individuality. The line "people think it's fuckin weird" implies that those who choose to be different are often misunderstood or criticized by society. The singer, however, embraces their uniqueness and asserts that these people have never truly attempted to explore a different way of life.
Overall, the song Screw by SS Decontrol captures a rebellious spirit and a refusal to conform to the expectations of society. It celebrates individuality and nonconformity, rejecting the conventional way of life and advocating for an alternative perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want your fuckin life
I reject and refuse to accept the typical, conformist lifestyle that you embrace
You can stick me with a knife
You can try to harm or hurt me, but I won't be affected or deterred
Never change, never give in
I will always remain true to myself and my beliefs; I will never surrender or compromise
Knock me down, but you'll never win
Even if you try to bring me down or defeat me, you will ultimately fail
I don't need your fuckin life
I don't require or desire the mundane and conventional existence that you lead
I don't like your fuckin life
I have no fondness or admiration for your unremarkable and unfulfilling way of living
You can have your fuckin life
You are welcome to keep living your uninteresting and unsatisfying life
Punk lives never to die
The punk lifestyle and spirit will endure eternally
Deviants from society's lies
We are individuals who reject and defy the falsehoods and expectations imposed by society
People think it's fuckin weird
Most people find our nonconformity and alternative choices to be strange or unconventional
Like to be different, but they never tried
People claim to appreciate uniqueness, but they themselves have never truly embraced it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Al Barile, Chris Foley, David Spring, Jaime Sciarappa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind