They were signed to Island Records and went on to release their second studio album Every Six Seconds. Saliva later released their third studio album titled Back into Your System on November 12, 2002 which reached #19 on the Billboard 200. Back into Your System launched one of Saliva's most successful songs, "Always", reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Modern Rock Chart. Three years after Survival of the Sickest, Saliva released Blood Stained Love Story on January 23, 2007, repeating Back into Your System's chart performance at #19 on the Billboard 200. Its first single, "Ladies and Gentlemen", peaked at #2 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.
Saliva was originally founded in Memphis, Tennessee in September 1996. After competing in the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Grammy Showcase competition, where they advanced to the final round in New York City, the group self-released their self-titled debut album which sold over 10,000 copies in their region, prompting Island Records to take notice.
Saliva's Island debut Every Six Seconds was released in 2001 and featured the singles "Your Disease" and "Click Click Boom", both of which saw significant play on rock radio and helped bring the band into mainstream popularity.
Back into Your System, their third album, was released in 2002, which included the chart topping hits "Always", and "Rest in Pieces" co-written by James Michael and Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe. The song "Pride" was first given to the fans in a concert in a small bar, but Josey Scott also took some heat during this era for shouting out vulgar remarks about the Dixie Chicks. The band toured in 2003, opening for KISS and Aerosmith. Saliva beat out Billy Idol for the tour.
Saliva then released Survival of the Sickest on August 17, 2004, reaching #20 on the Billboard 200. On May 29, 2005, guitarist Chris D'Abaldo announced he had left the band "for obvious reasons, as the band is not a unit anymore." He then shortly retracted his statement and apologized, declaring on the band's website that "there was a bit of an issue we're working through and we're looking forward to recording a new album later this year". However, the band's website later apologized again for the confusion and confirmed that due to "creative differences", D'ABaldo was in fact leaving the band, but that Saliva was "completely moving forward as planned and [has] our best music ahead of us". D'ABaldo eventually moved on to start the band Smolder. Jake Stutevoss formerly of the band Future Leaders of the World replaced him in Saliva's tour lineup. Stutevoss left the group right before the recording sessions for Ladies and Gentlemen. Jonathan Montoya, formerly of Full Devil Jacket, then became the next permanent member of Saliva.
A new single, titled "Ladies and Gentlemen" was released in November 2006 to radio stations and made it to #2 on the US Mainstream Rock charts. Saliva released the album Blood Stained Love Story on January 23, 2007. It has also been included as the background music for a number of Sony's commercials for the PlayStation 3. It was also made the official Theme song for Wrestlemania 23. The second single released off of the album was "Broken Sunday", which reached #8 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and is frequently on the Sirius top 20 on Octane. Saliva's tour manager Chris stated that the new single off Blood Stained Love Story would be "King of the Stereo".
In an interview with WWE on February 27, Scott said "We're going to go in the studio probably around May and record our next record. If you like "Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Click Click Boom", and more dynamic stuff, it’s going to be an ass-whooping of a record. It’s going to be 45 minutes of ass-whooping!" Saliva toured with Sevendust in South Korea, Japan and a brief stint in Europe until July 2008.
As of April 30, 2008, Octane 20 on Sirius Satellite Radio began playing a new song titled "Don't Question My Heart", featuring Brent Smith from Shinedown. The song can be found on the album WWE The Music, Vol. 8, and was the official television theme song for the ECW brand. Saliva's sixth studio album is titled Cinco Diablo and was released on December 16, 2008. "Hunt You Down" was a song on the album that was then made the official WWE No Way Out 2009 theme song in February 2009.
The band have worked on a reality television show style DVD following the recording of Cinco Diablo and life on the road. In an interview with MJP, Josey was asked if it was a TV Show to which Josey stated "I hope not", and stated that he wanted it more as "a DVD or something for our fans".
Saliva was recently on tour with Pop Evil, Since October, Dead Season, and Aranda. They were scheduled to join the 13th annual SnoCore Tour, but singer Josey Scott had ulcer surgery. Walt Lafty of Silvertide was hired to fill in for Scott for the tour, but Saliva ultimately decided to drop out of the tour, instead of touring with Lafty.
On March 23, 2010, the band released a Greatest Hits album titled, Moving Forward in Reverse: Greatest Hits. "Time to Shine" from said album was used as the official theme song for the "WWE Extreme Rules" Pay-Per-View in 2010.
On 30 August 2010, the band announced the exit of guitarist Jonathan Montoya, saying that they would carry on as a four piece. They had begun recording their latest album, titled Under Your Skin, with Howard Benson.
The band supplied a song titled "Badass" to the Saw 3D soundtrack released on October 26, 2010.
The band released the lead single from their new album Under Your Skin, entitled "Nothing". It was digitally released on February 1, 2011. "Badass" was later released as the second single, and reached No. 26 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks.
At the end of 2011, after 15 years with the band, Josey Scott decided to leave the band to pursue a solo Christian music career.
In early January 2012 it was announced that Bobby Amaru has joined Saliva as the new vocalist. According to Wayne, "he is a 28-year-old singer, songwriter, producer from Jacksonville, Florida who has a GREAT voice and will not only bring some fresh blood into the band but; will also put a new spin on the Saliva sound." Amaru was the front-man of his solo band Amaru, as well as the drummer for Burn Season.
On February 10, 2012, Saliva released a brand new single named "All Around the World" and said to write a brand new album straight after the tour. In addition to "All Around the World", the band has been performing another new song titled "One More Night" on their current tour with 12 Stones and Royal Bliss.
On November 30, 2012, it was announced that the band had just signed a new record deal with Rumbum Records & that after they have finished their current tour, the band will return home to finish writing the new album and begin recording in January for a release date some time in the spring.
On February 5, 2013, Saliva began recording a new album which would later be named “In It to Win It”. “In It to Win It” was to be the bands eighth record (1st with RumBum Records) with producer Bobby Huff, and executive producer Luis Bacardi. Bobby Huff co-wrote Saliva’s single “Badass” and has worked with artists such as Meat Loaf, 3 Doors Down & Cavo.
On April 30, 2013, the band released its first single from the new album, the aggressively anthemic title track “In It To Win It,” which is now available on iTunes. On September 3, 2013, the band released an album "In It to Win It".
On January 22, 2014, a new single "Rise Up" was announced. It was also revealed that "In It to Win It" was an early limited time fan only sneak peek and the band is going to release the new record titled "Rise Up" with the same songs re-arranged.
On April 16, 2016 Saliva announced their new album, titled Love, Lies & Therapy would be released June 10, 2016. Later in May, the group announced they would be supporting the album by taking part of the "Make America Rock Again" tour in the summer 2016 alongside Trapt, Saving Abel, Alien Ant Farm, Crazy Town, 12 Stones, Tantric and Drowning Pool.
In mid-2018, drummer Paul Crosby announced his departure from the band after 18 years. Shortly afterward, bassist Brad Stewart would also depart to focus on other touring and projects. Saliva then released their tenth studio record, 10 Lives, on October 19, 2018 via Megaforce Records. The album was produced by frontman Bobby Amaru and Steve Perreira in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2019, both Crosby and Stewart confirmed their return to the band. Saliva would go on to tour in 2019 as a part of Puddle of Mudd's Muddfest.
In October 2019, former vocalist Josey Scott announced on The Morning Dump podcast that he planned to reunite with Saliva for a tour and a new studio album. This was confirmed by Swinny in an interview with Detroit's WRIF Radio, adding that although "there's nothing on paper," the reunion should take place from 2020 into 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Every Six Seconds. In addition to Scott rejoining, Swinny also suggested that former guitiarist Chris D'Abaldo may also be taking part. In January 2021, it was announced that these plans were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 16th, 2021, the band released a music video for "After Me" following the 20th anniversary of their second album Every Six Seconds. Also, guitarist and founder Wayne Swinney sat out touring for August, due to testing positive for COVID-19, with Josh Kulack filling in for him.
Carry On
Saliva Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I chipped away to find out, that there was nothing here.
Nothin' like I thought.
I learned that lesson slowly, over seven years I threw away.
Giving you my total attention.
While I was finding you I lost my way.
How can I be safe, or find my way back home.
'Cause you have been erased, I'd rather be alone.
You best be on your way so I can carry on.
You stuck your blade within me.
Cold metal and steel sinking through my bones.
But you have resurrected, everything I couldn't feel and I thought was gone.
The opening lines of Saliva's Carry On are a juxtaposition of sorts. It speaks of finding a treasure in the form of a black coal diamond in the rough, which represents something valuable and precious that is hidden or unrecognized. However, the second line quickly turns things upside down when it becomes clear that there is nothing there apart from what the person initially thought. This verse is a metaphor for love and relationships; the black coal diamond in the rough symbolizes the idea of finding a true love that is hard to find and precious like the diamond, but the realization that it was all a myth, in the end, is even more crushing to the one who had so deeply invested their time and energy.
The rest of the song speaks of how the singer had devoted seven years of his life to this relationship, but had ultimately lost himself and his purpose along the way. The chorus is a cry of agony and a demand for closure. The character struggles with finding his way back home and feeling safe as the relationship left him feeling cut to the bone. But despite the pain and bitterness, the song ends on a positive note. The final verse talks about how the person who hurt him has somehow brought something back to life, making it clear that sometimes, despite the pain of heartbreak, one can still find something new to live for.
Line by Line Meaning
I found a treasure in you, a black coal diamond in the rough.
At first, I was amazed by your potential and believed that you held great value, like a rare diamond found in a rough mine.
I chipped away to find out, that there was nothing here.
However, as time passed, I realized that the potential I saw in you was just a mirage, and there was nothing of true worth to uncover.
Nothin' like I thought.
You turned out to be very different from what I had hoped or expected.
I learned that lesson slowly, over seven years I threw away.
It took me a long time, around seven years, to realize that I had committed a mistake by investing in you and wasting my time.
Giving you my total attention.
I had been focused on you, giving you all my attention and ignoring everything else.
While I was finding you I lost my way.
Unfortunately, in the process of finding you, I lost my sense of direction and lost sight of my goals.
Sinking like a stone, cutting to the bone.
I felt like I was drowning and being slowly destroyed, both emotionally and physically.
How can I be safe, or find my way back home.
I felt lost and did not know how to be safe or get back to my normal self.
'Cause you have been erased, I'd rather be alone.
Since you are no longer part of my life, I prefer to be on my own than to have someone with false potential around me.
You best be on your way so I can carry on.
Please leave, so I can move on with my life without your negativity weighing me down.
You stuck your blade within me.
Your actions hurt me deep inside, like a cold metal blade piercing my skin.
Cold metal and steel sinking through my bones.
The pain inflicted by your actions was so intense that it felt like it was penetrating deep into my bones.
But you have resurrected, everything I couldn't feel and I thought was gone.
Despite the pain you caused me, you also helped me to rediscover certain emotions and feelings that I thought I had lost forever.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBBIE CRAIG, MATHEW OSCAR MEYERS, WARREN DAVID MEYERS, DAMON C SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind