The band previously went under the name "Kingpi… Read Full Bio ↴First Era, 1985-1991
The band previously went under the name "Kingpin" while they played in Sweden, recording the album "Welcome To Bop City" the line-up featured Zinny J. Zan (vocals), Tim Skold going by "Tim Tim" (bass), Harry Cody (guitar) and Stixx Galore (drums). This would become the original line-up of Shotgun Messiah as the band changed their name and relocated to Los Angeles, California hungry for more success. The album they released under the Kingpin name was re-recorded and released as Shotgun Messiah's self-titled, debut album, Shotgun Messiah. The style of this album was Glam metal typical of early 1980s American bands, in the vein of Mötley Crüe and Ratt.
Second Era, 1991-1993
Soon after this, frontman Zinny J. Zan departed, leaving Tim Skold to take over vocal duties for the band, Shotgun Messiah drafted in American bassist, Bobby Lycan to fill Tim's former position. This would prove to be the bands most successful era. In 1991, the bands follow up album "Second Coming" was released, spawning their most famous hit "Heartbreak Blvd". Stylistically, due to Skold's less conventional singing style, this era saw the band playing Sleaze Glam styled Hard rock, closer to Guns N' Roses and Faster Pussycat than their previous effort.
A punk rock influence was prevalent during this period. The band released an E.P. "I Want More", featuring cover versions of songs by the Ramones, the Stooges and the New York Dolls, during this time, they were also known to cover the Sex Pistols live.
Third Era, 1993
1993 proved to be the final year for the band, Harry Cody and Tim Skold were left as the only members of Shotgun Messiah, and created what would be the last Shotgun Messiah album "Violent New Breed", this album is significantly different from the previous efforts as it focused heavily on Industrial rock stylings, bringing in live players for the Violent New Breed tour. Soon after the band split permanently, citing artistic differences as the reason.Skold would have a stint in KMFDM.
Zan and Stixx (going only by his first name) reunited in 2012 as Shotgun. They wanted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Welcome to Bop City, the original debut album from the band's first incarnation as Kingpin before changing their name to Shotgun Messiah. They released a live album under the Shotgun moniker. Their line-up at this point included Zan (lead vocals), Rob Marcello (guitar and backing vocals), Chris Laney (bass and backing vocals), Stixx (drums and backing vocals), and Jonas Beijer (keyboards).
Bop City
Shotgun Messiah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We live a permanent high
Round, round, round we go
The town that never sleeps
Oh, babe this is pleasuredome and where you ought to be
Town of the wild
Ain't gonna let you down
Sure gonna make you high
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Welcome to bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Rockin' in bop city
Running wild, wreck'n roll on our minds
Babe, we're in crime of all time
Now and for evermore, the ultimate trip
It's your shot and it's hot so toss the coin and let it flip
Town of the wild
Ain't gonna let you down
Town of the wild
Sure gonna make you high
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Welcome to bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Rockin' in bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Welcome to bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Rockin' in bop city
Late at night as your vice turns to sin
We'll get yer rocks off for sure
Red hot and burning up it's your best choice and for free
Outta luck, outta love, that don't happen to you here
Town of the wild
Ain't gonna let you down
Town of the wild
Sure gonna make you high
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Welcome to bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Rockin' in bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Welcome to bop city
Shake, shake, shake, oy
Rockin' in bop city
Throw away yer self pity go and make yerself pretty
This train keeps rollin' down to the bop city
There's a word on every tongue about a place to have fun
Everybody's talkin' 'bout bop city
The song "Bop City" by Shotgun Messiah is an ode to a place called Bop City which sounds like a wild, non-stop party town. The lyrics talk about the excitement of going there and experiencing all the thrill that the town has to offer. The streets are packed, and the people are high on life, with the town never sleeping. It is a place of constant energy and excitement. The lyrics encourage the listener to toss the coin and take the ultimate trip in Bop City. The place is a permanent pleasure dome, and it's where you ought to be.
The song seems to celebrate dangerous living and wild behavior, with lines like "running wild, wreck'n roll on our minds" and "late at night as your vice turns to sin." The town is also referred to as the "town of the wild," and it's not going to let you down, and it's sure to make you high. The lyrics are full of imagery of excitement, freedom, and rebellion that could be seen as a commentary on a youth culture that seeks adrenaline and excitement. However, as a cautionary tale, it could also be seen as a warning about the dangers of excess and hedonism.
Line by Line Meaning
Hit the street, man we're packed to the max
We're heading out into the city, brimming with energy and excitement.
We live a permanent high
Our lifestyle is always intense and fulfilling, like being on a constant high.
Round, round, round we go
The energy of the city is dizzying and all-consuming, and we're caught up in the whirlwind of it all.
The town that never sleeps
This city is always awake, alive, and full of possibilities.
Oh, babe this is pleasuredome and where you ought to be
This is the ultimate place of pleasure and excitement, and you absolutely must experience it for yourself.
Town of the wild
The city is a place of unfettered energy and excitement, where anything goes.
Ain't gonna let you down
This city always delivers on its promises, with no disappointment or letdowns.
Sure gonna make you high
The excitement and energy of the city are bound to give you a natural high and leave you feeling exhilarated.
Shake, shake, shake, oy
This is a place for shaking off your inhibitions and getting lost in the music and the moment.
Welcome to bop city
This is the ultimate destination for anyone seeking to experience the ultimate in excitement and pleasure.
Rockin' in bop city
This is a place of endless good times, where the music never stops and the fun never ends.
Running wild, wreck'n roll on our minds
We're caught up in the intensity and excitement of the moment, with nothing on our minds but the wild energy of this amazing city.
Babe, we're in crime of all time
We're living life on the edge, flirting with danger at every turn and pushing the limits of what's possible.
Now and for evermore, the ultimate trip
This is an experience that will stay with you forever, with the power to change your life in ways you never thought possible.
It's your shot and it's hot so toss the coin and let it flip
This is your chance to take a risk, to throw caution to the wind and let fate decide where your night will take you.
Late at night as your vice turns to sin
As the night wears on and your inhibitions wear down, you're more likely to take risks and do things you might not normally do.
We'll get yer rocks off for sure
We guarantee that you're going to experience the ultimate in pleasure and excitement here.
Red hot and burning up it's your best choice and for free
This is the most thrilling and intense place you'll ever experience, and you don't even need to pay for it.
Outta luck, outta love, that don't happen to you here
This city is a place where everyone can find excitement and fulfillment, with no limits or restrictions.
Throw away yer self pity go and make yerself pretty
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get ready to have the time of your life in this city.
This train keeps rollin' down to the bop city
The energy and excitement of this city are like a never-ending train ride, with no limits or end in sight.
There's a word on every tongue about a place to have fun
Everyone is talking about this amazing city, the ultimate destination for anyone seeking the ultimate in fun and pleasure.
Everybody's talkin' 'bout bop city
This is the place to be, the ultimate destination where everyone wants to experience the ultimate in excitement and pleasure.
Contributed by Jack P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.