The 2nd CD, 'Electric Chair Music', issued on the band's own Monongo imprint. It's worth noting that band fan LEMMY of MOTÖRHEAD repute, a vocal champion of the band, guests on the track 'B4' found on the 'Voices Of War' EP. The band's fanbase grew substantially during this period and both 'Electric Chair Music' and the EP 'Voices Of War' sold exceptionally well.
SKEW SISKIN's 1999 album WHAT THE HELL, saw the band gaining international popularity once more. Lemmy would get involved with the band once again, penning lyrics for two tracks 'Life's A Bitch' and 'Shoot Out Your Lights'. Nina also took time out to duet on the track 'Run' on POTHEAD's 'Burning Bridges' album.
Initially the group embarked upon a lengthy run of dates as guests to SAXON. Extended live work in Germany witnessed a headline tour in September and October 2000 with SKELETOR as support act. Nina would persevere on the road though, attending some shows of the MOTORHEAD tour acting as special guest vocalist for the encore song 'Born To Raise Hell'. This track had actually been originally written by Lemmy for SKEW SISKIN. Behind the scenes the band had once again fallen victim to a collapsing label as Cultural Minority floundered. Yet again a frustrated SKEW SISKIN was forced to wait out a distribution contract, this time with SPV until the Autumn of 2003. Support from Lemmy and other industry icons such as ALICE COOPER and Twiggy Ramirez from the MARILYN MANSON band helped the group through these tough times.
The band would be relatively quiet during 2001 but did place Stefan Schwarzmann of RUNNING WILD, ACCEPT, U.D.O. repute as their new drummer. Following a lengthy hiatus SKEW SISKIN, with a newly installed bassplayer, returned in September of 2002, acting as opening band for ANTHRAX and MOTORHEAD's UK dates. SKEW SISKIN also revealed a fourth album provisionally billed as 'Waste Your Youth' was nearing completion. Armed with a new drummer, the band was confirmed on a German support tour to MOTORHEAD in November. The record, backed by a promotional video of the single 'The Goddess', finally emerged billed as 'Album Of The Year'. European headline dates commencing in March of 2004 had the band on an extensive run of dates throughout Germany, France, Swizerland and Spain. However, in early April forced the band was forced to cancel the last three shows of their tour when vocalist Nina C. Alice collapsed after a show in Vienna and was rushed to a hospital.
Known to be a strong supporter of the band MOTORHEAD's frontman, Lemmy, guested with the band onstage for the first time on 5th September at the Columbiahalle in Berlin, guesting on the track 'Boogey Man'.
During 2005 the band had been forced to cancel again all their shows for the entire year, due medical treatment Nina C. Alice was undergoing for an infection.
In the beginning of 2006 SKEW SISKIN went back into the studio to start recording a new CD with Henning Menke (ex JINGO DE LUNCH, OJO ROJO) on bass and ex - ANNIHILATOR drummer Randy Black.
Towards the end of 2006 the band will finally hit the road again.
Discogs
Skew Siskin - (1992)
Electric Chair Music (1996)
Voices from the War (1996)
What the Hell (1999)
Album of the Year (2003)
Devil's Disciple (compilation) (2005)
Peace Breaker (2007)
Revolution of Illusion
Skew Siskin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devil's smiles back on you, Dr. Hook's medicine show
In good company with pure delight
Lunatic paradise, eatin' stewed peas and rice
I've met Jesus himself in the valley of the shadow of death
Have seen Cleopatra eatin' chicken paprika
Mao's daughter sleeps in here
Mona Lisa cries in fear
God bless them, all they want
To live and let live you gotta understand
Revolution of illusion
Revolution of illusion
This what we miss,heat up in the spoon
Love turned to dust, now it's powder from the moon
There's a hole in the sky where the rockets rush through
So they'll bring us the stuff which is missing between me and you
The essence of life in a plastic cup
Escaping and hiding, I wonder if we could stop
Mao's daughter sleeps in here
Mona Lisa cries in fear
God bless them, all they want
To live and let live you gotta understand
Revolution of illusion
Revolution of illusion
The lyrics to Skew Siskin's song "Revolution of Illusion" reflect on society's tendency to create illusions around us, causing individuals to believe in a false reality. The opening lines "Skeleton crew, skip-skap doodle doo / Devil's smiles back on you, Dr. Hook's medicine show" suggest a carnival-like environment where everything is an illusion, and the devil is the mastermind behind it all. The next line continues the theme of illusion and suggests that everything is just a show, a "medicine show," and not real.
In the following lines, the singer describes being in good company in a "lunatic paradise" where he is consuming simple food like stewed peas and rice. The contrast between the simplicity of the food and the complexity of the environment further emphasizes the idea of illusions masking what is real in life. The lines "I've met Jesus himself in the valley of the shadow of death / Have seen Cleopatra eatin' chicken paprika" are an attempt to draw the listener's attention to how these illusions are a comforting escape from the harsh reality of life.
The chorus "Revolution of illusion," repeated twice in the song, is a call for change, for individuals to break free from the illusions that surround them and to see the world for what it is. The lyrics suggest that love has turned to dust and that we need to find a new way to connect with others. The final lines of the song, "The essence of life in a plastic cup / Escaping and hiding, I wonder if we could stop," serve as a reminder of the true essence of life, something we can't find in plastic and hiding, but only in breaking free from illusions and living authentically.
Line by Line Meaning
Skeleton crew, skip-skap doodle doo
Operating with minimal staff, dancing and making noise to distract from the current situation
Devil's smiles back on you, Dr. Hook's medicine show
Bad things will come your way, and you'll be given false hope and solutions
In good company with pure delight
Surrounded by enjoyable and comforting things
Lunatic paradise, eatin' stewed peas and rice
A seemingly pleasant environment despite its madness, with simple meals to sustain oneself
I've met Jesus himself in the valley of the shadow of death
Experiencing extreme hardship and finding hope or guidance in spirituality
Have seen Cleopatra eatin' chicken paprika
Observing unexpected behavior or actions from someone of high status
Mao's daughter sleeps in here
The powerful and privileged find comfort and safety despite those around them suffering
Mona Lisa cries in fear
Even icons of beauty and strength can feel vulnerable and afraid
God bless them, all they want
Despite their faults, everyone deserves good things in life
To live and let live you gotta understand
In order to coexist peacefully, we must make an effort to comprehend and accept others' differences
Revolution of illusion
A change that is not real or effective
This what we miss, heat up in the spoon
We've lost the warmth and intimacy in our relationships, and are left with drugs as a substitute
Love turned to dust, now it's powder from the moon
Feelings of love have disintegrated, replaced by something empty and artificial
There's a hole in the sky where the rockets rush through
The way we move forward has created a rift between us and the world
So they'll bring us the stuff which is missing between me and you
We rely on external solutions to make up for what we lack in our relationships
The essence of life in a plastic cup
Our values have been reduced to cheap, disposable things
Escaping and hiding, I wonder if we could stop
We've reached a point where our only means of coping is avoidance, but we must ask ourselves if this is sustainable
Revolution of illusion
A change that is not real or effective
Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.