The lineup consisted of Nicholas 'Nick' Walsh (vocals) Rob Bruce (guitar) Kevin Gale (guitar) Pat Howarth (bass) Neal Busby (drums) and Dave Mercel (lyricist). They released the E.P. Smooth and Deadly in 1991 on Capitol/EMI Records and followed that up with their debut full length CD Doin’ The Nasty in 1992 (also on Capitol/EMI). They released videos for "Helluva Time", "White Lies, Black Truth" and "By The Fireside." With constant touring with the likes of Kim Mitchell and Yngwie Malmsteen they even managed to get their CD to go Gold In Canada.
It was at this time that metal was starting to fall out of commercial favor as grunge garbage was taking over the airwaves. Some of you may remember the infamous incident where a drunken Pat Howarth (bassist) smashed a limousine at the 1994 post-Juno Awards party. It was after this little fiasco that the label began questioning the stability of the band. EMI wanted to move Slik Toxik to a subsidiary label but the band decided to leave EMI and go the independent route. They released the impressive CD Irrelevant in 1994 with new bassist Adam Headland. They were now signed to the small indie label known as Strawberry. During this time metal was being drowned by the wave of whiny grunge bands and Slik Toxik didn’t make it. The band folded. The fickle North American music industry and (mainstream) audience were not in favors of hard rock / metal any longer.
As for what they are doing now? Neal Busby reportedly teaches drums and spent some time in the Toronto death/extreme metal band Solus. Nick Walsh and Rob Bruce have been playing most recently in the band Raised On Mars who's "coming soon" website is at www.raisedonmars.com. We have no idea what this band is, what they play and even if it's metal or just some rock band?!?!
For all other intents and purposes Slik Toxik is dead and buried. There won't be a 30th Anniversary reunion, nor will there be a new studio album. That isn't to say Walsh won't and doesn't revisit Slik Toxik's music, as anyone who has attended a Famous Underground show can attest. "We do play the songs sometimes," he says. "It's not a staple thing in the Famous Underground set, but sometimes we'll pull out 'Helluvatime' or 'White Lies'. We've even done a medley where we threw in 'By The Fireside' and 'Sweet Asylum', we've done 'Twentysomething' off Irrelevant. So yes, Slik Toxik can live on in that respect when I feel like it. But as you said, it's been 30 years, so the idea of a reunion... honestly, for me it's not appealing. I think I get along better with those guys now than I would if we decided to reunite."
That said, 2021 did see Walsh reunite briefly with Busby to sing on a couple tracks by Busby's relaunched '80s metal band, Chyld.
"Neal and Pete Dove (bass / Slash Puppet) had something cooking," Walsh says of the one-off. "It's their project and I was asked to do a task, and it was good to do. I have my own project where I'm the be-all end-all, so it was no problem for me to go and do something with them because whenever I get the opportunity to do something different, I embrace it. It's fun to do."
Crashed
Slik Toxik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd better dream better dreams
If you want my blood to pump love
Then don'tcha hone me killer bee
You say the sky is falling
And we're all all the rage
Well,
Your words won't break my daze
You talk a mean line
Swing from the grapevine
These archers waste no time
You give good headgames
Your tongue is so strange
Caught in these backstage chains
Crashed at the wheel
Wake me when things get real
Crashed at the wheel
Distractions and lies
This ain't no B.F. Deal
I don't dig walking far
And I don't ride
I've got my own wheels
We'll chase the big time
And race the white line
Forget these endless scenes
You give good headgames
Your tongue is so strange
It's all the same thing to me
Crashed at the wheel
Wake me when things get real
Crashed at the wheel
Wake me up
The lyrics of "Crashed at the Wheel" by Slik Toxik are open to interpretation, but there are a few themes that stand out. The singer warns someone who wants his blood not to "hone me killer bee," implying that the individual is dangerous or unpredictable. The rest of the lyrics express a desire to escape from distractions and lies, and to pursue the "big time" on one's own terms.
The second verse suggests that the individual the singer is addressing is trying to manipulate or control him, with their "good headgames" and "strange tongue." The lines "caught in these backstage chains" suggest that the singer feels trapped or limited. However, he remains determined to pursue his own path, as evidenced by the line "I've got my own wheels."
The chorus repeats the phrase "crashed at the wheel," which can be interpreted in a few different ways. It suggests a feeling of being lost or overwhelmed, perhaps by the distractions and lies mentioned earlier. However, it could also be interpreted more literally as a metaphor for a car crash, which would make lines like "wake me when things get real" take on a darker meaning.
Overall, "Crashed at the Wheel" is a song about breaking free from manipulation and pursuing one's own path, even when it feels difficult or overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want my blood
If you want my affection or devotion
You'd better dream better dreams
You should have higher expectations or aspirations
If you want my blood to pump love
If you want me to love you
Then don'tcha hone me killer bee
Then don't manipulate or deceive me
You say the sky is falling
You say things are going terribly wrong
And we're all all the rage
And we're all very popular or fashionable
Well, Seeing is believing
I need evidence to support your claim
Your words won't break my daze
Your words won't distract or deceive me
You talk a mean line
You say harmful or untruthful things
Swing from the grapevine
Spread gossip or rumors
These archers waste no time
These people act quickly or efficiently
You give good headgames
You're good at psychological manipulation or deception
Your tongue is so strange
You say bizarre or confusing things
Caught in these backstage chains
Trapped or stuck in this deceptive or manipulative environment
Crashed at the wheel
Lost control or failed in my efforts
Wake me when things get real
Let me know when the situation is genuine or authentic
Distractions and lies
False or misleading information that divert attention
This ain't no B.F. Deal
This is not a serious or committed relationship
I don't dig walking far
I don't like to expend too much effort
And I don't ride
And I'm not content with simply following others
I've got my own wheels
I have my own means of achieving success
We'll chase the big time
We'll work hard to achieve great success
And race the white line
And do whatever it takes to get ahead
Forget these endless scenes
Ignore these repetitive or tedious situations
It's all the same thing to me
These situations or people don't make much of a difference to me
Wake me up
Bring me back to reality or alertness
Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mary Smith
on By the Fireside
OOOoooooOOoo <3 Love LOve love :X