While at art college in Reading, Liam met David Westlake and Joe Wilson, who would both contribute to the first three albums and join the band on tour. When F.R.I.S.K. performed a gig with this line-up they later recorded some demos with Chris singing - these were considered the next stage in the evolution of Chis and Liam's professional partnership; another in an ever-improving set of smaller projects intended for a few thousand records at most. Drafting in Ian Pickering in 1995 to help with lyrics, they recruited Kelli Dayton for vocal duties after seeing her singing in a pub in Reading. The name 'Sneaker Pimps' itself was taken from a Beastie Boys article about a man they hired to track down classic shoes.
The first single Roll On preceded the first album, followed by Spin Spin Sugar, Post-Modern Sleaze, 6 Underground and Tesko Suicide. The album contains a myriad of 90s pop-culture references (such as film Thelma and Louise) coupled to dark double entendres and puns on drug taking and suicide. It was wildly successful everywhere: in America it remains their only real hit. In 2005, the song "Post-Modern Sleaze" (from the Becoming X album) was used as the theme song for Matroesjka's, an acclaimed Flemish drama series about Eastern European prostitutes and Belgians involved in the related sex trade.
Becoming X was "toured to death" over two years, particularly in America where the toll on Chris led to mental instability chronicled in the song Low Five. Depending on who you believe, Kelli Dayton left the band in 1998 or was sacked, going on to a solo career as Kelli Ali. The band trialled new vocallists, demoing some new songs with Icelandic chanteuse Emilíana Torrini, but coupled with the feeling that these demos fit Corner's voice better, and the fear of being identified with the fad for trip-hop acts, Corner became the singer. The Line of Flight studio was moved from Hartlepool to London and production on the next album started immediately.
1999's Splinter features the back of Chris' head, symbolizing the break with Kelli and his not feeling up to the responsibility of being a 'front man'. Dayton's departure, while lamented by many, was positively received by some critics who felt that it gave the band a more honest, emotional timbre and a more uniquely identifiable sound, especially with regard to the rawer and more personal quality of the lyrics. The album's production retains the sampled style of Becoming X while being edgier, less beat-driven, and at times more psychedelic. Due to wrangles with Virgin Records, the album was self-released on their own Clean Up label and not released in the US. Without significant promotion, and the lack of obvious singles that Becoming X had shown, the album was not as successful, but the favourable critical response led the band to set up their own club night in London. Called 'Home Taping' and hosted at the [venue]ICA[/venue], it invited celebrities and musicians to submit their own cassette mixes for the night's entertainment, and the odd live set by the band. Allegedly, one was even received by Madonna.
For 2002's Bloodsport, the band decamped to France and Germany, recording in a farmhouse while capturing the trans-European essence of Berlinesque "new-wave punk". Liam Howe was unavailable, so long-term associate and friend Chris Tate was brought in for synthesizer duties. The album was a glossier affair than before and included Flood on production duties rather than the band. On Bloodsport's release (including this time the US via Tommy Boy Records) the album was a comparative flop, but made the Austrian top twenty. Its singles were more successful in both the UK and Europe.
Sneaker Pimps recorded demos, previewed live in Russia and on European radio in 2003 for an unknown movie soundtrack and a fourth album tentatively titled 'Recall' or 'Songs of Imaginary Beings'. The album was never released; Chris and Liam purportedly shelved the tracks as a Sneaker Pimps album for several reasons. One, they contained some very emotional songs penned by Corner that were felt to be more suitable for a solo project, and two, in some cases were simply not being good enough to be released. The band eventually drifted apart during protracted sessions for the 4th album: many of the 'SP4' demos leaked and have been rereleased by Chris Corner's solo project IAMX on 2004's Kiss and Swallow and 2006's The Alternative. Another solo project, not including Corner or Howe, was the nu-rave and Madchester influenced Trash Money.
In late 2006, it emerged that seven new demos had been found and leaked from a portable music player left in a Russian bar. The demos, including "Rush", "Samaritan", "Sun Ate The Moon", "The Shutdown" and "Satellite" all sung by a new female singer believed to be Paris Hampton and referred to by fans as 'SP5. The band did not comment on the leaking of this material until 2015 when Liam Howe confirmed that "the Magnificent 7" had been recorded by Sneaker Pimps exploring a new, poppier sound.
Joe and David left the band to work in film production and academia. Liam Howe went on to have a successful career in music production, while Chris moved to Berlin and later Los Angeles as IAMX enjoyed a sustained alternative career, releasing Kingdom of Welcome Addiction in 2009, Dogmatic Infidel Comedown Ok in 2010, Volatile Times in 2011, The Unified Field in 2013, Metanoia in 2016, Everything is Burning in 2017, Unfall in 2018, Alive in New Light in 2019 and Echo, Echo in 2020. Ian Pickering launched his new project The Noise who Runs in 2020.
Chris and Liam continued to tease working together on new projects throughout various IAMX eras, including a session initially planned as Sneaker Pimps material becoming the Liam-produced IAMX mini-album "Everything is Burning".
In 2019, singer Simonne Jones was confirmed as the new featured singer of Sneaker Pimps which then began recording their new album together in earnest. Finally in May 2021, 18 years after their last album was released, the Squaring the Circle era was announced with two new singles, "Fighter" and "Squaring The Circle," which were released in July.
A remix album 'Rework Collection 1' was released in August, and their fourth full studio record 'Squaring The Circle' was released on September 10th, 2021 on Chris Corner's label UNFALL Productions. 'Squaring The Circle' features material recorded with both Simonne and Chris on lead vocals.
More remix albums and a re-release of the band's older records is also planned, with the band regaining copy and distribution rights of 'Becoming X' and 'Splinter' via One Little Independent Records and the ongoing negotiations of a re-release of 'Bloodsport' with Tommy Boy Records.
Sneaker Pimps
Sneaker Pimps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
6 underground
the ground beneath your feet
laid out low
nothing to go
nowhere a way to meet.
i've got a head full of drought
so far off of losing out
round here
Overground, watch this space
I'm open to falling from grace.
calm me down
bring it round
too way high off your street
i can see
like nothing else
in me
you're better than I wannabe
don't think 'cos i understand
i care,
don't think 'cos i'm talking
we're friends
Overground, watch this space
I'm open to falling from grace
talk me down
safe and sound,
too strung up to sleep
wear me out
scream and shout
swear my time's never cheap
i fake my life like i've lived
too much,
i take whatever you're given; not enough,
Overground, watch this
space, I'm open
i fake my life like i've lived
too much,
i take whatever you're given; not enough,
Overground, watch this
space, I'm open
to falling
from grace.
The lyrics of the song "Six Underground" by Sneaker Pimps paint a picture of someone who feels stuck and isolated in their current situation. The first few lines convey a sense of being trapped and confined, with the repetition of "down" and "underground." The reference to having "nothing to go" and "nowhere to meet" implies a lack of direction or purpose. The repeated reference to being "overground" suggests a desire to break free from this confinement and experience something different.
The middle section speaks to the singer's sense of inferiority compared to someone else, likely a romantic interest. They feel as though this person is "better than I wannabe" and that they are out of their league. The line "don't think 'cos I understand I care" could be interpreted as the singer feeling as though they are only included in this person's life because of how well they can listen and empathize, rather than being an equal partner. The repeated refrain of "I'm open to falling from grace" suggests a willingness to take risks and potentially fail, which could be seen as either admirable or foolish depending on one's perspective.
The final section speaks to the singer's restlessness and dissatisfaction with their current life. They feel as though they are pretending to be someone they're not, and that they are not getting what they need from the people around them. The repetition of "overground, watch this space" could be interpreted as a plea for someone to take notice and help them break free from their current situation. The song concludes with the repeated refrain of "I'm open to falling from grace," which could either be seen as a message of hope or a warning of potential danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me down
Bring me to a lower level or underground
6 underground
An unspecified underground location, possibly a metaphor for the singer's current circumstances
The ground beneath your feet
The current situation or environment the listener is in
Laid out low
Feeling defeated, helpless and powerless
Nothing to go
No directions to take or options to pursue, feeling stuck
Nowhere a way to meet.
No possible solutions to the problems, no meeting point between the listener and the singer
I've got a head full of drought
The singer feels mentally drought, lacks creativity and inspiration
Down here
In the current low state of mind or circumstances
So far off of losing out
The artist is barely holding on and isn't willing to risk losing what they have left
Round here
In the current environment or community
Overground, watch this space
The singer is ready and willing to make bold and unexpected moves above ground level
I'm open to falling from grace.
The artist is ready to risk everything, even if it means losing their current status, reputation and success
Calm me down
The singer needs emotional support and reassurance
Bring it round
The singer wants the listener to bring them back to reality
Too way high off your street
Feeling disconnected and unfamiliar with the listener's environment and lifestyle
I can see
The artist recognizes and understands the listener's way of life
Like nothing else
The artist perceives it as unique and distinct from their own life
In me
Internalizing the listener's lifestyle as part of their own identity
You're better than I wannabe
The listener is perceived as more successful, better-looking or happier than the singer wants to be
Don't think 'cos I understand
The artist warns the listener against assuming that they are on the same level or share the same experiences
I care,
The artist wants to reassure the listener that they care about their well-being
Don't think 'cos I'm talking
The artist is aware that talking isn't enough and actions are needed
We're friends
The singer recognizes and values the listener as a friend
Talk me down
Urging the listener to help calm them down again
Safe and sound,
The singer wants to feel safe and secure again
Too strung up to sleep
Feeling too stressed, anxious and overwhelmed to sleep
Wear me out
The singer is exhausted from the current situation
Scream and shout
The artist is at the breaking point, in need of an emotional release
Swear my time's never cheap
The artist feels that their time and energy are always in high demand but undervalued
I fake my life like I've lived,
The singer projects an image of having more experience and success than they actually have
Too much,
The singer feels they've reached a tipping point where they can't maintain this facade any longer
I take whatever you're given; not enough,
The artist is settling for whatever life gives them, without feeling satisfied or content
To falling,
The artist is willing to lose everything, even their current status, in the pursuit of something more fulfilling
From grace.
From a state of being successful, respected and valuable in the eyes of others
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.