Biography
The band formed in Bristol, England during 1980. Their first show was at a street party celebrating the wedding of The Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. In 1982, the band relocated to Soho, London, where they would play many shows at the infamous club known as The Batcave, Specimen's vocalist Ollie Wisdom founded and ran the club during 1982-1983.
Unusual for a keyboardist, Johnny Slut became the face of the band and its most famous member, due largely to his striking image and fashion sense.
While the band were originally together, they never released a full album, only singles and an EP, although in 1997 two full-length compilations would be released featuring various Specimen songs.
Post-Specimen
After the band went its separate ways, guitarist Jon Klein worked with Siouxsie & the Banshees for a period of 7 years, before working with Sinéad O'Connor.
Johnny Slut went on to work with The KLF, Adamski and is now in Atomizer.
Current Lineup
* Olli Wisdom - Vocals
* Jon Klein - Guitar
* Jonny Slut - Keyboards
* Kev Mills - Bass
* Chris Bell - Drums
Previous Lineup
* T.bias - Vocals, additional guitar, & keyboards
* Jon Klein - Guitar, vocals
* Stephan X - Guitar
* Kimba - Bass
* Tim Huthert - Drums
Specimen Today
2008 saw the Batcave's 25th Anniversary celebration in London, for which Olli and Jon reassembled their favorite 1983/4 Specimen lineup including Jonny Slut, Kev Mills and Chris Bell.
The band also played a headline slot at the 2008 Whitby Goth Festival and will play the Waves Gothic Festival in Leipzig in 2009.
Olli and Jon were reunited for the first time in 20 years on the 2007 Electric Ballroom album, which was a series of collaborations with members new and old (see previous lineup).
Discography
*Specimen Alive at the Batcave (2009) Metropolis Records
* Electric Ballroom (2007) Metropolis Records
* Wake The Dead (2013)
Compilations
* Warm Wet Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush (1997)
* Azoic (1997)
E.P.
* Batastrophe (1983)
Single
* Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (1983)
Dead Man's Autochop
Specimen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
HOTTTTTTTTT...
HOTTTTTTT!
Tie him up and down.
In the ground, See it frown.
As the face turns blue...
Buy him till he walks, Twists and talks.
Twists and talks.
Stick it down, interrupt, spin around and around and...
STOP!
Hang it on the side of your shop, "
Dead Man's Autochop"
It just stays inside this house.
Benign and sick to death, The child is on my mind...
HIS MOTHER'
S DEAD!
Tie him up and down.
In the ground, See it frown.
As the face turns blue...
Buy him till he walks, Twists and talks.
Twists and talks.
Spits something into a mouth!
Stick it down, interrupt, spin around and around and...
STOP!
Hang it on the side of your shop, "
Dead Man's Autochop"
It just stays inside this house.
Benign and sick to death, The child is on my mind...
HIS MOTHER'
S DEAD!
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead your mother's DEAD..." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead your mother's DEAD..."
Ow!
Chop!
Ooo!
Ooo!
Chop!
Wow!
CHOP!
Wow!
Ooo!
CHOP!
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead your mother's DEAD..." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead, your mother's dead." "
Redhead your mother's DEAD..."
Interpretation:
The lyrics of "Dead Man's Autochop" by Specimen are dark, surreal and enigmatic. The song seems to be about some kind of twisted and macabre ritual involving tying someone up and burying them alive. The lyrics suggest that the person performing the ritual is trying to buy or control the victim even after their death, as they imagine them walking, twisting and talking, and spitting something into their mouth. The phrase "Dead Man's Autochop" is repeated throughout the song, and it is not clear what it refers to. The song ends with the repeated chant "Redhead, your mother's dead," which adds to the disturbing and ominous atmosphere.
The second part of the song introduces a new element, as the singer mentions a child whose mother is dead. The child seems to be on the singer's mind, along with the twisted, violent imagery of the earlier verses. The connection between the two parts of the song is not clear, but they both contribute to the impression of a disturbed and unsettling psyche.
The lyrics of "Dead Man's Autochop" are open to many interpretations, and the dark and surreal imagery leaves a lot of room for individual imagination. The song can be seen as a reflection on mortality, power and control, or as a snapshot of a disturbing human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
Hotttttttt...
The situation is intense and extreme.
HOTTTTTTTTT...
The situation is even more intense.
HOTTTTTTT!
The situation has reached its peak intensity.
Tie him up and down.
Restrict and confine the person's movement in various directions.
In the ground, See it frown.
Put the person in a grave and watch their face as it changes in a morbid expression.
As the face turns blue...
Observe the paleness appearing on the person's face due to an absence of oxygen.
Buy him till he walks, Twists and talks.
Bring the person back to life by purchasing their dead body and animating it as a puppet.
Twists and talks.
Control the revived dead body's movements and voice for your own amusement.
Spits something into a mouth!
Force-feed the revived dead body with something unpleasant.
Stick it down, interrupt, spin around and around and...
Continue to torment and control the revived dead body.
STOP!
Halt the torment and control for a moment.
Hang it on the side of your shop, "Dead Man's Autochop"
Display the revived dead body as a decoration to attract customers to your store.
It just stays inside this house.
The revived dead body stays within the house, unable to leave or escape its torment.
Benign and sick to death, The child is on my mind... HIS MOTHER' S DEAD!
Despite appearing harmless, the singer is preoccupied with thoughts of the child whose mother they have killed.
Redhead, your mother's dead."
The singer mocks someone with red hair, telling them their mother is dead.
Ow!
A sudden, sharp pain is felt.
Chop!
The sound of something being cut or chopped.
Ooo!
An expression of shock, surprise or excitement.
Wow!
An expression of awe or admiration.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.