When you have as big a celebrity fan as Stephen King, you must be doing something right! The three-piece from Finley, New South Wales, Australia, often jump genres from disco-pop (Stevie, Calypso) to mutant dance (Arse Huggin' Pants) - in the course of a single album, no less. And yet, they still manage to rock like mofos (Shazam!, Outta My Head, and - of course - their cover of Black Betty).
The three band members Mark Maher or "Kram" (drums and vocals), Damien Whitty or "Whitt" on guitar and Janet English on bass/vocals come from the small town Finley in southern New South Wales where they jammed together in their youth.
The band moved to Melbourne, Australia where Kram was studying at the Victorian College of the Arts School of Music. The band played its first gig at a loungeroom for a friend's party. The band soon became part of Melbourne's punk scene playing gigs at venues like the Tote Hotel in Collingwood, Victoria. They released their first single Circle K on Au-Go-Go Records with an EP titled P'tang Yang Kipper Bang Uh! following in 1992. The band's first album Shashavaglava was released in 1992. 'Shashavaglava' means 'dickhead' in Croatian. This album featured the songs Old Man Sam and a cover of English comedians The Goodies' song Run.
Spiderbait signed with Polydor Records and released their first album with the new label, their second album overall, named The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake in 1995. The album reached #14 on the Australian charts with singles Monty and Jesus receiving extensive airplay on Triple J. The album title refers to an unfinished project by the Finley Rotary Club, which became a venue for teenage drinking in their home town.
Their third album Ivy and the Big Apples was released in 1996, reached #3 and sold over 180,000 copies in Australia. Their first single Buy Me a Pony received extensive airplay on Triple J resulting in listeners voting it as their favourite song of the year. The second single Calypso also achieved commercial airplay, and reached #13 in the Australian singles charts in 1997.
In 1998, Janet English and her then boyfriend Quan Yeomans of Regurgitator recorded an album as Happyland. Around the same time, Kram and Richie Lewis of Tumbleweed released their own side-project the Hot Rollers - so named as both member's mothers were hairdressers. The Hot Rollers only album (self-titled) was released through Polydor.
Spiderbait returned together in 1999 with the album Grand Slam which also debuted at #10 on the Australian album charts.
Despite good airplay for the Grand Slam singles Shazam! and Stevie, their 2001 album The Flight of Wally Funk was a commercial flop, only selling 20,000 copies. The album was recorded in Whitt's living room.
Spiderbait recorded the Tonight Alright album in Los Angeles with producer Sylvia Massy who had worked with acts such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., Tool, System of a Down and Skunk Anansie. The first single Black Betty was a cover version of the old Leadbelly song which became a hit in 1977 when covered by Ram Jam. The single reached #1 after 10 weeks in the singles chart in May 2004 (after debuting at #12), and stayed there for three weeks, becoming their biggest selling single ever. The film clip featured a hot rod similar to the car on the ZZ Top Eliminator. The song also made the soundtrack to the Electronic Arts video game Need for Speed: Underground 2. Tonight Alright was released on 28 March 2004, and debuted and peaked at #14. The second single Fucken Awesome debuted in the top 30 on June 28 2004. Interscope Records signed the band in 2004 to distribute Tonight Alright in the US and UK.
At the 2004 ARIA awards, Kram performed as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
In September 2005 they released a Greatest Hits collection to reveal their back catalogue to younger fans who were caught up by Black Betty. This debuted at #6 and received a Gold Accreditation.
The band went on hiatus March 2005 after bassist Janet English gave birth to her daughter and planned a cycling tour across Europe. More recently Kram had announced plans of a solo album to be released sometime in 2006. On 18 November 2006 the band performed at the Queensland Council of Unions organised Rock the Vote! concert in Brisbane after a nine month hiatus from touring.
The band recorded a cover of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" as the main theme for the film Ghost Rider (2007), starring Nicolas Cage. A small excerpt is played during the film, and then in its entirety as the first song when the credits roll. The band's song "Glokenpop" is featured in the 2009 game LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation Portable. Kram released his debut solo album, Mix Tape, in March 2009. In 2010, Magnapop's album Chase Park featured a cover of Spiderbait's song "Jesus" from The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake. In December of that year, they supported Guns N' Roses at a Sydney gig. The band recorded a cover of "Rock-a-Bye Your Bear" for the compilation ReWiggled - A Tribute to the Wiggles.[41]
2013–present: End of hiatus and self-titled album
In an interview with Triple J in February 2013, Kram announced that Spiderbait were in the studio, working on their first album in seven years, saying "We're doing a new record and we're about halfway through. We're just writing demos at the moment and it's coming along well. We're back in our Motorhead and Metallica metal phase—I'm all double kick at the moment."
The self-titled album, Spiderbait, was released on 15 November 2013. The band played a gig on the same day, for the opening night of the Jam Gallery, a new music venue in Bondi Junction.
On 11 March 2022, the band released "My Car's a A UFO", their first new song in nine years. The song was initially recorded for their fifth album, The Flight of Wally Funk and is the lead single from the band's third compilation album, 'Sounds in the Key of J, scheduled for released on 8 April 2022.
Studio Discography
Shashavaglava (1993)
The Unfinished Spanish Galleon of Finley Lake (1995)
Ivy and the Big Apples (1996)
Grand Slam (1999)
The Flight of Wally Funk (2001)
Tonight Alright (2004)
Spiderbait (2013)
Cracker
Spiderbait Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You want something to get you by
You want something that I can do
And I'm wastin' all my dust on you
You want something I can see
You wanna know just where I'll be
Stick around and wait for me
You want something that I can bet
You're not going to get some yet
Fit the pieces that don't fit
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
You want something it's alright
You wanna sit me down tonight
You want something to make you bite
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
Ooh-doo-doo-doo-da-doo-dah...
You want something I can buy
You want something to make you fly
You wanna be my kinda guy
'Coz I've got the things that mystify
You want something I can see
It looks kind of clear to me
It's the place you'd like to be
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
I don't wanna set you off
'Coz you're backing me up and I can't take it
I've got something that you want
Because I can do it and you can make it
I've got something it's alright
I've got something to make you fly
You wanna be my kind of guy
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
Ooh-doo-doo-doo-da-doo-dah...
The lyrics of Spiderbait’s “Cracker” tell a story of a relationship where one person is seeking material things and validation, while the other is trying to maintain their independence and integrity. The first person is constantly asking for things that the other can buy and do, and is even trying to change the second person to fit their ideal man. However, the second person knows their worth and is not going to fit into the mold that the first person wants them to. The second person is happy with their simple sound and is dusting off the things that don't fit into the ideal image that the other person wants them to be.
The chorus of the song describes the dynamic of wanting something from each other, but not quite being able to give it. The first person wants something that they can buy, and something that can make them fly. The second person has something that the first person wants, but they are not willing to give it up easily. The second person knows that their worth is not tied to material things, and is content with who they are.
Overall, “Cracker” is a song about a power struggle within a relationship where one person is looking for validation from the other, while the other is trying to maintain their independence and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
You want something that I can buy
You desire a material object that I can purchase and provide for you
You want something to get you by
You require something to help you through a difficult time or situation
You want something that I can do
You are seeking a particular action or skill from me
And I'm wastin' all my dust on you
I am investing a significant amount of resources or energy in you, perhaps to no avail
You want something I can see
You desire a tangible or observable aspect of me or my life
You wanna know just where I'll be
You want to be aware of my location or plans
Stick around and wait for me
Remain in close proximity until I am available or present
Because I'm just the man you'd like to see
I am the type of person you find appealing or attractive
You want something that I can bet
You have confidence in my ability to deliver or fulfill a promise
You're not going to get some yet
Your desired outcome or objective is not yet attainable or possible
Fit the pieces that don't fit
Make things work or fit together, even if they seem incompatible or mismatched
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
I am reviving or bringing back a basic, uncomplicated style or approach
You want something it's alright
You desire something that is acceptable or satisfactory
You wanna sit me down tonight
You want to have a conversation or interaction with me tonight
You want something to make you bite
You desire something that will provoke or excite you
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
I am using a straightforward, uncomplicated approach or style
You want something to make you fly
You desire something that will elevate you or make you feel exhilarated
You wanna be my kinda guy
You would like to emulate or partner with me in some way
'Coz I've got the things that mystify
I possess the things or qualities that are intriguing or mysterious
It looks kind of clear to me
It appears evident or obvious to me
It's the place you'd like to be
It is a desirable or appealing location or situation for you
I don't wanna set you off
I do not want to provoke or upset you
'Coz you're backing me up and I can't take it
Your support or encouragement is overwhelming or uncomfortable for me
I've got something that you want
I possess something that you desire or need
Because I can do it and you can make it
I have the ability or expertise to accomplish something, and you can benefit or learn from it
I've got something it's alright
I have something that is satisfactory or acceptable
You wanna be my kind of guy
You desire to possess qualities or characteristics that I exhibit
'Coz I'm dusting off this simple sound
I am reviving or utilizing a basic, uncomplicated approach or style
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind