With their versatile blend of classic hard rock and punchy alt-pop with a t… Read Full Bio ↴With their versatile blend of classic hard rock and punchy alt-pop with a thin metal veneer, Motor City rockers Sponge caught fire during the post-grunge boom of the mid-'90s with modern rock radio hits like "Plowed" and "Molly (Sixteen Candles)." Despite being wrapped in the fuzzy guitars and brooding intensity that typified grunge music, the band had a knack for jangly riffs and catchy, anthemic hard rock hooks. Sponge hit their commercial peak in 1996 with the release of their sophomore effort, Wax Ecstatic which, like their 1994 debut Rotting Pinata, went gold. While the band's popularity waned as tastes changed, they continued to forge ahead with hard-hitting efforts like Galore Galore (2007), Stop the Bleeding (2013), and Lavatorium (2021). Their sonic attack remained largely uniform, but founder and frontman Vinnie Dombrowski would serve as Sponge's sole constant member throughout their tenure.

Sponge grew out of a Detroit-based hard rock act called Loudhouse, which released an album on the Virgin label in 1988 before losing its record contract and disbanding shortly thereafter. Drummer-turned-vocalist Vinnie Dombrowski (born Mark Dombrowski) and guitarists Mike Cross and Joey Mazzola regrouped as Sponge in 1992, adding Mike's brother Tim Cross on bass and Jimmy Paluzzi on drums. Adapting their '70s hard rock influences to fit the grunge zeitgeist, the bandmates earned a major-label deal with Columbia and released their debut album, Rotting Pinata, in late 1994.

Initially, critics compared Sponge to Stone Temple Pilots, but alternative radio embraced the band's first two singles: the driving rocker "Plowed" and the jangly, introspective "Molly (Sixteen Candles)." A third single, "Rainin'," also earned airplay, and Rotting Pinata went gold; meanwhile, Sponge went on tour as Live's opening act. With new drummer Charlie Grover in tow, their 1996 follow-up album, Wax Ecstatic, was a more diverse affair, rediscovering some of the band's roots in arena rock, British glam, and jangle pop. Even though singles like "Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina)," "I Am Anastasia," and "Have You Seen Mary" enjoyed radio airplay, Columbia was dissatisfied with the sales figures and dropped Sponge once the album left the charts.

Undaunted, Sponge signed a new deal with the Beyond label, which released the more classicist New Pop Sunday in 1999. It attracted little commercial attention, and more personnel shifts ensued. Tired of touring, the Cross brothers both left and were replaced by guitarist Kurt Marschke and bassist Tim Krukowski; Billy Adams also came on board as the new drummer. After several years of recharging -- during which time Dombrowski played in several Detroit-area side projects -- Sponge returned with For All the Drugs in the World in 2003 and The Man in 2005. Dombrowski reworked the lineup once again, this time adding guitarists Kyle Neely and Andy Patalan, before returning again to the studio in 2007 to record Galore Galore for Bellum Records.

Two years later, there was another lineup shift -- Tim Patalan became the group's bassist -- and they released an EP called Destroy the Boy. A full-length called Stop the Bleeding arrived four years later on Three One Three Records; the LP contained all of the 2009 EP plus new songs, including a twisted cover of Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle." In 2017, the band partnered with Michigan Brewers and PledgeMusic for their eighth full-length outing, The Beer Sessions, which Dombrowski called "a celebration of independent music and incredible Michigan beer." In 2021 the band issued their ninth full-length effort, Lavatorium, which included the fiery single "Stitch," the well-timed ballad "Socially Distant," and an all-new recording of their signature hit "Plowed." Original guitarist Mike Cross died on March 6, 2022 at the age of 57.

Biography by Steve Huey

There are other artists with the same name:

ii) Sponge is also a 90's Japanese noise supergroup. Though the members are credited anonymously, the group reportedly includes:
Jojo Hiroshige (of Hijokaidan)
Junko Hiroshige (also of Hijokaidan)
Masami Akita (better known as Merzbow)
Yamazaki Takushi (better known as Masonna)

The Japanese Sponge have released at least two official albums, a 7" and a CD on T.E.C. Tones.

iii) Alias for James Hoyte, owner of the drum n bass label IQ Records. He has released one 12" record, The Crash, on Suburban Base Records in 1994.

Glue
Sponge Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What kind of man put a gun in his hand
Wags his tail like a dog for his dinner?
What kind of man put a gun in his hand
Make that man ain't no saint, ain't no sinner?
What makes a man break away from the chains
That keep him from being a winner?

Don't push me away (x8)

Leave me dying on the side of the road
Now I'm talking to God, I really feel it

I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect
I'm screwed down and I'm taking something's life for make my heroin
I'm screwed down and glued down

I'm just a man like any other man
Give away his son or his daughter
Yeah, I'm afraid that we've all been betrayed
We're all pigs just led to the slaughter
I was a man that fought best he can
To keep his head above water

Don't push me away (x8)

Make you wishing that you are all alone
Is everybody losing their minds? Somebody, tell me

I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect
I'm screwed down and I'm taking something's life for make my heroin
I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect
I'm screwed down and glued down

Get it, worms

(x2)
Push me away
Don't push me away (x3)

I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect
I'm screwed down and I'm taking something's life for make my heroin

I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect
I'm screwed down and glued down

Overall Meaning

The song "Glue" by Sponge is a powerful and introspective examination of the struggles and burdens of life, particularly in relation to addiction and violence. The opening lines of the song question what kind of man would wield a gun and behave like a submissive animal, exploring the complicated nature of violence and power dynamics. The lyrics then shift to a more personal and introspective focus, as the singer grapples with their own addiction and feelings of being trapped or stuck. The repeated refrain of "Don't push me away" creates an emotional urgency and desperation, highlighting the struggles of trying to break free from the chains of addiction and societal pressures.

The chorus of the song is particularly striking, with the repeated phrase "I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect" evoking a sense of feeling trapped and powerless. The metaphor of being an insect suggests being seen as small and insignificant in comparison to the larger forces at work in the world, emphasizing a sense of hopelessness and despair.

Overall, the lyrics of "Glue" are thought-provoking and emotive, grappling with difficult themes in a raw and honest way. The song stands as a testament to the power of music to explore the complexities of the human experience and shed light on the difficulties of addiction and violence.

Line by Line Meaning

What kind of man put a gun in his hand Wags his tail like a dog for his dinner?
Who is the kind of person that would resort to violence and aggression to get what they want in life?

What kind of man put a gun in his hand Make that man ain't no saint, ain't no sinner?
What motivates someone to take someone else's life, and does that inherent act make them inherently good or evil?

What makes a man break away from the chains That keep him from being a winner?
What compels someone to break free from the restrictions and limitations that society or their own mind places upon them?

Leave me dying on the side of the road Now I'm talking to God, I really feel it
Even when at their lowest point, someone may feel a spiritual connection or urge to communicate with a higher power.

I'm screwed down and I'm glued down just like a fucking insect I'm screwed down and I'm taking something's life for make my heroin I'm screwed down and glued down
The feeling of being trapped and unable to escape one's circumstances, and the temptation to resort to destructive behavior to cope with that feeling.

I'm just a man like any other man Give away his son or his daughter Yeah, I'm afraid that we've all been betrayed We're all pigs just led to the slaughter I was a man that fought best he can To keep his head above water
Despite outward differences, all humans are subject to the same dark emotions and impulses, and may feel powerless to stop the negative influences that surround them.

Make you wishing that you are all alone Is everybody losing their minds? Somebody, tell me
The feeling of being so overwhelmed and disillusioned by the cruelty and chaos of the world that one wishes to be completely isolated from it, and the desire for some kind of explanation or reassurance for why things are the way they are.

Get it, worms (x2) Push me away Don't push me away (x3)
Amidst all the confusion and pain, there may be moments of anger and resentment towards those who seem to have wronged or abandoned us.

Contributed by Adrian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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