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.
Silence Is Their Drug
Sponge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do they beat us down with their lies.
They object us they reject us
Time after time then we ask ourselves
Why are we alive
I can't hear anything
They make silence their drug
We, we are everything
Why do they beat us down to their size
The better we fit, the bigger
They get and we justify their
Lousy existance.
Why are we alive
I can't hear anything
They make silence their drug
In Sponge's song Silence Is Their Drug, the lyrics describe a sense of powerlessness and frustration towards those who try to bring them down with lies and rejection. The refrain "We, we can do anything, why do they beat us down with their lies" suggests a feeling of capability and potential, yet this is constantly undermined by external forces which prevent them from achieving their goals. The line "They make silence their drug" suggests that these external forces may not be manifesting themselves in obvious attacks, but rather through a lack of communication and acknowledgement, leaving the subject feeling ignored and unnoticed.
The second verse reiterates this feeling of being held back, with the line "Why are we alive, I can't hear anything" indicating a sense of isolation and disconnection from the world around them. The lyrics suggest that the constant rejection and disregard from others causes a lack of motivation and drive to continue pushing for success, to the point where silence becomes a drug, a way of numbing the pain and frustration that comes with constantly being beaten down.
Overall, the lyrics to Sponge's Silence Is Their Drug paint a picture of a struggling individual or group, fighting against the odds and the criticisms of those around them, yet ultimately unable to break through and achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
We, we can do anything
We have the capability to achieve anything we want, but something/someone is holding us back.
Why do they beat us down with their lies.
They deliberately oppress us with false information, making it hard for us to see the truth.
They object us they reject us
They oppose and deny our existence, making it hard for us to find acceptance.
Time after time then we ask ourselves
Repeatedly, we question ourselves about our place in this world.
Why are we alive
Why do we exist and what is our purpose in this world?
I can't hear anything
We are not being heard or understood by those who oppress us.
They make silence their drug
They enjoy oppressing us and keeping us silent, as it gives them a sense of power and control.
We, we are everything
We are important and valuable individuals with unique qualities and strengths.
Why do they beat us down to their size
They try to reduce our self-esteem and make us feel inferior to themselves.
The better we fit, the bigger
The more we conform to their expectations, the more they hold power over us.
They get and we justify their
They benefit from our compliance, while we give them reasons to continue oppressing us.
Lousy existence.
Their existence is hollow and meaningless without oppressing and controlling others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOE MAZZOLA, MARK P DOMBROSKI, TIMOTHY RYGIEL, MICHAEL JOHN RYGIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind