Steve Jones was born in Shepherd's Bush, London. Steve has stated that his style of guitar-playing is derived from that of Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls and his early influences were Glam Rock icons like Roxy Music and David Bowie. He was an only child and his father Don Jarvis, an amateur boxer, left when he was two years old.
Up to the age of twelve he grew up in Hammersmith with his young mother, who worked as a hairdresser, and his grandparents. He then moved to Benbow Road in Shepherd's Bush with his mother and stepfather where they lived in a one bedroomed basement. Jones never got on with his stepfather, who made his living making gaskets for electric cookers, “he was an arsehole, I was just extra baggage.” Problems began to occur from a young age and in 1972 he was the subject of a council care-order. As a teenager Jones was frequently in trouble with the police. He was a kleptomaniac and was arrested for a range of crimes including car theft, shoplifting and burglary. In the documentary The Filth and the Fury Jones said he grew up watching his parents steal from shops and during his teens he racked up 14 criminal convictions. He spent a year in a remand centre - which he says was more enjoyable than being at home, and has said that the Sex Pistols saved him from a life of crime or even prison.
Steve co-founded The Strand (named after a Roxy Music song) with Paul Cook and Wally Nightingale in the early 1970's. The Strand were a precursor to the Sex Pistols where Steve first learned to play guitar and honed his rudimentary musical talents. After dropping Wally in the mid seventies, his band was known as The Swankers.
In 1975, Steve went on to co-found the Sex Pistols with Paul Cook, Glen Matlock and later Johnny Rotten. The Sex Pistols though only releasing a single album called Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols went on to become one of the most influential rock and roll bands of the 20th century. The Sex Pistols inspired acts such as The Clash, Nirvana, and The Pretenders amongst many others, and inspired a generation to pick up instruments and write and perform their own music.
Steve is a self taught guitar player and he primarily played Gibson Les Paul electric guitars in his early years. Bill Price, the engineer on Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols has called Steve one of the tightest guitar players he has ever worked with, implying that his chord and note timing were precise and impeccable. It cannot be understated that Steve understood how to obtain fabulous tones from his guitar and amplifier combination. This talent for tone combined with his musical precision and simplicity gave Steve his unique guitar sound which is often emulated and sought after by his fans and followers.
After the Sex Pistols broke up in 1978, Steve and drummer Paul Cook co-founded the hard rock outfit The Professionals. They released one album but disbanded after a serious car crash while on tour in the US in 1981. Ironically, the title of The Professionals' debut album was I Didn't See It Coming.
Steve was a member of Chequered Past (led by Michael Des Barres) from 1982 to 1985. They released a self-titled album in 1984.
Steve also played with Thin Lizzy, Joan Jett, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Cyco Miko, Andy Taylor, the Neurotic Outsiders and had a solo career in the 1980s and early 1990s. His song "Mercy" was used in a Miami Vice episode called "Stone's War" and was featured on the Miami Vice II soundtrack album. He participated in the Sex Pistol's reunion concerts and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He has since done some studio work, playing guitar on the Insane Clown Posse's 1997 rap-metal record, The Great Milenko. Additionally, Steve played electric guitar on Lisa Marie Presley's 2005 album, Now What, on the track Idiot.
In February 2004, Jones began hosting a daily radio program in Los Angeles called Jonesy's Jukebox, on Indie 103.1 FM, broadcasting live Monday to Friday from noon to 2PM. The premise of the show is that the self-described "Sire of Wilshire" can do whatever he wants (within FCC rules), with no direction from station management. Far from an angry punk with access to a transmitter, Jones is an entertaining host who mixes an eclectic playlist (culled from his own collection of CDs) with often (intentional) rambling and humorous interviews of guests from all walks of the entertainment industry. He frequently interacts on-air with "Mister Shovel," his nickname for program producer Mark Sovel.
Freedom Fighter
Steve Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sounds like I'd have some fun
Took a ride to that two bit town
Couldn't see nobody around
Then a man tried to slash my face
Welcome to this town
I'm a human racer watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
Ain't got time to hang around
Ain't got time to play no games
Just rock and roll is on my mind
I can't feel no pain
All I need is a shotgun heart
A crossfire lightening dance
I blow your mind to outerspace
Love don't stand a chance
I'm a freedom fighter here I come
I'm a human racer watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
I'm a freedom fighter here I come
I'm a human racer watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
I'm a freedom fighter here I come
I'm a human racer watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
The lyrics to Steve Jones's "Freedom Fighter" describe a rebel and outsider who revels in the chaos and violence of his surroundings. The song begins with the singer spotting a sign that invites trouble makers to a certain town, which instantly piques his interest. Upon arriving, he finds an empty, desolate place with no signs of life except for a man who tries to attack him. Despite this, the character seems to revel in the danger and chaos, declaring himself a "freedom fighter" and "human racer."
Throughout the song, Jones uses exaggerated, bragging language to paint the picture of this tough, fearless character. His lyrics are full of references to weapons and violent acts, giving the impression that this person is not afraid to do whatever it takes to survive and thrive in his environment. The guitar-driven rock music adds to the rebellious and wild tone of the song, creating a sense of urgency and danger.
Overall, "Freedom Fighter" seems to be a celebration of outsider culture and a rejection of mainstream society. The character portrayed in the song is an individualist who refuses to play by anyone else's rules, even if it means risking his life. Despite the rough and unpredictable nature of his world, he finds a sense of purpose and identity in his role as a rebel and a fighter.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw a sign said for trouble makers
I noticed a sign that seemed to encourage people who love stirring up a little bit of trouble
Sounds like I'd have some fun
The idea of causing a bit of a ruckus was appealing to me
Took a ride to that two bit town
I headed off to a small, unimportant place
Couldn't see nobody around
It was completely empty
Then a man tried to slash my face
Suddenly, someone tried to hurt me
Welcome to this town
This was the kind of place where violence was commonplace
Ain't got time to hang around
I do not have enough time to waste here
Ain't got time to play no games
I am not interested in playing around
Just rock and roll is on my mind
I am focused on rock and roll and nothing else
I can't feel no pain
I am invigorated, and nothing can stop me
All I need is a shotgun heart
I have a powerful and determined spirit
A crossfire lightening dance
I fearlessly dance in the midst of danger
I blow your mind to outerspace
I am so amazing that I will leave you breathless
Love don't stand a chance
No one can ever stop me, not even love itself
I'm a freedom fighter here I come
I am a heroic defender of liberty, and I cannot be stopped
I'm a human racer watch me run
I am a fast, energetic force to be reckoned with
I'm a pain reliever
I am a source of strength and relief to those who need it
I'm a firm believer
I have faith in myself and in the causes I fight for
Here I come
I am unstoppable and ready to take on any challenge
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@martongere5992
Looking down the highway, mate
Thinkin' 'bout a place to run
Show a sign said for trouble makers
Sounds like I'd have some fun
Took a ride to that two bit town
Couldn't see nobody around
Then a man tried to slash my face
Welcome to this town
I'm a freedom fighter, here I come
I'm a human racer, watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
Ain't got time to hang around
Ain't got time to play no games
Just rock and roll is on my mind
I can't feel no pain
All I need is a shotgun heart
A crossfire lightening dance
I blow your mind to outerspace
Love don't stand a chance
I'm a freedom fighter, here I come
I'm a human racer, watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come, yeah
I'm a freedom fighter, here I come
I'm a human racer, watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter
Here I come
I'm a freedom fighter, here I come
I'm a human racer, watch me run
I'm a pain reliever
I'm a firm believer
I'm a freedom fighter (freedom fighter)
Here I come (freedom, freedom, freedom fighter)
Yeah, oh yeah, aha
Oh yeah, oh yeah
Oh yeah, oh yeah, alright
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
@markboller4313
This guy is amazing. Voice and guitar.
@johnnovetzke1817
Steve Jones is one of the best rockers ever in my book!
@armoredmetalhead1257
So damn underrated...hes brilliant in every sense
@ECNIV2000
No argument here, he “taught” me how to play! (Im the same fashion Thunders and Ronson taught him, by listening to him play, and figuring out the chords. (Although, I learned a lot from them, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Quine, and Johnny Ramone) but it was Jonesy that I was trying to emulate when we started out first punk band in1988 when I was 14
Long Live Steve Jones!!!
@chchedda
Never read your book, any good?
@therespectedlex9794
Unrecogisable
@timmothymonaghan5236
Love Steve him and Lemmy my 2 favorites
@Joyce14916
First time I've ever heard of Steve Jones rock stuff. Great sound
@imarriedabrkfsttaco3737
When this song was released,Steve did an interview with Hard n Heavy video mag. I'd bought the VHS (lol) and that was how I found out about SJ the rocker. The 6-7 minute interview is here on YT.
@annenau8487
I saw him live during '89 Foundation Forum in LA. Performed and Axl Rose jumped on stage to do "I Did U No Wrong." My God, what a moment. And he was a pile of rock and roll hotness, standing there shirtless with skin-tight pants on.....and that HAIR! This is easily in my Top 10 best albums of all time. So underrated!!!! Some of my best memories ever.....Ah, the hair band days.