In the course of his career Bators was involved with a variety of bands beyond those for which he was best known. These short-term bands included Hormones, with Dennis Comeau and Andre Siva, Frankenstein, The Wanderers and The Whores of Babylon (with Dee Dee Ramone and Johnny Thunders). He also recorded as a solo artist with Bomp! Records.
It was as the lead singer and driving force of the Cleveland, Ohio based Dead Boys, however, that Bators helped pioneer the punk rock sound, look and attitude. The band quickly became a popular staple at CBGB's, the music club in New York City's East Village. The Dead Boys were featured in the independent punk rock film Punking Out (1978), Live at CBGB's (1977) and Crash 'n' Burn (1977).
Following the demise of the Dead Boys in 1979, Bators began a tumultuous relationship with Bomp! Records and its president, Greg Shaw. According to Shaw: "[W]hat he craved most was to escape the fetters of his Dead Boy image and win respect as a singer of contemporary pop rock. . . . in other words, he wanted to be 'the thinking punk's Eric Carmen.'"[1] To this end, and usually with first-wave punk rock veterans in tow, he recorded several singles, many of which were unreleased, and an LP, Disconnected, which was released in 1980. A retrospective album released in 1994, L.A. L.A. documented Bators' efforts as a pop-punk singer.
After England's Sham 69 disbanded, Bators, now located in London, formed the Wanderers with Dave Tregunna, the Sham 69 ex-bass-player. The band came up with a concept album, called Only Lovers Left Alive (released in May 1981), along with two singles.
Bators formed The Lords of the New Church later in 1981 with Brian James of The Damned and Dave Tregunna of Sham 69. (Bators and Tregunna had also been in the Wanderers together). The Lords became notorious for their live shows. A devotee of Iggy Pop, Bators had developed a fearless reputation in his Dead Boys days and continued such antics with The Lords, the most famous being the time he reportedly hanged himself during a show. Bator's stunt went awry and he was pronounced clinically dead for several minutes. Nonetheless, Bator survived and The Lords recorded two more successful albums.
Later, the punk vocalist gained additional exposure through more mainstream film. In 1981, Bators co-starred in the satirical John Waters film, Polyester. Seven years later, Bators made a memorable cameo appearance as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of "The Blender Children", in the offbeat comedy, Tapeheads, starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins.
In December 1985 Bators flew to New York with his best friend Michael Monroe to work Artists United Against Apartheid music video.
The Lords of the New Church broke up in 1989, when Bators injured his back and guitarist Brian James secretly began advertising for a replacement singer.
In 1990, Bators was struck by a taxi while crossing a street in Paris. He was taken to a hospital but reportedly left before seeing a doctor because he had already been waiting several hours, was told to keep waiting, and he did not feel well and wanted to go home. Reports indicate that he died in his sleep as the result of a concussion. Unsubstantiated reports claim that Bators, a fan of rock legend Jim Morrison, had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's Paris grave and that his girlfriend complied.
Evil Boy
Stiv Bators Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am an evil boy...
I been real bad and I don't know why
Maybe I just like to see you cry
Maybe I just wanna tell you lies
So I can have fun
I feel no guilt for what I did
I'm just a nasty little kid
So I can have fun
I am an evil boy...
The lyrics to Stiv Bators's song "Evil Boy" describe a character who revels in being bad, and causing others emotional pain. The singer confesses that he enjoys seeing people cry and lying to them for his own enjoyment. He expresses no remorse for his actions, and even expresses a desire to control the world around him. The repeated refrain of "I am an evil boy" serves to reinforce his sense of identity as someone who takes pleasure in being cruel.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on toxic masculinity, and the ways in which it can be corrosive to both the individuals who embody it and the people around them. The singer's behavior can be seen as a manifestation of this toxic mindset, as he seeks power and validation through domination and emotional manipulation. However, the singer's flippant tone throughout the song also suggests a certain immaturity, and a lack of understanding of the consequences of his actions. This could be seen as a warning against the dangers of unchecked privilege and entitlement.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an evil boy...
I am a bad person and do not feel any remorse for my actions.
I been real bad and I don't know why
I have been behaving badly, but I do not have a reason or justification for my behavior.
Maybe I just like to see you cry
I may take pleasure in making you upset or sad and seeing you cry.
Maybe I just wanna tell you lies
I might want to deceive you by telling you untruthful things just for my own amusement.
So I can have fun
My sole motive for my actions is to have fun and enjoy myself, regardless of the consequences.
I feel no guilt for what I did
I do not feel any remorse for my past actions and their negative impacts on others.
I'm just a nasty little kid
I am just a mean and unpleasant person who derives enjoyment from hurting or upsetting others.
I want the world to do my bid
I want to have complete control over the world and bend it to my will.
So I can have fun
My ultimate goal is to have fun and entertain myself by controlling the world and its inhabitants.
I am an evil boy...
I am emphasizing and reiterating my negative qualities, making it clear that I am a malicious person.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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