The lineup first consisted of vocalist Jack Grisham (who has been credited as Jack Greggors, Alex Morgan, Jack Ladoga, Jim Woo and James DeLauge), guitarist Ron Emory, bassist Mike Roche, and drummer Todd Barnes, the band's first release was a harshly political eponymous T.S.O.L. EP featuring tracks such as "Superficial Love," "World War III" and "Abolish Government."
After their debut EP, they released Dance With Me, their first full-length record. A departure from the entirely political nature of the previous release, Dance With Me was far darker and more macabre, featuring such themes as necrophilia, and the song "Silent Scream," which is made up entirely of horror movie clichés. Their most popular release, both then and to this day, the album earned them the title of the "West Coast Misfits" (a reference to Glenn Danzig's band the Misfits on the East Coast), and has made the band a favorite amongst horror punk fans.
They later signed to independent label Alternative Tentacles, for which they released the Weathered Statues 7" EP and the Beneath the Shadows album which featured, for the first time, keyboard player Greg Kuehn who added a new dimension to the band. Around this period their style had changed further, becoming highly experimental and varied, featuring art punk and psychedelic leanings, as well as their customary horror themes.
In 1983 amid personal turmoil, Jack Grisham and Todd Barnes left the band and were replaced by singer Joe Wood (who was Grisham's brother-in-law) and drummer Mitch Dean. This new line-up (with Joe Wood and Mitch Dean) released the album named Change Today? in 1984 on Enigma Records.
The group changed their sound entirely for their next release Revenge, adopting a punk metal sound. Their music was featured in the 1984 movie Suburbia, the 1985 version of popular horror movie Return of the Living Dead and Dangerously Close in 1986.
The band became friends with Guns N' Roses and T.S.O.L. t-shirts can be seen in the "Sweet Child o' Mine" video. They followed up with an album in a similar style, titled Hit and Run. Before it was released, original guitarist Ron Emory quit the band, leaving Mike Roche as the sole original member.
T.S.O.L. were joined briefly by guitarist Scotty Phillips, who quit before the band started recording the follow-up to Hit and Run. They eventually hired guitar player and actor Marshall Rohner. They released a blues-metal album titled Strange Love in 1990. Mike Roche quit shortly before the album release, leaving no original member in the band. A compilation album entitled Hell & Back Together: 1984-1990 was issued in 1992 with an emphasis on their metal era. Murphy Karges, later of Sugar Ray, briefly replaced Roche on bass as did Dave Mello.
Meanwhile, the original members had started playing shows featuring the band's early material under the name T.S.O.L., often playing the same cities, the same nights as the other T.S.O.L. Since Joe Wood and Mitch Dean now owned the rights to the name T.S.O.L., they threatened to sue the original members, who released a live album of their early material under the name "Grisham, Roche, Emory and Barnes" but stopped playing together soon after because of drug problems.
In 1996, most of the original members settled down and realized that they still had a passion for their music and that fans wanted them to reunite. In 1999, they fought with Wood for rights to the name and won before joining the Vans Warped Tour, playing for the first time in years under the name T.S.O.L.
Todd Barnes had died on December 6th, 1999 of a brain aneurysm at the age of 34. The remaining members recruited drummer Jay O'Brien and released the Anticop single and the Disappear and Divided We Stand albums on Nitro Records, the latter of which featured Greg Kuehn back on keyboards. The Original T.S.O.L. recorded two more full length albums. In September of 2007, Cider City Records released the posthumous live album Live From Long Beach, recorded in November 2006 on the weekend of the band's two "farewell" performances.
Their departure was short-lived, however, with a couple of local shows in late 2007. They also headlined the "F**k the Whales, Save a Chckn" benefit in February of 2008, held to help with cancer treatment bills for guitarist Craig "Chckn" Jewett of D.I.
They are an independent band under the Nitro Records banner, which was started by the Offspring vocalist Dexter Holland, for whom T.S.O.L. is cited as an influence.
In December 2008, the band, in cooperation with Hurley, entered the studio to record Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Free Downloads which was, as the title suggests, made available as a free download through Hurley's website on January 8, 2009.
The late eighties T.S.O.L. version apparently are popular enough to invite bookings in Brazil & Argentina, where the Grisham led band hold no legal rights to prevent Wood from gigging as T.S.O.L. Since 1996, Wood has been joined by guitarists including Mike Martt and Drac Conley, drummers Steve "Sully" O’Sullivan and Mitch Dean and bassist Dave Mello, who joined the band near the end of its Enigma years run. Additionally, Wood has pursued musical work in Joe Wood and the Lonely Ones & Cisco Poison.
Members
* Jack Grisham - vocals
* Ron Emory - guitar
* Mike Roche - bass
* Antonio Val Hernandez - Drums
* Greg Kuehn - piano, synthesizers
Former members
* Todd Barnes - drums
* Murphy Karges (born Matthew Murphy Karges) - bass
* Dave Mello - bass
* Joe Wood - vocals, guitar
* Mitch Dean - drums
* Marshall Rohner - guitars
* Jay O'Brien - drums
* Travis Johnson - drums
* Billy Blaze - drums
* Frank Agnew - guitar
* Scotty Phillips - guitar
* Tiny Bubbz - Drums
World War III
T.S.O.L. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You voted for who you want but the government wins
Its not a question of who can do the job
Its just a matter of how much money you have
[Chorus]
In the world war three
Where do I stand in this form of power
Where do I fit in this government
I find no choice
Third world war
And your the victims
Third world war
And your the victims
If I don't register I have to pay
I refuse to go there's no fucking way
The systems looking for a drastic change
Don't look at me cause I'm out of your range
[Chorus x2]
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
I won't go
I won't go
I won't go
I won't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
Don't go
I won't go
I won't go
I won't go
I won't go
Don't go
The lyrics of T.S.O.L.'s song World War III are a clear commentary on the political state of the United States during the early 1980s, when the country was facing a serious economic recession, inflation, and a growing Cold War threat. The theme of the song is centered around the topic of war and how those in power exploit their citizens to fight their battles for them. The first verse speaks of the futility of voting, with the government ultimately winning regardless of who the president is, and that it's only a matter of money that determines who has power. The chorus emphasizes the idea that in the event of a third world war, the common people are the ones that suffer the most, and how they have no choice but to be the victims of the decisions made by those in power.
The second verse reflects the sense of rebellion and nonconformity that was present during this period, with the singer refusing to register for the war draft and clearly stating that they will not be forced to go into battle. The following line highlights the sentiment that society was looking for a drastic change to address the injustices being committed by those in power. The repetitive "Don't go" and "I won't go" phrases in the final verse serve as an anthem for those opposing the system and refusing to take part in the promised destruction of the third world war.
Overall, the lyrics of World War III are a critique of the capitalist, patriarchal system that favors the wealthy and powerful, while ignoring the well-being of ordinary people. It's a call to arms, urging people to resist and stand up against the oppressive nature of the government and the military-industrial complex.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy Carter ran for president again
The political system is rigged, candidates do not change things, and the same people stay in power.
You voted for who you want but the government wins
The illusion of choice in elections masks the fact that the government always maintains control.
Its not a question of who can do the job
The qualifications of candidates do not matter in a corrupt system.
Its just a matter of how much money you have
Elections are bought by the wealthy, and ordinary people have no real say in politics.
In the world war three
The song is a critique of the political climate and system of the time.
Where do I stand in this form of power
The singer is questioning where they fit in within a corrupt political hierarchy.
Where do I fit in this government
The singer is questioning their place in a government that does not represent its citizens.
I find no choice
The artist does not believe there is any real choice in a corrupt system.
Third world war
The song is referencing the threat of nuclear war during the Cold War era.
And your the victims
The people are likely to suffer the consequences of a nuclear war.
If I don't register I have to pay
The government uses financial penalties to force people to participate in politics.
I refuse to go there's no fucking way
The artist is fed up with a corrupt political system and refuses to participate.
The systems looking for a drastic change
The current political system is failing and needs a major overhaul.
Don't look at me cause I'm out of your range
The singer feels disconnected from a political system that does not represent them.
Don't go
The singer is urging others not to participate in a corrupt political system.
I won't go
The artist is refusing to participate in the political system.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jack Grisham, Mike Roche, Ron Emory, Todd Barnes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind