In 1997, Taproot sent their demo to Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. Impressed with their material, he offered to get them a recording contract through Interscope Records. However, after extended negotiations, Taproot looked elsewhere, where they finally landed a lucrative record deal with Atlantic Records. Durst heavily cursed the band on vocalist Stephen Richards' answering machine. He also put some blame on System of a Down, who assisted Taproot in securing the Atlantic deal. In retaliation, Durst also kicked System of a Down off the 1999 Family Values Tour, replacing them with Staind. Taproot later went on to independently release three albums: ...Something More Than Nothing (1998), Mentobe (1998) and Upon Us (1999).
The band released their debut album Gift on June 27, 2000. With the album's lead single "Again & Again" gaining heavy exposure through MTV2, the band's mainstream rise gained momentum. With the help of Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack, Taproot landed a spot on the second stage of the 2000 and 2001 Ozzfest tour.
After spending seven months in Los Angeles, the band released their second album Welcome on October 15, 2002. Considered to be a more melodic effort, the album debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200, selling over 51,000 copies in its first week of release. Much of this was due to the success of the album's first single, "Poem", which shot to #5 on the Mainstream Rock charts. The album's second single, "Mine", followed with more moderate success. Welcome is Taproot's most successful album to date, almost achieving gold status, with approximately 475,000 copies sold. After touring across the country on Disturbed's Music as a Weapon Tour, as well as a European tour, the band took a two-year break.
Returning from their break, the band released their third major album Blue-Sky Research on August 16, 2005. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins frontman) assisted in songwriting on the album, which was produced by Toby Wright. It debuted at #33 on the Billboard 200, with approximately 28,000 first week sales. The Bands single "Calling" was used by the WWE 2005 pay-per-view "Unforgiven."
The band headlined a major tour with Evans Blue and From Satellite to promote its release. Prior to the headline tour, Taproot acted as direct support to Chevelle on their tour alongside 30 Seconds to Mars. They also participated in the Fall Brawl Tour, which featured Staind and P.O.D. as headliners, and is notable for taking the then-unknown Flyleaf along as the opening act for the three bands.
On May 23, 2006, it was reported that Taproot had parted ways with Atlantic Records, after disappointing sales of Blue-Sky Research. At the time, the album had sold 112,000 copies since its release. On June 13, 2006, drummer Jarrod Montague, via Taproot's MySpace blog, confirmed the news.
On March 5, 2007, the band confirmed that they were in the process of recording their new album with producer Tim Patalan. According to Philip Lipscomb's MySpace blog, their new album Our Long Road Home is complete and will be released sometime in early 2008. On March 2, 2008, the band released a song from Our Long Road Home entitled "You're Not Home Tonight" on their website. This song has been played on XM Satellite Radio, Squizz 48 Indicent Exposure with Grant Random Sirius Satellite Radio on Octane. A teaser trailer for Our Long Road Home was added to the Taproot Youtube page on April 28, 2008. At the end of the video, it was stated that the album would be released on August 5, 2008.
According to the Taproot website, the band has decided to forgo signing to a major label. Their new album Our Long Road Home will be released independently through their management firm Velvet Hammer Music in a 50/50 partnership with the band themselves. Distribution was handled with Sony-owned RED Distribution.
Our Long Road Home was released on September 16, 2008. The disc was distributed in a cardboard sleeve and released to all major outlets. Just over a week after the album's release, it was announced that long-time drummer Jarrod Montague would be leaving the band and replaced by Nick Fredell. The band released a statement regarding the change in lineup:
""After 10 years of touring, our drummer and good friend Jarrod will be sitting out this cycle and we will be replacing him with our long time friend Nick Fredell. We'll miss Jarrod's presence out on the road, but Nick has fit in perfectly and we're excited for all of our fans to meet him. Jarrod's still very much a part of our family, so you'll be seeing him in press and the "Wherever I Stand" video which is out now on Youtube..."
In Spring 2009, Taproot went on the road with Dear Enemy and Adakain for the Take It! tour. Later that year, they co-headlined a U.S. tour with Cold, in addition to releasing the following statement: "Taproot has a few upcoming shows in November and December and will start writing their new record in January/ February of 2010. We hope to get into the studio sometime in February and March. We will be looking at a release date sometime in the late spring possibly early summer of 2010!"
After a brief period without a record label, Taproot signed with Victory Records. On April 1, 2010, at midnight, the band released the lead single for their upcoming album. The song was "Fractured (Everything I Said Was True)". A video for the song followed the release soon after debuting on the band's Youtube channel on April 16. Soon after, the band released their 7th studio album Plead The Fifth.
Current Members:
Vocals, Guitar: Stephen Richards
Bass: Phil Lipscomb
Guitar: Dave Lizzio
Drums: Dave Coughlin
Past Members:
Drums: Jarrod Montague
Guitar: Mike DeWolf
Drums: Nick Fredell
http://www.taprootmusic.com
No Surrender
Taproot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Face defeat as if no one makes it out alive still try
Flee the scene hush hush be discreet hush
Go unseen unlike every breath you take can be as the clerk said passing by
Like a dream such nothing's what it seems much
Just deceit as if time could stop your stride now free outside
To the beat pump skipping every speed bump
There's no leaves,
These are the days you can't forget
These are the times you can't regret
This is your time for no surrender, surrender
This is your chance to do or die
This is your path so run or hide
This is your time for no surrender, surrender (surrender)
Like the breeze rush rush down the street rush
Too fast to freeze, as if no one makes your shadow as a lie
War and peace hush hush still discreet hush mentally,
Like your train of thought implies just one manifest the signs comply
Like a dream clutch gripping memories such
Vividly, the sun'll settle east, to the park where you'd reside
To the beat touch closing in on me much
You can see, obvious now do or die beneath you're free to catch a ride
These are the days you can't forget
These are the times you can't regret
This is your time for no surrender, surrender
This is your chance to do or die
This is your path so run or hide
This is your time for no surrender, surrender
Deeper shade of sound
Now unburied catalyst arriving
She reads eastern bound
Like in movies you're now all a boarding
These are the days you can't forget
These are the times you can't regret
This is your time for no surrender, surrender, surrender, surrender
The lyrics of Taproot's "No Surrender" convey a message of determination and the will to survive in spite of difficult circumstances. The song encourages listeners to face their fears and persevere through tough times, even when it may seem like there is no hope. The opening lines describe a situation where one is facing defeat and must flee to safety without being detected. The urgency in the lyrics is emphasized by the repetition of "rush rush" and "hush hush," as if the stakes are high and every second counts.
The chorus offers a message of hope and empowerment, urging the listener to stand strong and fight for what they believe in. The lyrics remind us that these challenging moments are the ones that shape us and define us, and that we must be willing to take risks and face our fears head on. The verses paint vivid images of rushing down the street and feeling the wind in one's hair, and the imagery suggests that even in the toughest moments, we can find moments of beauty and strength.
The ultimate message of "No Surrender" is one of resilience and perseverance, reminding us that we are capable of facing whatever life throws our way, as long as we are willing to keep moving forward with determination and courage.
Line by Line Meaning
On your feet rush rush to the street rush
Get up quickly and rush out to the street with great urgency
Face defeat as if no one makes it out alive still try
Even when it seems like you're going to lose, keep trying as if your life depended on it
Flee the scene hush hush be discreet hush
Escape quietly and carefully without attracting attention
Go unseen unlike every breath you take can be as the clerk said passing by
Try to remain hidden, even though every breath you take can reveal your presence, just as the clerk previously warned
Like a dream such nothing's what it seems much
Things may look one way, but in reality they are something else entirely, like a dream
Just deceit as if time could stop your stride now free outside
Everything is a lie and you may feel like time has stopped you, but now you are finally free on the outside
To the beat pump skipping every speed bump
Move to the rhythm, ignoring every obstacle or distraction that comes your way
There's no leaves, but if the walls you left behind could talk they'd probably only cry
There may be no greenery around you, but if the walls of your past life could talk, they would only lament
These are the days you can't forget
You are living through significant times that you will always remember
These are the times you can't regret
You will not have any regrets about how you lived through these times
This is your time for no surrender, surrender
Now is the time to never give up, even though it may feel like surrendering is the only option
This is your chance to do or die
You have a chance to either succeed or fail spectacularly
This is your path so run or hide
You must choose your own path and either confront your fears or evade them
Deeper shade of sound
The music is getting more intense and complex
Now unburied catalyst arriving
Something important is about to happen and set off further events
She reads eastern bound
A woman reads a sign directed towards the eastern destination
Like in movies you're now all a boarding
Similar to what happens in movies, you are now all about to board something significant
This is your time for no surrender, surrender, surrender, surrender
Once again, you are urged to never give up, even though it may seem like surrendering is the only option
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Mike DeWolf, Nick Fredell, Phil Lipscomb, Stephen Richards
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jonathan Silva
The life experience I never had... TAPROOT and CHEVELLE in one concert! could you imagine...
Marco Taproot
Where you saw them?really lucky
Tom Foolery
With Disturbed and Unloco I member
Joe Palladino
I have seen them both at Ozzfest 2001 in Tropicana Fields, Florida
Ragnar
Music as a weapon II
Ray Mc
Seen them together in 2002
Jinjer Metal Band
great song
Lucas Rabassa
Holy shit, this comment is GOLD, from the real Jinjer band. I never tought i'd see this on a Taproot video.
Nandy vj
im from India and ive been listening to taproot for quite a few years. they r one of my all time fav bands. but ive never checkd their videos out on youtube. today i wanted to as i got an internet connection. im bit shocked about 2 things which i wanna share. first , i did not expect so many haters. (atleast according to me.) i know ppl have their own taste. so i could get over that... and the second is the number of views... i mean i imagined there would atleast be a few million views... thumbs up or down, TAPROOT IS UNDERRATED........
Joshua Underwood
I'm