They soon changed their name to The Adicts and became known for their distinctive Clockwork Orange 'Droog' image, which, along with their urgent, uptempo music and light-hearted lyrics, helped set them very much apart from the rest of the genre. Temporary 1980s name changes to ADX and FUN ADICTS, for a children's TV appearance, also occurred.
Their song "Viva La Revolution" was featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
The band still has all its original members, uncommon for a band with such longevity.
The music of The Adicts proves that punk music is a very broad genre, often featuring extra instruments and sound clips such as carousel music (How Sad), violin played by Derick Cook (Joker in the Pack), gongs and keyboard percussion by Anthony Boyd (Chinese Takeaway), and even completely different songs like the switch to Gain To Lose's Tune #24 at the end of G.I.R.L..
The look of the majority of the bandmates is that of the Droogs from the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange based on the book by Anthony Burgess. All white with black combat boots and black bowler hats. The band says that the look appealed to them because of the teenage angst associated with A Clockwork Orange. Singer "Monkey" wears full joker make-up and his clothes are wild, patterned suits, flared trousers, colorful dress shirts, and other such things. His favorites seem to be checkerboard patterns, or polkadots. And of course, there's the obligatory bowler hat and gloves. Along with the look come stage antics involving streamers, confetti, playing cards, joker hats, toy instruments, and glitter just to name a few things.
members:
Keith 'Monkey' Warren - Vocals.
Mel (Spider)Ellis - Bass
Pete Dee Davison - Guitar
Michael 'Kid Dee' Davison - Drums
John 'Scruff' Ellis (Mel’s brother) - Guitar
Dan Gratziani - Violin,Piano,Mandolin
Black Sheep
The Adicts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
do you go where other won't
do you have to be the first
do you have some kind of curse
oh oh little black sheep
oh oh poor bo peep
you have got to bet the man
can't just be in the back row
you have got to steal the show
oh oh little black sheep
oh oh poor bo peep
The Adicts's song Black Sheep is a commentary on society's obsession with standing out and being different. The lyrics ask if the listener is willing to go above and beyond what others are doing, if they feel the need to be the first or if they have some sort of curse that sets them apart. The chorus repeats the phrase "little black sheep" and "poor bo peep," suggesting that those who strive to be different are often left isolated and alone, like the black sheep among a flock of white ones. The song seems to be questioning the value of being the outlier and whether it's worth the cost of being different and possibly ostracized from society.
Furthermore, the lyrics convey that this obsession with standing out extends beyond just being a fan or a participant in society, but it extends to being the "man" or "stealing the show." The message portrays that it's not enough just to be a part of society, but one must also dominate and achieve greatness. This outlook illustrates that individuals will go to great lengths to be noticed or successful.
In conclusion, The Adicts's song Black Sheep is a social commentary on the pressure of being different in society. The track focuses on individuals striving to be the best, setting themselves apart from the norm, and the consequences of doing so. It's a cautionary tale that warns listeners that achieving greatness comes at a considerable cost, and it's not worth sacrificing oneself emotionally to be the "man."
Line by Line Meaning
do you do what others don't
Do you take actions that others are too afraid to take?
do you go where other won't
Do you explore or move towards things others would avoid?
do you have to be the first
Do you always strive to be the leader and the first one to achieve something?
do you have some kind of curse
Do you feel like you are constantly unlucky or that a negative force is weighing down on you?
oh oh little black sheep
Oh, you stand out from the rest and are seen as an outcast by society.
oh oh poor bo peep
Oh, you are lost and helpless in your uniqueness.
can't just be a happy fan
You cannot simply be content with observing from the sidelines and must take an active role.
you have got to bet the man
You must take on a position of power and authority rather than following someone else's lead.
can't just be in the back row
You cannot be satisfied with blending into the background and must stand out.
you have got to steal the show
You need to be the center of attention and prove your worth to others.
Contributed by Aaliyah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.