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
California
The Adicts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining through the window
Beating up and down
Like a yellow yo-yo
Its just the sun
California
California
Annie's got a gun
She knows how to use it
Points it at the sun
Its a California shootout
She's got a gun!
California
California
California
(California)
California
(California)
California
(California)
California
(California)
California sunset
Always clouds my day
California dreamers
With that California way
Speakin' with a stranger lyin' by the pool
Dying to be near you
Oh we look so cool!
Yes we do!
The Adicts' "California" is a song that speaks to the allure of the California lifestyle, a place where the sun is always shining and people can let their guard down. The song makes use of imagery to paint a picture of what life is like in California. The "California sun" is reflected through windows and is described as "beating up and down like a yellow yo-yo." This imagery conveys the sense of intensity and endless energy that characterizes life in California.
The lyrics also talk about Annie, who has a gun and knows how to use it. She points her gun at the sun and engages in a "California shootout." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the sense of competition and aggression that often accompanies life in California. The song also describes the presence of California dreamers who live life in their own unique way, speaking to strangers by the pool and "dying to be near you." The song ends on an uplifting note, with the singer and those around him looking "so cool."
Overall, The Adicts' "California" is a song that captures the essence of the California lifestyle, with its sunny weather, laid-back attitude, and sense of adventure. The singer paints a vivid picture of life in California through his use of imagery and metaphor, and the song's upbeat melody and catchy chorus make it a memorable ode to the Golden State.
Line by Line Meaning
California sun
The bright sun of California
Shining through the window
Shining through an opening in the wall or roof
Beating up and down
Rising and falling rhythmically
Like a yellow yo-yo
Resembling the movement of a toy on a string that goes up and down
Its just the sun
It is only the sun, nothing more than that
Annie's got a gun
Annie possesses a gun
She knows how to use it
She has the knowledge of how to operate the gun
Points it at the sun
Aiming the gun towards the sun
Its a California shootout
A gunfight that takes place in California
She's got a gun!
Stating the fact that Annie possesses a gun
California sunset
The sun setting in California
Always clouds my day
The sunset affects the mood negatively
California dreamers
People with aspirations in California
With that California way
With the attitude and style typical of California
Speakin' with a stranger lyin' by the pool
Having a conversation with an unknown person lying beside the swimming pool
Dying to be near you
Wishing to be close to the other person
Oh we look so cool!
We appear stylish and fashionable
California
Referring to the state of California
(California)
The word California repeated multiple times for emphasis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN PARKER COMPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
slcpunkrocker
California has Oakland and SF which are some of the biggest punk scenes in the US. That's why i love living here!
rinse88
LA has a big punk scene too ever heard of the germs? lol
rinse88
out of the 20 plus times ive seen the adicts ive only seen them play this once.San Diego. CA.
GreenEyesOptimus
jr high times seeing them in Scottsdale and mesa..best days
Sushi Band
Feels like cali here in chicago. Lets go skate! -SUSHI
Sergio Pena
This song just got me out of a shitty mood. That's why I love livin' in California!
NoValues
Cant forget LA. The scenes huge down here too!
Derek Martinez
This is the song you listen to when you have a red convertible and 8 ball of cocaine and unfettered access to Pacific Coast Highway, lmao!!!!
grindtildeath
I mean he isn't wrong
Julio Hernandez
I still love this song 🤘❤️