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
That
The Adicts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Druggies with drugs
Sadists with whips
Secret agents with bugs
Politicians with lies
Squirrels with nuts
Jugglers with balls
Butchers with guts
The Adicts's song "That's Happiness" is a satirical take on what people define as happiness. The lyrics highlight how things that people often associate with happiness are actually harmful and toxic. The song uses several metaphors and juxtapositions between the things that people usually associate with joy and the harmful things these things often bring with them. For example, the lyrics "Drunks with drinks, Druggies with drugs" talk about how people often associate drinking and drugs with having a good time, but in reality, they can lead to addiction and further problems.
Moreover, the song talks about how people in power, such as "Sadists with whips, Secret agents with bugs, Politicians with lies" use their positions to exploit, torture and manipulate vulnerable individuals. We can also see how things that we often associate with success or ability, like "Jugglers with balls, Butchers with guts", can also imply that sometimes people have to deal with too many things and often need to rely on other people when they can't do them alone.
In essence, the song delivers a message that true happiness lies in simple things such as love, gratitude, and kindness towards oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Drunks with drinks
People who are intoxicated with alcoholic beverages find happiness through their consumption.
Druggies with drugs
Drug users find happiness through the effects of the substances they consume, despite the negative consequences.
Sadists with whips
Individuals who enjoy causing pain and suffering to others find happiness through their twisted desires.
Secret agents with bugs
Spies and intelligence gatherers find happiness through their ability to gather information in secrecy.
Politicians with lies
Politicians find happiness through the manipulation of truth in order to gain power and control over others.
Squirrels with nuts
Animals like squirrels find happiness through obtaining and hoarding resources, like their precious nuts.
Jugglers with balls
Performers like jugglers find happiness through their ability to entertain and amaze others with their skills and talents.
Butchers with guts
Workers like butchers find happiness through their ability to handle and work with the parts of animals that others find unpleasant or disgusting.
That's happiness
The song suggests that happiness can be found in many different places and activities, even in unexpected or unconventional ways for different people with different interests.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDDY ARNOLD, FRED EBB, PAUL (USA 1) KLEIN, Larry Coleman, Paul Klein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ash G
They played this live last time I seen them, I was so happy when they did.
William Foster
She likes the Buzzcocks, but what do I get
Dimas Kurnia
Awesome
Ingrata Flores
qué potente
Nun ya
basically a song about a guy whos gonna dump his girlfriend.. it sucks, but its really catchy
still standing
Exactly mate.Though it's a bit cheesy it stucks in your head.And,ironically,it's one my wife's favourite songs.Maybe coz she knows I ain't gonna swat her.
Jean-Pierre Albertini
A bit of old ultra violence
Andrew ashlock
She noise annoys me...