In 1995, Jeff Rosenstock began playing with Joe Werfelman together and started The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. By 1996, the two had spent time writing and finding members for their band. At this time they recorded The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Demo Tape on tape but never released it. At this time they also began playing shows in their friends' basements and bedrooms.
Patric Santiago and Chris Valentino joined the band and the Greatest Hits Tape (1996) was made to play the Rockfest, at a local church. They were denied and instead played a show in Jeff Rosenberg's backyard with members of Taking Back Sunday, Bomb the Music Industry!, The Matt Kurz One, and Sevenwiser.
In 1997, Chris Baltrus joined playing bass and Joe Vazquez to play drums after Patric Santiago left the band because of a conflict with other members of the band who break into his house to get amplifiers. His parents were furious and forced him to quit.
In 1998, Joe Vazquez was replaced with Bryan Cohen and ASOB records the Integrity Tape in Joe's garage. Dave Dickerman joined on trombone and Bryan Cohen left the band. They began playing places like Q-Zar, Scotty Dee's Coffee Shop, and an outdoor festival with Post-Emo Indie Rock innovators, Inside. John DeDomenici then stepped in on drums and the band began planning their first album. They payed $1000 for 12 songs.
Mike Costa replaced John DeDomenici on drums. They recorded Built to Fail which was planned to be released by Zach and Breaking the Law Records, however, due to conflicts the band decided to self release it.
In 1999, ASOB started branching out, playing shows with Channel 59, Sprout, Microwave Orphans, Who Cares, WCF, Edna's Goldfish, Catch 22, The Toasters, and Step Lively. Arty's Taxi's member, Eric Bucello who plays the trumpet, and subsequently joined the band. In August, the band recorded "Fuck You" for a Runaway Records compilation with the Jestrebzki Family. They also started work on their new full-length, Pornocracy.
By 2000, the band entered the studio and finished up in June. It featured JT from Sprout. Soon after, Chris Baltrus left the band for college and Joe Bove from Arty's Taxi joined. They played a CD release show with Racecar Breakup.
In 2001 ASOB recorded "Built to Fail Motherfucker" for a compilation and began touring that summer. Many members quit and the remnants of ASOB played a show in upstate New York on a driving range with a new band featuring members of Shabooti. Joe Rosenstock stated to his girlfriend, "If this band ever gets big, I want you to kill me." The band ended up being Coheed and Cambria.
Rosenstock began writing new material and was to open a show for Thursday, but it fell through. A new roster was drawn up that included Tim Ruggeri (Channel 59/WCF/Tall Hannds), Jon Rossman (Everyone Else), and Chris Taylor but this also fell through. Mike, Baltrus, Dave, and a few members of the High School Football Heroes and Premarital Sax play with ASOB.
In 2002, ASOB tried to re-record Built to Fail unsuccessfully. They recorded an Arrogant Sons of Bitches 7'' that was never released. They did a CD release show for All the Little Ones Are Rotting and played a battle of the bands at The Downtown winning fourth place. They landed a deal with Kill Normal Records. They also played a Halloween show and did ska covers of Taking Back Sunday songs.
A year later, in 2003, ASOB re-released their EP with videos, a live set, and much more. They opened for Bowling for Soup and Count the Stars. They toured out to the west coast, and JT from Sprout joined full time. They played outside of the Idaho Warped Tour, and the next day played inside a hip-hop tent electrically. They stayed on Warped Tour and played to 3000 people in New York. Joe Werfelman was kicked out of the band.
Three Cheers for Disappointment was finished being written and they recorded with AJ Quashee, but the recording didn't go well and was scrapped. Sean Qualls was auditioned on guitar. Joe Bove had a panic attack on stage and leaves bass, giving Sean the spot on bass.
Afterward, the band recorded some more and started working on releasing a "Complete Discography". The band later got on Streetlight Manifesto shows that feature Big D and the Kids Table.
The band finally began recording Three Cheers for Disappointment at Moontower Studios in Boston, Massachusettes with Steve Foote. After it was finished, the band booked a tour, ordered merch, talked to record labels, and replaced Sean Qualls with James Lynch on bass. The band took a break in September.
In October, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches played two last shows at Mr. Beery's - one all ages, one 18+. Shortly afterward, Jeff Rosenstock started Bomb the Music Industry!, Sean started Bashi-Bazouk, JT started his solo project, Mike Costa started his solo project and Dave registered to finally go to college.
In 2005, they finish Three Cheers for Disappointment and in 2006, the band plays three shows in the Northeast in support of it.
In 2007, they play their last show and officially break up.
In 2012, the Arrogant Sons of Bitches reunite for one last show at the Warsaw in Brooklyn, New York.
People Pops & Fudgesicles for the Shit Factory
The Arrogant Sons of Bitches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
advance apologies required now for pissing you off
i'll deny all of this to your face
quit claiming to be indie rock
because you aren't independent
and your rock and rolls fucked
i'll get the coffin
and we'll put a nail in it
i hope the scene can fit
and we'll throw it in the pit
as a sacrifice for middle-aged men
and screaming girls
your scene is full of shit
so start killing it
don't be the hypocrite
the last teary eyed thrift store mope star in the world
a victim of the latest hoax
the iconoclasts have lied and you're not in on the joke
prove they're not what they claim to be
your money they're gonna get your money
criticize all that i've said
cause if i wasn't so pretentious i'd cash in on the trend
do lines, double fist pills and o.d.
stop singing it
stop singing it
you're too serious
how can you crack a smile if you can't laugh at yourself
you think you're legit
but you're just the idiot
here's how to deal with it
bring the asshole and the douche bag level down
and i'm not a part of your scene
where fashion meets choreography
your haircut is stupid
your pants are uncomfortable
you systematically plan every awkward forced guitar spin
your emotion is a joke
your emotion is a joke
your emotion is b-u-l-l fucking shit
all ... your ... favorite ... bands ... do ... coke ... sorry
stop singing it
stop singing it
you're too serious
how can you crack a smile if you can't laugh at yourself
you think you're legit
but you're just the idiot
here's how to deal with it
bring the asshole and the douche bag level down
stop singing that shit
we're tired of it
start killing it
start killing and kick the baggage and ego to the ground
stop singing that shit
we're tired of it
start killing it so
start killing so i can kick the rotting carcass of your sound
The Arrogant Sons of Bitches's song "People Pops & Fudgesicles for the Shit Factory" is a scathing critique of the indie rock scene, particularly the bands and fans who take themselves too seriously. The lyrics take aim at those who claim to be independent, but are really just playing into the trends and cliches of the industry. The song calls for these bands and fans to stop taking themselves so seriously, to let go of their egos and pretensions, and to start having some fun.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for what's to come: "I'm sorry that you've all gone soft / Advance apologies required now for pissing you off." The singer is unapologetic in his criticism of the scene, calling out those who are more concerned with their image and status than with the music itself. He urges them to "start killing it," to stop singing the same tired old songs and to embrace something new and exciting.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "stop singing it / you're too serious," emphasizing the need for these bands and fans to lighten up and have more fun. The song also takes aim at the drug culture that often surrounds the indie rock scene, with lines like "do lines, double fist pills and o.d." The overall message is clear: don't take yourself so seriously, don't get caught up in the cliches and trends of the industry, and most importantly, don't forget to have some fun.
Line by Line Meaning
i'm sorry that you've all gone soft
I apologize in advance for offending you, but it seems like you've become a bit too sensitive and easily offended.
advance apologies required now for pissing you off
I know that what I'm about to say is going to anger you, so I'm apologizing ahead of time.
i'll deny all of this to your face
I'm not afraid to speak my mind, even if you don't like it. I'll stand by my words, even if you confront me about them.
quit claiming to be indie rock
You're not truly independent, despite claiming to be. Your music is more commercial than true indie rock.
because you aren't independent
You rely on major labels, financial backing, and other forms of support that go against the true independent spirit of indie rock.
and your rock and rolls fucked
Your version of rock and roll is lacking in authenticity and sincerity, and it's simply not good.
i'll get the coffin
I'm ready and willing to bury your scene and its sorry state.
you supply your own hammer
You'll have to contribute to your own downfall, because I can't do it all on my own.
and we'll put a nail in it
We'll seal the coffin shut, signifying the end of your misguided and phony music scene.
i hope the scene can fit
I hope that the coffin is big enough to hold all of the hypocrites, poseurs, and fake indie rock stars that populate your scene.
and we'll throw it in the pit
We'll dispose of the coffin in a grave or trash dump, as a symbol of our disdain for your scene and its lack of true musical merit.
as a sacrifice for middle-aged men
Your music scene seems to cater to middle-aged men who are trying too hard to be cool and relevant, but in reality are just outdated and irrelevant themselves.
and screaming girls
Your music scene also seems to attract screaming young girls who are more interested in following trends and celebrities than truly appreciating music for what it is.
your scene is full of shit
Your music scene is phony, fake, and lacking in true artistic merit. It's a waste of everyone's time and energy.
so start killing it
It's time for your scene to end. You need to take a hard look at yourself and your music, and either improve or bow out gracefully.
don't be the hypocrite
Don't preach about social justice, authenticity, or independent spirit if you're not willing to live up to those ideals in your music and your everyday life.
the last teary eyed thrift store mope star in the world
Your scene is full of people who dress and act like they're poor, suffering, and misunderstood, but in reality are just playing a role to seem cool or edgy.
a victim of the latest hoax
You've been duped into thinking that your music scene is something it's not. You've fallen for the hype and the marketing, and ignored the true musical value of your art.
the iconoclasts have lied and you're not in on the joke
The so-called rebels and nonconformists in your music scene are actually following a well-trodden path of conformity and mediocrity. You've been fooled into thinking that you're part of a movement, when in reality you're just following a trend.
prove they're not what they claim to be
Challenge the authenticity and the artistic value of your scene. Question whether the bands and artists you admire truly embody the ideals and values that they claim to represent.
your money they're gonna get your money
Your music scene is often more concerned with making money than creating good music. You're being sold a product, not an art form.
criticize all that i've said
Feel free to disagree and criticize my words, but at least engage with them and take them seriously.
cause if i wasn't so pretentious i'd cash in on the trend
I could make a lot of money and gain a lot of popularity if I just followed the trend and played the game. But I refuse to compromise my values and integrity for commercial gain.
do lines, double fist pills and o.d.
The rock and roll lifestyle that your scene often celebrates and romanticizes is actually dangerous, unhealthy, and self-destructive. It's not something to aspire towards.
stop singing it
Stop perpetuating the same tired cliches and meaningless lyrics that populate your music and your scene. Start creating something new and meaningful.
you're too serious
Your music and your scene often take themselves way too seriously, and forget that music is supposed to be fun, creative, and liberating.
how can you crack a smile if you can't laugh at yourself
If you're not willing to be self-deprecating and laugh at your own flaws and limitations, you'll never be able to truly enjoy music and life in general.
you think you're legit
You believe that you're truly authentic and independent in your music and your scene, but you're really just conforming to established trends and expectations.
but you're just the idiot
In reality, you're fooling yourself into thinking that your music and your scene are something special, when in reality they're mediocre and lacking in true value.
here's how to deal with it
I'm going to show you how to truly be authentic, creative, and independent in your music and your life, and how to move beyond the hollow cliches and conventions of your scene.
bring the asshole and the douche bag level down
Stop being an elitist or a snob in your music and your scene, and instead focus on collaborating and connecting with others in a humble and open way.
and i'm not a part of your scene
I reject the conventions, expectations, and values of your music scene, and choose to pursue my own path and vision in music.
where fashion meets choreography
In your music scene, style seems to be more important than substance. Bands often prioritize their image and performance over the actual quality of their music.
your haircut is stupid
Your scene is obsessed with image and appearance, even though many of the styles and trends that you follow are ridiculous and superficial.
your pants are uncomfortable
Your scene values style over comfort, and often prioritizes looking cool over feeling comfortable and supported.
you systematically plan every awkward forced guitar spin
Your music scene often values showmanship and gimmicks over raw musical talent and creativity. Many bands plan out their stage moves and poses instead of focusing on making honest and authentic music.
your emotion is a joke
Your scene often trades in insincere or superficial displays of emotion, without truly delving into the complexities and nuances of human feelings and experiences.
your emotion is b-u-l-l fucking shit
Your emotional expression is often fake, shallow, and poorly executed. It's time to start creating music that truly connects with people on a deep and meaningful level.
all ... your ... favorite ... bands ... do ... coke ... sorry
Many of the bands and artists in your scene are more concerned with partying, getting high, and living a rock and roll lifestyle than actually creating good music. It's time to move beyond these tired cliches and focus on what really matters.
stop singing that shit
I'm tired of hearing the same old trite and meaningless lyrics coming out of your scene. It's time to break free and create something new and exciting.
we're tired of it
Many people, myself included, are sick and tired of the same old cliches and conventions that dominate your scene.
start killing it
It's time to destroy the old and start anew. We need to kill off the tired old music and values of your scene and create something truly original and inspiring.
start killing and kick the baggage and ego to the ground
We need to get rid of the excess baggage and ego that has been weighing down your music scene, and start creating something fresh, honest, and innovative.
start killing so i can kick the rotting carcass of your sound
I'm ready and willing to help purge your scene of its mediocrity and falsehood, so that we can create something truly great and inspiring in its place.
Contributed by Miles L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.