They were formed in Wallasey, England in 1988, with singer/guitarist Sice aka Simon Rowebottom, guitarist/songwriter Martin Carr, bassist Timothy Brown and original drummer Steve Hewitt. Hewitt was replaced by Rob Cieka following their first release, the extremely rare Ichabod and I.
In 1992, the band released Everything's Alright Forever but it was 1993's Giant Steps that finally brought the band to a mass audience, in the UK at least. They were on the illustrious Creation Records label with other British greats like the Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, and My Bloody Valentine.
The Boos never were quite able to break in the US, even with the poppier 1995 Wake Up!. The album brought critical acclaim to the band, but was not promoted by their US domestic label, Columbia, and the band was subsequently dropped. During this time, Sice put out a solo album, First Fruits under the name Eggman. 1996 also saw the Boo Radleys bring about another change, the heavier C'mon Kids. The band split in 1999, just months after the release of Kingsize.
Martin Carr went on to form Brave Captain, putting out several albums. Despite a pledge to never play again, Sice formed a new band, Paperlung, in 2005.
More info can be found on their website: http://www.booradleys.co.uk/
Rodney King
The Boo Radleys Lyrics
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Tear me apart?
Do you care who I am?
The lyrics to The Boo Radleys' song Rodney King are a commentary on the tragic events surrounding the beating of Rodney King by police officers in Los Angeles in 1991. The song seems to suggest that King's humanity was overlooked in the aftermath of the event, as people focused more on the sensational aspects of the case rather than on King as an individual. The lyrics ask if people even knew King's name or cared about his identity before he became a symbol of police brutality and racial tensions.
The first line, "Do you know my name before you tear me apart?" is a poignant question that highlights the dehumanizing effects of such acts of violence. The second line, "Do you care who I am?" speaks to the broader issue of systemic racism and the disregard for Black lives, as if to say that King's identity as a Black man was ultimately what led to him being targeted and brutalized by the police.
Overall, the lyrics of Rodney King serve as a sobering reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality in America, and a call to see individual human beings instead of dismissing them as mere symbols or statistics.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know my name before you
Do you bother to know my identity and understand who I am?
Tear me apart?
Do you criticize and judge me without empathy or consideration?
Do you care who I am?
Do you have any interest or concern for my individuality and existence?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTIN JAMES CARR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind