Early years
The Casualties were formed in 1990, with original members Jorge Herrera (vocals) Hank (guitar), Colin Wolf (vocals), Mark Yoshitomi (bass) and Yureesh Hooker (drums). The members aimed to return to what they viewed as the "golden era" of street punk, embodied by bands such as The Exploited and Charged GBH which they believed had disappeared by 1985.[3] During the early years, the lineup was fluid, with several changes. That first year, Colin stepped out for several months to finish his education while Rachel, TheRivits' singer, took his place.[3]
In 1991, Hank left the band, to be replaced by Fred (last name unknown) on guitar. Colin, Jorge, Yureesh, Hank and Mark put together a demo, titled Political Sin, for the Benefit for Beer compilation.[4] After making this recording, Fred left to go to school and Steve, from Distraught, fills in for a short time, until Fred returns to the band full-time. The 4 song EP, 40 Oz. Casualty was recorded at the end of 1991 and self-released.[3] 1992 saw the band touring and building up a fan base in NYC. In 1993, Mark and Fred left the band and were replaced by Mike (last name unknown) on bass and Jake Kolatis on the guitar, followed by the departure of Yureesh and Colin in 1994, to be replaced on drums by Shawn, while the band went down to a single vocalist.[3][4] 1994 sees the recording of the 4 song EP, Drinking Is Our Way Of Life, however it would not be released. The songs would later appear on the Casualties "early years 1990-1995" CD in 1999.[4] In 1995, the band's second release, the 4 track A Fuckin' Way Of Life E.P. was released on Eyeball Records. After recording A Fuckin' Way of Life, Shawn left the band, and Marc Eggers (nicknamed Meggers) of the Rivits became the regular drummer. The line-up of Jorge, Jake, Mike and Meggers continued until 1997.
In 1996 the Casualties became the first American band to appear at the "Holidays in the Sun" Festival in London. 1997 saw the release of the band's debut album, For the Pun is released on Tribal War Records, and the band embarks on its first American tour with The Varukers. Mike (the bassist) left the band in 1998, to be replaced with Johnny Rosado, from The Krays.[4][5] They released their second LP that year, Underground Army, and begin a world tour. Jon leaves the band during the European leg of the tour, to be temporarily replaced by Dave Punk Core.
Present lineup
After the world tour, Dave would be replaced by Rick Lopez from the band, Manix. The line-up was now solidified for the band and would continue to the present day.[6] The end of the millennium, 1999, saw the band produce a compilation album, Early Years 1990-1995, which included tracks which appeared on earlier ED's, as well as never before released songs, such as the four songs they had recorded on the never released EP Drinking is Our Way of Life back in 1994.
The 2000s have seen the band continue to tour[3][6] and produce albums (an album list can be seen below). They have toured with several other bands, such as The Exploited, GBH, Cockney Rejects, Slaughter & the Dogs,[4] and the English Dogs.[6] In December 2009, The Casualties toured alongside Hatebreed, The Acacia Strain, Crowbar, and Thy Will Be Done as part of the Stillborn Fest.[3] In the summer of 2012, The Casualties co-headlined the Tonight We Unite tour along with Nekromantix, where they played For The Punx in its entirety, the first time they had played the album through since its release in 1997.[3] Later that year, The Casualties released their new album titled Resistance through Season of Mist.[7][8] In 2013, The Casualties played at the largest Punk Rock festival in the world,[9] the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool, England, where they shared the stage with The Exploited, Special Duties, Chron Gen and Anti-Establishment, and others
In It For Life
The Casualties Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
here somes a man
Woody Guthrie, no one should forget
Why - do you think he stood for you and me?
Why - should no one forget about him?
IN IT FOR LIFE - HE DIDN'T CHANGE FOR NO ONE
HE STOOD FOR YOU
HE STOOD FOR ME
HE STOOD FOR US
IN IT FOR LIFE
He cared! He cared!
For the working class
Anti war songs, and embraced my kind
Why - do you think the poor loved him so much?
Why - the common man and all the immigrants?
IN IT FOR LIFE - HE DIDN'T CHANGE FOR NO ONE
HE STOOD FOR YOU
HE STOOD FOR ME
HE STOOD FOR US
IN IT FOR LIFE
This machine kills fucking fascists!
IN IT FOR LIFE - HE DID'T CHANGE FOR NO ONE
HE STOOD FOR YOU
HE STOOD FOR ME
HE STOOD FOR US
IN IT FOR LIFE
The Casualties’s “In it for Life” is a tribute to the legendary folk-singer and social activist, Woody Guthrie. The song acknowledges the deep-rooted impact that Guthrie had on the working class and the immigrant community through his anti-war songs and his unwavering support for their struggles. The opening lines “Look out! Look out! here somes a man Woody Guthrie, no one should forget” emphasizes Guthrie's importance as a social and political figure whose ideas and music still resonate today. The rhetorical questions posed in the song - “Why - do you think he stood for you and me? Why - should no one forget about him?” are a reflection of the need to remember Guthrie's contributions as a musician and activist in combating social injustice.
The song celebrates Guthrie's activism with the repetition of the phrase “In it for Life,” which highlights his unwavering commitment towards the working class, immigrants, and anti-war activism. The song also references the famous quote, “This machine kills fascists!” which Guthrie had painted on his guitar in bold letters, symbolizing his resistance to political oppression and his stance against fascism. The Casualties's “In it for Life” encapsulates Guthrie's spirit of resistance and his continuous fight for justice, which remained unchanged for the entirety of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Look out! Look out!
Cautionary statement signaling the arrival of something or someone
here somes a man
Someone important or noteworthy is approaching
Woody Guthrie, no one should forget
Remember Woody Guthrie, the American singer-songwriter and folk musician, and his contributions to society
Why - do you think he stood for you and me?
What motivated Woody Guthrie to fight for the common people?
Why - should no one forget about him?
What makes Woody Guthrie's legacy important and relevant to this day?
IN IT FOR LIFE - HE DIDN'T CHANGE FOR NO ONE
Woody Guthrie was fully committed to his beliefs and principles and never wavered, despite pressures to conform
HE STOOD FOR YOU
Woody Guthrie was a champion for the ordinary people, and his songs reflected their struggles and aspirations
HE STOOD FOR ME
Woody Guthrie's music spoke to individuals and gave them a voice, no matter their background or circumstances
HE STOOD FOR US
Woody Guthrie's legacy belongs to all of us who fight for social justice and equality
He cared! He cared!
Woody Guthrie was deeply empathetic and passionate about fighting for the rights of the marginalized
For the working class
Woody Guthrie's music and activism were devoted to addressing the needs and concerns of the working people
Anti war songs, and embraced my kind
Woody Guthrie opposed war and was an ally to those who were marginalized, including minorities and the poor
Why - do you think the poor loved him so much?
What was it about Woody Guthrie's music that resonated with the poor and working-class people?
Why - the common man and all the immigrants?
Why did Woody Guthrie's message of solidarity and empowerment appeal to the ordinary people and immigrants alike?
This machine kills fucking fascists!
Woody Guthrie's guitar was adorned with this message, indicating his resolute opposition to fascist ideologies
Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.