Guitarist Mike Connell formed the band in 1984, along with his brother David Connell on bass, Doug MacMillan on vocals, and future filmmaker John Schultz on drums. This initial four-person line-up was quickly supplemented by the addition of George Huntley on second guitar, keyboards, and vocals. Around the same time, former Johnny Quest drummer Peele Wimberley replaced Schultz, finalizing the "classic" line-up of the band.
From the beginning of the group, Mike Connell wrote both the music and the lyrics of the majority of the band’s songs, although he was not the band's primary lead singer. Connell’s influences included the 1960's guitar pop of his childhood, including The Byrds and The Beatles; in an early interview, he stated that the first song he wrote as a teenager was titled “Psychedelic Butterfly."
Like Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Connell and Huntley played Rickenbacker guitars for the first several years of the band’s career, creating a jangly, folk-rock sound reminiscent of The Byrds and other Southern U.S. and North Carolina bands of the era, such as the dB's and Let's Active.
A re-recorded version of “Darker Days” provided the title track to the band’s debut album, which was produced by fellow North Carolinian Don Dixon and released in 1985 on Elvis Costello's Demon Records in the UK and the band’s own Black Park Records label in the U.S.
After touring heavily behind Darker Days, the Connells re-entered the studio in 1986 with Dixon and R.E.M. producer Mitch Easter to record their second album, Boylan Heights. The decision to work with Easter continued to perpetuate the comparisons to R.E.M.
Although the band shopped Boylan Heights to various labels, the major record companies, including Columbia Records, which expressed some mild interest, passed on it; the record was ultimately released in 1987 on mid-major TVT Records, which had made its name releasing a series of "Tee Vee Toons" television theme song compilation CDs. TVT would prove to be no commercial match for R.E.M.'s own mid-major label, I.R.S. Records, and over the next decade, The Connells would engage in a series of disputes with the label, on at least one occasion suing, unsuccessfully, to break their recording contract.
Despite the problems with TVT, Boylan Heights was a substantial college radio hit, and The Connells continued to tour relentlessly. During this period, both Connell and Huntley began to move away from their twelve-string Rickenbackers towards six-string Fender and Gibson guitars, leading to a heavier, less folky sound on Fun and Games, the 1989 follow-up album.
Fun and Games was quickly followed in 1990 by One Simple Word, which was recorded in Wales with U.K. producer Hugh Jones.
After a three-year recording hiatus, which included more legal jousting with TVT Records, a rejuvenated Connells released Ring in 1993. While European music fans made Ring a platinum record outside the United States, such high level success in America remained elusive. 1996's Weird Food and Devastation failed to build on the momentum established by its predecessor.
In 1998, the band released Still Life, which marked their final album for TVT. The band released Old School Dropouts on the revived Black Park Records label in 2000. The band recorded the record themselves and promoted it sparingly in the American South.
Peele Wimberley and George Huntley have since left the band. Wimberley briefly played with another band called Parklife, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue interests in Hollywood and in electronic music. He is currently a member of the Los Angeles band, The Lamps.
Huntley is now selling real estate and working part time at the University of North Carolina music department.
Peele Wimberley was replaced on drums by Steve Ritter; after several years Ritter was soon replaced by Chris Stevenson on drums, and Mike Ayers took George's place on lead guitar. The new lineup recorded the album Old School Dropouts.
In 1993, they released "''74-'75" which remains their most popular song. It is based on experiences of the Class of 1975 in a high school in Raleigh, North Carolina. The video juxtaposed original yearbook pictures with the class members as they appeared at the time. And then in 2015, the producers tracked down the original members once again, and produced a remixed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l3Lh2cb_g
The last official release of the band was in 2001. They still occasionally perform together, including a reunion concert in 2020.
Insane in the Brain
The Connells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll just toss that ham in the frying pan
Like Spam, get done when I come and slam
Then I feel like the Son of Sam
Don't make me wreck shit, hectic
Next get the chair, got me going like General Electric
And the lights are blinking, I'm thinking
It's all over when I go out drinking
Oh, making my mind slow
That's why I don't fuck with the big 4-O
Bro, I got to maintain
'Cause a cracker like me is going insane
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
Too much shit undercover, I was torn from the blubber
Blabber, to watch that belly get fatter
Fat boy on a diet, don't try it
I'll jack your ass like a looter in a riot
Mike's just fat, like a sumo, slamming that ass
Leavin' your face in the grass
You know, I don't take a duro, lightly
Punks just jealous 'cause they can't outwrite me
Or kick that style, wicked, wild
Happy face cracker never seen me smile
Rip that mainframe, I'll explain
A Casper like me is going insane
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
Like Louis Armstrong played the trumpet
I'll hit that bong and break you off something
Soon I got to get my props
Cops, come and try to snatch my crops
These pigs wanna blow my house down
And run the grand to the next town
They get mad when they come to raid my pad
And I'm out in the right, real scared
Yes I'm the pirate, pilot
Of this ship if I get with the ultraviolet dream
Hide from the red light beam
Now do you believe in the unseen?
Look, but don't make you eyes strain
A stunner like me is going insane
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
Insane in the membrane
Insane in the brain
Insane in the membrane
Friends insane, got no brain
The lyrics to "Insane in the Brain" by The Connells are a playful and energetic exploration of feeling overwhelmed and losing control. The opening lines describe someone with a fiery temper, using the metaphor of cooking meat ("toss that ham in the frying pan") and feeling like the infamous serial killer Son of Sam. The lyrics suggest that this person becomes explosive and unpredictable when provoked ("wreck shit, hectic").
The song goes on to touch on themes of rebellion and feeling misunderstood. The phrase "insane in the membrane" is repeated throughout, expressing a sense of being pushed to the edge mentally and emotionally. The lyrics also touch on the singer's frustration with societal expectations and stereotypes, referring to themselves as a "cracker" and implying that others are jealous of their writing skills and unique style. The final verse introduces the idea of being an outsider, using the image of a pirate and pilot navigating an unseen world.
Line by Line Meaning
Put the white on the flam for your temper
Use cocaine to enhance your anger and aggression
I'll just toss that ham in the frying pan
I will handle difficult situations with ease and confidence
Like Spam, get done when I come and slam
Similar to processed meat like Spam, I will defeat and overcome any challenges
Then I feel like the Son of Sam
In the same way David Berkowitz, the 'Son of Sam' killer, felt empowered, I also feel a surge of power and dominance
Don't make me wreck shit, hectic
Don't provoke me causing me to create chaos and commotion
Next get the chair, got me going like General Electric
Prepare for intense action and excitement when I'm energized, like the powerful electrical products of General Electric
And the lights are blinking, I'm thinking
When the lights are flashing, it signifies danger, and I become alert and contemplative
It's all over when I go out drinking
My judgment and control diminish when I consume alcohol, leading to potential disaster
Oh, making my mind slow
Intoxicants are slowing down my mental capabilities and impairing my judgment
That's why I don't fuck with the big 4-O
To avoid mental decline and instability, I choose not to engage with or associate myself with individuals in their forties
Bro, I got to maintain
I have a responsibility to keep myself composed and stable
'Cause a cracker like me is going insane
As a white person, I am experiencing extreme mental upheaval and instability
Insane in the membrane
My mental state is irrational and unpredictable
Insane in the brain
My state of mind is deranged and disturbed
Friends insane, got no brain
My companions are also mentally unstable and lack sound judgment
Too much shit undercover, I was torn from the blubber
Being exposed to numerous hidden problems has led me to be emotionally detached and separated from my true self
Blabber, to watch that belly get fatter
To constantly talk excessively and witness my physical body becoming bigger and more obese
Fat boy on a diet, don't try it
Despite being overweight, I am attempting to restrict my food intake to achieve weight loss
I'll jack your ass like a looter in a riot
I will aggressively conquer and overpower you, much like a looter during a violent protest
Mike's just fat, like a sumo, slamming that ass
Mike, referring to a person, is overweight and resembles a sumo wrestler, forcefully dominating others
Leavin' your face in the grass
I will defeat and humiliate you, causing you to be in a vulnerable and submissive position
You know, I don't take a duro, lightly
I don't underestimate or trivialize any challenges that come my way
Punks just jealous 'cause they can't outwrite me
Jealous individuals are envious of my superior writing skills and unable to surpass or compete with me
Or kick that style, wicked, wild
They are also incapable of replicating or matching my unique and unconventional style
Happy face cracker never seen me smile
Despite my seemingly cheerful appearance, no one has truly witnessed me genuinely happy or content
Rip that mainframe, I'll explain
I will destroy and dismantle the central system and provide a thorough explanation of my actions
A Casper like me is going insane
As a white person, I am experiencing extreme mental derangement and instability
Like Louis Armstrong played the trumpet
In a manner similar to Louis Armstrong's skilled trumpet playing, I will impress and leave an impact with my actions
I'll hit that bong and break you off something
I will use a water pipe for smoking marijuana and then overpower you with my strength or skills
Soon I got to get my props
I need to achieve recognition and respect for my accomplishments
Cops, come and try to snatch my crops
Law enforcement officers attempt to confiscate or seize my drugs or illegal goods
These pigs wanna blow my house down
The police desire to forcefully enter and demolish my residence
And run the grand to the next town
They aim to flee with a substantial amount of money to another location
They get mad when they come to raid my pad
Law enforcement officers become angry when they conduct a surprise search and seizure of my property
And I'm out in the right, real scared
I am feeling intense fear and anxiety as I attempt to escape and avoid arrest
Yes I'm the pirate, pilot
I am both a pirate, engaging in illegal activities, and a pilot, directing and navigating my own course
Of this ship if I get with the ultraviolet dream
I control and direct the course of this imaginative and unconventional journey called life
Hide from the red light beam
I avoid detection and evade the authorities' attention using various tactics
Now do you believe in the unseen?
Do you now accept the existence and influence of things that are not immediately apparent or visible?
Look, but don't make you eyes strain
Observe and explore your surroundings, but don't push yourself too hard or exhaust yourself in the process
A stunner like me is going insane
A person as captivating and remarkable as myself is experiencing extreme mental instability and madness
Insane in the membrane
My mental state is irrational and unpredictable
Insane in the brain
My state of mind is deranged and disturbed
Insane in the membrane
My mental state is irrational and unpredictable
Friends insane, got no brain
My companions are also mentally unstable and lack sound judgment
Insane in the membrane
My mental state is irrational and unpredictable
Insane in the brain
My state of mind is deranged and disturbed
Insane in the membrane
My mental state is irrational and unpredictable
Friends insane, got no brain
My companions are also mentally unstable and lack sound judgment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Larry Muggerud, Louis M. Freeze, Senen Reyes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Flammazine
I give this cover a rating of 74 out of 100. maybe 75