Formation
In early 1993, guitarist and singer Roine Stolt had written material for his third solo album The Flower King and sought for musicians to perform it. He had wanted to release a progressive rock-style album for a while and felt the time was right to pursue the project. The album features Stolt on vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards, Jaime Salazar on drums, and Hasse Fröberg on vocals, and was recorded in Sweden between May 1993 and January 1994.
In preparation for Stolt's concert tour to support the album's release, Stolt, Salazar, and Fröberg were joined by Stolt's brother Michael on bass and Tomas Bodin on keyboards. The five performed their first gig on 20 August 1994 at an outdoor festival in Uppsala, Stolt's hometown and the city where The Flower King was recorded. After they decided to become a full time band, they officially adopted the name The Flower Kings, named after Stolt's album. Stolt had produced a list of potential titles for the record, one of which was "The Flower King", and chose it because of its positive meaning and its reference to the hippie era of the 1960s.
Activity
After performing a series of concerts through 1994, the band entered the studio in December 1994 to record their debut album, Back in the World of Adventures. The recording process was gradual, finishing in September 1995.
In 2000, Michael Stolt was replaced by Jonas Reingold. Two years later, Salazar was replaced by Zoltan Csörsz. Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation joined the band the same year as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.
Other contributors have included Hasse Bruniusson (percussion) and Ulf Wallander (saxophone).
Stolt has written the vast majority of the material the band has recorded, with Bodin contributing most of the rest. The music is best described as symphonic progressive rock, bearing a strong resemblance to the music of Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and early Genesis, with jazz fusion and blues influences. The band's lyrics are almost uniformly positive and uplifting, affirming such values as love, peace, and spirituality, and furthering their association with Yes.
Their 1999 album Flower Power contains the eighteen-section, almost 60-minute "Garden of Dreams".
In June 2007, they released The Road Back Home, a compilation of remixed songs from 1994 to 2006, plus "Little Deceiver" (a previously unreleased track) and the full version of their cover of "The Cinema Show" by Genesis.
Zoltan Csörsz was replaced by new drummer Marcus Liliequist for one album, but returned for the 2007 album, The Sum of No Evil. He was subsequently replaced by Erik Hammarström in 2008.
In 2008, Ola Heden, previously of Reingold's side project Karmakanic, joined on guitar, vocals and keyboards.
In November 2008, the band were the opening act of the Ecco Prog Fest in Moscow.
After touring in 2008, The Flower Kings were inactive for four years. Stolt felt the band had varied levels of focus in their direction and had started to feel lost. They reunited in 2011 to work on new material after Stolt felt it was the right time and sensed eagerness from the other members to work together. This marked the arrival of German drummer Felix Lehrmann. Banks of Eden, the group's eleventh album, was released in June 2012 and was recorded with analogue recording techniques and styles reminiscent of the height of vinyl records. This was followed by Desolation Rose in October 2013.
The line up of Stolt, Bodin, Reingold, Fröberg and Lehrmann played together for the last time in 2015. 2016 and 2017 saw the bandmembers busy with other engagements.
In December 2017, the first part of a career-spanning box set titled A Kingdom of Colours was released. This first box, with 10 discs, covers the period from 1995 to 2002 and includes the studio albums from Back in the World of Adventures to Unfold the Future. The second box set, titled A Kingdom of Colours 2 and covering the albums Adam & Eve through to Desolation Rose, was released in June 2018.
In September 2018, Stolt announced a new album named Manifesto of an Alchemist. The album did not feature long-time keyboardist Tomas Bodin, and as such it is credited to "Roine Stolt's The Flower King" rather than "The Flower Kings"
In August the same year Roine Stolt presented a new band called "Roine Stolt and friends play The Flower Kings". The band featured Stolt, Fröberg and Reingold with new keyboard player Zach Kamins and new drummer Mirko De Maio. Roine Stolt stated that he was done being in a group and wanted to tour as a solo artist like Roger Waters or Steven Wilson. Tomas Bodin was not a part of this group and made his displeasure quite public. The band toured with Spock’s Beard in November and December 2018 and continued to do shows in 2019, this time under the name "The Flower Kings Revisited".
In July 2019, "Revisited" was removed from the band name, making it clear that this line up was now "The Flower Kings". The band went on to release the double albums Waiting for Miracles in 2019 and Islands in 2020, the latter having been recorded entirely remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 24 March 2021, Roine Stolt announced two big projects. The Flower Kings are working on a brand new album "in the same innocence" of Stardust We Are. On 19 April 2021, Roine officially teases that Stardust We Are is getting a brand new vinyl remaster.
On April 8th 2022, InsideOut and Roine Stolt announced that Back in the World of Adventures and Retropolis were getting "remastered and partly remixed". The release date for both was placed on May 27th 2022. Also Stardust We Are and Flower Power are getting remixes and remastered in June.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flower_Kings
Studio albums
The Flower King (1994)
Back in the World of Adventures (1995)
Retropolis (1996)
Stardust We Are (1997)
Flower Power (1999)
Space Revolver (2000)
The Rainmaker (2001)
Unfold the Future (2002)
Adam & Eve (2004)
Paradox Hotel (2006)
The Sum of No Evil (2007)
Banks of Eden (2012)
Desolation Rose (2013)
Manifesto of an Alchemist (2018)
Waiting for Miracles (2019)
Islands (2020)
By Royal Decree (2022)
Stardust We Are
The Flower Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look for no tears in my eyes
Sing me no sweet lullaby
I made myself a heart out of stone, that I can call my own
Remember the days of the shoreline
The sun made the surfers go blind
Now that's my name
Someone please tear down the walls of this room
Don't leave me deaf-dumb in this silent cocoon
I gave my soul freely for a place in the sun
I know that I'm not the only one
Shadow flies, dead end of fame
Them neon lights spelling my name
Fear the day when light goes out
What's it all about?
The dust that once came to my eyes, suddenly left me unwise
Painfully trapped between childhood and fame
Now, it's a shame
Astray like a leaf in the rapids of time
Once touch the stars, then back to the grind
Back to the level where humans thread
mploded back into the head...
Someone please tear down the walls of this room
Don't leave me deaf-dumb in this silent cocoon
I gave my soul freely for a moment of truth
Like a servant and knight to boot
...see me, touch me, feel me, will I live forever
Hold me, teach me, thrill me, in your love forever
Part II
Let me guide you to a world unknown
Kiss the frog and kiss the lizards throne
See them crawling out of dusty holes
Ghosts of yesterday, now twice as bold
Set the wheels in motion once again
Flames they change, the empires remain
Dare I dream of better days to come
Have I precious statements still undone
Will you follow me to stars unknown, or will I end up traveling alone
Let me guide you to a world unknown
Kiss the frog and kiss the lizards throne
Teach me, tell me, will I live forever...?
Part III
Now see how we fly to heavenly high
Swimming the ocean and spin' the stars
And so the great net will fall apart
So don't forget the human touch,
The word of mouth
This roundabout, we love so much,
Now see how our thoughts are running free
Run for leader and semi God
And once again we pay in blood
So don't forget the human trial,
The cry of love, the spark of life, dance thru the fire
Stardust we are
Close to divine
Stardust we are
See how we shine
The song "Stardust We Are" by The Flower Kings is a twelve-minute-long progressive rock epic that explores themes of fame, isolation, nostalgia, and hope. The lyrics of the song can be divided into three parts. The first part talks about the pain of fame and the isolation it brings. The singer of the song is someone who has tasted success but is now trapped inside their own shadow. The lines, "I made myself a heart out of stone, that I can call my own" and "Someone please tear down the walls of this room, don't leave me deaf-dumb in this silent cocoon" suggest that the singer has built an emotional barrier around themselves to protect them from the world, but now they want to break free from it.
The second part of the song switches to a more mystical tone. It talks about a journey to a world unknown, with references to kissing frogs and lizard's thrones. This part of the song may represent a spiritual or psychedelic experience, where the singer is seeking answers to their questions. They ask, "Dare I dream of better days to come? Will you follow me to stars unknown, or will I end up traveling alone?" The singer's quest is not just for personal fulfillment but to share it with someone else.
The third part of the song is a culmination of the previous two parts. It talks about the beauty and fragility of human life. The lines, "So don't forget the human touch, the cry of love, the spark of life, dance thru the fire," suggests that despite all the pains and sufferings, what ultimately matters is our humanity. The song ends on a positive note of hope and transcendence, with the final lines, "Stardust we are, see how we shine," implying that we are all made of the same cosmic material and that we have the potential to achieve greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
Look for no tears in my eyes
Do not expect me to cry or show emotion
Sing me no sweet lullaby
Do not try to console me with comforting words or music
I made myself a heart out of stone, that I can call my own
I have become emotionally hardened and independent
Remember the days of the shoreline
Recall the memories that were created by the coast
The sun made the surfers go blind
The intensity of the sun hindered the surfers from seeing
Once, painfully trapped between childhood and fame
At one point, I was struggling to balance between my youth and my notoriety
Now that's my name
Now, my identity is synonymous with my fame
Someone please tear down the walls of this room
I am feeling trapped and need to escape from this confined space
Don't leave me deaf-dumb in this silent cocoon
Do not let me remain isolated and unable to communicate
I gave my soul freely for a place in the sun
I sacrificed a lot to become successful and gain recognition
I know that I'm not the only one
I recognize that others have also made sacrifices for success
Shadow flies, dead end of fame
Following fame can lead to a bleak and unfulfilling existence
Them neon lights spelling my name
The bright lights and recognition are associated with my fame
Fear the day when light goes out
I am scared of losing my fame and success
What's it all about?
What is the true meaning and purpose of my fame and success?
The dust that once came to my eyes, suddenly left me unwise
The initial excitement and allure of fame has faded and left me disillusioned
Astray like a leaf in the rapids of time
I feel lost and aimless in the fast-paced current of life
Once touch the stars, then back to the grind
I have experienced success, but have returned to the mundane reality of everyday life
Back to the level where humans tread
I have returned to the ordinary existence of being a human
Imploded back into the head...
My thoughts and emotions have imploded and become overwhelming
Like a servant and knight to boot
I am willing to serve and fight for those I love and believe in
...see me, touch me, feel me, will I live forever
Will I be remembered and live on after I am gone?
Let me guide you to a world unknown
Allow me to take you on a journey to a new and unfamiliar place
Kiss the frog and kiss the lizards throne
Embrace the unusual and unappealing aspects of life
See them crawling out of dusty holes
Take note of the things that were once hidden and are now visible
Ghosts of yesterday, now twice as bold
Past experiences continue to haunt and influence us
Set the wheels in motion once again
Get things moving and progressing like before
Flames they change, the empires remain
The intensity and passion may evolve, but the structures and hierarchies stay the same
Dare I dream of better days to come
Do I have the courage to hope and envision a better future?
Have I precious statements still undone
Do I have more important things to say or do?
Will you follow me to stars unknown, or will I end up traveling alone
Will you come with me on my journey, or will I be alone?
Teach me, tell me, will I live forever...?
Is there any chance that I will be immortal or remembered for eternity?
Now see how we fly to heavenly high
We are reaching new heights and achieving our greatest aspirations
Swimming the ocean and spin' the stars
Our journey is vast and we are exploring new realms
And so the great net will fall apart
The restrictive and confining nets that have held us back will crumble
So don't forget the human touch,
We must not neglect our empathy, compassion, and care for others
The word of mouth
Communication and conversation are important and powerful tools
This roundabout, we love so much,
We are fond of the cyclical and unpredictable nature of life
Now see how our thoughts are running free
Our minds and ideas are unbounded and limitless
Run for leader and semi God
We aspire to be leaders and powerful figures in society
And once again we pay in blood
We must suffer and sacrifice in order to achieve our goals
So don't forget the human trial,
We must not neglect the challenges and difficulties that come with being human
The cry of love, the spark of life, dance thru the fire
We must embrace the passion and vitality that comes with love and life
Stardust we are
We are all made up of stardust, and are therefore interconnected with the universe
Close to divine
We possess godly qualities and are capable of transcending human limitations
See how we shine
Our collective light and energy radiates and inspires others
Contributed by Anthony Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tronlady 1
As much as I adore Dream Theater and Yes and all the others......THIS is absolutely fucking exquisite. Roine Stolt is my favourite guitarist of all time. Tone. Feel. Technique. Power. Melody. Innovation. Dynamics. It's ALL there....in abundance!!!!! Stellar songwriting as well on this one. Rivals Bo Rap to me....just my opinion. So good, so so so good......
robertolippi1
I truly think this is one of the best songs EVER WRITTEN, and while I feel blessed to know it and to know TFK I also think it's an injustice that they're far less popular than they should be... I hope that in the future alongside 70's prog this band will be discovered and listened as well.
robertolippi1
Also, the catharsis from minute 16:17 onwards is truly spectacular, as much as the sonic work did in order to reach that point
Paul Arzooman
The way that The Flower Kings are able to build tension in their music and the then release it so perfectly is part of what sets them apart from other groups.
Walter Sandza
A masterpiece of all time.
Paul Bennethum
My favorite Flower Kings piece. Brilliant and timeless.
Aliensounds 15
this song introduced me to this band. forever grateful to have discovered a band as gifted as Yes and King Crimson but with even more lucious arrangements! so many ideas in one song and it still makes sense. As do so many other songs they made. Incredible!
rockonthestone
Flow and cohesion is astounding, Roine hands down one of progs most competent composers
manifestgtr
I remember seeing these guys at NEARfest back in 2003 (EDIT: corrected from “2005” in the comments). It was my first serious introduction to them. They played this tune and the entire theater was shocked into silence by the “stardust we are” ballad breakdown. It’s still one of my most enduring live music memories
TheBlackycat
They played NEARfest in 2003. I was there too. It was the 2nd (and last) year that NEARfest was at Patriot's Theatre in Trenton before they moved the festival back to Zoellner Arts Center at LeHigh University in Bethlehem. This is a great tune.