The original lineup consisting of Kody Templeman, Zack Rawhauser, Cory Laurence, and Tim (Timmy V) O'Hara as a four-piece only recorded the first 7",I Lost My Marbles, produced by Joe King of The Queers for his More Bounce to the Ounce compilation. The band continued as a three-piece after Zack quit.
Their first full-length album, titled Shit Out of Luck, was released on Clearview Records in 1996. Following the release of their first album the band changed their lyrical focus. In 1999 they went into the studio with producer-engineer Mass Giorgini to record a new LP. This was done with the band's own money, and without the benefit of a record label. The result was Death By Television, an album that took sci-fi movie-themed songs such as War Of The Worlds and Invasion Of The Saucermen and combined them with tracks that made references to other retro themes, such as X-Ray Specs. The recordings instantly created a buzz. Successful label Fat Wreck Chords offered to release the album, but the band had already accepted an offer of Panic Button Records, an imprint of influential punk label Lookout! Records that was overseen by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel fame.
The band spent the next two years touring heavily within the punk scene and disbanded after teaming with Giorgini for their final Panic Button/Lookout! release, the spy-themed LP The Backchannel Broadcast, which was released in February, 2001. The album included the song Wait It Out, written by Ben Weasel and later re-recorded by The Riverdales for their record Phase Three.
John Jughead (of Screeching Weasel and Even in Blackouts) filled in as second guitar on many tour stops on the Death by Television and Backchannel tours. Other notable appearances on these tours include Ben Weasel (at The Fireside in Chicago, his first stage appearance since 1995), and Lurch Nobody. Timmy V left the band after Death by Television and was replaced by Austin, Texas drummer Scott.
Red Scare Industries reissued Death By Television (remastered) and Backchannel Broadcast in 2005.
The band split for a few years before reuniting with all original members to release an album, [album artist=the lillingtonsThe Too Late Show in 2006, with no plans on reuniting for a tour to support due to the members' other commitments.
In 2017 they released an album [album artist=the lillingtons]Stella Sapiente.
Frontman Templeman is currently a member of Laramie, Wyoming pop punk band Teenage Bottlerocket.
Drummer Timmy V is currently playing as a hired hand with Albuquerque, New Mexico all girl three-piece The Eyeliners, and plays drums in his own project Stabbed in Back, with a hardcore/punk album entitled A Portrait of Noise.
Golden Dawn/Knights Templar
The Lillingtons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sent on a mission to the holy land
Ordered to kill everything that got in our way
We were soldiers of the lion's paw
Keepers of Moses from the book of law
We knelt at the altar of Baphomet
Found mystic symbols in the tunnels built by Solomon
We were enlightened by Asmodeus
The church found out and then they turned on us
Forbidden knowledge to be silenced so we were betrayed
Persecuted for impiety
Convicted of fallacious heresy
Tortured confessions that were all contrived
Spat in the face of God and burned alive
The Lillingtons's song Golden Dawn/Knights Templar tells the story of a group of soldiers who were handpicked by God to embark on a mission to the holy land. The song speaks to their quest to kill everything in their way despite receiving orders to protect the holy book of law as well as their worship of Baphomet. The group of soldiers found hidden symbols, were enlightened by Asmodeus, and were ultimately turned against by the church for their pursuit of knowledge. They were convicted of heresy based on false confessions that were given through torture before being burned alive.
The lyrics of the song highlight a number of different themes. One of the key themes is the idea of religion and how it can sometimes motivate people to act in extreme or violent ways. The lyrics also touch upon the theme of knowledge and how it can sometimes be seen as a dangerous thing. Overall, the song serves as a warning against fanaticism and the dangers of trying to use religion as a justification for violent acts.
Line by Line Meaning
We were chosen by God's own hand
We believed that we were specifically selected by God for a divinely-inspired mission.
Sent on a mission to the holy land
We were sent on a religious mission to the Holy Land, with the belief that the land was sacred and tied to our faith.
Ordered to kill everything that got in our way
We were instructed to use violence and force to remove anyone who stood in the way of our mission, even if it involved killing them.
We were soldiers of the lion's paw
We saw ourselves as fierce warriors, fighting for our faith and religion.
Keepers of Moses from the book of law
We were entrusted with protecting the teachings of Moses, as found in the holy book of our faith.
We knelt at the altar of Baphomet
We worshiped at the altar of Baphomet, a symbol of the universe and its mysteries, often associated with Satanism and the occult.
We carved a river of blood to Jerusalem
We were willing to spill a great amount of blood and cause much destruction to reach Jerusalem.
Found mystic symbols in the tunnels built by Solomon
As we journeyed through the tunnels built by Solomon, we found mysterious symbols that we interpreted to hold great power and meaning.
We were enlightened by Asmodeus
We believed that Asmodeus, a demon associated with lust and power, had given us knowledge and enlightenment that aided us in our religious goals.
The church found out and then they turned on us
As our secretive and fringe beliefs were exposed to the larger church, we were met with hostility and persecution.
Forbidden knowledge to be silenced so we were betrayed
Because our beliefs and practices went against the conventional teachings and authority of the church, our knowledge was seen as dangerous and we were ultimately betrayed.
Persecuted for impiety
We were harassed and treated unfairly due to our perceived lack of religious devotion and respect for tradition.
Convicted of fallacious heresy
We were accused of spreading false and deceptive teachings that went against the dogma of the church.
Tortured confessions that were all contrived
Through the use of torture and unethical methods, we were forced to make false confessions and admit to crimes that we did not commit.
Spat in the face of God and burned alive
As punishment for our perceived transgressions, we were burned alive, thus denying our faith and being rejected by God.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.