The Living End got their first big break in 1995 when, after sending a t-shirt and a demo tape to Billie Joe Armstrong, they landed a support slot in Green Day's upcoming Australian tour. After the tour, the group went into the studio to record their debut EP Hellbound which received moderate support from community radio stations.
In November 1995, the band went back into the studio to record their second EP (It's for Your Own Good which they released several months later. This recording yielded their first major radio airplay with the song From Here On In, which was placed on high rotation on the youth radio network Triple J. Shortly after the release of the second EP, drummer Joe Piripitzi left the band and was replaced with Travis Dempsey who was soon playing with the band at major festivals such as Pushover and the Falls Festival. After a year touring Australia, The Living End again headed into the studio to record something new to sell at their now very popular shows. The result was the Second Solution / Prisoner of Society double single.
Prisoner of Society quickly became a national hit and the band signed on to Modular Recordings for the release of their debut self titled album, The Living End. The album was an instant hit with Australian audiences and resulted in six Australian singles (counting the "Second Solution" release as two because both songs received major airplay). The Living End became the second-highest-selling debut rock album in Australian music history, now five times platinum.
The Roll On album in 2000 was a more creative work, but did not manage to achieve the status of their earlier album. Cheney later stated that he was trying to prove to critics that The Living End were not a band simply defined by their hit Prisoner of Society, and the album showed this by displaying other influences, as well as their traditional fast-paced rockabilly music. The album even garnered comparison, by a few critics, to seminal punk band The Clash's creative breakthrough, London Calling.
The band hit a quiet period after that during which Chris Cheney had a tragic car accident on the Great Ocean Road, rendering him unable to play for a significant period of time. He had been on the road to the house of a member of fellow Australian band Bodyjar.
In 2003, after Chris's recovery and with new drummer Andy Strachan, the band made a comeback, releasing One Said to the Other, Who's Gonna Save Us? and getting air play once again. This was followed by heavy touring (including Big Day Out) and a release of Modern ARTillery.
In late 2004, the band has released a singles collection From Here on In: The Singles 1997-2004 as well as a DVD, which included all video clips and a "supergig", collections of the band's most famous songs performed in Australia, Japan and the USA. The DVD also features the band's history- documented in interviews and home footage.
Recently, Chris performed at the 2004 ARIA awards as part of the supergroup The Wrights, featuring members of many other Australian rock bands.
Chris Cheney and Scott Owen have won the Best Guitarist and Best Bassist awards for 2004 and 2005, in the Jack Awards.
The band performs regularly in Melbourne, one performance recently was for the Channel V Music Bus at Federation Square Melbourne, Australia (15th of December 2005) which saw a capacity crowd of between 4,500 and 5,000 people attend. The event saw many under 18's get the chance to see their idols for free, and for a lucky few, the chance to sing with Chris Cheney, unplanned of course.
The Living End's fourth album, titled State of Emergency, was released on February 4 2006 and was recorded in Byron Bay after they played in the Splendour in the Grass festival. They had finished the recording and the artwork for State of Emergency in mid December 2005. The single "What's on Your Radio was released on November 20, 2005, and debuted at #9 on the ARIA singles chart. The second single, "Wake Up" was released on February 19 and debuted at #5 on the ARIA singles chart. The group is currently signed to Adeline Records, owned and run by Billie Joe and Adrianne Armstrong.
In 2008 The Living End released their fifth studio album titled as White Noise, showing more hard rock influenced sound of The Living End. First single from the album was a double A-side single White Noise/How Do We Know which was released physically and digitally 5 July 2008. The second single Moment in the Sun was released 25 October 2008. The third single, Raise the Alarm, was released 22 December 2008. In 2009 The Living End started the Raise the Alarm Tour.
Growing Up
The Living End Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just checkin' out the world from a different angle
That's what happens when you trip on your blindness
Always seems for some reason that it is happening to me
Why is it so, and why don't I know?
Why is it so, I can't see the obstacle in front of me
Christ, I'm falling down again,
It happens to me now and then I'm growing up yeah, growing up yeah
I'm growing up yeah, growing up yeah
Open up your eyes and maybe then you'll realize
The truth is in the thoughts you hold and not the obstacle in front of you
The Living End's song "Growing Up" is a powerful anthem that speaks about the struggles of growing up, and the challenges that come with it. The lyrics are introspective, and the artist reflects on the experiences and emotions that come with maturity. The first verse starts with the line "I'm lying on my head, no I'm not in my bed" which is a metaphor for looking at life from a different perspective. The artist talks about tripping on his blindness, indicating that sometimes it's hard to see what's ahead, and it's only after falling down that he can see the obstacles that he couldn't before.
The chorus emphasizes the artist's commitment to growing up and facing the challenges head-on. He promises to be strong and brave, and he recognizes that the truth is in the thoughts he holds and not the obstacle in front of him. The message is clear - life is full of obstacles, but it's how you deal with them that matters.
The song also highlights the confusion and uncertainty that often come with growing up. The artist asks, "Why is it so, and why don't I know?" which is a struggle that many can relate to. The song encourages listeners to embrace the challenges that come with growing up and to strive to become stronger, wiser individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lying on my head, no I'm not in my bed
I'm looking at the world from a different perspective.
Just checkin' out the world from a different angle
I am exploring unconventional views of the world.
That's what happens when you trip on your blindness
Sometimes, my lack of awareness causes me to see things differently.
Always seems for some reason that it is happening to me
I often feel like I am the only one experiencing these things.
Why is it so, and why don't I know?
I wonder why it is like this and why I do not understand it.
Why is it so, I can't see the obstacle in front of me
I cannot always see the challenges that lie ahead.
Christ, I'm falling down again,
I have stumbled again.
It happens to me now and then. I'm growing up yeah, growing up yeah
I am mature enough to acknowledge my mistakes and learn from them.
I won't let it fade away, I promise to be strong and brave
I promise to not forget the lessons I learned and be courageous in the face of obstacles.
I'm growing up yeah, growing up yeah
I am growing more aware and wise with each experience.
Open up your eyes and maybe then you'll realize
Take a closer look and you will see.
The truth is in the thoughts you hold and not the obstacle in front of you
The way you perceive a situation is more important than the situation itself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CHENEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind