The Meteors are a psychobilly band from the United Kingdom, who are often credited with giving the genre its distinctive sound. Although the origins of psychobilly are debatable, the Meteors consider themselves the first and only psychobilly band. Fans of the band are known to use the slogan "Only the Meteors are pure psychobilly" (often shortened to just "OTMAPP") as a rallying cry.
The Meteors were started in 1980 by P. Paul Fenech (guitar and vocals), Nigel Lewis (upright bass), and Mark Robertson (drums). Fenech and Lewis had played in rockabilly bands before, but left their former band, Raw Deal, in order to experiment with a new sound that mixed horror and science fiction lyrics with a punk rock-rockabilly crossover. This sound would later be called psychobilly.
The Meteors played their first show during Rockabilly Night at The Sparrow Hawk in north London, but after being heckled due to their punk fashion, decided to begin playing shows beyond just rockabilly clubs. They developed a loyal following known as "the Crazies," who invented their own dance style called "going mental," a cross between dancing and moshing. This would later be renamed "wrecking," and is still a staple of the psychobilly scene to this day. Coupled with Fenech's ritual of spitting blood during performances, many clubs believed they were dangerous and refused to book them. The band began playing at punk rock clubs alongside other UK punk bands such as the Anti-Nowhere League and the UK Subs. However, unlike punk bands, the Meteors would insist that their shows be "a politics and religion free zone" in order to focus on having a good time instead of allowing disputes between fans to break out. Because of their example, there are nearly no political themes in psychobilly today.
Due to their cult following, the Meteors made a film in late 1980 with comedian Keith Allen called Meteor Madness. It was released as a double feature with two-tone ska film Dance Craze in March 1981. The movie featured four songs, which made it onto the band's first vinyl single. In August 1981, the band were signed to Island Records and recorded their first full-length, In Heaven.
The Meteors have gone through numerous line-up changes since, with Fenech being the only original member today. The current line-up includes Mark Burnett on bass and Wolfgang Hordemann on drums. They have 17 official albums, countless singles, and numerous reissues and compilation appearances. They continue to record using their own recording studio, In Heaven, and have extensively toured Japan, America, Europe, and Scandinavia.
P. Paul Fenech has also released many solo albums and plays in a rockabilly side-project, the Legendary Raw Deal, named after his first band. Nigel Lewis and Mark Robertson went on to first play together in the Escalators, a psychedelic rock band, then the Tallboys, a rockabilly band best known for recording the song "Take a Walk" for the Return of the Living Dead soundtrack.
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There's also a dutch band called The Meteors. One of the most wayward Dutch rock groups in the period between the late '70s and early '80s. The Meteors release three records which feature a futuristic sort of 'art' rock which is influenced by Roxy Music and David Bowie. The band formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1982.
Source: www.hollandrocks.com
The Edge
The Meteors Lyrics
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Where concrete meets cornflowers and clay
Slick city-slicker's city patter
While slow courting lovers make hay
Old skits and urban myths
Don"t fade away
We're in the in-between
Penthouse and pavement - once the whizz-kids
The Dunroamin' boys now at play
Golf courses criss-cross the horizon
Bunkers and bankers in spades
Out here, the life has changed
So they say
Here in the in-between
More shades of grey
Edge of the city
A nation divides
Edge of the city
Two worlds collide
Brash, sassy houses on the hilltop
Where brown fields sweep green fields aside
Tough kid on scooter prowls the woodland
Clutching a stash load to hide
Trailers and Tudor gates
Country estates
Tractors and criminals
Come face to face
Sprawling estate out in the nowhere
Surrounded by valleys and fields
Shysters that set the wheels in motion
In land grabs and backhander deals
Not much to do there then
Except survive
Faint dreams and reckless schemes
Kept hope alive
The lyrics of The Meteors's song "The Edge" paint a vivid picture of the boundary where urban meets rural, capturing the essence of the transition from cityscape to countryside. The opening lines describe this intersection as the edge of the city, located off the highway, where stark contrasts of concrete meeting with the beauty of cornflowers and clay are observed. The juxtaposition between the hustle and bustle of the city and the slow, timeless romance of the countryside is emphasized through the imagery of slick city-slickers engaging in urban chatter while lovers enjoy the simplicity of making hay.
The song delves into the notion of the in-between, where old skits, urban myths, and the shifting time between night and day reside. This sense of liminality is further explored through the portrayal of penthouse and pavement, symbolizing the former glory of the whizz-kids now replaced by the Dunroamin' boys relishing in leisure. The references to golf courses, bunkers, and bankers highlight the conflicting worlds coexisting in this space, where life has evolved into a more nuanced and complex state captured by various shades of grey.
As the lyrics progress, the division between different societal strata becomes apparent, drawing attention to the clash of two contrasting worlds at the edge of the city. The imagery of brash, sassy houses on hilltops overtaking the natural beauty of green fields conveys a sense of displacement and disruption caused by urban expansion. The mention of a tough kid on a scooter hiding a stash alludes to the underlying tensions and secrecy that define this changing landscape, where country estates stand juxtaposed with trailers and Tudor gates, and tractors share the same space as criminals.
The final verses of the song delve into the desolate reality of a sprawling estate nestled in the remote nowhere, surrounded by valleys and fields. The narrative shifts to the presence of shysters orchestrating shady deals that propel the narrative forward, emphasizing the struggle for survival amidst fading dreams and daring schemes that keep hope alive in the face of adversity. Overall, The Meteors's "The Edge" encapsulates the dualities and conflicts that define the edge of the city, where the collision of cultures, aspirations, and landscapes converge in a complex tapestry of urban and rural life.
Line by Line Meaning
Edge of the city - off the highway
Close to the outskirts of the city, away from the main road
Where concrete meets cornflowers and clay
A contrast of urban development and natural elements
Slick city-slicker's city patter
Smooth talk and behavior typical of city residents
While slow courting lovers make hay
Meanwhile, couples take advantage of the peaceful surroundings for romance
Old skits and urban myths
Stories and jokes from the past
Don't fade away
They still hold relevance and importance
We're in the in-between
Existing in a state of transition or uncertainty
Half night and day
A time of ambiguity or mixed emotions
Penthouse and pavement - once the whizz-kids
Formerly the playground of wealthy and successful individuals
The Dunroamin' boys now at play
Now occupied by carefree individuals
Golf courses criss-cross the horizon
Landscape dotted with golfing facilities
Bunkers and bankers in spades
Not just physical bunkers but also financial institutions abound
Out here, the life has changed
The lifestyle and atmosphere have shifted
So they say
According to common belief or rumor
Here in the in-between
In this state of limbo or transition
More shades of grey
A greater level of ambiguity or uncertainty
Edge of the city A nation divides
A place where societal divisions are clear
Two worlds collide
Different cultures or lifestyles come into conflict
Brash, sassy houses on the hilltop
Bold and stylish dwellings situated on high ground
Where brown fields sweep green fields aside
New development encroaching on previously untouched land
Tough kid on scooter prowls the woodland
A resilient young person exploring the forested area
Clutching a stash load to hide
Holding onto something valuable but secretive
Trailers and Tudor gates
Mobile homes and historic-style entrances
Country estates
Large properties in rural settings
Tractors and criminals
Farm equipment and unlawful individuals
Come face to face
Confronting each other directly
Sprawling estate out in the nowhere
Expansive property located in a secluded area
Surrounded by valleys and fields
Encircled by natural landscapes
Shysters that set the wheels in motion
Untrustworthy individuals who initiated a series of events
In land grabs and backhander deals
Engaged in dishonest real estate transactions
Not much to do there then
Little in terms of entertainment or activities
Except survive
Only focus on getting by in difficult circumstances
Faint dreams and reckless schemes
Vague hopes and risky plans
Kept hope alive
Maintained optimism despite challenging conditions
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Matthew Hall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
psychokittie7
Love this song!!!!!
Velocimackerel
Thanks for uploading this! Does anyone have lyrics for the track?
Frank.w. Buchanan
ace tune cool write up
bestbass42
For more information on the early days of The M3t3ors, escalators and Tall Boys...https://www.facebook.com/groups/564670997016074
Ulf Schmetz
Danke