The Rezillos are a Punk/New wave band, who formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, U… Read Full Bio ↴The Rezillos are a Punk/New wave band, who formed in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom in 1976, and are still playing gigs around the world in a reformed line-up. The band is best known for their 1978 British Top 20 hit "Top of the Pops"

The band originally consisted of Eugene Reynolds (born Alan Forbes) vocals; Fay Fife (born Sheila Hynde) vocals; Jo Callis guitar; the enigmatically-named William Mysterious (born Alastair Donaldson), saxophone; Angel Patterson (born Alan Patterson), drums; Hi-Fi Harris guitar; and Dr D.K. Smythe bass guitar. Some of The Rezillos' bizarre early live repertoire, contained material from the likes of the Sweet, Screaming Lord Sutch, Fleetwood Mac (in the guise of Earl Vince and the Valiants) and the Dave Clark Five. Bootleg recordings exist of this stage of the band's history.

This line-up released their first single "Can't Stand My Baby" on the indie record label, Sensible Records. This led to a major recording contract with Sire Records. The band also underwent a transformation, shedding both Hi-Fi Harris, Dr. D.K. Smythe, and two backing singers. William Mysterious then shifted to bassist for the band's debut album Can't Stand The Rezillos, widely regarded as a classic of both Punk Rock and New Wave. A second single "Flying Saucer Attack" / "My Baby Does Good Sculptures" grazed the lower reaches of the UK Singles Chart, and contained different versions of the songs found on the album release.

However, the quintet reached the Top 20 of the UK chart with their third single, "Top of the Pops" in 1978. By this time, William Mysterious had left the band to be replaced by another bass player Simon Templar. The single version of "Top of the Pops" features him, whilst the album version was recorded by William Mysterious.

After releasing the album Can't Stand The Rezillos, Reynolds and Fife left the original band. The live LP Mission Accomplished But The Beat Goes On remains as a testament to the original line-up. A final single, "Destination Venus" made the lower reaches of the UK chart, and earned them a final appearance on the actual Top of the Pops.

Reynolds and Fife renamed themselves The Revillos for contractual reasons, recruiting new members, including original Rezillo Hi-Fi Harris, and released an album Rev Up in 1980 under the new name. The Revillos had a longer career than The Rezillos, and toured and released music continually during the 1980s. The band had an ever changing line-up, but the focus and nucleus always remained Reynolds and Fife. The band later also released a compendium of their music. The remaining three Rezillos plus Troy Tate, ex-Teardrop Explodes, renamed themselves Shake, and released a 10" EP and a single ("Invasion Of The Gamma Men") before disbanding. A side project named S.W.A.L.K was also short lived. Jo Callis went on to perform with The Human League.

Some of The Revillos reformed in 1994, playing a series of concerts in Japan, and recording the Live and On Fire in Japan album. In 1996, they issued a rarities compilation album, From the Freezer, and played some live dates in Britain.

In 2001, the band reformed with the classic line-up sans Simon Templar, his bass duties being taking by Johnny Terminator. They continue to play live and record to the present day.

2000 A.D.
The Rezillos Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanted to see
If 2000 AD
Was ever in place
For someone like me
I look at the future
For a paperback culture
I think there was more
In 1964

Oh no, Oh no, Oh no
Oh no, Oh no, Oh no

It's easy to see
That 2000 AD
Will never appear
A reality
It's a slap in the face
For the human race
Just to survive
To be eaten alive

Oh no, Oh no, Oh no
Oh no, Oh no, Oh no

2000 AD
I'm happy to be
Where everything's new
And nothing is free
I live in the future
With the paperback culture
I came through the door
From 1964

Oh no, Oh no, Oh no
Oh no, Oh no, Oh no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Rezillos's song "2000 A.D." seem to be about the anticipation and disappointment of what the year 2000 AD would bring. The singer expresses the desire to see if the future portrayed in science fiction novels and movies would come true and be suitable for them. He mentions looking at the future for a "paperback culture" which may refer to the idea of a society where everything is simple and easy to understand, like a paperback book. However, the singer also believes that the world was more exciting in 1964, which may be a reference to the cultural and political events of that time.

The chorus repeats the phrase "Oh no" several times, which may represent the disappointment and disillusionment felt by the singer and possibly society as a whole, as 2000 AD did not fulfill their expectations. The world in 2000 AD is described as a "slap in the face for the human race" and the reality is that survival is the most important thing, and being "eaten alive" could be a metaphor for struggling in a world that is not what was expected.

Ultimately, the singer proclaims to be happy in the present, where everything is new and nothing is free, and where they can live in the future with the "paperback culture", which they entered through the door from 1964. This may imply that the singer is content with the present and not nostalgic for the past or preoccupied with the future.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanted to see
My curiosity led me to explore

If 2000 AD
The future year of 2000

Was ever in place
Whether the predicted changes of that era were actually realized

For someone like me
To assess whether I fit into that vision of the future

I look at the future
I examine what is to come

For a paperback culture
A society that values cheap and disposable entertainment

I think there was more
I believe there was a greater sense of hope and possibility in the past

In 1964
Referring to a time of cultural change and innovation

It's easy to see
Clearly evident

That 2000 AD
The year 2000

Will never appear
The future was not as rosy as imagined