Steve Whitehouse and Hodge joined in 1982, replacing the original drummer and bassist. This was now the classic Sharks line up that we have all grown up with.
The band's first album 'Phantom Rockers' was recorded in 1982 and released soon afterwards on Nervous Records. The band later spilt in 1983.
Steve went on to form Frenzy and has made a big success of it. Alan went on to carve a career as a record producer. Hodge could often be found playing in either Frenzy or some of Alan's studio and live projects.
The Sharks re-formed in 1993 with Alan Wilson on Guitar/vocals, Morrissey's bass player Gary Day on bass and Hodge on drums and released the album 'Recreational Killer' on Cherry Red/Anagram records and the 12" EP 'Bitch Attack' (Vinyl Japan).
In 1995 Steve returned when Gary left to re-join Morrissey. The next album was 'Colour My Flesh' in 1995 - again on Cherry Red/Anagram. Other releases included 'Ruff Stuff' - an album of demos and the vinyl EP 'Sir Psycho' (Fury).
Nowadays, Steve can still be found touring and recording with his band Frenzy. Hodge lives in Spain where he runs his own business. Alan is a producer and also owns a studio and label called Western Star.
Schizoid Man
The Sharks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where the music is great, but the stories gyrate
The man seems OK but the longer you stay
you'll begin to regret every word that you say
The evidence mounts in the back of his mind
'till one day a black mood will seek and then find
His smile is well practised, but that's where it ends
Schizoid
Twisted warped and paranoid
Schizoid
Infant brain he's insane
Schizoid
Snapped and buckled and filled with hate
Yeah he's a Schizoid Man
His otherwise empty life's cluttered with fears
like an overgrown minefield forgotten by years
and just when you think that he's out of your head
that phone call reminds you that you want him dead
His life has no meaning so he never stops
Proverbial leopards just don't change their spots
So close is the moment to finish the game
The Schizoid Man must be beaten again
The Sharks's song Schizoid Man describes a person who suffers from schizoid personality disorder – a mental illness characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, emotional coldness, detachment, and solitary tendencies. The lyrics paint a portrait of a person who appears normal on the surface but has deep-seated issues that make it difficult for others to connect with them. The song opens by describing a place where one can hear great music, but the stories are bizarre and unsettling. This is a metaphor for the Schizoid Man's mind, which is filled with strange thoughts and feelings that he finds difficult to share with others.
The second verse describes how the Schizoid Man's facade begins to crack as his mood darkens, and his inner turmoil becomes more evident. It points out that his smile is not genuine and is a well-rehearsed cover-up for his deeper issues. The chorus asserts that the Schizoid Man is twisted, paranoid, and filled with hate. Finally, the song points out that the Schizoid Man's life is empty, and he has a deep sense of fear that he struggles to deal with.
Overall, the song Schizoid Man tackles the complex and often-misunderstood issue of mental illness, depicting the struggles faced by those with schizoid personality disorder.
Line by Line Meaning
Not far away is a place you can go
There's a place you can go to where things seem good initially
where the music is great, but the stories gyrate
The music is great, but the stories behind it are twisted and weird
The man seems OK but the longer you stay
The man appears normal, but if you spend more time with him, you'll see his true colors
you'll begin to regret every word that you say
You'll end up regretting everything you say to him because he'll use it against you later
The evidence mounts in the back of his mind
He begins to build up evidence against people in his head
'till one day a black mood will seek and then find
His negative thoughts will eventually lead him to lash out
His smile is well practised, but that's where it ends
He appears friendly, but it's just an act
This shallow veneer hides some sinister trends
He is covering up some very dark tendencies
Schizoid
Schizoid
Twisted warped and paranoid
He is twisted, paranoid, and warped
Schizoid
Schizoid
Infant brain he's insane
He is insane and has the mentality of a child
Schizoid
Schizoid
Snapped and buckled and filled with hate
He has snapped, is unstable, and filled with hate
Yeah he's a Schizoid Man
He's definitely a Schizoid Man
His otherwise empty life's cluttered with fears
Despite having an empty life, he is filled with fears
like an overgrown minefield forgotten by years
His head is like an overgrown minefield, neglected for many years
and just when you think that he's out of your head
Even when you think you've finally gotten rid of him from your thoughts
that phone call reminds you that you want him dead
He'll call you and remind you of how much you hate him
His life has no meaning so he never stops
His life has no purpose, so he continues on with his destructive behavior
Proverbial leopards just don't change their spots
People like him never change their ways
So close is the moment to finish the game
It's almost time to finally confront him and put an end to his game
The Schizoid Man must be beaten again
He needs to be defeated once more
Contributed by Chloe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.