1996-2001: Hollywood Records years
In 1995 the band signed to Hollywood Records, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. 1996 saw the release of their first album, Destruction by Definition. Its blend of punk rock and ska brought the national attention in the midst of the mid-1990s punk rock mainstream revival. The single "No Face" became a minor hit on modern rock radio stations and the album was supported through extensive touring across the United States. They released a follow-up in 1998 entitled Battle Hymns, which continued their ska punk style while incorporating more aggressive elements of hardcore punk, with nearly all of its songs lasting under two minutes in length.
Following the release of Battle Hymns Grant left the band. He went on to play with numerous groups including Thoughts of Ionesco, The Vandals, face to face, and Telegraph before finding a permanent position in the Alkaline Trio. He was replaced by Erin Pitman for some touring before new permanent drummer Ryan Vandeberghe joined. In 2000 this lineup released The Suicide Machines, a more pop rock oriented effort that moved away from the ska influences of their earlier releases. They received some radio and video play for the single "Sometimes I Don't Mind" and performed on the Warped Tour that Summer. In 2001 they released Steal This Record, which continued their exploration of pop punk style while mixing in elements of their earlier ska punk and hardcore albums.
2002-2005: Side One Dummy years
Following touring in support of Steal This Record bassist Nunley left The Suicide Machines to start his own band, Blueprint 76, and was replaced by Rich Tschirhart. The band also ended their contract with Hollywood Records, fulfilling their contractual obligations by releasing the compilation album The Least Worst of the Suicide Machines. They then moved to the independent label Side One Dummy Records. Their next album A Match and Some Gasoline, released in 2003, found the band abandoning the pop experimentations of their previous two albums and returning more to the ska punk and hardcore styles of their earlier years. They also began to explore sociopolitical themes in songs such as "Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread?" and "Your Silence," which were critical of President George W. Bush's administration, its response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They toured internationally in support of the album and again performed on the Warped Tour.
In 2005 the band released the album War Profiteering is Killing Us All, which continued their political themes by openly attacking the Bush White House, the continuation of the Iraq War, and conservative Republicanism. Navarro also launched his own record label, Noise Riot Records, and released On the Eve of Destruction: 1991-1995, a compilation of the band's early EPs, singles, and demos.
2006: Breakup and post-Suicide Machines activity
In 2006, while touring in support of War Profiteering is Killing Us All, the band abruptly broke up. Explanations given by the band members for this included Vandeberghe's desire to take a break from touring, which he did while friend Steve McCrumb filled for a performance at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on May 11. A tour of Mexico had been planned to follow this, and Navarro had suggested that the band perform its final shows that Christmas. However, interpersonal tensions came to a head after the Troubadour show when Lukacinsky refused to finish the tour. Lukacinsky himself further elaborated that the band had been planning to break up for some time.
Following the band's breakup, Navarro and Vandeberghe continued working with Left in Ruin, a band they had started as a Suicide Machines side project and had worked on and off with for almost 6 years. Vandeberghe also joined the new band Hifi Handgrenades. Lukacinsky, meanwhile, started his own band Bayonetting the Wounded. Navarro is currently fronting Hellmouth. Tschirhart is in The A-Gang.
Face Values
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It does not have to be this way
Just be yourself, the one and only
It take some time but that's okay
Alright, no need to fight
'Cause everybody's different
And there's nothin' you can do about it
Or act like you
It doesn't make me any better or worse
You hate yourself cause you're not like them
Well understand that this is wrong
You're better off doing your own thing,
Being yourself and
Being strong
The lyrics to The Suicide Machines' song Face Values send a powerful message about the importance of being oneself and not conforming to peer pressure or societal expectations. The opening lines highlight the isolation that can come from feeling like an outsider who has no friends. However, the lyrics also offer hope and encourage the listener to embrace their individuality. The singer encourages the listener to "be yourself, the one and only," emphasizing that it is okay to take time to figure out who you are and to not fit into a particular mold or stereotype. The song goes on to discuss the futility of fighting against people's differences and urges the listener to recognize that we are all unique, but that this does not make anyone better or worse than someone else.
The lyrics to Face Values are powerful and relatable, touching on themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and individuality. The song has become an anthem for many individuals who have struggled with feeling like outsiders or faced pressure to conform to societal norms. The band's punk rock sound gives the lyrics an energetic, rebellious feel that adds to the power of the message. Overall, Face Values is a powerful call to action for listeners to embrace their true selves, despite the pressures to fit in that may surround them.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got No friends and so you're lonely.
You feel like an outcast because you don't have any friends, and this makes you unhappy and isolated.
It does not have to be this way
You don't have to continue feeling lonely; there are ways to change this situation.
Just be yourself, the one and only
The key to feeling happy and fulfilled is being true to your unique self and not trying to be someone you're not.
It take some time but that's okay
It may take a while for you to discover who you truly are, but that's completely fine and normal.
Alright, no need to fight
There's no need to argue or be defensive about who you are or how you feel.
'Cause everybody's different
Everyone has their own perspective and experience, so there's no universal way of being.
And there's nothin' you can do about it
You can't control how others see or treat you, but you can choose how you respond to them.
And just because i don't look like you
Even if we don't share the same physical appearance, that doesn't mean we're better or worse than each other.
Or act like you
Just because we don't behave or think the same way, that doesn't mean we're incompatible or incompatible.
It doesn't make me any better or worse
We shouldn't judge ourselves or others based on superficial qualities, as they don't define our worth or character.
You hate yourself cause you're not like them
Feeling inferior or inadequate because you don't fit in with a certain group is a harmful mindset that can lead to low self-esteem.
Well understand that this is wrong
Realizing that comparing yourself to others is unhealthy and unproductive is the first step in learning to accept and love yourself.
You're better off doing your own thing,
Pursuing your own interests and values can lead to greater happiness and fulfillment than trying to conform to someone else's expectations.
Being yourself and
Embracing your authentic self is essential to living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Being strong
It takes courage and resilience to be true to yourself in a world that often pressures us to conform, but staying true to yourself is worth it in the end.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEREK RICHARD GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@doggish412r
You've got no friends, so you're lonely
It does not have to be this way
Just be yourself, the one and only
It takes some time but that's okay
Alright, no need to fight
'cause everybody's different
And there's nothin' you can do about it
And just because I don't look like you
Or act like you
It doesn't make me any better or worse
Say I used to be just like you
Until I found better things to do
Than worry about what the others think
Or wonder if there's something wrong with me
You hate yourself 'cause you're not like them
Now understand that this is wrong
You're better off doing your own thing
Being yourself and being strong
@PYROKID1000k
this band is so under rated, defintly one of the best ska punk bands ever! love this song, so well written and meaningful. The Suicide Machines kick ass!
@timmyturtle8625
53k views this video has that’s not underrated and a few of their songs were in the tony hawk games
@jonz4856
best minute and a half in ska/punk, the music and the message.
@marklloydbermudez6162
fuck yeah..
@jordanpolarfuxens5211
fuck 100% yeah
@notyoursavior78
For sure!!!!!
@timmyturtle8625
What’s the message
@jblaggart1
My favorite pick me up song, play it on repeat!
@kingblackhart
Alrite! I love the message in this one i wish they still made songs like this
@doggish412r
You've got no friends, so you're lonely
It does not have to be this way
Just be yourself, the one and only
It takes some time but that's okay
Alright, no need to fight
'cause everybody's different
And there's nothin' you can do about it
And just because I don't look like you
Or act like you
It doesn't make me any better or worse
Say I used to be just like you
Until I found better things to do
Than worry about what the others think
Or wonder if there's something wrong with me
You hate yourself 'cause you're not like them
Now understand that this is wrong
You're better off doing your own thing
Being yourself and being strong