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.
Insecurities
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I just could never see, held people at arms length
devoid of human contact
Cannot express emotion
I try with all my strength
What is the matter with me?
It seems that no one even cares
I'm blinded by my innocence
When I dont understand.
Covered in blankets of Imagination
Where I can talk to people without a
second thought
What if they're laughing at me
I know I'm not good enough
so I won't even try.....
God only knows what'll keep us from dying
because eveytime I look around I see Life as a big lie
Yeah everybody's saying "yeah I'm the one" yeah
"everybody came running to me"
But thats not how it works and it never did
you know I'm sorry it had to be this way
things got fucked up but thats okay....
...I'm sorry....
...I'm sorry....
The lyrics of The Suicide Machines' song "Insecurities" depict a person who feels trapped and isolated by their own insecurities. The "walls of security" that the person has built around themselves have prevented them from making meaningful connections with others, leaving them feeling emotionally detached and unable to express their feelings. Despite their efforts to break free from their insecurities and connect with others, they feel like nobody cares about them and that they will always be alone.
The person's imagination becomes their solace, allowing them to talk to people without fear of judgment or rejection. However, their insecurities get the best of them, causing them to believe that others are laughing at them and that they are not good enough. The person feels like life is a big lie and that nobody truly understands them, further alienating them from the world around them.
The song concludes with the person expressing remorse for the way things have turned out, acknowledging that things have gotten messed up but that it's okay. The lyrics showcase the struggle of living with insecurities and the toll it takes on one's mental and emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Held back by walls of security, that
Feeling constrained and limited due to my security mechanisms
I just could never see, held people at arms length
I was unable to connect with people on an emotional level and kept them at a distance
devoid of human contact
I was lacking in basic human interaction
Cannot express emotion
I wasn't able to show my emotions to anyone
I try with all my strength
I put a lot of effort into trying to show my true feelings
What is the matter with me?
I was questioning my own mental state
It seems that no one even cares
I felt like nobody cared about me or my problems
I'm blinded by my innocence
My lack of awareness and experience prevented me from seeing the truth
will no one be there for me?
I wondered if there was anyone who would support me and be there for me
When I dont understand.
I felt lost and confused when things didn't make sense
Covered in blankets of Imagination
I retreated into my imagination to avoid facing reality
Where I can talk to people without a second thought
In my imagination, I felt comfortable talking to people and expressing myself
What if they're laughing at me
But I still had insecurities and fears that people would ridicule me or not take me seriously
I know I'm not good enough
I had feelings of inadequacy and doubted my own worth
so I won't even try.....
These insecurities caused me to give up before even attempting anything
God only knows what'll keep us from dying
There was uncertainty and fear of death and what could stop it
because everytime I look around I see Life as a big lie
I viewed life as meaningless and insincere
Yeah everybody's saying 'yeah I'm the one' yeah
People around me were boasting about their accomplishments and superiority
'everybody came running to me'
They claimed that everyone depended on them and looked up to them
But thats not how it works and it never did
But in reality, this was not the truth and never has been
you know I'm sorry it had to be this way
Despite my negative feelings, I regretted my situation
things got fucked up but thats okay....
Although everything was a mess, I came to accept it and move on
...I'm sorry....
I expressed apologies for my mistakes and failings
...I'm sorry....
I expressed apologies for my mistakes and failings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEREK RICHARD GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind