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.
The Change
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
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Hey you know that things can't stay the same
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Everyone's telling you you've gotta stand tall
Just stick to what you know and you know you'll never fall
I guess that I can say there's some truth
stop delaying
[Chorus]
As much as we'd like things to always stay the same
there comes a time in everyone's life when we feel
strange doing the same old things again the same
way we've gotta break away to something new we'll
do it someday
[Chorus: x2]
As time goes on everything and everyone changes
[Chorus: x4]
The Suicide Machines is a punk rock band that is known for its political and social commentary in their songs. The song "The Change" is a powerful message that speaks about embracing change and not being afraid to take risks. The chorus urges the listener to understand that things can’t stay the same, and one should never be afraid to make a change. The message of the song is that sometimes to achieve something better, one has to step out of the comfort zone and embrace something new.
The first verse of the song talks about how people often advise you to stick to what you know, and not take risks. However, the lyrics suggest that this approach may not be the right one. The second verse talks about how everyone goes through changes in their life, and it's essential to embrace the change rather than cling to the same old things. The last line of the song "As time goes on everything and everyone changes" is a reminder that change is inevitable and one must adapt to it.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you know that things can't stay the same
It's impossible for everything to stay the same forever, change is inevitable.
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Don't let fear hold you back from making the necessary changes in your life.
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Repeated to emphasize the importance of not being afraid to change.
Everyone's telling you you've gotta stand tall
Others may advise you to stay true to what you know and be resilient in the face of adversity.
Just stick to what you know and you know you'll never fall
If you continue doing what you know, you'll remain steady and won't fail.
I guess that I can say there's some truth in what they're saying have no fear move on and stop delaying
There is some truth to the advice to stay steady, but don't let it paralyze you with fear. Move forward without delay.
As much as we'd like things to always stay the same there comes a time in everyone's life when we feel strange doing the same old things again the same way we've gotta break away to something new we'll do it someday
Though we may long for things to stay the same, there comes a time when doing things the same way feels strange. We must break away and try something new, and someday we will.
As time goes on everything and everyone changes
Over time, everything and everyone undergoes change.
Hey you know that things can't stay the same
Repeated to remind listeners of the inevitability of change.
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Repeated to reinforce the importance of not letting fear hold you back.
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Repeated once more to drive the point home.
Hey don't be afraid to make the change
Repeated for the final time before the end of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Beresford Grant, Roy Anthony Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind