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 Fade Away
The Suicide Machines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're living in the shadows of this town's old ghosts
My side of town was way different from yours
We have our own ideas
Still we fight the same wars Buy
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
As everything fades away
Could we have gotten past simple smiles and small talk?
Music built our pedestals, and friends they built our walls
It's us who let this happen, and so I move on
I gave in and you gave up
Who's to say who's wrong
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Everything fades away, yeah
As everything fades away
My back is against the wall
Have we learned nothing at all?
Sob story, same story, sob story, same story
You made it competition
So take your faction
'Cause we don't need one
So fuck your faction
So we end with nothing
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Everything fades away, yeah
As everything fades away
And so we end with nothing
The Suicide Machines's song "The Fade Away" is a commentary on the ongoing dissension between different factions in society. It starts with the singer expressing his amusement about how people are always at each other's throats, even when they are living in the shadows of old ghosts. He emphasizes the differences between his side of town and the other, stating that despite having their own ideas, they still fight the same battles. The chorus ominously underlines the fleeting nature of everything in life, including our words.
The second verse highlights the artificiality of relationships, where people often have nothing to say beyond simple smiles and small talk. Music built our pedestals, and friends built our walls, and ultimately, it is us who let this happen. The singer talks about giving in while the other person gave up, and now, there is no one left to say who is right or wrong. The bridge sees the singer questioning whether we have learned anything at all, with our sob stories and the same old factionalism that always leads to nothing.
Line by Line Meaning
I find it funny that we're at each others throats
It's ironic that we are constantly fighting and arguing.
We're living in the shadows of this town's old ghosts
We are still haunted by the past of this town.
My side of town was way different from yours
Our backgrounds and circumstances are very different from each other.
We have our own ideas
We have unique perspectives and opinions.
Still we fight the same wars Buy
Despite our differences, we are fighting the same battles.
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Are you not being heard by others?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Will our words and actions eventually be forgotten?
Everything fades away, yeah
Everything eventually loses its value and significance.
As everything fades away
As time passes, everything eventually becomes meaningless.
Could we have gotten past simple smiles and small talk?
Were we capable of having a deeper and more meaningful relationship?
Music built our pedestals, and friends they built our walls
Our love for music created a bond, but our social circles caused division.
It's us who let this happen, and so I move on
We are responsible for the state of our relationship, and I am choosing to move on.
I gave in and you gave up
I compromised, but you quit trying.
Who's to say who's wrong
It's impossible to determine who is at fault.
My back is against the wall
I am facing a difficult situation with limited options.
Have we learned nothing at all?
Have we not progressed or grown in any way?
Sob story, same story, sob story, same story
We keep repeating the same sad narrative.
You made it competition
You turned our relationship into a contest.
So take your faction
Leave with your group of supporters.
'Cause we don't need one
We don't need to align ourselves with a specific group.
So fuck your faction
We reject any divisions or factions within our relationship.
So we end with nothing
Our relationship has failed and we have nothing left to give.
And so we end with nothing
Our relationship has come to a complete and utter end.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOPE GRANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Лисий 412R
Lyrics for da homiez
I find it funny that we're at each others throats
We're living in the shadows of this town's old ghosts
My side of town was way different from yours
We have our own ideas
Still we fight the same wars
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Everything fades away, yeah
As everything fades away
Could we have gotten past simple smiles and small talk?
Music built our pedestals, and friends they built our walls
It's us who let this happen, and so I move on
I gave in and you gave up
So who's to say who's wrong
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Everything fades away, yeah
As everything fades away
My back is against the wall
Have we learned nothing at all?
Sob story, same story, sob story, same story
You made it competition
So take your faction
'Cause we don't need one
So fuck your faction
So we end with nothing
And do your words fall on deaf ears?
Will our words disappear over the years?
Everything fades away, yeah
As everything fades away
And so we end with nothing
Joshua Marostega
this is one of my favourite songs on this album. you may not like it and that is your right. but I HATE when bands stay the same and don't take risks... it is boring. I myself have been listening to punk for over 20 years and I would DEFINITELY consider it pip punk. it contains all the elements. Go back and listen to all the pop punk bands from the late 60s to the mid 90s before pop punk was grouped with the whole "emo" phase. this is just a more polished sounding song.
Mike Parker
If you don't like this album, just look to any suicide machines album before OR after this one and they mostly contain the ska punk and hardcore associated most with the suicide machines, but what's wrong with some diversity within a band anyway?
Timothy Gallant
There's a far more ska-punk version of this song that was finally released on their self-titled 7-inch. IMHO a far better version as well...
MrMikespec
Wow I don't even remember leaving this comment 2 years ago. Not even sure how to reply to your comment. I'll start by saying im not 14 and been listening to punk rock for close to 20 years. This is not what I remember from the suicide machines of the early 90's. I wouldn't even classify this as pop punk, I don't like it, just my opinion. But I do like this band, always have and i'll take your advice and check out Break Anchor!
MrMikespec
Rock, hip hop, punk, ska, metal....whatever the genre may be it just doesnt sound like it used to. This is fucking horrible, suicide machines were one of the better ska punk bands of it's time. Such a shame.