They began their career in 1991, cutting their first 7" record later that year with the lineup of Joey Vindictive (vocals), Johnny Personality (bass), Billy Blastoff (guitar), Dr. Bob (guitar), P.J. Parti (drums) and Erik Elsewhere (drums). The band would end up releasing 12 albums until July of 1996, when Joey Vindictive revealed that his health issues would prevent the band from going on. Luckily for him, he overcame his ailments to re-form the band in 2000, cutting a new album and overseeing the re-release of a significant part of their catalog. Dr. Bob died in 2003 due to a heroin overdose. Their song "The Invisible Man" was featured in the Ubisoft game Watch Dogs, where it attracted attention to restart the band once more in 2013, releasing a new EP titled Mono-Flexi, and to remaster most of their previous songs as Songbooks coming in volumes starting from I to III.
The Vindictives' website is currently down indefinitely.
Teen Riot Structure
The Vindictives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Babies lost in bellies and the oracle can't hear
A demon angel demi-god
Blasted through the night
Me and Lucy Lightning holding on real tight
An ancient Lord in wonder rung upon my bell
I fed him with my nightmares
And he ate my dreams as well
All London was in blazes burning to the sound
Of deep galactic tragedies
In stereophonic sound
A tempest teen of stature
In Gatsby hat and cloak
Licked upon my lollipop,
But I didn't get the joke
As devastation mounted
My wardrobes almost burned
The teens held hands on shifting sands
And wonder what they learnt
Structure,
Teen riot structure [x4]
[fades out]
The lyrics to "Teen Riot Structure" by The Vindictives are a chaotic, surreal experience that touch upon themes of fear, loss, and confusion. The opening line, "Teen riot structure, ankle deep in fear," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer describes a world in which young people are rebelling against an oppressive system, but are also deeply afraid.
The second line, "Babies lost in bellies and the oracle can't hear," is a powerful metaphor for the sense of helplessness and isolation that the singer and the other teens in the song feel. They are trying to make a difference, but it feels like no one is listening to them. The reference to a "demon angel demi-god" suggests a supernatural or otherworldly force that is driving their rebellion, while the line "blasted through the night" creates a sense of urgency and danger.
As the song progresses, the imagery becomes more surreal and dreamlike. There is a reference to an "ancient Lord in wonder" who feeds on the singer's nightmares and dreams, and the description of "deep galactic tragedies in stereophonic sound" suggests a universe-spanning conflict that the teens are caught up in.
Throughout it all, there is a sense of confusion and uncertainty. The teenagers are trying to make sense of the world around them, but it feels like everything is in chaos. The line "the teens held hands on shifting sands and wonder what they learnt" captures this sense of uncertainty perfectly - they know that they are witnessing something important, but they don't yet understand what it all means.
Overall, "Teen Riot Structure" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that combines vivid imagery with a sense of urgency and uncertainty. It captures the confusion and fear that many young people feel as they try to make sense of the world around them and make their voices heard.
Line by Line Meaning
Teen riot structure, ankle deep in fear
The structure of the teenage rebellion is built on fear, manifested in the individual's insecurities and uncertainties.
Babies lost in bellies and the oracle can't hear
The youth are burdened with unwanted pregnancies and are looking for guidance, but nobody is listening.
A demon angel demi-god
An entity with immense power and contradictory traits - evil and holy, mortal and divine.
Blasted through the night
Moved with great force, with a fiery passion that refuses to be tamed by the darkness of the night.
Me and Lucy Lightning holding on real tight
Two people, symbolising the strength and intensity of the teenage spirit, supporting and complementing each other.
An ancient Lord in wonder rung upon my bell
An enigmatic figure, possibly representing adulthood or authority, reaches out to the rebels with a sense of curiosity and confusion.
I fed him with my nightmares
The youth share their darkest fears and anxieties with the elder, in an effort to communicate and gain understanding.
And he ate my dreams as well
The elder feeds on their aspirations and idealism, suggesting that society may not be receptive to the teens' vision of change.
All London was in blazes burning to the sound
The setting illustrates a chaotic environment, with London being consumed by rebellion and destruction, in a symphony of chaos.
Of deep galactic tragedies
The disturbance in London's streets resonates throughout the cosmos, with a sense of gravity and profundity.
In stereophonic sound
Emphasising the grandiosity and intensity of the sound, with a sense of being present and immersed in the scene.
A tempest teen of stature
A young person of great importance, who embodies the power and passion of the rebel movement.
In Gatsby hat and cloak
This metaphorical attire of the character is rich with symbolism, conveying a sense of glamour, mystery, and rebellion.
Licked upon my lollipop, but I didn't get the joke
The character tries to make light of the circumstances or offer a symbolic gesture, but the significance is lost, as the stakes are too high.
As devastation mounted, my wardrobes almost burned
As the movement grows stronger and more intense, the personal possessions and sense of identity of the individual are at risk of being destroyed.
The teens held hands on shifting sands and wonder what they learnt
The young people come together and reflect on the lessons learned from their rebellion, standing on the unstable ground of their own identity and future.
Structure, Teen riot structure [x4]
The repeated refrain reaffirms the existence of order and meaning within the seemingly chaotic rebellion, and symbolises the unity and shared vision of the young people.
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hearditman
Oh dear, someone needs a slap!