Formed in 1978 in Winston-Salem, NC, the original lineup of the band featured Chris Stamey (guitar, vocals, keyboards), Gene Holder (bass), and Will Rigby (drums). All three members had spent time in Stamey's legendary group, Sneakers. After relocating to New York, the dB's released their debut single, "(I Thought) You Wanted to Know," b/w "If and When" for Stamey's Car label. Guitarist/vocalist/keyboardist Peter Holsapple, who had worked with Stamey in the band Rittenhouse Square in the early '70s, joined the band by the end of 1978. Holsapple and Stamey shared the songwriting chores during the band's early years.
The dB's were unable to secure a U.S. recording contract, so they signed to the British Albion label. They released two albums on Albion: Stands for Decibels (1981) and Repercussion (1982). Both records received rave reviews but little sales. Stamey left in 1983 to resume a solo career. Rick Wagner was added on bass but was replaced shortly by Jeff Beninato. With Holsapple fronting the group, they signed to Bearsville in 1984 and released Like This, a more conventional jangle pop album with strong country leanings. Bearsville's internal problems doomed the album despite its obvious hit potential. They eventually left to sign with I.R.S. Records in 1987, where they released The Sound of Music. The album managed to break the Top 200 and college radio support was strong. The dB's received some crucial exposure when they opened for R.E.M. on their Document tour in the end of 1987, but by the end of 1988, the band decided to break up. In 1994, Paris Avenue, a collection of demos for the band's never-recorded fifth album, was released on Monkey Hill.
Holsapple and Stamey reunited in 1991 for a duo project, releasing Mavericks later that year. Mavericks was the only album the duo ever released (although they have been working sporadically on a followup in recent years). Following its release, Stamey continued with solo projects; he also continued to contribute to the Golden Palominos, work as a sideman for Bob Mould, and become an acclaimed producer for bands like Whiskeytown and Le Tigre and artists like Caitlin Cary. Holder went on to join the Wygals and worked as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Will Rigby released one solo album, Sidekick Phenomenon, in 1985, and a second, Paradoxaholic, in 2002. He also joined Steve Earle's band as drummer. Holsapple joined R.E.M. as an occasional touring member in 1991 and formed his own band, the Continental Drifters, with then-wife Susan Cowsill. He went on to serve as a sideman to Hootie and the Blowfish.
In late 2004, the original lineup of the dB's reformed. They have been playing occasional shows while working on a new album, and have released a couple of new songs through their web site, www.thedbs.com.
The band's latest work is 2012's 'Falling Off the Sky', which has attracted serious critical praise. For example, 'The Chicago Tribune' ran an article stating that he release "sounds like the work of a band still very much at the top of its game." 'Falling Off the Sky' was created by the group's classic line-up of Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Gene Holder, and Will Rigby,
Amplifier
The dB's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Danny went home and killed himself last night
She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything
Danny went home and killed himself last night
She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything.
She took his cash, she took his checks
She took the love letters out of his desk.
Danny went home and killed himself last night
She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything
Danny went home and killed himself last night
She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything.
She took his car, she took his bike
She took everything she thought he liked
And what she couldn't take, she found a way to break
She left his amplifier.
An amplifier is just wood and wire
And wire and wood don't do any good when
Your heart is blazing like a wildfire
And all you've got to show for it's an amplifier, amplifier, yeah.
She took his gun, she took his knife
He took his drugs, they took his life
She took it all in one big haul
She left his amplifier.
Danny went home and killed himself last night.
The dB's's song Amplifier tells the story of a man named Danny who has just committed suicide after his girlfriend, or possibly simply a woman he was involved with, took everything from him. This includes cash, checks, his car, and even his love letters. What's interesting is that she also took things that she probably didn't want or need, like his soda pop and bike, indicating that her goal was to leave Danny with nothing. The only possession she left him was his amplifier, which seems to represent his love of music and the one thing that brought him joy.
The song's lyrics touch on themes of heartbreak, loss, and betrayal. The repetition of the line "She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything" emphasizes the depth of Danny's loss and paints a picture of a man who has been stripped of everything he had. The line "An amplifier is just wood and wire" contrasts Danny's love for music and his prized possession with the reality of his situation. This creates a poignant image of a man whose passion for music couldn't save him from the despair he felt.
Overall, Amplifier is a tragic song that tells a heartbreaking story. It's a powerful reminder of how loss and heartbreak can send someone into a deep and dark place, even if they have something that they deeply cherish.
Line by Line Meaning
Danny went home and killed himself last night
Danny committed suicide after losing everything to his lover
She'd taken everything, she'd taken everything
His lover took all of Danny's possessions and left him with nothing
She took his cash, she took his checks
Danny's lover stole all his money
She took the soda pop, there was nothing left
His lover even took small things like soda pop
She took the love letters out of his desk.
His lover even took away the love letters that he treasured
She took his car, she took his bike
His lover stole his car and bike
She took everything she thought he liked
His lover took everything that she thought he enjoyed
And what she couldn't take, she found a way to break
She even found a way to destroy things she couldn't take
She left his amplifier.
Danny's lover left his amplifier - a symbolic representation of his only remaining possession
An amplifier is just wood and wire
The amplifier is just an object made up of wood and wires
And wire and wood don't do any good when
A symbolic representation of how possessions can't bring happiness
Your heart is blazing like a wildfire
In the midst of heartbreak, nothing matters
And all you've got to show for it's an amplifier, amplifier, yeah.
Danny has nothing to show for himself except the amplifier
She took his gun, she took his knife
His lover also took his weapons
He took his drugs, they took his life
Danny turned to drugs to cope with his loss and eventually died
She took it all in one big haul
His lover took everything
Contributed by Emma N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.