The group recorded two studio albums and a live album before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career. The group was generally reviled, often receiving scathing critical reviews.
David Bowie’s Never Let Me Down album (already a move into slightly "harder" rock territory) and subsequent "Glass Spider Tour" had been savaged by critics, and the singer was aware of his low stock. Eager to return to making music for himself rather than the mainstream audience he had acquired following the Let's Dance album, Bowie began collaborating with Reeves Gabrels (who pushed the singer to rediscover his experimental side and went on to work closely with Bowie for much of the next decade) and multi-instrumentalist Erdal Kizilcay on new material in 1988. The first fruits of this came with a new version of Bowie’s 1979 song "Look Back in Anger", performed at the "Intruders At The Palace" benefit concert on 1 July 1988. They then began to plan a concept album based on Steven Berkoff's play East as a Bowie solo album, but this idea was scrapped. Bowie and Gabrels began working with producer Tim Palmer on new material. Bowie then recruited brothers Hunt Sales and Tony Sales (the sons of comedian Soupy Sales) as a rhythm section. Bowie had worked with them on Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life album and ran into them at a party in Los Angeles around this time.
The Sales brothers moved the tone of the sessions in Nassau away from art-rock and more towards hard rock, and Bowie looked to one of his favorite bands at the time, Pixies, for inspiration. The Sales brothers heckled Bowie into greater spontaneity, with most songs recorded in one take, and lyrics left unpolished, thus giving the band a ragged, punk rock edge similar to the Pixies.
The group chose the name Tin Machine after one of the songs they had written (Gabrels would later credit the Sales brothers with this choice). The group set up allowed Bowie a certain level of anonymity, much needed after his 1980s overexposure, and he was happy to let the rest of the band (notably Hunt Sales) take the lead in interviews.
The band’s self-titled first album (Tin Machine) produced mixed but generally positive reviews on release in May 1989, picking up favorable comparisons with Bowie’s three more recent solo albums. However, many critics were scornful of Bowie’s latest attempt to reinvent himself as a bearded band-member. Commercially, the album initially sold well, reaching #3 in the UK charts, but sales quickly tailed off. The band undertook a low-key tour in small venues between 14 June and 3 July 1989, before further recording sessions in Sydney, Australia. During these sessions Tin Machine contributed to a surfing compilation album called Beyond the Beach, with a new instrumental song titled "Needles on the Beach.
The group then went on hiatus while Bowie conducted his solo "Sound+Vision Tour." In December 1990, Bowie split from EMI. Both parties stated that the split was amicable, although it is believed EMI refused to release another Tin Machine album in an exasperated attempt to secure another album similar to Let's Dance. In March 1991, the group signed to Victory Music, a new label launched by JVC and distributed worldwide by London Records and Polygram, and recorded more new material. This was combined with tracks from the Sydney sessions to form Tin Machine II album. This time the commercial success was even more fleeting, and Bowie was already tired of being shackled to a group set-up. From 5 October 1991 to 17 February 1992, the group undertook a larger tour, known as the "It's My Life Tour". The band was joined on this tour by guitarist Eric Schermerhorn, who would go on to play with Bowie's friend Iggy Pop.
Tracks from this tour were released on the July 1992 album Tin Machine Live - Oy Vey, Baby. Shortly afterwards, Bowie returned to solo recording with his single “Real Cool World” and the band dissolved.
Bowie promised Tin Machine III or at the very least a boxed-set of unreleased material in the mid-1990s, but his solo career had taken precedence, making him reluctant to dedicate energy to an old project. He continued to work with Gabrels, spanning four albums after Tin Machine: Black Tie White Noise (Gabrels contributed to only one track), Outside, Earthling, and Hours. After the last album, Gabrels felt that Bowie was moving in a softer, gentler direction that he did not want to travel in, so the two parted ways professionally. In some interviews he has also indicated his disappointment in the retrospective projects Bowie was planning at the time (the Toy album, which never surfaced, as well as the Ziggy 2002 project) played a part in his parting with Bowie.
You Belong In Rock & Roll
Tin Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two reflections on the sparkling water
Hand in hand in love with love, uh-huh
I love the cheap things that you say-a-say
You belong in rock & roll
You belong in rock & roll
You belong in rock & roll
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright
Alright, alright
I'm a hurt, I'm a hurt, I'm a hurting
I'm a man with a beat in my pocket
I'm going down to the rhythm of love
I love a bad look that you bring
You belong in rock and roll
You belong in rock and roll
You belong in rock and roll
Well, so do I
Alone on a mean street
It makes me feel on fire, on fire
On fire, on fire, on fire
On fire, on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire
I love the cheap street in your walk, uh-huh
You belong in rock and roll
You belong in rock and roll
Well, so do I
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright, oh-oh
The lyrics to Tin Machine's song "You Belong In Rock & Roll" offer a picture of two lovers taking a romantic walk, enjoying the beauty of the night sky and the shimmering water. The singer expresses his affection for his partner, relishing in the "cheap things" that she says. He then declares that they both belong in the world of rock and roll, acknowledging their shared love for the energy and excitement of the music genre. The singer also emphasizes how his lover's movements and "bad look" make him feel alive and on fire. Overall, the song celebrates the power of love and rock and roll to deliver a feeling of freedom and exhilaration.
Line by Line Meaning
Just the twinkling lights of heaven
The simple things in life, like the view of a starry night sky, bring me joy.
Two reflections on the sparkling water
The way our images reflect off the water's surface is as beautiful and special as the sky itself.
Hand in hand in love with love, uh-huh
Being in love with someone who loves you back is a wonderful feeling.
I love the cheap things that you say-a-say
Even your cheesy jokes make me happy because they come from you.
You belong in rock & roll
Your carefree attitude and passion for living life to the fullest make you a perfect fit for the wild and free world of rock and roll.
Well, so do I
I, too, am drawn to the rebellious spirit of rock and roll.
I love how she moves me
Being in your presence and seeing how you interact with the world around you is exhilarating.
It makes me feel alright, alright
Your love fills me with a sense of comfort and contentment.
I'm a hurt, I'm a hurt, I'm a hurting
My past experiences have left me with emotional scars and I am still healing.
I'm a man with a beat in my pocket
I have rhythm and music in my soul that I carry with me wherever I go.
I'm going down to the rhythm of love
I am letting love guide me and am willing to take risks to follow my heart.
I love a bad look that you bring
Even when you are in a sour mood, your fiery spirit and fierce demeanor are what draw me to you.
Alone on a mean street
Sometimes, life can be harsh and I find myself feeling lonely and isolated.
It makes me feel on fire, on fire
However, even in those dark times, I am fueled by my passion for life and determination to keep going.
I love the cheap street in your walk, uh-huh
I am drawn to your unique style and the way you carry yourself, even if others may see it as less refined or flashy.
Alright, alright, alright, alright, oh-oh
Life is full of ups and downs, but even in the worst of times, I am determined to keep moving forward with a positive attitude.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE, REEVES GABRELS, WILLIAM HARGREAVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ciocan Flavius
Just the twinkling lights of heaven
Two reflections on the sparkling water
Hand in hand in love with love uh-huh
I love the cheap things that you say-a-say
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright, alright, alright
I'm a hurt, I'm a hurt, I'm a hurting
I'm a man with a beat in my pocket
I'm going down to the rhythm of love
I love the bad luck that you bring-r-ing
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
Alone on a mean street
It makes me feel on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire...
On fire, on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire
I love the cheap street in your walk, uh-huh
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright, alright, alright, alright...
Oh-oh!
Ciocan Flavius
Just the twinkling lights of heaven
Two reflections on the sparkling water
Hand in hand in love with love uh-huh
I love the cheap things that you say-a-say
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright, alright, alright
I'm a hurt, I'm a hurt, I'm a hurting
I'm a man with a beat in my pocket
I'm going down to the rhythm of love
I love the bad luck that you bring-r-ing
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
Alone on a mean street
It makes me feel on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire...
On fire, on fire, on fire, on fire, on fire
I love the cheap street in your walk, uh-huh
You belong in rock 'n roll
You belong in rock 'n roll
Well so do I
I love how she moves me
It makes me feel alright, alright, alright, alright, alright...
Oh-oh!
Kath Docherty
Oh man!!
Thunderchild 6768
Really stellar. I wish that third album had happened. David was never going to do this the rest of his musical career but it deserves better recognition.
Yobananos
For the life of me i still don't get it when some say Tin Machine is a questionable period in Bowie's career. To me it's one of the top notch stuff right there, both albums are gold. So mature, men at the top of their game.
Darwin R
I say it's the highlight of Bowie's career. I listen to TM more than anything else he did. His work with Mick Ronson might be the only exception.
Thunderchild 6768
People wanted him to stay solo I guess. I'm digging their stuff the more I listen. It's not as good as his stuff but pretty darn good.
Theodorus Rexicon
Brilliant.
Mark Holland
What other iconic rock star just goes of and makes music for himself. If you like it bonus bowie said. This is cool as he'll and i like 👍 it's not about money it's about making music.
Mark Holland
What's wrong with this song. They said tin machine rubbish well this is brilliant 👏 thanks tin machine 😀
Thunderchild 6768
Great underrated band. People couldn't fathom David Bowie in a band.