Latin rockers Tito and Tarantula are headlined by singer/guitarist Tito Larriva, previously best known for founding the seminal Los Angeles punk band the Plugz. Larriva was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico but spent his early years living outside Fairbanks, AK; his family later relocated to El Paso, TX, where he studied violin and flute as a member of his school orchestra. After high school he flirted with attending Yale University before landing in L.A. during the mid-1970s; there Larriva formed the Plugz, which in 1979 released their debut LP Electrify Me, the first album to emerge from the city's thriving punk scene. Shortly after scoring Alex Cox's 1984 cult classic Repo Man, the Plugz were rechristened the Cruzados, signing to Arista to release a self-titled 1985 LP; After Dark followed two years later, and the group disbanded in 1990. From there Larriva continued writing film music, also turning to acting; with guitarist Peter Atanasoff and a host of other L.A. session vets he eventually formed Tito and Tarantula, which quickly emerged as a major favorite on the local club scene. Among their most vocal supporters was filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, who not only enlisted the group to contribute material to his movies Desperado and From Dusk till Dawn but also found small roles for Larriva in both; Rodriguez additionally helped produce 1997's Tarantism, released on the band's own Cockroach label.
Since the release of Andalucia, Tito & Tarantula have made numerous personnel changes, starting with the departure of drummer Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez. Achim Farber was hired in his place, but left the band later on as well. One of the most notable changes, however, was the loss of the band's valuable founding member Peter Atanasoff. Little is known about his departure, but on the band's myspace blog, it says, "...So if ever you find yourself in Switzerland you want to make your way to the Moonwalker and say hello to Peter..." Io Perry quit the band to pursue a solo career, but stayed in business with Larriva by having him produce her first solo album. Along with Atanasoff, Perry, and Hernandez, the band lost multi-instrumentalist Marcus Praed, eventually leaving Larriva and Steven Hufsteter as the only remaining members who had played on the last album. Dominique Davalos (who had played bass on Little Bitch) took over on bass and Rafael Gayol took over on drums. The only members from the previous line-up were Larriva and Hufsteter. With this new "fab four" incarnation, they toured Europe thoroughly. At some point in mid-2007, Davalos left the band, and was replaced by Caroline "Lucy" Rippy. With her, the band has continued to tour its usual areas in western Europe.
In late 2006, the band promised an album out in early 2007 on their myspace blog. In early 2008, the band finally announced the approaching arrival of their next album, titled Back Into The Darkness. The album was released on April 18, 2008.
Discography:
*Tarantism (1997)
*Hungry Sally and other Killer Lullabies (1999)
*Little Bitch (2000)
*Andalucia (2002)
*Back Into The Darkness (2008)
Slippin' & Slidin'
Tito & Tarantula Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clipped his wings like a dove
He fell hard to the ground
Slidin'deep in the mud
I've got clouds in my eyes
Blood on my hands
Fire on my feet
As I run to my Love
Yes I'm slippin' & slidin'again
Why am I
Slippin'& slidin' again
She said don't ask me baby
Ask the Devil man
The earth shock
Like a woman
Spit like a man
The win blew
Through the bars
In every prison land
My Love is a cave
Dark as a crow
I'm enslaved by her wisdom
& her hips of gold
Why am I
Slippin' & slidin'again...
Just when you think
IT's over baby
You gotta live some more
& just when you think
You've made it
You gotta make more
I woke up
In a fire in my sheets
Straight to an Angel
To kill the heat
I need a hand to hold to
Break my fall
If I can get through this
I can get through them all
Why am I slippin'& slidin'
So much
She said don't ask me baby
Ask the dust
The lyrics to Tito & Tarantula's song, "Slippin' & Slidin'" tell a story of a person who has committed a violent act, possibly a murder, and is grappling with the consequences of their actions. The opening line, "Shot a man in the street, clipped his wings like a dove," paints a vivid picture of the brutality of the act. The singer then describes the feeling of being weighed down by guilt and shame, represented by the "clouds in my eyes, blood on my hands, and fire on my feet." Despite the weight of their actions, the singer is driven by a love interest, represented by "my Love," who seems to be both a source of comfort and a cause of their turmoil, represented by "her wisdom & her hips of gold."
Throughout the song, the singer is "slippin' & slidin' again" and seeking answers for why they can't seem to find stability or peace. The answer to this question, delivered by their love interest, is simply to "ask the Devil man." The song touches on themes of violence, love, guilt, and redemption, all wrapped up in the gritty rock and roll style that Tito & Tarantula are known for.
Overall, "Slippin' & Slidin'" is a haunting and powerful song that delves into complex emotions and themes. The lyrics are open to interpretation and can resonate with listeners on many different levels.
Line by Line Meaning
Shot a man in the street
I killed a man out in the open
Clipped his wings like a dove
I left him vulnerable after killing him
He fell hard to the ground
He dropped with great force
Slidin' deep in the mud
He was covered in muddy filth
I've got clouds in my eyes
I'm unable to see clearly
Blood on my hands
I'm responsible for spilling blood
Fire on my feet
I'm in a hurry to escape
As I run to my Love
I'm headed towards the one I love
Oh I'm slippin' & slidin' again
I'm struggling to keep my balance and maintain control of my actions
Yes I'm slippin' & slidin' again
My inability to stay upright is happening again
Why am I Slippin'& slidin' again
I'm questioning my repetitive struggle to stay stable
She said don't ask me baby Ask the Devil man
She can't provide an answer to my question - only the devil knows
The earth shock Like a woman
The ground shook erratically
Spit like a man
The elements displayed masculine aggression
The win blew Through the bars In every prison land
Even those trapped behind bars were likely affected by the natural forces at play
My Love is a cave Dark as a crow
The person I love is mysterious and not easy to understand
I'm enslaved by her wisdom & her hips of gold
I am captivated by her intelligence and her physical attractiveness
Just when you think IT's over baby You gotta live some more & just when you think You've made it You gotta make more
Life is full of surprises and challenges, even when you think you've overcome your struggles
I woke up In a fire in my sheets Straight to an Angel To kill the heat
I was woken up by a burning sensation in my bed and had to quickly seek help to put out the flames
I need a hand to hold to Break my fall If I can get through this I can get through them all
I require support during difficult times, but if I survive this, I can overcome any obstacle
Why am I slippin'& slidin' So much
I am experiencing a lot of instability
She said don't ask me baby Ask the dust
She doesn't know the answer, and suggests I try to find out on my own or with the help of spirits
Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.