Tim first became inspired to work with loops and samples after being introduced to London's speed/garage scene by Kerrang! magazine writer Morat in the mid-90s.
The group's music is a combination of hip hop, reggae, drum n bass, dub, and punk, but not necessarily all at once. Although many are used sparingly throughout the album, punk and rap remain as the prominent styles. Lyrically, Rob Aston describes their songs as ranging from topics such as murder ("Quick Death") to the passing of a loved one ("Sad But True") to failed friendships ("We Trusted You").
After two years of recording, they released their debut album Transplants on Hellcat Records in October 2002. In the end, the album was recorded and mixed entirely in Tim's basement. Special guest vocalists included Eric Ozenne (Nerve Agents), Davey Havok (AFI), Danny Diablo, Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) and Brody Dalle (The Distillers, ex-wife of Tim). Brody sings on the track "Weigh On My Mind", which Tim then described as "their song".
The singles, "Diamonds and Guns" and "D.J. D.J.", quickly became MTV favorites and earned the band critical and commercial success. "Diamonds and Guns" featured unmistakable piano hook played by co-producer Dave Carlock. The band followed up the record's success by touring with the Foo Fighters.
After the 2005 blink-182 hiatus, Travis Barker said that he was returning to working with Transplants and Plus 44, a side project with Blink's Mark Hoppus. The Transplants' second album, titled Haunted Cities, was released in June 2005.
Barker announced on his twitter account that the transplants were recording new material in 2010.
Quick Death
Transplants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks so violent.
Death is silent.
Beating me with your words (I'm bleeding now).
Battled to your head
And degenerating here at the brand new hope.
Anger astounds me.
Tearing apart my soul (beneath my guts).
About to go outside,
But it was then I,
Seemed to have lost control
"And now, my brothers and sisters, the inversion begins"
Forever in night light.
Losing in hindsight.
Ownership changes hands (you'll never know).
It only gets through me (causing a slow death).
Welcome to human hell.
I got you a new fate.
Back in the sweepstakes.
Leaving the streets behind (your final sign).
Silence is true peace (Don't ever read me).
Aloud cause I'll take your life.
I'll have you,
[Repeat: x4]
I'll have you
Wishing for
I'll have you
I'll have you
I'll have you,
[Repeat: x4]
I'll have you
Wishing for
[Repeat: x10]
A quick death
I'll have you,
[Repeat: x3]
I'll have you
Wishing for
I'll have you
I'll have you
I'll have you,
[Repeat: x4]
I'll have you
Wishing for
wishing for
The Transplants’ song Quick Death is a tight and fast-paced track that deals with violence, anger, and the question of who is the true animal. The opening comment “looks so violent” sets the scene for the rest of the song, and the lyrics describe the pain caused by words and the internal battle between hope and degeneration. The singer is surrounded by devils and anger, and it feels like their soul is being torn apart. They seem to have lost control and the inversion begins, leading to a sense of losing and a change of ownership. The only thing that gets through to them is causing a slow death. The singer welcomes the listener to human hell, promising them a new fate, leaving the streets behind, and finding silence in true peace, which is disturbed if they read the lyrics aloud. The song ends with repeating the phrase “I’ll have you wishing for a quick death,” which implies that the singer has the power to bring about that end.
Line by Line Meaning
And I ask you, my brothers and sisters, who is the true animal?
The singer questions the humanity of those who are violent.
Looks so violent.
The violence is visible.
Death is silent.
Death comes without warning.
Beating me with your words (I'm bleeding now).
The artist is being verbally abused and feels the pain physically.
Battled to your head
The artist's words are fighting to be heard.
And degenerating here at the brand new hope.
Despite being in a new environment, the singer feels like they are deteriorating.
Devils surround me.
The singer feels like they are being tormented by evil.
Anger astounds me.
The artist is overwhelmed by the anger they are feeling.
Tearing apart my soul (beneath my guts).
The pain the artist is feeling is deep and emotional.
About to go outside,
The artist is thinking of leaving their current environment.
But it was then I,
The singer's plans are interrupted.
Seemed to have lost control
The artist feels like they are no longer in control of the situation.
"And now, my brothers and sisters, the inversion begins"
The singer is indicating a change in the situation.
Forever in night light.
The singer is stuck in a dark place.
Losing in hindsight.
The singer realizes their mistakes too late.
Ownership changes hands (you'll never know).
The artist loses control to someone else who won't reveal their intentions.
It only gets through me (causing a slow death).
The situation is causing the artist to slowly deteriorate.
Welcome to human hell.
The singer is describing the current situation as hellish.
I got you a new fate.
The singer is indicating that their antagonist will face a new, worse fate.
Back in the sweepstakes.
The artist is back in the game, possibly with a new opportunity.
Leaving the streets behind (your final sign).
The artist is moving on from their old ways, which could be a warning to others.
Silence is true peace (Don't ever read me).
The artist values silence and privacy.
Aloud cause I'll take your life.
If someone speaks out against the singer, there will be consequences.
"I'll have you,"
The artist is indicating that they will have control over the situation.
[Repeat: x4]
I'll have you
The singer repeats their desire for control.
Wishing for
The singer is indicating that they will make someone wish for something.
"I'll have you,
I'll have you,
I'll have you,"
The singer repeats their previous statement for emphasis.
[Repeat: x4]
I'll have you
The artist again repeats their desire for control.
Wishing for
The artist again indicates that their actions will lead to someone wishing for something.
[Repeat: x10]
A quick death
The singer repeatedly invokes the image of a quick death as a warning/vengeance.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIMOTHY ARMSTRONG, ROB ASTON, DAVID MARCHAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pope Franco
And I ask you, my brothers and sisters, who is the true animal?"
Looks so violent.
Death is silent.
Beating me with your words (I'm bleeding now).
Battled to your head
And degenerating here at the brand new hope.
Devils surround me.
Anger astounds me.
Tearing apart my soul (beneath my guts).
About to go outside,
But it was then I,
Seemed to have lost control
"And now, my brothers and sisters, the inversion begins"
Forever in night light.
Losing in hindsight.
Ownership changes hands (you'll never know).
It only gets through me (causing a slow death).
Welcome to human hell.
I got you a new fate.
Back in the sweepstakes.
Leaving the streets behind (your final sign).
Silence is true peace (Don't ever read me).
Aloud cause I'll take your life.
I'll have you,
I'll have you
Wishing for
I'll have you
I'll have you
I'll have you,
I'll have you
Wishing for
A quick death
I'll have you,
I'll have you
Wishing for
I'll have you
I'll have you
I'll have you,
I'll have you
Wishing for
wishing for
Chris Steiger
Incredible vocal performance!
Smile now Smile forever ‽
Instant classic
M8WhoSk8s
Good memories blasting this at full volume with the Windows down on the freeway
☆Ritzypizzapie☆
The intro is BANGING
Naveed Manjra
classic and hard core very ecstatic likeable favorite song of there's.
nikki canham
i love this shit
nubby771
davey havoc is awesome
Kelly ward
hes def not in this bnd
nubby771
True. just a collab, the screams are crazy
thugjuice69
Iconic voice for the scene. What a feature