Veruca Salt was formed alongside the friendship of Louise Post and Nina Gordon. Introduced by Gordon's good friend, actress Lili Taylor, Gordon and Post quickly bonded and formed what is now known as Veruca Salt. Originally, the band was an Indigo Girls-inspired acoustic act, but the women quickly realized this wasn't their sound. They quickly enlisted bass player Steve Lack and eventually Gordon's brother Jim Shapiro joined as a drummer, even though he originally was just drumming as a favor to his sister.
Veruca Salt released a self-funded demo tape and shopped it to labels, and began to play a handful of small club shows. The buzz around the band grew furiously, and after only a few live gigs, the band was signed to Minty Fresh Records and began recording with producer Brad Wood. At the time Brad was popular due to having recently produced Liz Phair's critically acclaimed Exile in Guyville.
The band released an orange 7" single for the song "Seether" to radio. "Seether" was a bratty, distorted alt-rocker about an angry and misunderstood woman. Compared to the rest of Veruca Salt's material, "Seether" was very pop, so much so that Gordon said that when she wrote it, she didn't think the rest of the band would like it. They sent "Seether" to radio, as it was the most radio-friendly song they had written and the reaction was unexpectedly positive. Unfortunately, the album wasn't complete and they found themselves rushing to complete the album, before "Seether" lost its radio momentum. It ended up peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts.
Geffen Records signed the band after an intense label bidding war and American Thighs was released October 25, 1994. It peaked on the Billboard Top 100 at 69 and was certified Gold. The follow-up single "All Hail Me" failed to chart Top 40 on Modern Rock, and the last single from the album, "Number One Blind", written by Gordon, did better than the previous single at 20 on Modern Rock chart, but nowhere near as well as "Seether". Gordon and Post were unhappy with the song's video, and it was pulled after airing fewer than five times on MTV.
To support this album, Veruca Salt opened for such acts as Hole, Live and PJ Harvey, as well as their own headlining club tour.
The band released an EP in 1996 titled Blow It Out Your Ass It's Veruca Salt to tide fans over until their next album.
After touring for American Thighs, Gordon and Post entered the studio with Bob Rock to record their second album. They were inspired to work with Bob after hearing Metallica's "Enter Sandman" on the loud-system before a Veruca Salt concert at an outdoor music festival.
Eight Arms to Hold You, which was released February 11, 1997 on Geffen Records, proved to be a difficult and dividing album. Some fans of American Thighs were disappointed by the polished, hard-rock and distinctively Bob Rock production, in comparison to the laidback indie buzz-bin vibe of American Thighs. The new album garnered mixed reviews from music critics as well. Band members have since admitted that this album was difficult for the band, and the recording process was extremely tense. However, Eight Arms to Hold You sold well due to the success of the first single "Volcano Girls", written by Gordon. It was a catchy, power-pop tantrum that matched "Seether"'s success, peaking at #8 on the Modern Rock charts. This album, however, didn't have longevity, and despite peaking higher (Billboard Top 100 at 55) than American Thighs, sales dropped off drastically when the second single "Shutterbug" failed to chart despite a high budget video and Saturday Night Live performance, as well as other promotion. Three more singles were sent to radio ("The Morning Sad", "Straight" and "Benjamin") but none of them did well enough to warrant a video. However, the Gordon-penned "Benjamin" was released internationally as the third and last commercial single from the album despite having no video and no promotion. "Benjamin" also failed to chart. Shapiro left the band soon after the release of Eight Arms and was replaced by Stacy Jones (of Letters to Cleo and now American Hi-Fi). Jones toured with the band on the Eight Arms tour, but never recorded with them.
Veruca Salt toured extensively for Eight Arms to Hold You, opening for Bush as well as a lengthy international headlining club tour.
Nina Gordon left Veruca Salt in early 1998 amid rumors of stolen boyfriends and physical altercations with bandmate Louise Post. Post, now the only original band member, recruited a new band, consisting of Stephen Fitzpatrick (guitar), Suzanne Sokol (bass) and Jimmy Madla (drums), and continued to record and perform under the Veruca Salt moniker. The new band signed with Beyond Records. The first album with the new lineup was 2000's Resolver.
December 2002 saw the release of both Resolver and lead single "Born Entertainer", in Australia through Embryo Records / MGM. Following the release of "Born Entertainer" Embryo Records / MGM released the single "Officially Dead" which contained newly recorded tracks as well as a remix of 'the Same Person. The band toured Australia, including the "Splendour in the Grass" festival alongside bands such as Placebo and Coldplay. 'Yeah Man' was released as a radio only single.
After planning to take some time to step away from the music industry the band once again toured and performed at some festival shows in Australia. The tour took in the capital cities as well as performances at both the "Falls Festival" and the newly created Southbound festival in Perth. The band completed the 2 week tour and upon arrival back in the United States performed a show at the iconic "Viper Room". The band debuted the tracks 'Blissful Queen' and 'Circular Trend' live, both would end up on the album "IV"
2005 saw another couple of line-up changes with Sokol and Madla leaving, being replaced by Solomon Snyder on bass and Michael Miley on drums for the recording of the EP Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things (LOSALT). The band then went on tour as Post, Fitzpatrick, drummer Kellii Scott and bassist Nicole Fiorentino. LOSALT was released and sold independently at the bands shows and via the website and included six new songs. The title of the EP is an extract from Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. This preluded the full length album, "IV", released September 2006 and accompanied by a US tour. The lead single "So Weird" was released to radio at the end of October 2006.
They recorded a cover of Neil Young's song "Burned" for a 2007 Breast Cancer Benefit album due for release in October 2007. The band became inactive sometime after that, announcing in 2012 that they had entered an indefinite hiatus.
In 2013, the original lineup of the band reunited. In 2014, the band released the single "The Museum of Broken Relationships." and went on a tour of the United States and Australia. The band's first album in nine years, "Ghost Notes", was released in July 2015.
Halloween Day
Veruca Salt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My life, on account of him
You had a chance
You could of made it again
Are you really gonna marry her on
Halloween Day
Halloween Day
Your wife is torn apart
I thought you had a chance
I'd thought you make it again
I never really thought you'd marry her on
Halloween Day
Halloween Day
And something's spooky in the pit of my heart
And something's stirring in the trunk of my car
My name is itching on the roof of my houses
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out after dark
After dark
After dark
After dark on
Halloween day
Halloween Day
My life, just got grim
My life, on account of him
On account of him
On account of him
On account of him
Veruca Salt's song Halloween Day is a haunting and eerie track that explores the feelings of betrayal and anguish that arise when someone is left behind by a former lover who decides to get married to someone else, specifically on Halloween day. The song conveys a sense of anger and helplessness as the singer is left wondering why her former lover chose to marry someone else, and why they would choose such a creepy day to do it.
The opening lines, "My life just got grim, my life on account of him," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is clearly upset and feels as though her life has been destroyed by the actions of her former lover. The lyrics, "You had a chance, you could've made it again, are you really gonna marry her on Halloween Day?" expresses the singer's disbelief and anger that her former lover would choose to get married on a day associated with darkness, fear, and the supernatural. The line "Your wife is torn apart, beware of her haunted heart" suggests that the singer believes that the wife-to-be is someone to be feared or pitied, either because she is also a victim of the former lover's manipulations or because she is someone who is haunted by past experiences.
The chorus "And something's spooky in the pit of my heart, and something's stirring in the trunk of my car, my name is itching on the roof of my houses" adds to the overall spooky and eerie feelings evoked by the song. The singer seems to be describing feelings of unease and discomfort in her body and surroundings, as though something supernatural is taking hold of her. The repeated warning "Don't go out, don't go out, don't go out after dark, after dark, after dark, after dark on Halloween day" reinforces the idea that something sinister and dangerous is happening on this spooky holiday, and that the singer is afraid of what might happen.
Overall, Halloween Day by Veruca Salt is a song that deals with themes of betrayal, fear, and supernatural happenings. Through its haunting lyrics and eerie tones, the song evokes feelings of discomfort and unease, making it a perfect track to play on a spooky Halloween night.
Line by Line Meaning
My life, just got grim
I'm feeling really down and depressed right now
My life, on account of him
This bad feeling is all because of him
You had a chance
You had an opportunity to do something different
You could of made it again
You could have succeeded once more
Are you really gonna marry her on Halloween Day
Are you seriously going to get married on the spookiest day of the year?
Your wife is torn apart
Your wife is broken-hearted
Beware of her haunted heart
Watch out for her troubled emotions
I thought you had a chance
I believed that you had an opportunity to change things
I'd thought you make it again
I thought you would be successful once more
I never really thought you'd marry her on Halloween Day
I never expected you to tie the knot on such a creepy holiday
And something's spooky in the pit of my heart
I've got an eerie feeling inside of me
And something's stirring in the trunk of my car
Something unsettling is happening in my vehicle
My name is itching on the roof of my houses
I can't shake off this strange sensation on my rooftop
Don't go out
Stay indoors
Don't go out after dark
Especially when it's night-time
After dark on Halloween Day
Especially on a spooky holiday
On account of him
It's all because of him
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@raym.778
The thing that really sealed the deal on this band for me was their b-sides and demos. I fell in love with them about 15 years ago and they've remained my all-time favorites ever since. I'm not sure I'll ever feel the same way about another band.
@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music
Why did they get so much hate back in the day?
@Livius_42
@@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music Can just guess but probably the reason is that they were a bit unfortunate on a pretty saturated marked (considering that there were several other grunge bands)
@gardeningnewearth3680
So true ⭐️ I’ve been waiting for the B-Side album
@wolfgang6442
@@gardeningnewearth3680 would love to hear those someday
@ronnoc5278
That's why I just want to hear "Low Grade Fever" but it will probably never happen
@TheSanties
The guitar solo got me through many days of work.
@jeffmenton8999
Too cool..in a huge VS phase since they've reunited..love the way the song finishes...
@samanthaadams619
You and me both! Just found out myself, and this has been a VS kind of weekend for me! ^__^
@WaitingForTheHook
Jeff Menton Me, too! I'm surprised i didn't even know about a few of these single bsdies until now which is so surprising 'cause i was pretty into CD singles with Bsides as a teenager! Haha.