The band hit the scene in New York City in 1987. Coming of age during the presidency of the first George Bush, many of its songs were politically based, from the prescient "In Conclusion" to the call to arms, "Children of the Winter."
The term "Acid Punk" was coined by Clarke to explain the hard driving trippy sound that was Warrior Soul, particularly the Space Age Playboys album, mixed by Ben Gross. The style once again predicted what was going to break on the American and International rock music scene with the success of Green Day and The Offspring.
The critical acclaim that accompanied the band translated to record sales in Europe but there was not enough push or touring to break in the USA. Despite recognition by peers, including Lars Ulrich from Metallica, who had been quoted as saying Space Age Playboys was his favorite album, Warrior Soul disbanded in 1995.
In 1996, Odds & Ends was released as a posthumous collection of demos and left material that were to be part of a major label record (Electra, Nancy Jeffries) that got squashed by Peter Mench at Q-Prime management. Clarke took 2 years off after disbanding "The Playboys" and moved back to New York and wrote and released on "Cargo Records" his spoken word solo album "Opium Hotel" 2004. Soon after Clarke was tapped to be the lead singer of Dirty Rig and coproduced their album for "Escapi Records" in 2006. All the Warrior Soul albums were re released in 2006 and the latest is called "Destroy The War Machine" due to be out March 2010. Mark Evans, the band's drummer for three of their albums, was murdered in London, UK in 2005.
Following the re-release of the band's first five albums on in 2006, Clarke reformed Warrior Soul for a UK tour in March 2007, using long time musician friends from England and Sweden. Work has begun on a new Warrior Soul album and a live album taken from the band's October UK tour. (This was released in mid 2007) Clarke has since been announced as the new lead singer of Trouble as of May 2, 2008, according to Trouble's website.
The band released a limited edition studio album titled Chinese Democracy in October 2008, just a month before the Guns N' Roses album of the same name was due for release. The band shortly re-named the album Destroy the War Machine and began to print more copies.
In 2008, the band played the second incarnation of Hard Rock Hell, in North Wales, with the large room over capacity when the band play, rendering the opposing Hawkwind show on the next stage virtually unattended. Kerrang! magazine reviewed the show as KKKKK (5 Ks)[citation needed]
In December 2008, also saw the band return to large indoor stages, with shows at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London, and the Academy Glasgow.
In 2009, the band's re-issues of the classic Warrior Soul work on vinyl, and a European tour to support the release of Destroy the War Machine.
2010 saw singer Kory Clarke living in Berlin, Germany, and performing his new rock cabaret "Kory On The Rocks" with local backing band Stashbox.
Warrior Soul will be on tour in Europe in September 2011.
In Dec 2021, Warrior Soul featuring frontman Kory Clarke unleashed their first single “We’re Alive” from their upcoming studio album Out On Bail, which will be available via Livewire/Cargo during the first quarter of 2022.
Downtown
Warrior Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Think I got in a fight
There's a hole in my arm
My bitch is alarmed
I was at the bar
Where I'm a superstar
Livin' on free drinks
That's the way we live
Downtown
Our feet never hit the
Ground, ground
Ground, ground, yeah
'Cause I hate my mother
I hate the world
I told my father
Some more bull
I hate the system
And I break the law
But I'm at home
When I'm downtown
Yeah, down
It's Saturday night
My boys are wound up tight
Slip on a skin
Put the sucker in
Five minutes to go
You got a Marlboro
Bust in some joint
Maybe, find some points
That's the way we live
Downtown
Our feet never hit the
Ground, ground
Ground, ground, yeah
'Cause I hate my mother
I hate the world
I told my father
Some more bull
I hate the system
And I break the law
But I'm at home
When I'm downtown, yeah
I came, I conquered
Escaped the slaughter
I live undaunted
Let me take you with me
I think you'll dig the scene
'Cause, ya hate your mother
Ya hate the world
Ya told your father
Some more bull
Ya hate the system
And break the law
But you'll be at home
Come on downtown
That's the way we live
Downtown
I'll be seeing you
Downtown, downtown
Downtown, downtown
Downtown
The lyrics to Warrior Soul's song "Downtown" describe a night out in the city where the singer indulges in his reckless behavior, fueled by his hatred and disdain for authority and the system. The opening lines suggest that he got into a physical altercation as there is a hole in his arm. He then mentions being at a bar where he is seen as a superstar and is surviving on free drinks, but he criticizes the band and dismisses them as unworthy. The song is an anthem for individuals who oppose societal norms and rules and choose to be rebellious, often resulting in an ostracized existence. The singer declares that he hates his mother, the world, and the system and will break the law to exist as he pleases. The chorus is a call to other like-minded individuals to come to downtown, where they can be themselves and feel at home.
The lyrics of "Downtown" reflect the punk attitude of the early '90s, with the singer's disregard for societal rules and their lifestyle. The song praises rebellion and non-conformity, resonating with young adults who felt oppressed by the status quo. The message is clear – break free from the chains that bind you, and you will find your place in the world. The song's appeal lies in its rawness and authenticity, refusing to sugarcoat the consequences of disobeying the law or the challenges of living outside the norm. Despite the song's rebellion, there is an underlying sense of loneliness and longing for acceptance, suggesting that the singer's behavior is a symptom of a more profound psychological issue.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been out all night
I've been out all night and I think I got into a fight, and now I have a hole in my arm. My girlfriend is alarmed by my condition.
I was at the bar, Where I'm a superstar
I was at the bar where I've been spending most of my time. I usually get free drinks because I'm well known there. I insulted a band that was playing.
That's the way we live Downtown, Our feet never hit the ground, ground, ground, yeah
This is the way we live downtown. We never feel grounded, and we use drugs and alcohol to escape reality.
'Cause I hate my mother, I hate the world, I hate the system, and I break the law. But I'm at home when I'm downtown, yeah down.
I hate everything - my mother, the world, the system. I break the law to feel alive, but I feel at peace when I'm downtown.
It's Saturday night, my boys are wound up tight.
It's Saturday night, and my friends and I are excited and ready for a wild night.
Slip on a skin, put the sucker in
I put on my disguise and use my charm to pick up a girl.
Five minutes to go, You got a Marlboro
I have five minutes left before the bar closes, and I need a cigarette to calm me down.
Bust in some joint, Maybe, find some points
I might try to rob a store to get some cash or steal something to sell.
I came, I conquered, Escaped the slaughter, I live undaunted
I've had a rough life, but I've survived my trauma and live unafraid.
Let me take you with me, I think you'll dig the scene
I want to show you my world because I think you'll find it interesting and intense.
'Cause, ya hate your mother, Ya hate the world, Ya hate the system, and break the law, But you'll be at home, Come on downtown
You hate everything too, but come with me to downtown because this is where we both feel alive.
That's the way we live, Downtown. I'll be seeing you...
This is how we live downtown. It may not be perfect, but it's where we belong. I'll see you around.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Royalty Network
Written by: CLARKE, EVANS, MCCLANAHAN, JOHN RICCO, Nicholas Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Phillips
Three solid back-to-back albums from this band in the early 90s.
-Last Decade Dead Century
-Drugs, God and the New Republic
-Salutations from the Ghetto Nation
Wore these out in my tape deck. Could not believe they were not getting more attention. "Charlie's Out of Prison", "Love Destruction", "Drugs, God and the new republic", all incredible jams.
bobowrath sovine
Chill Pill was as great
Brian Groves
don't forget their album Space Age Playboys, a departure in sound but filled to the brim with energy
Veronica Campbell
They were underground , and that's where the best bands where back then man , they where the shit !!!! They never needed mainstream success that's why they still are awesome , first couple albums still play on my shit today , shine , dimension , golden shore , etc , I'm glad they didn't get ruined shame bout the drummer though , I've been playing music 30 years I love these guys
Joel Antoinette
I watched them on Headbangers Ball back early 90's and I went and bought there album that same week. I never did see them again being played on HB but I did have the VHS recording of that one show!
🏛South House Productions🏛
Amen
dreamwarriorthresh
Yeah me too! Saw them in London last year in an intimate recording studio. Kory is still one of the best frontmen ever! Salutations is one of my fave with Space Age Playboys being a sheer adrenaline rush!!
MishIshPee !
Veronica & Brent Campbell ya kory voice sound like shit though the rest of the band no were to be found he plays with brits that are way younger too bad he won't get other 2 to play john and Pete marks dead sadly
m wolf
That's one of the best singers and lead guitar players in rock n roll
Divergingroute1973
The guitarist is from Greendale, WI. A suburb of my home city of Milwaukee.