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.
Wasteland
Warrior Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Detroit got stupid, it was time to blow
I can't dig people when they play control
I rocked to Manhattan and what'd I see
Some great big buildings that could set me free
The bars are open all night
I said that damn AIDS test got me so uptight
Pay your money to the landlord
Donald Trump is just a money whore
Under my bed there's a baseball bat
Goddamn taxes gonna break my back
I'm in the wasteland, I'm in the wasteland
I'm in the wasteland, I'm in the wasteland
I'm in the wasteland, mama you know it's true
No motherfucker's gonna tell me what to do
I'm in the wasteland
The gangs are doin' drive-by's in L.A.
Quinn is drillin' ink and we're gettin' laid
Your shotgun cops are goin' to hell
L.A.P.D's got an awful smell
In Hollywood the scene's all there
Tommie's always got the drugs to go on a bender
Every time I go I never wanna come back
Breathe the summer air, you'll have a heart attack
You're in the wasteland, you're in the wasteland
You're in the wasteland, you're in the wasteland
You don't buy what the government sells
The goddamn President can go to hell
You're in the wasteland
Here we go
I can't live unless I'm free
You've gotta run to stay with me
I move from town to town
I'm livin' on the underground
Hey baby, come with me
I meet a lot of good company
To beat the system move around
It's the only way to freedom today
Find your freedom today
Find your freedom today
Find your freedom today
Find your freedom today
If I make bail, tell you where I'll go
Gonna cross the border into Mexico
Tequila's cheap as sunshine
Wind up bangin' everythin' in sight
I'm free and that's a fact
Once I leave I ain't never comin' back
I'm in the wasteland, I'm in the wasteland
I'm in the wasteland, I'm in the wasteland
I'm in the wasteland, yeah, I'm in the wasteland, yeah
I'm in the wasteland, yeah, I'm in the wasteland, yeah
I'm in the wasteland
The song "The Wasteland" by Warrior Soul is a commentary on the disillusionment and frustration felt by a generation that has been let down by the political and social systems. The opening lines of the song describe the fall of Detroit, a once-great city that has been destroyed by corruption and greed. The singer expresses his disgust with people who wish to control others, and his desire to be free. He finds solace in the towering buildings of Manhattan, which offer a sense of freedom and escape from the wasteland that surrounds him.
The bars are open all night, but the fear of AIDS looms large, causing him to be uptight. He comments on the injustices of the economic system, with Donald Trump being singled out as a money whore. The singer feels trapped by taxes and government control, which threatens to break his back. However, he remains defiant, claiming his place in the wasteland as his own, and rejecting the messages of the government and powerful institutions. The song also comments on the violence of gang culture, the corruption of law enforcement agencies like the LAPD, and the allure of drugs and rebellion in Hollywood.
Overall, "The Wasteland" is a song that speaks to the feelings of disenfranchisement and disillusionment felt by many in society, particularly those who are young and disenchanted with mainstream ideals. The song encourages listeners to find their freedom wherever they can, even if it means running away and living on the underground.
* Warrior Soul formed in 1987 and were active until 1995, and then reformed in 2007.
* The band's frontman, Kory Clarke, was born in Detroit and saw the city's decline firsthand.
* The song "The Wasteland" was released on the band's 1990 debut album, "Last Decade Dead Century."
* The album was produced by legendary music producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with artists like Johnny Cash and the Beastie Boys.
* Clarke has stated that the song was inspired by his experiences with drugs and the punk rock scene in New York City.
* The song was a minor hit on rock radio stations in the US and the UK.
* The band's live shows were known for their energetic performances and controversial elements, including Clarke's tendency to swear and engage in provocative behavior on stage.
* "The Wasteland" has been covered by several other bands, including Metallica.
* Clarke has continued to perform and record music as a solo artist in addition to his work with Warrior Soul.
* The band's music and lyrics have been described as politically charged and socially conscious, dealing with themes of rebellion, anti-consumerism, and anti-establishment sentiments.
Chords: G, A, D, F#m, Bm (standard tuning)
Line by Line Meaning
Detroit got stupid, it was time to blow
I can't handle stupid people anymore, it was time to move on.
I can't dig people when they play control
I don't like people who try to control others.
I rocked to Manhattan and what'd I see. Some great big buildings that could set me free
I went to Manhattan and saw big buildings which represented freedom to me.
The bars are open all night. But that damn AIDS test got me so uptight. I said that damn AIDS test got me so uptight
Even though the bars are open all night, I'm paranoid about taking the AIDS test.
Pay your money to the landlord. Donald Trump is just a money whore. Under my bed there's a baseball bat. Goddamn taxes gonna break my back
I pay absurd rent and taxes, but wealthy people like Donald Trump just care about money, not people like me.
The gangs are doin' drive-by's in L.A. Quinn is drillin' ink and we're gettin' laid. Your shotgun cops are goin' to hell. L.A.P.D's got an awful smell
There are gangs doing drive-bys in LA, but at least we're having some fun. The cops are corrupt and it shows in the poor stench of L.A.
In Hollywood the scene's all there. Tommie's always got the drugs to go on a bender. Every time I go I never wanna come back. Breathe the summer air, you'll have a heart attack
Hollywood may have all the opportunities, but I hate it there so much that I never want to come back. The air there is so polluted it will give you a heart attack.
I can't live unless I'm free. You've gotta run to stay with me. I move from town to town. I'm livin' on the underground
I can't stand to be constrained, I need to be free to move around. I live on the underground to avoid scrutiny.
If I make bail, tell you where I'll go. Gonna cross the border into Mexico. Tequila's cheap as sunshine. Wind up bangin' everythin' in sight. I'm free and that's a fact. Once I leave I ain't never comin' back
If I make bail, I'm leaving for Mexico where everything is cheap and I can do whatever I want. I'm free, and once I leave I'm never coming back.
You're in the wasteland, you're in the wasteland. You're in the wasteland, you're in the wasteland. You don't buy what the government sells. The goddamn President can go to hell. You're in the wasteland
You're in the same situation as me, trapped in this wasteland where we don't agree with the government and the President can go to hell.
Find your freedom today. Find your freedom today. Find your freedom today. Find your freedom today
Look for your freedom every day, it's out there somewhere.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: STEVE CLARKE, CHRIS RYAN SOPER, JESSE SINGER, NICHOLAS SAMUEL SINGH BANNS, STEVE FERNANDEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
London Calling
This band should have been much bigger. Great music
ungabungaable
@MishIshPee ! wrong it came this band came out right at the beginning of the grunge movement, thrash metal, which is political was at its high, this band was more like ugly kid joe.
You Joker
Didn't help that the singer got too big for his boots and tried to do an Axl Rose.
Ryan_Q3L
They were rumored to be the “next IT band” but Nirvana just hit..... crushing all this style of rock. Funny cause I always thought WS had a punk vibe.
Kblogg 777
MishIshPee ! Rage against the Machine talked about politics as have other bands that also made the big time.
MishIshPee !
LondonCalling true but did not because what they put in their lyrics which is politics which no one wants to hear
Brian Borstein
One of the best bands of the '90's. So underrated and underappreciated.
🏛South House Productions🏛
Amen, very good and poetic as well.
Danny Griner
The first 2 albums by warrior Soul is untouchable still to this day
In the day where music and lyrics meant something
kitoyobeni1
I would say first 3; the third being my favorite.