Tim Rogers formed the first version of the band in Sydney, Australia, with his school friend Nick Tischler and his older brother Jaimme in December 1989. This initial line-up was short lived and by the end of 1990 both Nick and Jaimme had left the band. They were replaced by the group's one-time sound mixer Andy Kent on bass and Mark Tunaley on drums.
The band released several EPs and singles in the early 90s, though the real breakthrough came when Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth caught the band performing at 1993's Big Day Out festival and was impressed enough to produce their fourth EP, Coprolalia, and later the debut album, Sound as Ever, which went on to win the 1993 ARIA Award for Best Alternative Release.
After the release of their first album, Mark and the band parted company. He was replaced by the charismatic Russell Hopkinson (formerly of Nursery Crimes) creating the core line-up to this day. Since then, the band has been augmented by Davey Lane of The Pictures on guitar.
You Am I had toured the US extensively during the mid 90s, including playing with Soundgarden on the Lollapalooza festival, Red Kross, The Strokes and Smoking Popes to name a few. Despite little success overseas, the band became well known throughout Australia for their Pete Townshend-esque guitar windmills and their upbeat "ponce and thuggery" take on Rock 'n' Roll.
Further success came with the albums Hi Fi Way and Hourly Daily, with both picking up ARIA Awards. Hourly Daily was the first album released on the Shock label to go to number one in the ARIA charts upon launch. For many, the suburban inspired, 60s bop and folky 12 string melodies were a welcome departure from ever pervasive 70s rock sounds, or even grunge rock.
Subtle country influences became apparent on their 1998 Number 4 Record, which included the poignant Heavy Heart. A heart wrenching, almost karaoke inspired ballad about being 'dropped' by your girlfriend. Evidently each subsequent album has had a few countryish twang which have polarised some fans, who idolise the band's earlier warts and all rock beginnings.
1999 saw frontman Tim Rogers release his first solo album What Rhymes With Cars And Girls, followed up in 2004 by the record Spit Polish. In 2005 he released the critically acclaimed double-LP 'Ghost Songs' and 'Dirty Ron'.
After an album absence prolonged by touring and record label interference, Dress Me Slowly was released April 2001. Arguably containing some of the bands' best work including Damage and Kick a Hole in the Sky there were also some stellar b-Sides on the commercial singles that accompanied the album. These include a song called Older Guys which is track 2 on the Get Up single. Older Guys was one of the stand out songs on Gram Parsons' group The Flying Burrito Brothers album Burrito Deluxe and although the You Am I b-side is an original, Rogers is recognised as a keen student of music history and some connection can be assumed.
Dress Me Slowly was second guitarist, Davey Lane's first bona fide appearance on a studio record. Lane had come to the band's attention from his own work with The Pictures and transcribing, with almost scary accuracy, the band's guitar tabs on the You Am I web site. The band's last collective studio effort was Deliverance in 2002.
The likes of Nic Cester of Jet have mentioned that You Am I, at the very least, reminded them that you don't have to be American to be a successful rock band. Iconic references to Australian everyday suburban life remain a constant theme of Roger's material. The Vines also credit You Am I as a major influence and Silverchair take their name, in part, from You Am I's song Berlin Chair.
Their seventh album "Convicts" was released in May 2006. An about face on the previous two albums, Convicts rocks hard all of the way through with much more straight forward production and higher energy that makes you jump.
Their eighth album "Dilettantes" was released in September 2008.
...And Vandalism
You Am I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I'm the mayonnaise he's the cream
Some sit and wait for the ride
While others become the scene
And he can see a Wednesday morning
Like others see Friday night
It's all an open book
It's just how you vandalize
While the rest of us split on the seams
He talks about Art Blakey
And I pretend to know what he means
So now it's three gigs a night
While your girl digs up the UAE
And burn up like a matchstick
The whole damn city can see
The sun caught me hiding
Just enough for someone to see
My heart in my hands, the tracks of my glands
Cracking through the grit in my teeth
So when did you decide
That there's only so much you can lose?
The best choices come
Just when there's nothing left to choose
So you blow up letterboxes and chlorine bombs
'Coz it's a weekend blitz on the dicks who just can't whistle the tune
Yeah and yeah hit while I sit here on my hands
Measuring compliments with a spoon
And I'm never too far away
I know this guy
If I'm the mayonnaise he's the cream
Some sit and wait for the ride
While others become the scene
And he can see a Wednesday morning
Like others see Friday night
It's all an open book
It's just how you vandalise
The lyrics of "And Vandalism" by You Am I touch on themes of rebellion, identity, and individuality. The opening lines establish a contrast between the singer and their friend, describing them as "the mayonnaise" and "the cream." This contrast is then expanded upon as the singer reflects on the divergent paths that they and their friend have taken - some people choose to "wait for the ride," while others "become the scene." The idea of choosing to become the scene is further developed in later verses, with the lyrics "it's all an open book / it's just how you vandalize" suggesting that this choice is a form of rebellion against societal norms.
The song also explores identity and individuality through the lens of music. The singer describes their friend as a music enthusiast who "talks about Art Blakey" and sees "Wednesday morning / like others see Friday night." This juxtaposition of ordinary and special days underscores the idea that individuality can be found in unexpected places. The final verse of the song turns to more explicit acts of rebellion, with lyrics like "blow up letterboxes and chlorine bombs" and "weekend blitz on the dicks who just can't whistle the tune" suggesting a rejection of societal norms and a desire to stand out.
Line by Line Meaning
I know this guy
The singer introduces someone they know
If I'm the mayonnaise he's the cream
The singer believes the person they know is superior to them
Some sit and wait for the ride
Some people are passive and wait for opportunities to come to them
While others become the scene
Other people actively shape their surroundings and make things happen
And he can see a Wednesday morning
The person the artist knows has a unique perspective on everyday life
Like others see Friday night
The person the singer knows has a different view of the world than most people
It's all an open book
Life is full of possibilities and opportunities
It's just how you vandalize
The way you approach life determines your impact on the world
A double on the shirttail
The person the artist knows is successful
While the rest of us split on the seams
Others are struggling or falling apart
He talks about Art Blakey
The person the singer knows has an interest in jazz music
And I pretend to know what he means
The artist is not knowledgeable about jazz but tries to appear so
So now it's three gigs a night
The person the singer knows is busy and successful in their music career
While your girl digs up the UAE
Someone's significant other is exploring the United Arab Emirates
And burn up like a matchstick
The heat and pressure of life can be overwhelming
The whole damn city can see
Everyone is affected by the challenges and struggles of life
The sun caught me hiding
The artist realizes they cannot hide from life's difficulties
Just enough for someone to see
Other people can see the singer's vulnerability
My heart in my hands, the tracks of my glands
The singer is emotional and feels exposed
Cracking through the grit in my teeth
The artist is struggling to keep their composure
So when did you decide
The artist questions when someone made a decision
That there's only so much you can lose?
The artist believes there are limits to life's challenges
The best choices come
Sometimes the best options arise out of difficult situations
Just when there's nothing left to choose
When options appear to be exhausted, new opportunities might emerge
So you blow up letterboxes and chlorine bombs
The singer describes destructive behavior
'Coz it's a weekend blitz on the dicks who just can't whistle the tune
The behavior is directed at people who are seen as out of touch or uncool
Yeah and yeah hit while I sit here on my hands
The singer is not directly involved in the behavior
Measuring compliments with a spoon
The artist seeks recognition or approval in small amounts
And I'm never too far away
The artist is aware of the destruction happening around them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: TIM ADRIAN ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind