Their first release, Livin' in the '80s, was a 7" EP released by the band on their home-brew Z-Disc label. Their debut full length album, Vicious Circle, was released in 1982 with its distinctively ugly bright yellow cover on the local label Nimrod Records. Many punk fans nationwide were surprised to find a band like the Zero Boys coming out of the Midwest rather than from the larger and more established scenes in and around Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York City and elsewhere. Vicious Circle was reissued on Toxic Shock later in the 1980s, with added bonus tracks taken from the Affirmation Records compilations LPs The Master Tape and The Master Tapes 2. It was reissued again in 2000 by Lookout! Records, without the Master Tape tracks, but with two additional songs from the original album sessions, "She Said Goodbye" and "Slam and Worm", which had been given limited release on a 7" single.
It has occasionally been reported that the band never recorded further material after this. This is true only in the sense that the lineup of the band that made Vicious Circle never recorded new material. After David Clough left the band to join Toxic Reasons, the Zero Boys did manage to record a handful of tracks intended for a second LP, but broke up before the album could be finished. These tracks were released on the History of the Zero Boys cassette on Affirmation, along with the above mentioned compilation tracks and other demo tracks and outtakes.
Around 1990, Selfless released a 7" single featuring the Zero Boys on one side and Toxic Reasons on the other. The Zero Boys then reformed with a new bass player and guitarist and recorded two further albums, Make It Stop (released on Germany's Bitzcore label in 1992) and The Heimlich Maneuver (released on Skyclad in 1993.)
In the last couple of years, the band has reunited for the occasional show, such as one of a series of shows at CBGB's designed to raise money to help keep the club open, and a series of shows in the spring and summer of 2006 where they performed the entire Vicious Circle album.
Paul Mahern went on to form the power pop band the Datura Seeds and has since become a producer. He also owns the Affirmation Records label.
Tufty owns a punk clothing store in Indianapolis called future Shock as well as a progressive music bar named Radio Radio.
Vicious Circle
Zero Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to the vicious circle
Where gossip runs amuck
And no one gives a fuck
Now you're caught inside
And there's no way out alive
Welcome to the vicious circle
Where hate and war rule
And people are so cruel
Now you're deep inside
No way out you'll die
Welcome to the vicious circle
Welcome to the vicious circle
The lyrics of Zero Boys's song Vicious Circle are a scathing commentary on group mentality and the cycle of hate and violence that it can create. The repetition of the phrase "Welcome to the vicious circle" throughout the song serves as a stark reminder that once you're caught up in the negativity and drama of a group, it can be almost impossible to escape.
The first verse describes the power of gossip and apathy within this vicious circle. The singer notes that no one cares about the harm caused by their actions and rumors, leading to a culture of distrust and suspicion. The second verse extends this theme to the larger picture of hate and war. People within the circle are depicted as cruel and violent, perpetuating a cycle that can't be broken. The repetition of the final line "No way out you'll die" emphasizes the futility of trying to rebel or break free from the cycle.
Ultimately, the message of the song seems to be that group mentality can be dangerous and even deadly. Blindly following the crowd can lead to a cycle of negativity and violence that can destroy individuals and communities. The song is a vital reminder to stay aware of one's own biases and avoid getting caught up in groupthink.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the vicious circle
Entering into a cruel and unforgiving cycle that never ends
Where gossip runs amuck
A place where rumors and false information fly around without restraint
And no one gives a fuck
Apathy and lack of concern for others is the norm
Now you're caught inside
You have become trapped in this never-ending cycle
And there's no way out alive
There is no way to escape this situation without suffering serious consequences
Where hate and war rule
A place where hostility and conflict are dominant
And people are so cruel
The inhabitants of this place are particularly ruthless and savage
Now you're deep inside
You have become too involved in this cycle to easily leave it behind
No way out you'll die
You are facing death or some other catastrophic outcome due to being stuck in this circle
Contributed by Julia L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
wheresmyarm
Vicious Circle - 0:00
Amphetamine Addiction - 0:41
New Generation - 1:59
Dirty Alleys / Dirty Minds - 3:36
Civilization's Dying - 5:04
Livin' In The 80's - 7:02
Drug Free Youth - 9:13
Down The Drain - 10:24
Outta Style - 11:37
You Can Touch Me - 12:42
Forced Entry - 13:53
Hightime - 15:27
Charlie's Place - 17:40
Trying Harder - 19:06
She Said Goodbye - 22:17
Slam And Worm - 24:19
Eddie Stone
This is one of the best early 80s punk albums.
Figg Newton
agreed
Cold Daze
Definitely. Classic 80's punk/hardcore.
wheresmyarm
Vicious Circle - 0:00
Amphetamine Addiction - 0:41
New Generation - 1:59
Dirty Alleys / Dirty Minds - 3:36
Civilization's Dying - 5:04
Livin' In The 80's - 7:02
Drug Free Youth - 9:13
Down The Drain - 10:24
Outta Style - 11:37
You Can Touch Me - 12:42
Forced Entry - 13:53
Hightime - 15:27
Charlie's Place - 17:40
Trying Harder - 19:06
She Said Goodbye - 22:17
Slam And Worm - 24:19
Nick
This band is still resonating with kids today. I'm 20 and I LOVE this shit!!
Isabelle
Yes! 18 and punk rock is the fuckin BEST ;))
Bix Dugan
so cool c:
Kirk Eichler
First found this while at WRUW in '82. This was one of the first albums I saw that had really short breaks between tracks. Cueing up a track needed a little extra time, but so worth it. Love this album.
Andrew Arnold
I still have this on vinyl...one of the only records I kept after all these years.
Bix Dugan
Still the best rock n roll album of all time. My parents recorded a couple punk rock records at sonic iguana with Paul producing