Today it's exactly 30 years since Nine Inch Nails released March Of The Pigs!
"March of the Pigs" was released by Nine Inch Nails on the 25th of February 1994. It was the first single released from their second studio album-The Downward Spiral (1994). It is also one of the band's shortest hit songs, clocking in at just under three minutes.
For shooting the music video, one that got regular airplay on MTV, Reznor assembled his live band for the upcoming Self Destruct Tour. It would feature drummer Chris Vrenna, keyboard player James Woolley, guitarist Robin Finck and bassist/guitarist/keyboardist Danny Lohner. Director Peter Christopherson (Coil, Throbbing Gristle, …) was told to film a stripped-down, minimalist music video for the song. The video showed the band performing the song live in front of a white-wall backdrop, with Reznor moving around aggressively, pushing the other band members, along with their instruments and repeatedly tossing his microphone away. Throughout the video, stagehands visibly move into the frame to reset the equipment he knocks over, handing Reznor a microphone each time he needs to start singing again after an instrumental section. The video uses the live performance audio of the song recorded at the video shoot, rather than synchronizing the footage to the studio-recorded version from the album as most music videos do. This version of the song is also included on the "Closer" cassette single.The single was release in numerous CD versions with and as on limited edition 7", 9" and 12" vinyl records.
The American version of the "March of the Pigs" CD single contains two mixes of the title track, two remixes of The Downward Spiral tracks "Reptile" and "A Violet Fluid", however also included was a non-album instrumental track. In the UK, the single was released as a two-disc CD single with each CD sold separately, though also adding a censored radio edit of "March of the Pigs" and "Big Man With a Gun" from The Downward Spiral release. The disc art for this single features a curled-up millipede, an image that was later used on the cover of the single "Closer".
"March of the Pigs" peaked at #98 on the Australian ARIA singles chart.
Thirteen years after its release, it debuted at #9 and peaked at #6 on the Canadian Singles Chart.
March Of The Pigs (Lyrics)
Step right up, march, push
Crawl right up on your knees
Please greed feed (no time to hesitate)
I want a little bit
I want a piece of it
I think he's losing it
I want to watch it come down
Don't like the look of it
Don't like the taste of it
Don't like the smell of it
I want to watch it come down
All the pigs are all lined up
I give you all that you want
Take the skin and peel it back
Now doesn't that make you feel better?
Shove it up inside, surprise, lies
Stains like the blood on your teeth
Bite, chew, suck (away the tender parts)
I want to break it up
I want to smash it up
I want to fuck it up
I want to watch it come down
Maybe afraid of it
Let's discredit it
Let's pick away at it
I want to watch it come down
All the pigs are all lined up
I give you all that you want
Take the skin and peel it back
Now doesn't that make you feel better?
The pigs have won tonight
Now they can all sleep soundly
And everything is all right
Songwriters: Trent Reznor
© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
7" vinyl (Limited Edition -Single sided - 5,000 numbered copies)
A1. |
"March of the Pigs" (Clean version) |
2:54 |
A2. |
"A Violet Fluid" |
1:05 |
B |
Etched centipod |
7:13 |
9" vinyl (Limited Edition - 5,000 numbered copies)
1. |
"March of the Pigs" LP version |
2:54 |
2 |
"All the Pigs, All Lined Up" ("March of the Pigs" remix) | 7:25 |
3. |
"A Violet Fluid" |
1:05 |
4. |
"Underneath the Skin" ("Reptile" remixed by Dave Ogilvie) |
7:13 |
US CD
1. |
"March of the Pigs" |
2:58 |
2. |
"Reptilian" ("Reptile" remixed by Dave Ogilvie) |
8:39 |
3. |
"All the Pigs, All Lined Up" ("March of the Pigs" remix) |
7:25 |
4. |
"A Violet Fluid" |
1:05 |
5. |
"Underneath the Skin" ("Reptile" remixed by Dave Ogilvie) |
7:13 |
UK 2CD
Disc one |
||
1. |
"March of the Pigs" (clean version) |
3:03 |
2. |
"All the Pigs, All Lined Up" |
7:25 |
3. |
"A Violet Fluid" (listed as "A Violent Fluid" in UK releases) |
1:03 |
4. |
"Big Man With a Gun" |
1:36 |
Disc two |
||
1. |
"March of the Pigs" (LP version) |
2:58 |
2. |
"Underneath the Skin" |
7:14 |
3. |
"Reptilian" (remixed by Ogilvie) |
8:39 |
More versions and info on DISCOGS!
Nine Inch Nails: March Of The Pigs (1994) from Nine Inch Nails on Vimeo.
Mirror Man | Mourning The Sad Passing Of Talk Talk’s Mark Hollis - 5 ago.
Today 25 February , we mark the sad passing of Talk Talk front man Mark Hollis (25/02/19). One of the most acclaimed innovators of the eighties synth-pop and new wave scene, he rose to prominence with Talk Talk and steered the band until they disbanded in 1992.
They began life as a quartet, consisting of Mark Hollis-vocals/main songwriter, Lee Harris-drums, Paul Webb-bass guitar and keyboardist-Simon Brenner. Comparisons with Duran Duran were quickly shaken off, with a band name consisting of a repeated word, the two shared a glam rock and Roxy Music-inspired musical direction. They also shared the same producer in Colin Thurston although Talk Talk supported Duran Duran on tour in late 1981.
Their first single release-'Mirror Man', hit the streets in February 1982. The single bombed but was quickly followed by their self-titled single in April 1982 which reached No.52 in the UK. After the green shoots appeared the band released their debut album-The Party's Over released in July 1982.
The band had their first UK Top 40 hits with the singles 'Today' (No. 14) and the re-release of 'Talk Talk' (No. 23). These singles also were hits in other countries including Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The re-release of the 'Talk Talk' single reached the U.S. Top 75.
‘The Party's Over was a moderate success in the UK reaching No.21, though reaching top-ten in the UK. Though it was Its My Life in 1984, both the album and same-titled single which broke Talk Talk into the stratosphere of the mainstream.
The genesis of the band continued through lineup changes until 1991, through an experimental phase and the album dark and claustrophobic-Laughing Stock, Talk Talk disbanded, Hollis stated that he wished to focus more on his family.
He did however come back with a self-titled solo album in 1998, though well received Hollis more or less retired fully from music shortly after.
[Kevin Burke 25/02/19]
Today, it’s 46 years ago that renowned BBC DJ John Peel broadcast the second John Peel session by Siouxsie & The Banshees
Today, it’s 46 years ago (23 February 1978) that renowned BBC DJ John Peel broadcast the second John Peel session recorded by Siouxsie & The Banshees on 6th February at the BBC studios in Maida Vale.
At the time of broadcast all songs where previously unreleased. In fact, their very first release, the 7” Hong Kong Garden, was only released on 18th August that same year.
In 1989 these studio recordings were released by the Strange Fruit label.
The John Peel Sessions (The Second Session)
Tracklist:
Hong Kong Garden
Overground
Carcass
Helter Skelter
International EBM Day celebrates Electronic Body Music!
On February 24, Body Beats productions and De Casino will celebrate once again the fantastic genre of Electronic Body Music and the musical influence of for instance Front 242, Belgium's best known EBM export product!
This year they'll have 5 live band on stage while resident DJ Borg will play the obligated EBM records on the afterparty!
CAT RAPES DOG (DK/SE)
Fast, hard and furious! These Scandinavian pioneers of electropunk return to the city of Sint-Niklaas after no less than 37 years! Their previous, first and only visit to St-Niklaas took place in the late, but renowned Cadillac Club. In 2024 the band is back, alive and kicking which they proved successfully at festivals like Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Leipzig) and Amphi (Cologne).
SPIKE HELLIS (USA) from Los Angeles is coming to Belgium for the first time! The electronic duo with their typical American Wax Trax sound, previously toured with ADULT., Kontravoid, Choir Boy, Soft Kill, Portrayal of Guilt, Plack Blague, Pixel Grip and Twin Tribes. The combo played at renowned festivals such as Cold Waves, Substance, Sanctum, Sound and Fury and Vampire's Ball. Expect a harsh musical gospel of disappointment in life and sarcasm!
MILDREDA (B) is one of the projects with which the musical jack-of-all-trades Jan Dewulf has been expressing himself since the 1990s. With a brand new album 'Blue-Devilled', the successor to the brilliant and well-received 'I was Never Really There' (2021), Mildreda's thundering freight train is firmly back on track.
HUMAN STEEL (D) consists of two seasoned musicians, from Poland and Germany respectively, who serve us a creative cocktail of electronic music powered by acoustic drums and their international friendship. The sound is powerful, mechanical yet lively and, above all, extremely danceable. The songs are intense and often surprise with interesting breaks and tempo changes. The texts are largely written in English, but also in German and Polish.
ZYNIK 14 (B) is "Old School EBM" made in the Belgian East Cantons! Zynik 14 is formed by brothers Frederic and Lancelot. These gentlemen have released 4 studio albums since their inception and also on stage they do not hide their passion for electronic music.
More info & tickets:
www.bodybeats.be
International EBM Day viert Electronic Body Music!
Op 24 februari zullen Body Beats productions en De Casino opnieuw het fantastische genre van Electronic Body Music vieren, evenals de muzikale invloed van bijvoorbeeld Front 242, België's bekendste exportproduct op het gebied van EBM!
Dit jaar zullen er 5 live bands op het podium staan, terwijl resident DJ Borg de verplichte EBM-platen zal draaien op de afterparty!
CAT RAPES DOG (DK/SE) Snel, hard en furieus! Deze Scandinavische pioniers van electropunk keren na maar liefst 37 jaar terug naar de stad Sint-Niklaas! Hun vorige, eerste en enige bezoek aan St-Niklaas vond plaats in de voormalige, maar gerenommeerde Cadillac Club. In 2024 is de band terug, springlevend en succesvol gebleken op festivals als Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Leipzig) en Amphi (Keulen).
SPIKE HELLIS (VS) uit Los Angeles komt voor de eerste keer naar België! Het elektronische duo met hun typisch Amerikaanse Wax Trax-geluid, toerde eerder met ADULT., Kontravoid, Choir Boy, Soft Kill, Portrayal of Guilt, Plack Blague, Pixel Grip en Twin Tribes. Het duo speelde op gerenommeerde festivals zoals Cold Waves, Substance, Sanctum, Sound and Fury en Vampire's Ball. Verwacht een harde muzikale boodschap van teleurstelling in het leven en sarcasme!
MILDREDA (B) is een van de projecten waarmee de muzikale duizendpoot Jan Dewulf zich sinds de jaren 90 uitdrukt. Met een gloednieuw album 'Blue-Devilled', de opvolger van het briljante en goed ontvangen 'I was Never Really There' (2021), is de donderende goederentrein van Mildreda stevig terug op het goede spoor.
HUMAN STEEL (D) bestaat uit twee ervaren muzikanten, respectievelijk uit Polen en Duitsland, die ons een creatieve cocktail van elektronische muziek serveren, aangedreven door akoestische drums en hun internationale vriendschap. Het geluid is krachtig, mechanisch maar levendig en vooral uiterst dansbaar. De nummers zijn intens en verrassen vaak met interessante breaks en tempowisselingen. De teksten zijn grotendeels in het Engels, maar ook in het Duits en Pools.
ZYNIK 14 (B) is "Old School EBM" gemaakt in de Belgische Oostkantons! Zynik 14 wordt gevormd door de broers Frederic en Lancelot. Deze heren hebben sinds hun oprichting 4 studioalbums uitgebracht en ook op het podium verbergen ze hun passie voor elektronische muziek niet.
Meer info & tickets:
This Charming Band | 40 Years Ago, The Smiths Release Their Debut Album
The severed alliance of Johnny Marr and Morrissey which exists today seemed a million miles away from the creative force that once was, 40 years ago.
On the 20th of February 1984,-35 years ago today, The Smiths self-titled debut album hit the streets. The legend was quickly born and fully impacted as the album debuted on the UK charts at number two. It was at this moment that The Smiths heralded their arrival onto the international music scene. From this point and over the next four-years they would become the dominant force on the indie and alternative music scene.
Preceded in January by the teaser single-‘What Difference Does It Make?’, supposedly Morrissey’s least favourite single, the song did however build the momentum for what was to come, hitting a high of number-twelve in the charts. The previous singles, one included here, ‘Hand In Glove’, had failed to make an impression on the charts, although the beautiful single which sparkled of Marr’s fully recognized guitar orchestra, did however catch the eye of the critics and media, they had already tipped something big from this band, thankfully they were right.
The second single ‘This Charming Man’ faired better but only broke the top-30. Such a staple of Smiths songs failed to break the top-twenty seems strange now but the public had not fully caught on. Though not originally on the album, ‘This Charming Man’ however did appear on U.S versions of the album distributed by Sire Records.
The Smiths could very well be the most significant release of the eighties. Setting a tone for the rise of other such bands at the close of the decade, unsurprisingly from the same area of Manchester-The Stone Roses, The Happy Monday’s and what came to prominence in the nineties Brit-Pop era owe a debt of gratitude to not only The Smiths as a band, but the foundations they laid in a short four-years.
The Smiths (Original 1984-Rough Trade Track List):
Side A
1. "Reel Around the Fountain" 5:58
2. "You've Got Everything Now" 3:59
3. "Miserable Lie" 4:29
4. "Pretty Girls Make Graves" 3:44
5. "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (quotation from "Sonny Boy" by Ray Henderson, Lew Brown and Al Jolson) 4:38
Side B
6. "Still Ill" 3:23
7. "Hand in Glove" 3:25
8. "What Difference Does It Make?" 3:51
9. "I Don't Owe You Anything" 4:05
10. "Suffer Little Children" 5:28
[Kevin Burke - Feb 2019]