1993 - April: Porno for Pyros “Porno for Pyros”

What the Riff?!?

If you thought these songs were from Jane's Addiction, it is an understandable mistake. Porno for Pyros was formed in 1992 after the first break-up of Jane's Addiction by members by lead vocalist Perry Farrell and percussionist Stephen Perkins. They added Peter DiStefano on guitar and Martyn LeNoble on bass for their eponymously named debut album. The inspiration for the band's name came from a fireworks advertisement that Perry Farrell saw in a pornographic magazine. Inspiration was also connected to the 1992 LA riots which occurred in the band's hometown.

The album Porno for Pyros benefitted from the success of Jane's Addiction and the buzz surrounding the new group. Porno for Pyros began a nationwide tour to support the band prior to the release of the first album. By the time the album was released in 1993 there was a pent-up demand for it, causing it to surge to number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart. With a blend of punk, psychedelic rock and alternative, the album gained both commercial and critical success.

The band was impactful on the alternative rock scene, but was short-lived. They would release a follow-up album in 1996 before disbanding in 1998. They would have reunions in 2009 and 2020, and the original line-up has recorded new material as of 2023 to be released as an EP in 2024.

Wayne takes us through this alternative rock album.

Cursed Female
This track was released as the first single as a medley with the song “Cursed Male.” The lyrics reflect the abuse women face in life. It reached number 3 on the Modern Rock charts. “Cursed to be born beautiful, poor, and female, there's none that suffer more.”

Cursed Male
Forming a medley with “Cursed Female” for the first single, this song turns to the difficulties males face in life. “All the guys that really have the money are too old to have a good time with it...Too old to turn the women on, too old to have a fast car and drive it.”

Pets
This is the hit from the album. It deals with dissatisfaction with the human race on the brink of destruction. The song describes how aliens might take over the world and treat human beings as great pets. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Packin' .25
This track has the LA riots as its inspiration. It reflects the idea of people carrying a handgun in order to achieve respect. Interestingly, a 25-caliber pistol is not a very powerful weapon. “I dreamt all yesterday how I might make a man feel with a gun up to his face! Show respect to me. I don't care what you're thinking, I'll wipe that thought away!

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers (from the motion picture “Benny and Joon”)
Johnny Depp and Mary Stuart Masterson star in this film about two eccentric people falling in love.

STAFF PICKS:

Daughter by Pearl Jam
Lynch gets the staff picks rolling with the second single from Pearl Jam's "Vs." album. It talks about a girl with severe dyslexia whose mother doesn't understand the condition. The lack of understanding prompts the mother to abuse the daughter, thinking she is being deliberately lazy and disruptive.

Woman by Brother Cane
Rob features a deeper cut from Alabama band Brother Cane off their debut album. This grunge-tinted song has a slow, haunting, mournful feel that builds into a faster paced, minor epic by the middle of the song before returning to the slow theme at the end. The singer discusses an unstable relationship. “I used to know better, now I don't know what's worse - having it all maybe, or having nothing for sure.”

Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) by Digable Planets
Bruce brings us the first single from the debut album Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space).” The lyrics are a celebration of hip-hop, the Brooklyn underground scene, jazz, style, and the confidence of the group. Digable Planets sampled “Stretching” by Art Blakley & the Jazz Messengers for the chorus.

Lollipop Serenade by Insane Jane
Wayne's staff pick is from a local Atlanta band with a female lead. Insane Jane put out two albums, the first called “Each Finger” and the second called “Green Little Pill.” The lead singer was known as “Yellow.” This may be a song that those outside of Atlanta may not have heard before.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Beer :30 by The Reverend Horton Heat
Well, it is largely instrumental, if you don't count the occasional “beer” and “get naked” statements thrown in.

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