Greetings All!
Greetings once again! This month, being a very hot and steamy July,
nothing would do but that I should introduce to you a band that fully
complements the weather, and is just as hot and steamy :o) They are, if
not the world's most controversial, misunderstood band, at least one of
the top ten in that category. The girls of Rockbitch get it out and show
it off all for you! They don't ask for understanding, nor are they
suggesting in any way that you should conform to their lifestyles or
beliefs - but it IS important that tolerance is shown, and respect given
where it is due.
Most people jump the gun thinking this band's gimmick is raunchy sex
with anyone and everyone - soooooooo NOT the case! Many assume because
they appear naked on stage, and perform sexual acts with one another,
and interact with the crowd in like kind, that this effectively sums
them up as
salacious whores - again, not so. In the words of Babe, "For those of
you who still think that what we do is all hype - watch carefully where
you put your cynicism. One day you will search your record collection,
and among all those skillfully concocted flavors of rebellion and angst
that the record companies sell you, you won't find anybody singing about
anything they honestly give a shit about."
Therefore, before I begin to introduce their music to you, I would like
to impart an understanding of why they do what they do, why they do it
so well, and why it works for them. Number one, not only is this a band
with a specific message, they are also all involved very intimately with
one another. This is an understanding that few are able to accomplish,
because
jealousy gets in the way. This is not the case here. They all have
mutual feelings for the group as a whole, rather than just individually,
and in the words of all, "my women are EVERYTHING to me."
They represent the Goddess in all Her divine aspects, and treat sexual
encounters as spiritual and holy. They extend that invitation to some
who frequent their shows, including those who are getting on in age,
disabled, overweight, underweight, you name it. Did I hear you thinking
the words "mercy fuck"?? Not on your life! The way they see it, sex is
something we all need, and something we all greatly desire. For
millennia, women in a variety of cultures had the role of sex
priestesses, holding open the door to the mysteries of the Goddess
through sexual energy. The act of having sex is seen as a divine gift of
pleasure, and a gift from the Great Mother, therefore, they willingly
share this gift as an act of divine graciousness. In the words of
Rockbitch - "For centuries the Church and oppressive Governments have
tried to limit the sex drive of their subject populations. In private
and public behavior - regardless of the Universal and life-affirming
nature of these urges - people have been taught to fear, repress and
dishonor their innermost drives. The sexual imagination itself has been
particularly targeted as dangerous and inherently 'disgusting'. Early
Christian writers translated the Celtic word for masturbation... which
literally meant 'self love', into the phrase 'self pollution'. This
attitude has characterized the stance of those who would control
populations. The basic idea that, if people were allowed to explore and,
even worse, act out their vivid sexual imaginations, then chaos and evil
would result."
"The Orgasm is the original creative energy of the Universe: The Big
Bang, from which everything else originated. A statement difficult to
express in words but can be demonstrated on stage - Music and Sex are
the languages understood by all." With that very firmly in mind, on with
the music!
The name of their album is "Motor Driven Bimbo," and it features 13 hard
hitting, energy packed tunes full of life, love, and sex. I obviously
have my favorites on this album. But as I normally do, I will attempt to
give a well-rounded view on the music, as I am able. For those of you
who are able to get your hands on copies of the videos or DVD'S, I
suggest watching them for three reasons - A). Because they are a hell of
a band with a complete and total different outlook on life, B). Because
the energy being released during their stage performances is not to be
missed, and C). It has that train wreck effect on you. The more you
watch, the more fascinated you become. Then you begin to see them in one
of two lights - either as the most despicable brazen whores you have
ever had the misfortune (or pleasure, depending on your outlook and
gender!) to see. Or, you will see them in the manner in which I am
attempting to portray them here, which is something beyond the
spiritual, becoming almost divine and holy.
I'm going to start with a song called "The Church," which is not first
as the song lineup goes, but it is one I want to make a feature. It has
a twofold message - one part is a great big middle finger at what most
people think of this band in terms of their lifestyle. The other is very
psychological, making a feature of the ID as the Devil, and the Superego
as Heaven. The song is geared prominently towards open sexuality and the
feelings that are a natural part of it that we have been taught to
repress for being bad or sinful. In this instance, the desires of the ID
are featured strongly and conquering the Superego.
"Devils taught me, made me horny
Heaven warns me, threats and taunts me
I, I, I, I am not ashamed
I, I, I, I am devil-made
You would blind me, gag and bind me
I, I, I, I will not be tamed
Well, I'm not asking for forgiveness
I couldn't give a fuck what you say
And I don't care what you're thinking
Or what you mother fuckers might pray
No, I'm not asking for forgiveness
I won't become a pawn in your game
You don't have human feelings
I'll blow you kiddie-fuckers away
I, I, I, I am devil-made
I, I, I, I will not be tamed".
Isn't it interesting how something we all want so badly, could be
perceived in such a negative light at times? As long as sex happens
between consenting adults only, why should there be a problem? Why
should we be made to feel guilty for something that is an innate part of
our beings?
This song is indicative of that - give in to your desires sometimes.
Repressing them or being made to feel sinful or bad for what other
people have issues with is unhealthy, and before this statement is
misinterpreted, let me just reiterate - as long as we are talking sex
between CONSENTING ADULTS, then why not indulge?
This next song is one of my personal favorites on the album, partly
because I love the energy of it, and the way the music flows. The lyrics
are multi - faceted too, taking on several meanings all at the same
time. The lyrics are even sung in a seductive manner, implying that the
forbidden fruit is far sweeter when it's freely offered and freely
accepted for what it is. The name of this song is "Eveline".
"I can give you something
You can't get nowhere
I can be your slave
Or I can take you there
I can be your baby
I can be your toy
I can give you something
You can't get nowhere
Don't you know you belong to me?
Oh, Eveline - you pay for me
No evil in my sexuality
I am not a lady
I live out of time
Sex is what I give you
Reverences divine
I consume the faithful
Holy sexual fire
I defy ascetic anti-flesh desire
Don't you know you belong to me?
Oh, Eveline - you pay for me
No evil in my sexuality."
The next song, "Baby" is about being into someone so much, feeling so
much love for that person that you are dying. Dying of hunger. Hunger
for everything they have to offer you. This is such a deep statement
that I'm not sure if I can fitly put it into words. It goes beyond the
physical into the spiritual. It almost becomes a form of love, desire,
adoration, respect, and worship.
"Baby, I can't sleep when you're around
I turn you upside down, I don't think you'll ever touch the ground
You make me high... Ooh, just to watch you move
Stay with me please never leave
You know I don't want you to
Touch me, taste me, - like dying of hunger
tame me, take me, - like dying in pain."
Gotta love the way these songs make you feel. And how wonderfully
descriptive they are, and the evocative images they conjure up. Ever
notice how a good many people attribute anything that gives them
pleasure as being bad, or "of the devil"? To develop this line of
thought further,
have you ever wondered WHY something which is a natural part of our
beings, something that was created to give us pleasure could be seen as
being bad, evil or of the devil? I believe this next song "Sex And The
Devil" is openly saying the hell with what other people think - do what
YOU feel is right and what feels good to *YOU* as long as it's not
causing harm to anyone. When we become intimate with someone, we are
very effectively forming a bond with that person. We feel a sense of
closeness, and share an innermost part of ourselves with them that is
simply not available during every waking moment. It is an energy
exchange of the highest order, both spiritually as well as physically.
By opening up and allowing this natural part of us to happen, as it
states in the song, it causes emptiness to be destroyed. How can this be
a bad or negative thing when happiness and contentment are derived from
such a union?
"Everything you need, I give to you
And when you started this
You wanted me, that's true, I knew
Sex and the Devil
Do what you want to do
Sexuality can give to you
The power to destroy all emptiness
That's true, I knew
Sex and the Devil
Do what you want to do."
Now, this next song is one of my personal favorites too, for a variety
of reasons. I had to listen to it several times before different
meanings came at me other than the obvious. The song is called
"Innocence", and to me, if you think about someone who has been given a
bad hand in life, and then are being given an opportunity to remove all
the pain and suffering, and fill that void with something more profound,
I think it'll come very close to one of several messages this song holds
within it. In one sense, I'm seeing Julie and Babe taking on the guise
of the Goddess, and telling someone special that they can take it all
away, heal them from the inside out, and making them aware that in a
sense, they can be made innocent again. This song represents a kind of
rebirth to me, and on many levels - spiritual and sexual. And, it's just
a damn good song anyway, with a funky bass line.
"I can make you innocent
Dead boy, sad girl, mad people, bad old world
Angry teacher, see you standing in the square
Fucked up preacher, I don't think you really care
If you're right, or you're wrong
'Cause it only makes sense when we're singing your song
I can make you innocent
Well, do you like what you do, does it put you in the mood
Can I have a... Can I have her. Oh, let me lick you thru and thru
Ahh! I'll take you, and show you the truth
If it's right, or it's wrong
You'll only make sense when you're singing my song
Innocence, in a sense, I can make you innocent."
Ok, the next song is called "Essex Girl", and anyone who lives or has
lived in the UK will know and understand what's meant when those words
are mentioned. See, Essex Girls are notorious for having their legs
akimbo apparently, which is not altogether a bad thing! Maybe it's more
along the lines that those in other counties are simply jealous at all
the attention and hype attached to being an Essex Girl :o)
Most people assume that the "stiff uppa lip" mentality has completely
taken over the UK, but it hasn't! How many young people in their 20's
and 30's flock to the club scene across the way in Spain, and kick their
heels up with each other during the summer
holidays? Like they say in this tune, "the British are the kinkiest
people on the planet" :o)
"Fuck with me - I'll see you bleed
Dream and rave - the life you crave
Essex girl - Essex girl
Knees up - Knees up
Babe: "No sex please, we're British"
Julie: "You must be fucking joking!
The British are the kinkiest people
on the planet... I've fucked every
nationality - and I'm tellin' ya
there's no-one dirtier than an...
Essex girl! Essex girl!"
Knees up, Mother Brown
Pull your knickers down
Knees up, knees up
Time to let the queers up
Knees up, Mother Brown
Come with me, I'll fill your need
Touch and see, I'll taste your cream
Romford, Southend, Colchester,
Essex girl."
Moving onwards! This next one is another favorite of mine. It leaves you
with sort of a blanket feeling, like you're being wrapped in sweet
loving arms, and being asked to go ahead and let it all out, how you
feel, what's bothering you. The world has treated you badly, and it's ok
to let go. This song is completely empathy energy packed, and I love it.
Definitely give this one a whirl.
"Tell me what you're feeling
Hold you close to me
The world, the world, the world
Is not your friend
Your pain gives pleasure
And they won't let it end
You don't have to beg
Just make yourself clear
Perfectly clear
Tell me what you're feeling
Hold you close to me
The world, the world, the world
Is not your friend
You don't stand alone
We do not forget
Our burning times past
Men are the scarecrows
And women are the crows
The field is called pleasure
Where the sex-seed grows
God is the farmer
He carries a gun
He lusts for black feathers
That fall from the sun
But we all are Harpies
With a taste for fine things
We'll steal all the harvest
And give crows better wings."
Don't you find the ending to be rather unique? It seems to imply, that
some men have pushed women away to the point where men lack a proper
understanding of how a woman feels inside. But then, I suppose sometimes
we also lack an understanding of how men feel within themselves too. It
seems also that God is threatened by Womyn, and the sexual nature of
Womyn, but womynkind have an ulterior motive towards reclaiming their
stolen sexuality - hence, the taste for fine things, and giving us
better wings so that we can fly to new heights of ecstasy and passion,
reclaiming the Goddess/Sacred Whore within ourselves.
Ok, I'm going to skip to the last song here. It's called "Diva" and this
song is completely spiritual. This song says to me what it is to submit
yourself totally to the will of the Great Mother, the Diva. She can
bring the Spirit - Womyn out of you, bless your life with passion, and
just as quickly turn it all black. We must never forget Her awesome
power, and give respect and reverence where it's met. And this song is
an outward means of telling those who wish to hear that the lovely
ladies of Rockbitch, these multi - talented, passionate, knowledgeable
priestesses of the Mother, that they do it all for Her. They give their
message in Her name, and teach other people through their example, and
their music how to reclaim this lost part of themselves.
"I went home to my father
To tell him what I'd done
He said, "Come with me, my daughter
Together we'll watch the sun"
I said, "Daddy, I have changed
I'm not your little girl
I'm in the arms of a Diva
And I'm living in a different world"
Well, I gave my soul to a Diva - a Diva."
Well! I have sooooo enjoyed introducing this band to you! And I hope you
all will enjoy them and what they are about as much as I do. And now for
the bad news. Rockbitch has recently terminated all their sites - for
what reason/s, I have no clue. I know from being on a fan e-list that
they are all well and happy, and all still living together, but they are
no longer touring, most likely due to all the hype with regards to the
sexual nature and nudity in their shows. This means I can't even direct
you to a listening site with any mp3s for you. Even both amazon.com and
amazon.co.uk have no sound clips. It's truly a tragedy! There are still
some fan sites though, and those I can direct you to. One thing though -
both amazons do offer their CD for sale still, so all is not totally
lost - failing that, look on eBay for someone selling videos/DVD's/and
CD's. Ok, here's some links for you to check out that I recommend. First
of all, this site is one
of Rockbitch's old pages - there isn't a lot on it, but it DOES feature
a video clip - not a bad deal. Next, you can also try
Matt's site. There's quite a bit on this page for you to have a gander
at. Last but not least is
Makaris's site. I quite like this one, plus he has some very decent
images that he himself took at some of the Rockbitch gigs, and has them
displayed with the permission of the band as well. Hats off to Makaris
also for his kind permission in making use of some of those images -
many thanks mate :o)
Well that's it for me for this month! Many thanks as usual to my partner
Doktor Avalanche, whose influence on me musically and otherwise has made
a world of difference :o) And with his help, next month I hope to
feature an old favorite that I know many of you will love, so watch this
space! Enjoy the summer holidays!
The darkest ~
Silver