fIREHOSE - For the Singer of REM

[diskochimp]

I have to say, this still sounds TERRIFIC...

[cmdennison]

minute men....leads to fire hoe like the Beatles leads to Wings.

[Allanoster]

The watchman holds the hammer. Yeah, that sounds like sumpthin' REM would say. :)

[mdjones2112]

I think it's kinda telling that anytime anyone mentions REM this song that comes to mind.

[Allanoster]

I saw fIREHOSE at the Metro in Chicago in around '91. It included eDFromOHIO (not sure about the caps. at this point:)

[MiddleDistanceBarrel]

Watt said in an interview that Stipe told him at one point "they should get together and write songs together", so he just wrote this one ahead of time. That's all there is to it.

[leamanc]

This song was meant as a jab at REM, but a good-natured jab. i remember the first time I heard this (probably around '89 or so, when my friend found the If'n tape at a pawn shop), I about died laughing.

So yes, it's kind of a dig at Stipe and REM, but they were/are friends, and I'm sure Stipe got a chuckle out of it too. fIREHOSE had nothing if not a raging sense of humor.

[fixedgearplanet]

what a great band. i consider the one time i was lucky to see them to be my favorite live show. why oh why don't they get back together?!?

[DrBojayHookah]

GOD, those were the days! Watt, fIREHOSE, R.E.M., Husker Du, Replacements! So much better than "grunge" and today's sissy commercial "punk."

[phishman706]

@DrBojayHookah some of my favorite music, along with early grunge

[sickpoola]

@DrBojayHookah agree,but include Nirvana in this 'society'.....

[jackscourage]

i like the firehose band

[MckyMseNTarotCrds]

This would've fit perfectly on Reckoning.

[63steve]

The last time that The Minutemen played together was with REM. I think this song is a nod to Stipe because he insisted that The Minutemen tour with them against the wishes of their record label(IRS). Watch the "We Jam Econo" movie, its all in there.

[DinoVice]

@63steve amen.. d boon shoulda never stormed off.. he woulda never recked going double nickels on the dime :(... RIP D BOON..

[CarlLikes]

This post punk high arty level of songwriting.....Am I the only one that feels tripped out starting at 0:37?? I mean, wowww......

[hadapuff]

this is like REM but with one exception: MUCH BETTER!!

long live Mike Watt

[mtnjoeschmo]

Saw fIREHOSE at least 3 times at Bogarts, hung with Watt 2 of those (humbletastic player!). 2 or more times at Montclaire Green Door and yes, as far as live bands go, too awesome!. Experinces I will never forget. Especially Bogarts in L.B.! Guh, ya can almost rewind the brain sometimes.

[alcoholya]

are these lyrics an attack on metaphysics?

[zinovy08]

I saw fIREHOSE four times. To this day, they are the best live band I ever saw. Would love to see them again.

[xt66]

According to Trouser Press magazine, this song was "a devastating parody of that band". I suppose the lyrics are as... Stipe-ish as R.E.M.'s, but I've always thought this was a positive nod to the band.

[VAThrasher]

Yeah I gotta agree with you. Allmusic's review said that it was an "irate rocker" and the lyrics are certainly as oblique as any of the stuff REM made, but I guess i just figured all this time it was a tribute, since the Minutemen and REM toured together in 85. so huh

[melflash]

Saw these guys in the early 90's in Omaha. Great show. Watt kept busting bass strings he was playing so hard. Great tribute song to REM.

[twirlyboggs]

thanksssss

[mattisprettycool]

Were they supposed to sound exactly like REM here? Even the vocals sound pretty much just like Stipe.

[Sam5LC]

@mattisprettycool

I could never get into REM, but I love this song ....

[DinoVice]

@Sam5LC yeah man.. they were a lil to heroine shique for me..

[timepope]

@mattisprettycool Wow, I never noticed that. Crawford does sound just like Stipe

[mattfnmaxwell]

@timepope yeah! I noticed that during witness. R.E.Ms the fucing best.

[cjmarsicano]

@mattisprettycool Watt actually wrote this for Stipe when he was thinking of doing a solo album for Texas Hotel Records. That record didn't happen, so Watt gave it to Edward to sing.

[melflash]

Have loved this band and song since '88. Thanks for posting.