In early 2000, rock legends such as Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day manned the airwaves. The post-grunge era began spawning with genres such as ska, punk and pop creating the next movement of rock. New to the scene were California-natives Incubus, who had released “Pardon Me” (Make Yourself, 1999), a personal statement about the battle of good vs. evil.
Now receiving a cultlike following, Incubus was unknown in mainstream media despite two prior full-length albums before Make Yourself. The band traded in the funk-infused bass and stoner-metal guitar riffs on Fungus Amongus and S.C.I.E.N.C.E. for a more subdued and socially acceptable form of rock.
After coming home from touring, frontman Brandon Boyd found out that a close friend and his grandmother had passed away. On top of that, his girlfriend of seven years had been cheating on him. Shortly after, he saw the infamous “picture of a guy fried up above his knee,” and he “said, ‘I can relate.’”
This is when the world was introduced to Boyd’s poetic lyrics. Written 12 years ago—he’s now 35—Boyd’s lyricism used irony and metaphors so sophisticated, the chances of understanding the hidden message were slim. His writing was, and continues to be, eloquent and beautiful. The heartache portrayed is that of anger and confusion.
A fight that anyone can relate to, Boyd’s metaphor of fighting through the bullshit in life seems at first like he wants to give up. (“Lately I’ve been thinking of combustication as a welcome vacation from the burdens of planet Earth, gravity, hypocrisy and the perils of being 3D.”) But with later inspection of lines such as, “Pardon me while I burn, and rise above the flame,” he’s really just saying no matter how much he’s hurt, he’s coming out on top.
The song says, “I’ll never be the same,” and Incubus never will because “Pardon Me” became the turning point in their career.
Originally, the tune didn’t receive a respectful amount of airplay when it was initially released, and it didn’t until Boyd and guitarist Mike Einziger took their hard surfer-rock tune to an acoustic level. By taking out the most unique attributes of the band, DJ Chris Kilmore and Einziger’s custom guitars and manipulation, the song had become acceptable in pop culture.
Reaching No. 15 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks of 2000, “Pardon Me” was the song launching Incubus into superstardom following with hits even your mom would know, such as, “Warning,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Drive.” The funky quartet had been transformed into a fully functioning contemporary rock group.
Incubus found inspiration living together in an ocean-front California home on a street named Morning View to create their next commercial success. The appropriately titled Morning View was released in 2001. The quartet with bassist Alex “Dirk Lance” Katunich (who was replaced by Ben Kenney in 2003), experimented with ambient tones, which became more prominent on future releases, and the hard rock hooks the band is known for.
Since then, Incubus has maintained a considerably low status among the mainstream media. After the releases of A Crow Left of the Murder in 2004 and Light Grenades in 2006, the guys took a five-year hiatus to pursue individual projects, until the release of this July’s If Not Now, When?, which the band is currently on tour with.
With an even more ambient and melodic tone, this album follows the trend of varied textures and layers with a more matured and experimental sound without demeaning the core of who Incubus really is.
So thank you, Boyd’s ex-girlfriend. Had you never cheated, it’s possible that Incubus might not have fallen into the laps of millions of critics and listeners across the world. This was a struggle well worth the fight, Brandon.
