Beginning Of The End

Album: Life on the Line (1977)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to Steve Crancher's 2008 biography Eddie And The Hot Rods: Do Anything You Wanna Do, "Beginning Of The End" was the only track contributed to the Life On The Line album by guitarist Dave Higgs, ostensibly because he appeared to be suffering a case of writer's block when the band were working on their new material.

    The song also appears to have been prophetic, because the album was released to lukewarm reviews with comments like "nothing to get in a lather about" and "approach with care". Surprisingly it didn't even make the top fifty. Their manager Ed Hollis also appears to have mismanaged their affairs very badly at this time; there were rumors of a cocaine bill of $2000 a week for the band during their American tour, and money went missing "as rock 'n' roll money so often is." Ed died from a heroin overdose a few years later, and although the band continued into the 21st Century, albeit with the usual changing lineups, Eddie And The Hot Rods never quite made the A List of rock bands. Having said that, "Beginning Of The End," the longest and last track on the album, is a blistering uptempo anarchic number with fine axework. Beginning of the end? Not for this band. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

  • Dracir De Lassy! from UsaMmmmm. This band in the Uk along with Dr. Feelgood, Nine below Zero and the such - were the force prior to Punk, it's where Punk came from. Pub Rock - in that world they were Gods!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.