Get Free by The Vines

Album: Highly Evolved (2002)

Charted: 24 122

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The Vines are an Australian group fronted by Craig Nicholls, who wrote "Get Free," their most popular song. Nicholls explained the meaning to Interview magazine: "'Get Free' is about doing what you want. It's a combination of strength and pain, fear and excitement. 'Getting free' can mean anything, like sleeping in until three in the afternoon every day if that's what you want - that's getting free. For me, though, getting free is in the music."
The frantic energy and raw sound of "Get Free," from their debut album, Highly Evolved, helped establish The Vines as part of the garage rock revival of the early 2000s, which included The Strokes, The White Stripes, and another Australian band, Jet. The Vines were a little different because they got loads of press as soon as Highly Evolved came out. Rolling Stone and the British music mag NME both ran cover stories, with NME hyping them as the new Nirvana.

Of course, they didn't live up to these lofty expectations, but many listeners thoroughly enjoyed the Highly Evolved album. The second Vines album, Winning Days in 2004, didn't do as well, but Craig Nicholls kept the band going with various lineups and maintained a solid following (mostly in Australia) for years, outlasting most of the bands from that garage rock revival.
The video was directed by Roman Coppola, the son of film director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now). It was shot in an aircraft hangar at Chandler Valley Center Studios in Burbank, California, and shows the band performing as a lightning storm comes through, an apt metaphor for their dangerous energy. Other videos Coppola directed include "Last Nite" by The Strokes and "Lump" by The Presidents of the United States of America.
The Vines performed "Get Free" at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards as part of a "garage rock battle of the bands" segment where they took on The Hives.
Live performances of "Get Free" became notorious for Craig Nicholls' unpredictable and often destructive behavior on stage. During shows, he was known to scream incoherently instead of singing the lyrics, destroy his own and other band members' equipment, and toss himself around on stage without regard for his safely. As drummer Hamish Rosser described, "When I saw him go bonkers the first time, it was kind of frightening. I thought that he was either going to hurt himself or hurt someone else or even jump out a window."

These volatile performances of "Get Free" and other songs contributed to The Vines' reputation as an intense live act, but also led to increasing concern about Nicholls' mental state and ability to cope with the pressures of fame. The band's touring career was eventually curtailed after Nicholls was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in 2004.
The band played "Get Free" on various TV shows to promote the song, often with unpredictable results. When they played it on The Late Show with David Letterman, Craig Nicholls smashed his guitar into the drum kit, tumbled over an amp, and writhed around on the floor, mumbling into the microphone "I think they're troubled teens," Letterman quipped.

They didn't even make air on Jay Leno's show - Nicholls had a similar fit during the soundcheck, so their performance was canceled.
The Vines charted several songs in Australia and the UK, but "Get Free" is the only one that made the US Hot 100, bubbling under at #122. It was, however, the most-added track on US radio for the week of May 19, 2002.
"Get Free" is rather efficient, clocking in at just 2:05. The lead single from the album, "Highly Evolved," runs just 1:34.

Comments: 23

Wallace Silva from BrazilThis song is played in first episode of Fastlane (2002-2003).
Landon from Winchester, OhWhy are you people comparing The Vines with Nirvana? They don't sound alike! Just because The Vines sometimes have a grungey sound, doesn't mean they are influenced by Nirvana. Nirvana is a grunge rock band with often nonsensical but very emotional lyrics with heavy guitars. The Vines have a mainstream rock sound with some songs while others have a melodical sound and dreamy tone. They are both great bands, and no one on here has the right to say they suck compared to Nirvana. I'm a great fan of both of the bands, and I like having them on the same playlist. But then again I also enjoy Trace Adkins, Eminem, Jacks Mannequin, Bloodhound Gang, Drive By Truckers, and Journey on that same list. I don't compare my music! I apologize for the rant. Get Free is a very fast paced and convinent song to listen to, and may very well be The Vines anthem. It's a shame that they haven't made bigger than they have.
Corey from Richmond, VaGreat song, great band.
Lemicro from New York City, Nygood song.
Justin from Georgetown, Inthe vines are alot better then the song "get free" they are most noteably famous for that and the song "ride" which i believe is on some nissan commercial
Alex from Perth, Australiamost vines songs are nirvana influenced and the quiter and less frequent album change songs are beatles influenced. The vines used to cover nirvana songs which help to spawn their grunge sound, Much like nirvana used to cover the melvins a punk band. Everyone has copied someone but the vines adapted it well and prove how good aussie rock is.
Stump from Gulf Shores, AlOkay my previous comment got deleted. Perhaps thats telling me to be a little more polite. If you dont like The Vines, you dont have to come in here and say stupid mindless things about them. Just because they arent Metallica, or because every idiot thinks theyre copying Nirvana, doesnt mean that they have no talent. Lets see you sell 1.5 million records, then you can say they suck. Have a nice day.
Joey from Nowhere Land, Ca..but that may be under-estimating The Beatles.

The Vines are great, but nothing compares with The Beatles
Joey from Nowhere Land, Cai absolutely LOVE this song!

the video was cool, especially when Craig was flown at the end by the explosion.

i have no idea why, but this reminds me of The Beatles: the new generation
Ben from Bristol, EnglandIm a huge fan of the vines an this song is simply awesome and it was the first song of theirs i heard!! I cant wait for their third album
Tom from BrisbaneCraig Nichols and The Vines have recorded a new album that will hopefully be realsed early next year. They're a fantastic band.
George from Poopville, IaThe Vines Suck
Cool Guy from Compton, CaNirvana=has talent. The Vines=no talent
Amanda from East Grand Forks, Mnanother curt suicide, eh? you must really be a fan of Kurt. with a K.
Chris from London, Englandthe lead singer of The Vines is Craig Nicholls
Shaun from Shelbyville, KyI talked to the girlfriend of the lead singer before (yeah, really lol) and she said her favorite band was the Beatles, and that he (the lead singer, don't know his name) always sung for her. So it's no wonder alot of their songs reflect beatles
J-raff from Boston, MaDave Grohl of Nirvana is not a fan of this song, as he stated in Spin magazine about 2 years ago.
Mark from Seattle, WaNikky, not everyone who does drugs wants to kill themselves. And the vines are o.k. but they will never be "rock gods".
Nikky Carter from Houston, Txit's wierd i don't even know the guys from the vines but i feel like i do.
i want craig to stop doin drugs cause the world can't handle another curt suicide! :( i hope yall get over this lil slump and yall r tha best stay tha same (cept 4 tha drugs) then everything would get better then u could make alotta money and be "rock gods" then 5 yrs from now you won't be dead!!! U CAN DO IT!
Bono from Boston, MaThe Next Nirvana
Nick from Poghkeepsie, NyNot their best song, their other songs remind me of John Lennon
Delirium Trigger from New Brunswick, Nythe director who directed "get free", roman coppola, has also directed videos for the strokes and the hives.
Caroline Vu from San Jose, DeThe Vines are great.

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