Violence Is Golden

Background

"Violence Is Golden" opens the B-side on Eye of the Zombie, the fourth solo album of John Fogerty. Like all songs on the LP, "Violence Is Golden" was recorded at The Lighthouse in North Hollywood, California, and engineered by Jeffrey Norman. The album came out in September 1986 and reached #26 in the USA. 

Fogerty left the optimism of Centerfield behind and changed his mood on Eye of the Zombie. "I wanted to do a record that was darker, a little moodier," he said in an interview by The Orlando Sentinel in October 19th, 1986. Fogerty admitted in his autobiography (2015) that the dark, spooky mood of the album was also a consequence of his legal and personal problems at that time. 

Between the two albums, Fogerty moved from Bay Area to Los Angeles. His office at Warner Brothers was downstairs in the basement, where he wrote in the evening and nights. He also wanted to be more current and increase the use of drum machines and synths on the album. Fogerty had a guitar and a couple of synthesizers in his office.

As a sarcastic commentary on the arms trade, "Silence Is Golden" is probably the most enraged track on the album. The piece was very up to date because the secret arms scam (the Iran-Contra affair) was revealed with screaming headlines in November 1986, just some weeks after the release of Eye of the Zombie. Unfortunately, it didn't help increase the sales of the album.    

Personnel

Lead guitar, vocals, keyboards: John Fogerty

Drums, percussion: John Robinson

Bass: Neil Stubenhaus

Background vocals: Bobby King, Willie Green Jr. and Terry Evans

Eye of the Zombie was the first album during his solo career when Fogerty didn't play everything by himself. 

Live versions

John Fogerty played "Violence Is Golden" live on Rockin' All Over the World Tour in autumn 1986 in the USA and Canada. The world premiere took place in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 27th, 1986. Like all numbers off Eye of the Zombie, except "Change in the Weather",  "Violence Is Golden" disappeared from the programming of John Fogerty for good after the tour was over.  

Critical reception

"'Violence Is Golden' whips up some apt connections between military bluster, macho sexual posturing and profiteering, but its thumping choruses and inane food metaphors ("Pass another plate of shrapnel/Sprinkle it with TNT/Gotta have another grenade salad") overstate the obvious." -Anthony DeCurtis, The Rolling Stone, November 20th, 1986. 

"To me, the first minute or so sounds like it should be called "Rude Awakening #3"! A variety of sounds with little connection or point. Thankfully, he finally begins the song, which probably has my favourite Fogerty lyrics - his sarcasm oozing from every word. The fine guitar work is supported by a pounding rhythm section. A 4-minute tune would have been perfect!" -Matt Loewen.

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