In 2007, the band Cold Cave wrote the song “LIFE Magazine” shortly after learning that the iconic publication had ceased printing. “The notion that something called LIFE had died, after decades of being so iconic…was just too existential,” explained band member Wesley Eisold over email.
Started in Los Angeles, Cold Cave includes members Eisold and Amy Lee and is known for its synth-driven sound. The ending of LIFE Magazine inspired the title of the song and its dual themes of futility and hope, with lyrics like:
“…I climb clouds to the bluest of the sky
And all I saw was air
I rain my love to the heads that breathe below
But none of them cared…”
“To me, the song is about the duality of futility in everything and retaining a little hope, a little bounciness, to keep moving forward anyway. That choice is in the eye of the beholder. It’s happy-sad,” Eisold explained.
For Cold Cave, visual culture and photography have always played a crucial role in their music and artistic expression; a connection that aligns well with the legacy of LIFE Magazine, known for its pioneering photo essays.
“For me, LIFE Magazine represents youth,” wrote Eisold. “The checkout lane at the grocery store. The coffee table at the grandparents’ house. The brutalist red logo and the stark headlines. Brilliant and fatalist and authoritative. It was celebratory and scary.” These memories influenced the creation of the song, blending a sense of nostalgia with a contemporary sound.
When asked about favorite issues or images from LIFE Magazine, they named several iconic moments: Marilyn Monroe in 1952, Jefferson Airplane in 1968, Charles Manson in 1969, Paul & Linda McCartney in 1969, and Madonna in 1986. These selections reflect a diverse range of cultural moments that have shaped both their artistic vision and personal identity.
Marilyn Monroe attends the Foreign Press Association of Hollywood’s First Annual International Film Festival, at the Club Del Mar, Santa Monica, California, January 26, 1952. At the ceremony, Monroe won a ‘Henrietta’ award, her first of several over the years.
Loomis Dean The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
American rock group, Jefferson Airplane, performs i in front of a screen projection from ‘Glenn McKay’s Headlights,’ during which the artist projected light through various liquids and was accompanied by live music by the group, at the Whitney Museum, New York, New York, 1968.
Henry Groskinsky The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Mass murderer and conspirator, Charles Manson, at his preliminary hearing, Independence, California, December 1969.
Vernon Merritt III The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Paul (center) & Linda McCartney after their wedding, London, United Kingdom, 1969.
Terence Spencer The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Though the song “LIFE Magazine” was initially sidelined after its release in 2007, it has since been revived in Cold Cave’s live performances.
“The song was a staple but it only partially represented what Cold Cave was to me,” Eisold notes. The band’s label at the time had heavily licensed it for commercial use, elevating the song’s profile. “But that didn’t change the song’s influence on me or how I wanted the band to be seen. The project was too new and undefined, and I didn’t want the commercially approved pop song to define me.” Today, with a clearer definition of the band’s identity, “LIFE Magazine” has found its place in their setlists once again.
In terms of visual representation for live performances, Cold Cave opted for a diverse array of imagery. “We wanted an array of war, fashion, beauty, Hollywood, rock’n’roll…there is this beautiful phenomenon where visuals and music always sync up magically, so we didn’t overthink it.”
Reflecting on the song’s connection to nostalgia, Eisold sees it as both a blessing and a curse. “Synth music has the curse and luxury of nostalgia. It’s a sound for tomorrow’s yesterdays.”
