LIT: TRAGIC STORY Of The Band Behind 'MY OWN WORST ENEMY'

The history of the band Lit who is best known for the song 'My Own Worst Enemy'
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Few songs really capture the late 90’s like the Lit’s track My Own Worst Enemy. It was a long winding road for Lit to achieve success and through their 30 plus year career, they’d change their musical styles, deal with tragedy and their hit song pretty much became a self fulfilling prophecy. But whatever happened to the band Lit. That’s what were going to explore in today’s video.
The band’s origins begin with frontman AJ Popoff and his brother Jeremy who is 2 years older They would hail from Fullerton, in Orange County.
AJ went out to his 64 cadillac got his notepad and wrote that lyric he had. The next piece of the song was that memorable guitar riff which jeremy came up with. The band started to play along and AJ wasn’t sure what to sing, but then he remembered that lyric he jotted down at the gas bar Based on interviews the members gave it was written pretty quickly between 30 min to an hour.
The studio version that ended up on Lit’s subsequent release is pretty close to the demo. AJ would recall to SPin Back in those days, when we were writing a song, we would put filler words in there just to have something to sing, something to chew on while we were making it. Then when we would get closer, we’d go back to those, and then we’d just go in and fine-tune the words before we would demo them up or record or whatever, but that one just took off from under us. We demoed it up the way it was because people were freaking out…[If we’d written it now] we would’ve totally gone back and fixed a bunch of those words…and thank God we didn’t. The song is autobgioraphical, admitting to screwing up, but at the same time not saying you want do it again. The band was into partying, but they were more into playing poker and drinking almost every weekend, not doing beer bongs or playing beer pong.
The band would premiere the song live at the troubadour in late 1998 and audiences and even their fellow bands loved it. Fellow orange county band Zebrahead who was already signed was at that show and one the members told the band that the song was a hit. The band by this point were attracting bigger and bigger crowds and label reps were showing up at a lot of shows around Orange County. Lit would finally sign with RCA Records after reps heard their demo and saw them perform my own worst enemy live.
The band would head to NRG recording studio in north hollywood - with producer Don Gilmore who worked with Linkin Park and Eve 6. The song’s were about 90-95% finished by this point. RCA would issue A Place in the Sun on February 23, 1999. The title was reference to Frank Sinatra’s old stomping ground in vegas The Sands hotel. The band’s sound would see comparisons to Third Eye Blind, early elvis costello and social distortion.
The band’s manager would admit on the band’s podcast that payola was pretty common at this time - labels paying radio stations to play their artists music. She believed in my own worst enemy so much she forbade RCA from using payola to get the song on radio stations as it would hurt the legitimacy of the band. -. She asked RCA to call certain radio stations and tell them they would get the lead single my own worst enemy early. The song was sent to a station in St. Louis who was the first station to play the song. By January of 99 a month before the album’s release KROQ started playing the song and the label and the band were surprised at the response. My Own Worst Enemy was being played almost every 2 hours on KROQ and the audience was eating it up.
By April, My Own worst enemy topped the alternative airplay charts where it stayed for 11 consecutive weeks. Couple this with heavy play on mtv and the song was inescapable. It soon became one of the most popular songs of the summer in 1999. The success of the song resulted in a place in the sun going gold by June of 1999 and platinum in October. It would eventually go on to sell nearly 1.5 million copies.
Lit had two more successful singles on the record including miserable and zip-lock with them peaking at at number 3 and nu

[@rnrtruestories]

Several requests for this band so throw your requests here. also who had the foresight to call the band Lit?

[@VicariousThePot]

My list: Tantric Hot Action Cop Cold Tool Mountain Thin Lizzy

[@micki_06]

Creed

[@robgoodman200]

CAKE

[@pascalaugustin8767]

Methods of mayhem, that Tommy Lee project!

[@jeffrunge1608]

Hey... Since in this video, you spoke of one of my all time favorite bands... Zebrahead The great MFZB That'd be AMAZING

[@kenterminateddq5311]

Radio stations still play "My Own Worst Enemy" decades after the song got played the first time. Thank you, mrtruestories. I always wondered what happened to Lit.

[@rnrtruestories]

You’re welcome!

[@dr.loomis4221]

It's RNRtruestories

[@Peavey311]

Damn, you don't hear about bands with a bond like that. To have the drummer live with them, take him to his appointments, and being there when he died. I had good memories of Lit, but now they've got my respect bigtime. I saw them open for Silverchair back in the day and they were great live! The guitarist had a neon pink fuzzy amp, badass!

[@ChrisJohnson-hk6es]

Let me just say this. LIT is still alive and well. Just saw them in concert last year. They put on a great show! They work their tails off and produce some excellent music. The biggest tragedy was when Schellenberger their drummer passed away. Ajay's vocals are still incredible, Jeremy's guitar skills are incredible, and Kevin rocks that bass like no other. If any band deserves a chance back to the top, LIT does. Like I said, these guys work so hard and I enjoy everything they put out these days.

[@thenryb]

Saw the band in April 2021 in Lake Havasu. I actually felt bad for the band. They were playing a private party we were at...playing mid-day on a barge to about 100 middle age people that weren't particularly interested. The band sounded good but looked burned out. That being said...My Own Worst Enemy is an absolute classic that will live on forever.

[@jasoncrandall]

I was there that day too. That’s what made me click this video when it popped up on my feed. I agree with your assessment of that day.

[@rnrtruestories]

I’m sure they were compensated pretty well for private party.

[@drugsmcsnortington]

I kinda miss living in Havasu saw lots of good bands when I lived there...

[@brianmeen2158]

This entire video just gave me powerful nostalgia .. It’s gotta be crushing to have one monster hit and never reach that level again.

[@Hatinazz]

But sometimes it not always about the money wow we can tell you grew up rich

[@jonbourgoin182]

A Place In The Sun and Atomic both have some bangers on there. For some reason they were always knows as Alternative but they were always pop/punk to me. Also my DARE officer in middle schooled actually played My Own Worst Enemy for us with the lyrics up on a projector so we could see the negative effects of alcohol lol

[@rnrtruestories]

Oh man I remember Dare! They sell T shirts at hot topic I think

[@plushman3685]

Atomic is great all the way through

[@ASHASHLESS]

Great albums full of hits

[@standinsilence]

LOL.. D.A.R.E. using the song that way sounds hilarious.

[@dakistle]

DARE was.......wait for it.......Lit

[@texan_2ocho965]

I saw LIT at a free show in Carrollton TX in 2022. It was a fun show. Of course, everybody went nuts hearing "My Own Worst Enemy".

[@tooruoikawa8985]

UFO with SPECIAL GUEST IRON MAIDEN what a time to be alive :)

[@rnrtruestories]

Yes!

[@brianmeen2158]

UFO is great but a weird name for a band ..

[@mcraft2240]

I’m currently reading Pete Way’s book. Former bassist for UFO

[@Stufftowatch21]

That was the time for metal music 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@BleavinUtes]

Jeremy’s son here. Just wanted to say great video man. You really did your research and know so many small details about the band/family’s past!

[@aob505]

When My Own Worst Enemy comes on, you know you're gonna be singing every word.

[@dr.loomis4221]

Nope

[@jeffreyeickhoff591]

I never got into Lit enough to purchase albums, but whenever that riff for My Own Worst Enemy would come on, I'd start headbanging. What a great simple riff and song that never got old!

[@dr.loomis4221]

Not really a headbanging riff...maybe a light but not overly aggressive toe tap

[@stewartdowouis9218]

You name-dropped Butch Walker in this video…the world needs a Marvelous 3/Butch Walker True Story. Make it happen!

[@vladplasmius2854]

Hell yeah.

[@ChristopherAkers1982]

The Marvelous 3 story is easy. They signed a shitty deal with a greedy record label, made 3 albums and they were awesome. Couldn't get out of the record deal and decided to split ways rather than give the label another dime.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

@@ChristopherAkers1982Well that and the whole SouthGang through the Floyds era before they became M3. And Butch’s crazy career afterwards. All under appreciated.

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

My own worst enemy is a signature pop punk/alternative rock classic

[@brianmeen2158]

Sure is. I tend to not like that genre but I rock out to that song every time I hear in.

[@Games_And_More]

Saw em in 99 at warped tour phoenix sounded amazing live

[@MiC-T]

No song symbolizes Southern California life better than this one. The guitar intro brings me straight to driving down the 405 in OC headed to Trestles or Newport or Ensenada for spring break. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO CALL YOU FAT!"

[@6sKi6z6]

I saw Lit on my 20th birthday 5/1/2002. Jeremy played the star spangled banner in between songs since 9/11 was still pretty fresh in everyone’s minds. It was a fun show. Good energy from the band.

[@jbizzle7616]

Happy birthday. That’s mine too. I turned 14 that year.

[@slimbob777]

Love them,their got so many hits! AJ so humble❤

[@ShopTunes999]

This band always makes me happy, it was an anthem for my troubled teens and pure nostalgia now in my 40's, the album "The view from the bottom" is their best work imo.

[@rockerbob949]

I live in Laguna Niguel south Orange County California and yeah the guys are awesome. Never got the notoriety they deserved.

[@ThatOneSceneDude]

Lit's most recent album is a banger! Lots of great hooks on it

[@tylerwfy6]

What happened to the drummer Big Al was tragic but I wouldn't say the story of the band is tragic. They are legends

[@RizzskiBusiness]

They're amazing. I was a huge fan of them like 20 years ago when I raced motocross and did downhill mtb. I looked up some of the newer music they did and it's a lot better than most out today.

[@jerryk3280]

"I didn't mean to call you fat." I'm sure I wasnt the only one to mishear the lyrics 😅

[@JaredtheRabbit]

I heard "I didn't mean to call you that"

[@bb-gc2tx]

@@JaredtheRabbit for 25 years thats what i thought it was until i read this comment lol

[@JaredtheRabbit]

@@bb-gc2tx And by the looks of things, both of us were right.

[@micki_06]

Loved their first Album

[@lougaru2445]

I saw Lit in like 2018 open for Everclear and like most people only knew a couple of their singles. Despite that they were able to keep the crowd interested and played a great show. I was so impressed.

[@Buy_YT_Views.129]

Came here from IG. Most definitely glad I did. Great song with an even better lyrics🙏🏾

[@lainnorcal]

If you have a chance to see Lit live, do it. Fantastic live band. 🤘😎🤘

[@randman21]

Thanks for the history lesson! The summer of 1999 was when I discovered rock music. I damned near lost my mind when I first heard "My Own Worst Enemy" on the radio. The riff, the words, and that relentless kickass energy were unlike anything I'd heard and it changed my life. As a performer 25 years later, I can report that that song still makes crowds go bananas!

[@rnrtruestories]

You’re welcome!

[@MedalionDS9]

I love the album overall that song came from... just a great slice of late 90's summery alternative/pop punk

[@tylerc6558]

Over My Head is still an absolute banger

[@rnrtruestories]

Yes! Love that song!

[@kbz5150]

Great backing vocal from Steven Tyler on that track

[@jasonmiller4080]

You gotta mention the slidebar the band opened in Fullerton. Closed down a few years ago but great place in DT Fullerton.

[@kbz5150]

After their drummer passed away they just never sounded the same to me. People think replacing drummers is no biggie, but it changes everything. Drummers are the foundation that everything is built on. I'm still sad about the news of his passing but glad they guys are still out there rocking, he would want his friends/bandmates to keep trucking on.

[@tres311]

Best song of summer 1999 …along with RHCP Scar Tissue. Peak American empire

[@rnrtruestories]

I gotta add Steal My Sunshine (despite being Canadian)

[@victorvarela1480]

I play guitar off and on and I learned "My Worst Enemy" and played it embarrassingly at my 55th birthday. I'll go in my game room where I have my rig set up, down some beers, turn on the amp, sling on the guitar and jam this song! Oh, by the way! Mr. Jeremy Popoff, you had the best little club in Fullerton,Ca. called the Slide Bar, every Saturday me and the wifey would go and see bands there it was Great! Please, Please reopen it!!!

[@jasonyohn9362]

I knew Alan and went to high school with him. He was a nice guy. I remember seeing them in Hollywood when they were still called Razzle. Saw them again as Lit and knew they were destined for success.

[@ict113090]

Fullerton CA Represent!!!

[@doomedhuh]

I was at the 1999 warped tour in Houston the summer that song was out. They were playing and not many people were watching them. but when they started that my own worst enemy riff everyone ran over to the stage.

[@rnrtruestories]

My brother lives in Houston, we go down every year or so to visit

[@spfadden082711]

I loved lit. It’s sad about their drummer but really great they all stuck together until the very end of his life

[@davesdrum]

Great band! All their albums are good too!!!

[@jesterr7133]

I remember when "My Own Worst Enemy" came out. I have always been fascinated by the guitar riff in that song. Objectively speaking, it is not a pretty riff. It is very abrasive, but at the same time, it is irresistibly catchy. It just gets stuck in your head. It is a really simple, but unique riff.

[@p3tur]

Cool band! 🤘😎

[@tommyz1082]

About 20 yeara ago maybe, Lit came to NJ and played. After, they ended uo going back to the Avenel Fire Dept. with strippers and partying there after the show. The band and strippers took pictures wearing the gear, the dept got in ALOT of trouble over it!

[@secularprophet1968]

I always thought their follow up single, "Miserable" was a lot better than "My Own Worst Enemy." Anyone else agree or am I alone with this one? 🤔

[@p.d.l7023]

In the 2000 Fringe Festival, we did a spoof of them. Not because they're not good, because they were.

[@rnrtruestories]

They’re song here’s to the night was my grad song

[@nimocolors]

A Place in the Sun was the first CD I had as a kid (it was technically Warped Tour 96, but that CD broke in my pocket on the way home from my friends house) My good friend at the time gave it to me for free and the album takes me right back to 99 - Early 2000s

[@44long33]

I remember seeing Pantera/ Skid Row at Irvine Meadows in 91 I think. They gave me a flyer for a Razzle show.

[@dominickdolio2414]

Thanks for the video!! I recall you said it was coming. Great stuff. Be well.

[@rnrtruestories]

You bet! I always listen to suggestions and topics people request, just sometimes takes some time to publish the videos

[@jacoh9591]

On this note, I just want to say: Your videos are LIT

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks!

[@wheelswingsfins438]

Saw them last year in Virginia Beach

[@dantheman9167]

In Atlanta i saw marvelous 3 and butch solo too many times to count. Always a great show. The world needs marvelous 3 now. Ive always loved lit. Ive seen two shows back in the day and they were great.

[@BEEPEE767]

Butch is amazing. I saw him at Hollywood forever and at slidebar (the popoff bros bar) before it closed down. Always puts on a great show. Agreed on the M3 sentiment too. The newest record was is awesome

[@carryon9538]

My Karaoke song! My Worst Enemy.

[@jaysick6551]

I love this band. Their newest release is a great record.

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you for sharing this story! ✌🏼😊

[@daleyoung87]

I remember a story about the guitarist (Jeremy), ran a bar called the "Crowbar". There was a homeless veteran that was struggling with mental issues that would frequent the outside of the bar. Apparently Jeremy influenced the other bar staff to call the police and tell them that the homeless man was breaking into people's cars when he actually wasn't. When the police were called it subsequently ended up causing the death of the homeless man. All because Jeremy lied to get the cops to remove him from the property

[@sayastra]

Sharing with my band. We cover this one.

[@matpeachey3946]

A place in the sun is one of my biggest guilty pleasures.. if there’s such a thing as a guilty pleasure 😅 it’s a perfect pop rock record. Always gets spun when the summer arrives ❤️ Great video. I’ve never really thought about reading up about the band. Been listening since 1999ish and found this very interesting. Have a beautiful day folks ❤

[@peterchanthavong2102]

Atomic was a pretty good follow-up album to A Place in the Sun. I still remember getting Atomic around the time it came out, and it was only around $10.00.

[@rnrtruestories]

Their manager claimed initially label stickered it $24.99

[@SmokeWithMeInCT]

Loved their first album , still do

[@HellcatCustoms]

"My Own Worst Enemy" is a fun and easy song to play on guitar.

[@TeraGreene1]

Golly, I remember when it came out. I think I gave KROQ most of their listens lol 😅 time flies. ❤

[@waltermiller249]

I graduated from. Fullerton High Schoo, nice

[@demo3456]

Best summer of my life when this song was out.

[@Baltimore813]

Lit is still going strong..playing HFStival in September 2024 at Nationals Park!!

[@connorshaw2618]

Ziplock bag is such a great song and their cover of The cures pictures of you. Great band.

[@stewartdowouis9218]

Pieces of vinyl, boff!

[@rnrtruestories]

Ta ta toothy

[@dantheman9167]

Oh wow yoy name dropped EVE 6. That bad had alot of great hits.. one of my favorites " tail of the sun" " little black back pack" so many hits.

[@jeffreywilliams7864]

Saw them at HFstival 99 back in the day. I was shocked though when I heard their drummer passed.

[@TheWorldFamousIC]

Not only those facts, but the television show 'Malcom in the Middle' promoted this band just like "They Might be Giants", it was pretty cool.

[@markywaddy6504]

They've new music. Go check out "yeah yeah yeah" and "kicked off the plane". They're really good songs 🤘

[@FURTHER_ADO]

That's not how you use they've

[@RobertF-]

​@@FURTHER_ADO They've an unique new way to use that word now.

[@johnholmeswebb8162]

Miserable sounds like a STP song, I love it.

[@nsbd90now]

"Lipstick & Bruises" is one of my favorite songs.

[@rnrtruestories]

Not sure if I added it in the video but I originally had it in my script but the song is about life on the road and the ups and downs

[@JerseyJeff84]

​@@rnrtruestories Yep, you mention it @15:23

[@oscaralonso1970]

you forgot to mention they did the main theme for Disney's "Titan AE"

[@skwibblez9239]

He mentions it briefly at 15:20

[@rnrtruestories]

Mentioned it briefly

[@oscaralonso1970]

@@rnrtruestories right! haha thanks :)

[@nathanielovaughn2145]

Theme song of my life for 45 years

[@vegasdad]

I love the baba booey reference. 🎸 🤘🏼

[@travismiles5885]

I saw Zebrahead at Rock Am Ring in Germany in 1999. They were off mainstage in New Talent tent. They opened for Kid Rock. Can you do a video on them.

[@fizzyfuzz5878]

MFZB and Broadcast To The World are classics

[@RustyNickels]

Now I wanna see a video about Handsome Devil. Remember those guys?

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Whatever happened to Eve 6?

[@wretchedknave5740]

One of the most underrated bands ever.

[@brycedownpitch]

They were "lit" to say the least.

[@bofa83]

atomic is a really good album as well. I know I bought their third album but I don't know where it is.

[@VicariousThePot]

Hey great video, can you do a rise and fall of the band "tantric".

[@rnrtruestories]

Yes on my to do list! Coming soon

[@brandenjones192]

I always wondered what happened to them because I loved their first album

[@VicariousThePot]

@brandenjones192 yea I had their first album (which had I think 2 hit songs on it), and then they disappeared, and THEN I read years later that the singer was a POS.

[@clemdarkstar]

Miserable reminds me of being with my then girlfriend in Memphis. She broke my hand that ended my guitar playing. And I still stayed with her. Insanity of youth

[@EricLuszcz]

PIECES OF VINYL, BOFF!

[@Mattphillies]

LIT discovered one of the greatest songs of all time is what they did. They are a brave American explorer of rock music, and in this house LIT are heroes- end of story!

[@Siciliancivilian]

MADONE'!!!

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

😖

[@yourdaddy9622]

Cringe..

[@callumdodds5901]

you're looking buff these days mate, you must be working out?!

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks yes always trying to work out - started rucking with my dogs almost everyday, doing weights, pull ups, push ups. Getting ready for basketball season in the fall

[@bound2thefloor1]

I met the band years ago at Edgefest. No fault of them, but I don't remember it at all. It was late in the date and I was well, into drunk territory. Still have my autographed CD though.

[@p.d.l7023]

See my dog in the thumbnail? His name = Baba Booey!

[@jonsnow899]

Nice Bababooey reference!!

[@rnrtruestories]

Thanks. His professional life is a noine and his personal life is a two

[@burnedoils]

damn u look like the signer of live atm lol

[@joshrybicki]

The tragic use of using tragic in all my tragic videos.

[@presmasterflash7555]

These guys can bowl. That is all.

[@user-vm3zy1ix4j]

Miserable is a banger.

[@DoctorRobertBobby]

was expecting something about Jeremy Popoff and the killing of Kelly Thomas

[@rnrtruestories]

That could probably be it’s own story

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Man some one hit wonder bands from the 60s and 70s are touring and playing decently big shows all based off one song. Too bad bands likeLit aren’t experiencing resurgence like those bands have/did/do

[@Daniel-fq5vq]

I love you.

[@thinmizzy365]

They sold the Slidebar and now live in Nashville. One night, i was sitting in a dive bar in La Habra making fun of some guys as they were trying to name their band, making their ladyfriends laugh. They were Zebrahead.

[@sitindogmas]

ba ba boey

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

That stupid song reminds me of my junior high job at Taco John's.

[@misfitmanic]

Would love to see you do a video on Gun Club, monetization be damned.

[@ktothec24]

I love gun club! I highly doubt he’d ever do a video on them though . Not mainstream enough .

[@SerpentStar_]

One hit wonder band. Be interesting to do a video about the music industry, Labels, big and small that rip off artists or maybe some don't? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@leopardstripe]

Rush Limbaugh s replacements use it as their intro song

[@Ecentric-un6ny]

they had a couple other good singles on this album. actually I was thinking of lipsticks and bruises