Mars Attacks

Album: American Psycho (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is based on the 1996 film Mars Attacks!, which is based on a card series by Topps that was criticized by parents and was pulled from shelves, but was very popular with children. A spinoff card series, Dinosaurs Attack!, was also made, yet was very inaccurate in describing certain dinosaurs and creatures.
  • In 1997, Glenn Danzig had departed the Misfits and bassist Jerry Only had legally won the rights to record and perform using the bands' name. American Psycho was the first Misfits album released without Danzig and with the addition of Michale Graves on vocals. The majority of the tracks on American Psycho are based on movies, including the catchy "Mars Attacks." The song was reportedly recorded for the 1996 film of the same name, but didn't get finished in time to be included in the movie.

    Regardless of whether the song was made for the film, the movie is prime material for Misfits inspiration. Both are campy, funny, over-the-top and rife with monsters from outer space.
  • In 1998, the Misfits released an exclusive three-song EP consisting of previously unreleased demo versions of "Mars Attacks," "Haunting," and "Dead Kings Rise," which would have been the title of the American Psycho album had the song actually made it onto the record. The EP was available only through the Misfits' website.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.