Mars Attacks

Album: American Psycho (1997)
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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.

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