Teenagers from Mars

Last updated
"Teenagers from Mars"
Single by the Misfits
from the album Static Age
A-side "Horror Business"
Written Glenn Danzig
ReleasedJune 26, 1979
RecordedJanuary 1979
C.I. Studios, New York, New York
Length2:50
Label Plan 9
Producer(s) Dave Achelis
Tom Bejgrowicz

"Teenagers from Mars" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits. Written by vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was first released as the B-side of the band's 1979 single "Horror Business", alongside the song "Children in Heat". "Teenagers from Mars" was later included on the Misfits' 1980 EP Beware , as well as on the 1986 compilation album Misfits . In 1996, when the band's proposed debut album Static Age first received an official release as part of the boxed set The Misfits , "Teenagers from Mars" was included as one of the tracks.

Contents

Recording and release

In 1978, the Misfits recorded a version of "Teenagers from Mars" which they considered releasing as a single. [1] Six acetate discs of the proposed single were pressed, one with "Teenagers from Mars" on both sides, and five with "Teenagers from Mars" on one side and the song "Static Age" on the other side. [1] However, they decided not to issue it as a wide release. [1] Between January 26 and February 5, 1979, the Misfits recorded the version of "Teenagers from Mars" which would be released on the single "Horror Business", along with the single's title track and the song "Children in Heat". [2] These recording sessions took place at C.I. Studios in New York, where the band had recorded tracks for their proposed debut album Static Age a year prior. [2]

On June 26, 1979, "Teenagers from Mars" and "Children in Heat" were first released as the B-side of the "Horror Business" single, which was issued through Glenn Danzig's own label, Plan 9 Records. [3] [4] This first pressing consisted of 25 sleeveless black 7" vinyl copies, and a second pressing in August 1979 consisted of 2,000 copies on yellow vinyl. [3] [4] Since then, "Teenagers from Mars" has been re-issued several times. In 1980, the song was included on the Misfits' EP Beware , [5] and in 1986, it was included on the compilation album Misfits , also known as Collection I. [6] Every song included on Collection I was later included in the 1996 boxed set The Misfits . [6] [7] "Teenagers from Mars" was also included on the album Static Age, which was part of the boxed set and which received a standalone release in 1997. [6] [7]

Mark Kennedy, the creator of the website Misfits Central, [8] noted that the song may have been influenced by the 1953 film Invaders from Mars and the 1959 film Teenagers from Outer Space . [9]

Critical reception

Eduardo Rivadavia of Ultimate Classic Rock ranked the song #10 on his list of the 10 best Misfits songs, and wrote that the track "locked into a monstrous mid-paced groove and never let go, giving Glenn Danzig ample room to make a case that teenagers are pretty much apathetic contrarians on any given planet". [10] In his book This Music Leaves Stains: The Complete Story of the Misfits, author James Greene, Jr. writes that the song "presents more stuttering riffs under ominous declarations from a conquering alien race unconcerned with human suffering as they 'land in barren fields' to inseminate our females". [11]

Personnel

Cover versions

In 2003, the new wave band the Network (a secret side-project of the punk rock band Green Day) [14] recorded and released a cover version of "Teenagers from Mars" on their album Money Money 2020 . [14] [15] The Nutley Brass recorded an instrumental lounge cover of the song, which was included on their 2005 Misfits tribute album Fiend Club Lounge . [16] Punk cover band TV Casualty has also covered the song, with Ted Leo on vocals. [17] [18] [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfits (band)</span> American horror punk band

The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig. Danzig's first recruit to the Misfits was drummer Mr. Jim and bassist Diane DiPazza, however, DiPiazza never showed up. Mr. Jim was replaced by Manny Martinez shortly after. Jerry Only joined on bass guitar shortly after. Over the next six years, membership would change frequently, with Danzig and Only being the sole consistent members. During this time period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bullet (Misfits song)</span> 1978 single by the Misfits

"Bullet" is the second single released by the horror punk band the Misfits. The four tracks comprising the EP were recorded, along with thirteen others, in early 1978 for the proposed Static Age album. When the band could not find a record label to release the album, they instead released four of the songs as "Bullet" on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. The songs were re-released in different versions over subsequent years, until Static Age was finally released in its entirety in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horror Business</span> 1979 single by the Misfits

"Horror Business" is the third single released by the American horror punk band Misfits. It was released on June 26, 1979 through vocalist Glenn Danzig's own label, Plan 9 Records, and is commonly said to have been inspired by the unsolved murder of Nancy Spungen. The B-side of the single features the songs "Teenagers from Mars" and "Children in Heat".

<i>Beware</i> (EP) 1980 EP by the Misfits

Beware is the fifth release by the American punk rock band Misfits. First issued in January 1980, this EP combined the Misfits' previously released singles "Bullet" and "Horror Business", and was originally intended as a recording that the Misfits could bring with them on their tour of the United Kingdom with the British punk rock group the Damned in late 1979. Along with songs from "Bullet" and "Horror Business", Beware also includes the track "Last Caress", which had never been released previously.

<i>Walk Among Us</i> 1982 studio album by the Misfits

Walk Among Us is the debut album by the American punk rock band Misfits, released in March 1982 by Ruby Records and its parent label Slash Records. It was the first full-length album to be released by the band, although it was the third to be recorded, after Static Age and 12 Hits from Hell. The recording sessions for Walk Among Us took place at multiple studios between June 1981 and January 1982, and the album also includes the track "Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?", which was recorded live in New York City. The album features the single "Night of the Living Dead", which was released on October 31, 1979.

<i>Collection II</i> 1995 compilation album by Misfits

Collection II, also known as Misfits II, a compilation album of songs by the American punk rock band Misfits. Released on November 14, 1995, it serves as a companion album to the band's previous compilation, Collection I. Both compilations collect all the early singles and the entire Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood album, and are meant to complement Walk Among Us and Legacy of Brutality with little overlap. All the early singles are supposed to be represented, although alternative versions of some songs are used instead of the original releases.

<i>Static Age</i> 1996 studio album by the Misfits

Static Age is an album by the American horror punk band Misfits, recorded in 1978. Although it was the first album the band ever recorded, it was not released in its entirety until 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halloween (Misfits song)</span> 1981 single by the Misfits

"Halloween" is the fifth single by the American punk rock band Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1981 on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7-inch vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet. This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply "Misfits".

"Hybrid Moments" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits, recorded in 1978 for their proposed debut album Static Age. The song remained unreleased until the 1985, when a remixed version of the song appeared on the compilation album Legacy of Brutality. The original recording was re-released on the 1996 boxed set The Misfits. The song is written by frontman and vocalist Glenn Danzig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die, Die My Darling</span>

"Die, Die My Darling" is a song by the American horror punk band Misfits. It was released in May 1984 on singer Glenn Danzig's label, Plan 9 Records, seven months after the band's breakup. The song is titled after the 1965 horror film Fanatic, which had been released in the United States under the title Die! Die! My Darling! The cover of the single is derived from the cover of the September 1953 issue number 19 of the comic book Chamber of Chills. The back cover artwork was created by artist Pushead.

"We Are 138" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits. Written by vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was recorded in 1978 and released that same year on the band's single "Bullet", sharing the A-side with the title track. It was also included as the opening track on the Misfits' 1980 EP Beware, as well as the opening track on the 1995 compilation album Collection II. "We Are 138" was recorded with the intention of it being included on the band's proposed debut album Static Age, which remained unreleased in its entirety until 1996.

"Last Caress" is a song by American punk rock band Misfits, first released on their 1980 EP Beware. Written by vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was later included on the compilation album Collection II, released in 1995, as well as on the album Static Age, which was recorded in 1978 but not released in its entirety until 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Misfits discography</span>

The discography of Misfits, a horror punk band formed in Lodi, New Jersey, in 1977, consists of seven studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, four EPs, nineteen singles, one video album, five music videos, one box set, one demo, and one cancelled album.

<i>Fiend Club Lounge</i> 2005 studio album by the Nutley Brass

Misfits Meet the Nutley Brass: Fiend Club Lounge is a tribute album to the American horror punk band Misfits, recorded by the Nutley Brass and released in 2005 by Misfits Records. It features cover versions of Misfits songs from the band's early era, 1977 to 1983, performed in an instrumental "lounge" or "space age pop" style.

"Attitude" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits. Written by frontman and vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was recorded and first released in 1978 on the B-side of the band's single "Bullet". It was also included on the Misfits' 1980 EP Beware, as well as on the 1995 compilation album Collection II. "Attitude" was originally intended to be included on the band's proposed debut album Static Age, and it remained included when the album was eventually released in its entirety in 1996.

"Where Eagles Dare" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits. Written by frontman and vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was recorded and first released in 1979, alongside the track "Rat Fink", as the B-side of the band's single "Night of the Living Dead". "Where Eagles Dare" was later included on the 1986 compilation album Misfits, also known as Collection I. A version of the song was also included on the compilation album Legacy of Brutality, which was released in 1985.

"Mommy, Can I Go Out & Kill Tonight" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits. Written by vocalist Glenn Danzig, the song was first released as a live recording on their 1982 album Walk Among Us. A studio recording of the song was later released alongside the track "We Bite" as the B-side of the 1984 single "Die, Die My Darling". "Mommy, Can I Go Out & Kill Tonight" was later included on the 1986 compilation album Misfits, the cassette and CD releases of the album Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood, and the 1996 boxed set The Misfits.

"Skulls" is a song by the American punk rock band Misfits from the band's 1982 album Walk Among Us. The song was written by frontman and vocalist Glenn Danzig, and was later included on the 1986 compilation album Misfits, which itself was included as part of the 1996 boxed set The Misfits.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Greene 2013, p. 139.
  2. 1 2 Greene 2013, p. 30, 122.
  3. 1 2 Greene 2013, p. 122.
  4. 1 2 "Discography of Official Misfits Releases". Misfits Central. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ Greene 2013, p. 34.
  6. 1 2 3 "Official Misfits Discography". Misfits.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 Greene 2013, p. 128.
  8. ↑ Greene 2013, p. 84–85.
  9. ↑ "The Misfits Trivia". Misfits Central. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ Rivadavia, Eduardo (September 29, 2015). "Top 10 Misfits Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock . Townsquare Media . Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  11. ↑ Greene 2013, p. 29.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Greene 2013, p. 28–30.
  13. ↑ Greene 2013, p. 19, 128.
  14. 1 2 Greene 2013, p. 109.
  15. ↑ Myers 2006, p. 175.
  16. ↑ "Fiend Club Lounge - The Nutley Brass". AllMusic . Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  17. ↑ Breihan, Tom (November 4, 2009). "Watch Ted Leo's Misfits Tribute Show". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Adams, Gregory (October 24, 2011). "TV Casualty Deliver Misfits-Saluting 7-Inch, Get Ted Leo to Guest". Exclaim! . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ Coplan, Chris (October 25, 2011). "Punk covers band TV Casualty ready Misfits covers EP with Ted Leo". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved September 10, 2019.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.