In 1999, the band released their debut album, the tongue-in-cheek titled 'Greatest Hits'. It went on to win "Best Independent Album" in the L.A. Music Awards and has picked up a big fan response. In 2000, after forging a friendship with the alternative rock band Papa Roach, Alien Ant Farm signed with DreamWorks SKG for their first major studio album, called 'ANThology'. The band's tunes showcased an energetic sound that featured humorous, often cynical lyrics and a desire to take in all kinds of musical influences.
In 2001, their cover of the Michael Jackson song, "Smooth Criminal", was a #1 single in both Australia and New Zealand as well a #3 single in the United Kingdom and #1 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart. The song's music video features numerous homages to Michael Jackson's life and career as well as Jackson's many videos. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the first season of 'WWE Tough Enough' and in the movie 'American Pie 2'. Their following single, "Movies", also featured a quirky music video with references to classic films such as 'The Karate Kid' and 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'. The tune became top 5 hit in the U.K. and a top 20 hit in New Zealand. The band began touring in promotion of these two singles and their album, which later went platinum.
In spring of 2002, the band contributed the track "Bug Bytes" to the first 'Spider-Man' soundtrack, giving them even more exposure after the Tobey Maguire film's major success. However, tragedy struck the group. In May 2002, the band was involved in a bus accident while touring in Spain. The driver, 26-year-old Christopher Holland, was killed, and lead singer Dryden Mitchell suffered a fractured C2 vertebra. The horrific event scarred the group permanently, and many fans speculated that the band might have to go on a long hiatus or even fold for a while.
Nontheless, Alien Ant Farm soon returned to the studio to work on their next album, titled 'truANT', which was released in 2003. Produced by Stone Temple Pilots' Robert and Dean DeLeo, the work found the band doubling down on their past style. The video for "These Days", the first single from the album, was filmed on top of a nearby building during the Red Carpet at the 2003 BET Awards. While that tune ended up having more modest success that the band had hoped, song "Glow" was a mainstream radio success, achieving long lasting Top 20 success in New Zealand. Two months after this album was released, however, the group's record label closed its doors. Some fans speculated that the outfit had some kind of black cloud of bad luck around them, despite the guys' talents.
In October 2003, guitarist Terry Corso split with the band, citing "irreconcilable differences". Soon after, he joined the popular alternative metal outfit Powerman 5000 for a time. Joe Hill was named the new guitarist in 2005. The musician had formerly served in the underground California rock outfit Spiderworks.
In 2004, the band recorded the song "Dark in Here" for the Punisher video game. Unfortunately, the band was forced to wait for Geffen to allow them to record another album. Label Universal Music had bought DreamWorks and assigned the band to the Geffen Records company, and it appeared as if corporate shenanigans had stopped the band's momentum in its tracks, the mainstream popularity having faded.
In 2005, the band recorded with producer Jim Wirt (who recorded their independent, debut release "Greatest Hits") and planned to release the album during that summer. However, Geffen shelved the album and subsequently denied the band the rights to release it themselves. The band hit the road and made bootleg copies of the album material available to all of their fans. This unofficial release was dubbed 3rd Draft by fans.
In late 2005, Geffen finally agreed to let the band release the album on another Universal label, Universal Music Enterprises (its catalogue division). On May 4, 2006, information began showing up on music store websites and release calendars about an upcoming release from the band. The band also released information about a DVD that same day. On May 30, 2006 the new album, Up in the Attic, was released digitally on iTunes. The first single was "Forgive and Forget", the one added track to 3rd Draft.
In April 2006, bassist Tye Zamora left the band and decided to go to college. He was replaced by Alex Barreto (formerly of hardcore bands Chain of Strength, Hardstance, and Inside Out). On June 29, 2006, the band performed on G4's Attack of the Show, and on July 18, 2006, Up in the Attic was released worldwide, along with BUSted: The Definitive DVD. Included on the DVD were music videos for "Forgive and Forget", "Around the Block", and "She's Only Evil". Notably, the three videos feature only Dryden Mitchell and Mike Cosgrove.
Since the July 2006 release of Up in the Attic, very little has happened. Their website remained unupdated from November 2006 until April 2007, the update promoting the Alien Ant Fans website, created by a long time Polish fan, Bartek.
The band released Around the Block, the second single from Up in the Attic, on iTunes Store in 2007.
On February 11, 2008, the band posted a statement on their website saying all the original members of the band are back together. It was also revealed that the band had "unofficially broken up" in 2007 due to the fact that 2006's Up in the Attic was their least successful album. Around this time, vocalist Dryden Mitchell formed a new band, Send the Sages. Guitarist Terry Corso and drummer Michael Cosgrove worked on a side project titled Ghost In The Flesh, bassist Tye Zamora worked with the band eEnik. Alien Ant Farm toured sporadically, and released a new live album, Alien Ant Farm: Live In Germany.
In 2009, they played the Sonisphere Festival in Knebworth, UK on August 1. They had also performed "Smooth Criminal" at the 2009 Vans' Warped Tour in memory of Michael Jackson, who had recently died.
On February 9, 2010, Alien Ant Farm posted on their official website that the original line up (Dryden Mitchell, Terry Corso, Tye Zamora and Mike Cosgrove) was back together for the first time since 2003. On February 27, 2010, the Alien Ant Farm official website released the band's first "webizode" titled Bassmasters.
Always And Forever and upcoming sixth studio album (2011–present)
Alien Ant Farm playing in 2015
The band's "ANTicipation" 2011 Tour took place across the continental U.S. from July to October 2011. They also took part in the "Michael Forever Tribute Concert" which took place on October 8, 2011 in Cardiff, Wales. Alien Ant Farm started writing new material and in July 2012 started recording their fifth album, Always and Forever, at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago in July 2012. In March 2013 they set up a crowdfund, using PledgeMusic, to finance the album's release. The first single from Always and Forever, "Let 'Em Know", was released in May 2013. Also in the summer of 2013, Alien Ant Farm participated in "The Big Night Out Tour", opening for Hoobastank and Fuel.
Founding member and bassist Tye Zamora left Alien Ant Farm in March 2014 and was replaced by Tim Peugh. At the same time, Michael Anaya joined as a touring member of the band, providing backing vocals, percussion, and keyboards. Another single, Homage, was released in September 2014, followed a month later by E.P. Phone Home. The album Always and Forever was released on February 24, 2015.
On March 31, 2016, Alien Ant Farm announced on their official Facebook page that they were writing material for a new album.
On May 17, 2016, the band took part in the Make America Rock Again super tour throughout the summer and fall of 2016. In addition, they announced a headlining tour where they intend to perform the album Anthology in its entirety. In 2018 they toured as part of the "Gen-X Tour", alongside Buckcherry, P.O.D., and Lit.
On May 8, 2020, the new single "Everything She Wants" was released digitally on streaming services. It is a cover of the song by Wham!.
1000 Days
Alien Ant Farm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And missing you is hard to handle.
Stayed away a thousand days and things have changed like a decade.
Made the most of all my days, and still I'm on the wrong page.
Now I'm home and feeling more alone.
It's in your tone, so maybe I should go.
Now no cure can make it better.
Stayed away a thousand days and things have changed like a decade.
Made the most of all my days, and still I'm on the wrong page.
Now I'm home and feeling more alone.
It's in your tone, so maybe I should go.
Oh, oh, speeding faster towards disaster.
Oh, oh, this house is cancer I won't last here.
Oh, oh, years go by and still no answers.
Oh, oh, no answers.
Now no cure can make it better.
Stayed away a thousand days and things have changed like a decade.
Made the most of all my days, and still I'm on the wrong page.
Now I'm home.
Speeding faster towards disaster.
It's in your tone, years go by and still no answers.
Still no answers.
The song "1000 Days" by Alien Ant Farm is a powerful portrayal of the hardships of maintaining a long-distance relationship. The lyrics depict a person who has been away from their loved one for a thousand days, and upon returning home, realizes that things have changed for the worse. The opening lines "Eyes they burn from stinging travel, and missing you is hard to handle" convey a sense of exhaustion and emotional toll from the distance. The person has made the most of their time away but still feels out of place and disconnected from their partner.
The lyrics "Now I'm home and feeling more alone, It's in your tone, so maybe I should go" indicate a growing sense of discomfort and conflict as the person realizes that their partner's attitude and demeanor have changed. The bitterness and sense of hopelessness are further highlighted with "Why'd it turn from sweet to bitter? Now no cure can make it better." The person can see the imminent disaster, "speeding faster towards disaster," and is grappling with the fact that they may not have any answers or hope for the future.
Overall, "1000 Days" is a poignant and raw depiction of the struggles of maintaining a long-distance relationship, especially when returning to a changed and possibly disconnected partner. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and hopelessness, highlighting the emotional toll of distance and the challenges of reconnection.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes they burn from stinging travel
My eyes are burning from the strain of constant travel and distance.
And missing you is hard to handle.
It is difficult for me to cope without you when I am away.
Stayed away a thousand days and things have changed like a decade.
I have been gone for a long time, and in that time, things have changed significantly.
Made the most of all my days, and still I'm on the wrong page.
I tried to make the most of my time away, but I still feel out of sync and disconnected.
Now I'm home and feeling more alone.
Despite my return home, I feel more alone than ever.
It's in your tone, so maybe I should go.
I sense something in your tone that makes me think leaving might be the best option.
Why'd it turn from sweet to bitter?
I don't understand how our relationship turned from something sweet into something bitter.
Now no cure can make it better.
There seems to be no solution to our problems to make things better.
Oh, oh, speeding faster towards disaster.
I feel like we are headed towards a disaster that we can't stop.
Oh, oh, this house is cancer I won't last here.
I feel like this environment is toxic and detrimental to my well-being.
Oh, oh, years go by and still no answers.
Despite the passing of time, we still don't have any answers or solutions to our issues.
Now no cure can make it better.
There seems to be no solution to our problems to make things better.
Stayed away a thousand days and things have changed like a decade.
I have been gone for a long time, and in that time, things have changed significantly.
Made the most of all my days, and still I'm on the wrong page.
I tried to make the most of my time away, but I still feel out of sync and disconnected.
Now I'm home.
I have returned home, but my situation hasn't improved.
Speeding faster towards disaster.
We are quickly approaching disaster and it feels like we can't stop it.
It's in your tone, years go by and still no answers.
There is something in your tone that tells me we still haven't found any solutions to our problems after all these years.
Still no answers.
We still haven't found any solutions to our problems.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: DRYDEN MITCHELL, MICHAEL COSGROVE, TERENCE CORSO, TYE ZAMORA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
r0ttingb0ne
on Smooth Criminal
@ciggywater yess
ciggywater
on Smooth Criminal
Love this version much better.
Aaron Bernhard
on Wish
muie