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!.
Calico
Alien Ant Farm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just make it real
That's not a reason to fire me
That ain't no real reason
It's funny things cheapen when we disagree
If things got any worse then cheap would turn free
That ain't too real
Just make it real
Feel all the seasons flood through you and me
And see what trouble she's in
But that's not a reason to fire me
That ain't no real reason
Calico cats and calico dreams
That ain't too real
Just make it real
Collisions hurt and abrasions bleed
It's hard to deal when all you do is feel
Campfires swell into monstrous things
That summer heat that's winter deep
And all your wild winds
They couldn't stop me from flying
Calico cats and calico dreams
That ain't too real
Just make it real
Collisions hurt and abrasions bleed
It's hard to deal when all you do is feel
Just make it real
The lyrics to Alien Ant Farm's song "Calico" seem to convey a sense of frustration with something or someone that is not living up to expectations. The phrase "Just make it real" is repeated throughout the song, perhaps as a plea to whoever is causing the frustration to be more honest or authentic. The lines "That's not a reason to fire me / That ain't no real reason" suggest that the singer feels unjustly punished or blamed for something that is not their fault. There is a sense of tension and conflict in the lyrics, as the singer tries to make sense of a situation that seems to be getting worse.
The imagery in the song is vivid and poetic, with references to calico cats and dreams, seasons flooding through the singer and their subject, and campfires swelling into monstrous things. These images suggest a sense of confusion and chaos, as if the singer is struggling to understand what is happening to them. The final lines of the song, "Just make it real", suggest a desire for clarity and truth in the midst of all this confusion. Overall, "Calico" seems to be a song about the difficult process of navigating relationships and trying to understand other people's motivations and actions.
Line by Line Meaning
So make it real
Encouraging someone to make something authentic and true.
Just make it real
Reiterating the need for something to be genuine and sincere.
That's not a reason to fire me
Disputing the basis for a decision to terminate employment.
That ain't no real reason
Asserting that the given explanation is questionable or unconvincing.
It's funny things cheapen when we disagree
Recognizing the effect of disagreements on the perceived value of things.
If things got any worse then cheap would turn free
Suggesting that the situation could worsen to the point where things lose all value.
Calico cats and calico dreams
Referring to frivolous or non-realistic ideas.
That ain't too real
Indicating that these ideas lack substance or practicality.
Feel all the seasons flood through you and me
Experiencing the changing moods and emotions of a relationship.
And see what trouble she's in
Observing the consequences of someone's actions.
Collisions hurt and abrasions bleed
Noting the physical pain that comes with injury.
It's hard to deal when all you do is feel
Expressing the difficulty of coping with strong emotions.
Campfires swell into monstrous things
Describing how small things can grow into something bigger than expected.
That summer heat that's winter deep
Comparing the intensity of feeling to the extreme temperatures of different seasons.
And all your wild winds
Referring to someone's unpredictable behavior or actions.
They couldn't stop me from flying
Showing determination to pursue a goal regardless of obstacles or challenges.
Just make it real
Reinforcing the need for authenticity and genuineness in one's actions or relationships.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: MICHAEL COSGROVE, MITCHELL DRYDEN, 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