Alien Ant Farm

Alien Ant Farm is an alternative rock band formed in 1995 in Riverside, California, with the verified origin placing the group in Moreno Valley, United States. Its core line-up centres on Dryden Mitchell on vocals and guitar, Terry Corso on guitar, Tye Zamora on bass and Mike Cosgrove on drums, with later membership also including Joe Hill and Tim Peugh. The band’s sound mixes alternative rock with metal and punk influences, and it is also associated with alternative metal, funk metal, nu metal, pop punk and post-grunge.

Early releases and breakthrough

The band takes its name from the science-fiction idea of aliens creating humanity for their own amusement. Its debut album, Greatest Hits, appears in 1999 and wins Best Independent Album at the L.A. Music Awards. The group then signs to DreamWorks SKG after a friendship with Papa Roach and releases its first major-label album, ANThology. That record brings international attention in 2001 through “Smooth Criminal”, a rock cover of the Michael Jackson song, and “Movies”.

“Smooth Criminal” reaches number one in Australia and New Zealand, number three in the United Kingdom and number one on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart. Its video includes references to Michael Jackson’s life and work, and the track appears on the first season soundtrack of WWE Tough Enough and in American Pie 2. “Movies” also has a video built around film references, including The Karate Kid and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and becomes a top five hit in the UK and a top 20 hit in New Zealand. ANThology later goes platinum.

Later albums, setbacks and lineup changes

In 2002, Alien Ant Farm contributes “Bug Bytes” to the first Spider-Man soundtrack. That same year, the band is involved in a bus accident while touring in Spain; the driver dies and Dryden Mitchell suffers a fractured C2 vertebra. The next album, truANT, is released in 2003 and is produced by Stone Temple Pilots members Robert and Dean DeLeo. Its first single, “These Days”, is filmed during the 2003 BET Awards red carpet, and “Glow” becomes a successful radio track with long-lasting Top 20 performance in New Zealand.

After truANT, the band’s label closes, and Terry Corso leaves in October 2003, later joining Powerman 5000 for a period. Joe Hill joins as guitarist in 2005, having previously played in Spiderworks. In 2004 the group records “Dark in Here” for the Punisher video game. Universal Music later acquires DreamWorks and moves the band to Geffen Records, but the next album is shelved despite recordings with producer Jim Wirt, who also works on Greatest Hits. Fans circulate bootleg copies of the material, which become known as 3rd Draft.

Up in the Attic and later work

In 2006 Alien Ant Farm releases Up in the Attic, first digitally and then worldwide with the DVD BUSted: The Definitive DVD. “Forgive and Forget” is the first single and the only added track on 3rd Draft. Around this period Tye Zamora leaves to attend college and is replaced by Alex Barreto, formerly of Chain of Strength, Hardstance and Inside Out. The DVD includes videos for “Forgive and Forget”, “Around the Block” and “She’s Only Evil”, and the latter two feature only Dryden Mitchell and Mike Cosgrove.

The group later states that the original members are back together, and in 2010 confirms that the original line-up is reunited for the first time since 2003. Around this period Dryden Mitchell forms Send the Sages, Terry Corso and Mike Cosgrove work on Ghost In The Flesh, and Tye Zamora plays with eEnik. Alien Ant Farm also releases the live album Alien Ant Farm: Live In Germany.

2010s and beyond

Alien Ant Farm tours in 2011 and takes part in the Michael Forever Tribute Concert in Cardiff, Wales. Work on a new album begins in 2012, with recording for Always and Forever starting at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago. The band uses PledgeMusic to help finance its release. “Let ’Em Know” appears as the first single in 2013, followed by “Homage” and the EP Phone Home. Always and Forever is released in 2015.

In 2014 Tye Zamora leaves again and Tim Peugh replaces him on bass. Michael Anaya also joins as a touring member, contributing backing vocals, percussion and keyboards. The band announces new writing in 2016, joins the Make America Rock Again tour that year and also announces a headlining run built around performing ANThology in full. In 2018 it tours on the Gen-X Tour with Buckcherry, P.O.D. and Lit. In 2020 the band releases a digital cover of Wham!’s “Everything She Wants”.