Fall Out Boy have become the latest rockers to take on the iconic Simpsons theme for an episode of the animated series. You can check out FOB’s metal-y version of the Simpsons theme on the FOX site now. “This is something we grew up with,” guitarist Joe Trohman said in an behind-the-scenes video (watch it above). “I know for me, my sense of humor and the way I perceive humor and the way I perceive a lot of things was based on growing up and watching The Simpsons, so to be a part of this for me is legendary.” Adds Patrick Stump, “[The theme] was timeless, and that was the point.”
It’s fitting that the band has adapted the Simpsons theme, considering the long-running series is responsible for giving the band their name. You may recall “Fallout Boy” is the sidekick of the series’ in-house Arnold Schwarzenegger-esque comic book superhero, Radioactive Man, and was memorably played by a moody Milhouse in a 1995 episode of the show that featured the classic line “My eyes … the goggles do nothing!” The band’s version of the theme premiered on the January 25th episode, titled “Lisa the Drama Queen.”
Fall Out Boy aren’t the first band to cover the Danny Elfman-penned theme – or guest on the show. Yo La Tengo performed a “psychedelic” version, while Sonic Youth’s grunged-out rendition appears at the end of that episode when Homer goes to “Hullapalooza” (and Smashing Pumpkins buy fur coats). Tito Puente, NRBQ and Los Lobos have also performed the theme song. And Green Day memorably gave the song a punky edge for The Simpsons Movie.
In other FOB news, Pete Wentz told MTV News the inspiration behind the band’s upcoming “America’s Suitehearts” video is the 1988 half-live action/half-cartoon Who Framed Roger Rabbit? So we imagine it’ll be both cartoon and live action. Roger Rabbit joins a laundry list of films like Sixteen Candles and The Nightmare Before Christmas that served as inspiration for Fall Out Boy videos.