Random punk/indie covers

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This post is a little different than I've done before. It's actually a collaboration I've done with my buddy IRememberNothing. Together we've assembled a collection of cover songs. But wait. There's more! In an effort to enhance the listening experience for our audience, we even did some research on each one. After hours of digging, we made some fascinating discoveries. Read below for the REAL story behind each cover. Enjoy!

A Perfect Circle – Imagine (John Lennon)
After falling in love with the song 'Stinkfist', Yoko Ono knew exactly who she wanted to sing her late husband's song "Imagine." At the time he was approached by Yoko, Maynard James Keenan was working with his side project A Perfect Circle. He was more than happy to sing the song for Yoko.

A Perfect Circle - Let's Have a War (Fear)
After being blown away by an infamous performance by Fear on Saturday Night Live, he's always wanted to cover one of their songs.

AFI - Demonomania (the Misfits)
Before turning AFI into the worst glam wannabe punk band ever, Davey Havok knew what good music was. What happened?

AFI - The Hanging Garden (the Cure)
In hopes to get the attention of The Cure's Robert Smith, Davey Havok decided to cover one his songs. Robert was somewhat impressed until Davey admitted he planned on turning the band into the worst glam wannabe punk ever. At least Adam Carson didn't need help with the drumming.

AFI - Jack the Ripper (Morrissey)
After attending a drag competition in South Beach, Miami, Davey Havoc was walking along the beach when he was attacked by a deranged British man named Jack who mistook Davey for a prostitute. Fortunately, Morrissey passed by at that very instant. Wearing mossy oak fatigues and sporting a "We Are the Quarry"-era machine gun and, he posed a menacing figure, scaring away Jack and saving Davey to the rejoicing of his fans.

Anberlin - There is A Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths)
What Christian band would cover The Smiths? Exactly.

At The Drive In - This Night Has Opened My Eyes (the Smiths)
One hot afternoon, the members of At the Drive In were in their tour bus combing each other's afros to pass the time on the long drive to Arkansas. Cedric was reading the news of the world and found a story about Morrissey. While playing a show, Morrissey was hit by a water bottle and stormed off in tears. Cedric was deeply moved by the singer's heroic sacrifice on stage and longed to pay tribute to the Moz. He hoped that their band could play alongside Morrissey. They would show Morrissey how to handle unruly fans! Cedric decided to cover his favorite Smiths song in his unearthly, quavering voice to get Morrissey’s attention.

Braid - My Life (Billy Joel)
Bob Nanna, the lead singer of Braid, has been an alcoholic since the age of 4. While boozing on his favorite beverage, Wild Irish Rose, he thought to himself, "who else is an alcoholic?" Then it hit him, Billy Joel! Then he thought, "Man, I really like Billy, maybe I should cover one of my favorites from him." The rest is history.

Braid – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (the Smiths)
The members of Braid were hiding from the rain in a darkened underpass. They were discouraged, having just experienced one of the worst performances of their career. Thanks to a typo by the venue's agent when advertising the show, the crowd had expected them to be the female "hip-pop" act the Braids. The unruly crowd wasn't expecting such dynamic and complex music and furiously booed the band off the stage. To inspire his fellow band members, Bob Nanna began singing a song by the Smiths, one of their chief musical influences. It didn't help much, but everyone joined in an affectionate group hug for the chorus.

Braid - This Charming Man (the Smiths)
Bob Nanna developed a love for the Smiths at an early age. On the way to the hospital, his mother birthed him on the smooth leather of the passenger seat while "This Charming Man" played on the radio.

Cake - I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor)
Recovering from a break-up with Winona Ryder, John McCrea decided it was time to prove he was no longer a broken man.

Deftones - Drive (the Cars)
While thinking of a bonus track for the album "Saturday Night Wrist," Chino Moreno decided to check out how often their music is played on Zune Social. He soon discovered they were being grouped with bands like KoRn and Limp Bizkit. This really drove Chino crazy and he began to sing "She Drives Me Crazy" by the Fine Young Cannibals. This brought to mind "Drive" by the Cars. The rest is history.

Deftones - No Ordinary Love (Sade)
Expressing their softer side, Deftones felt compelled to do this cover after watching the Notebook and weeping for hours on end when the movie ended.

Friction - Hybrid Moments (the Misfits)
While playing a venue in Lodi New Jersey, Robert Nanna wanted to pay tribute to one of their local bands.

Galaxie 500 - Ceremony (Joy Division)
Waking from an uncanny dream, Dean Wareham had the next song for their album "On Fire". He quickly rounded up the band and began to jam. To this day, he still thinks he is the original composer.

Gary Jules - Mad World (Tears for Fears)
After attending an all-night psychedelic mushroom party, Gary Jules claims to have been visited by a time-travelling rabbit named Frank. Together, they jammed 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds to 80s hits with Gary on an old piano and the rabbit playing tenor saxophone. Unfortunately, most of this legendary performance was lost except for their cover of Tears for Fears' "Mad World". Can you hear the saxophone? No one can. But Gary stubbornly swears it's there in the mix.

Hey Mercedes - The Promise (When In Rome)
When in Rome, Do As the Romans Do. That's what Robert Nanna always says. When in a good band, do good covers, just as Robert and the rest of the guys decided here.

Jimmy Eat World - Half Right (Heatmiser)
When lead singer Jim Atkins experimented with the fad Atkins diet, the only thing that kept him from binging on all the carbs in the Sam's Club bread aisle was the songs of Elliot Smith and his band Heatmiser. Jim Atkins was suddenly comprehending the cryptic despair in Smith's songs and his agonizing battle over addiction. (Minus the $1,200 a day spent on cocaine and heroin, of course.)

The Killers - Shadowplay (Joy Division)
Being quite the anglophile, Brandon Flowers decided it was time to do a cover. Not just any cover, a Joy Division cover. Why you ask? Who knows, ask Brandon.

Lifetime - Money (Embrace)
Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak, Lifetime was able to express their displeasure with snobby, mainstream bands while knocking out a cover of one of their favorite bands.

Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls (Joy Division)
Using influences from the home of the Sharon Tate murders, Trent Reznor was able to channel the spirit of Ian Curtis to bring forth the best Joy Division cover ever made.

Rammstein – Stripped (Depeche Mode)
Till Lindermann and the other members of the industrial act Rammstein are natives of the progressive, free-thinking society of Germany. Unfortunately, the freedoms they enjoy in their homeland are often not supported by other societies. They forgot this fact in the United States when they decided to go streaking together through a nursing home while spanking each other playfully and belting out Depeche Mode songs. While this avant-garde behavior would have garnered the praise of German grandmothers, it brought American grandmothers to tears and a night in jail for the band.

Ryan Adams – Wonderwall (Oasis)
During a break from touring, Ryan Adams was spending a night with Jack Daniels and the cousins. They decided to watch Alice in Wonderland. After the movie finished, they tried to collaborate on a song about Wonderland, but they were too drunk to concentrate. They ended up singing Oasis songs that made them cry, which, strangely, made for a hauntingly beautiful take on "Wonderwall".

Seaweed - Warsaw (Joy Division)
Shattering his ankle during a Nut Cracker performance, Aaron Stauffer knew his ballet career was over. Down but not defeated, he wanted to try his hand at singing. After finding the elements needed for the band, a band name was needed. Sitting around the ganja filled hookah, band-mate Wade Neal said aloud, “How about Seaweed?” “I mean, it’s like two totally random words but two totally awesome words together as one!” The other band-mates agreed with this random suggestion and decided their first song must be a cover. Band-mate Clint Werner exclaimed, “I got it! Since we’re on this whole ‘two random words’ kick, how about “Warsaw” from Joy Division?”

Stars - This Charming Man (the Smiths)
Torquil Campbell's cover of "This Charming Man" is at once detached and elegant, an excellent example of his musical and performing talent. Born in Sheffield, England to theatre actor parents, he followed in their footsteps as a charming actor in roles such as a teenage prostitute in Philp Seymour Hoffman's play "Shopping and Fucking" and guest appearances on Sex and the City.

Straylight Run - With God On Our Side (Bob Dylan)
It was prom night, and John Nolan and the band were drinking soco amaretto lime cocktails and planning the final setlist for their gig at Baldwin High. Michelle suggested that, to please the crowd, they should steer away from moody piano soundscapes and concentrate on angsty teen songs about Jude Law. Angered by this suggestion, John ordered the band to do something noble and cover an old Bob Dylan song to protest American politics and xenophobic holy war.

Tool - No Quarter (Led Zeppelin)
Maynard James Keenan is known for his pursuit in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At one point, before Tool, he was a cage fighter. His theme song was Led Zeppelin, No Quarter. Coincidence? I think not.

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
In the 90s, Tori's favorite scent for male deodorant was Teen Spirit. During this time, she turned down Kurt Cobain's advances for a strapping young wrestler who loved to wear singlets completely doused in Teen Spirit. Tori exposed this wrestler to her music and influenced him to start his own band. Fulfilling her wishes, the former-wrestler-turned-crooner, Scott Stapp, started the band Creed in Tallahassee, Florida. Tori's only regret was that Kurt was not there to witness how much his music had influenced an entire generation of angry jock rockers.