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Interview with
TERRY CORSO
from
ALIEN ANT FARM

(2nd February 2025)

Interview with Dave Bruce

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Check out the full interview below

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ALIEN ANT FARM’s
TERRY CORSO
talks new music, touring Australia,
and the legacy of ‘Smooth Criminal’

Few bands have had the same whirlwind rise to fame as Alien Ant Farm. From their early days in Riverside, California, to their breakout hit Smooth Criminal, they’ve cemented themselves as one of the most iconic rock acts of the early 2000s. Now, with their latest album MAntras and an Australian tour on the horizon, I sat down with guitarist Terry Corso to talk about the past, present, and future of Alien Ant Farm.

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A Band Nearly 30 Years in the Making

Terry took me back to the band’s beginnings, reminiscing about how he and drummer Mike Cosgrove had been playing in different local bands before deciding to form something new. With Dryden Mitchell on vocals and a vision of blending punk, rock, and alternative metal, Alien Ant Farm quickly gained a following.

“We just wanted to create something fresh and different,” Terry said. “It was a fun time—just playing shows, meeting people, and figuring out who we were as a band.”

The “Smooth Criminal” Phenomenon

One can’t talk about Alien Ant Farm without mentioning Smooth Criminal, their explosive cover of Michael Jackson’s classic. The track became a massive hit, earning them international recognition and a place in pop culture history. I asked Terry what it was like to experience that level of fame so quickly.

“It was surreal,” he admitted. “We knew we were onto something cool, but we had no idea it would take off the way it did. One day we were playing clubs, and the next, we were in heavy rotation on MTV.”

The music video—featuring playful MJ references and high-energy visuals—was a defining moment for the band. “We just wanted to have fun with it,” Terry said. “Looking back at those oversized jeans, though—man, that was a moment in fashion history we all want to forget,” he laughed.

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The Sound of Alien Ant Farm – Neuro Metal?

With their mix of hard-hitting guitars, emotional lyrics, and infectious hooks, Alien Ant Farm has been called everything from nu-metal to alternative rock. But Terry introduced me to a term the band has coined: Neuro Metal.

“It’s kind of a joke,” he said, “but it fits. It’s this weird blend of ‘new romanticism’ and metal—like, love songs disguised in heavy, broody musicianship.”

New Music and the Future of Alien Ant Farm

After nearly a decade, the band returned with MAntras, a record that showcases their evolution while staying true to their roots. Terry described the writing process as both challenging and rewarding, especially given the delays caused by the pandemic.

“We put a lot into this album,” he said. “It’s still fresh, and we’re loving the response from fans.”

Live favorites include Last dAntz, Storms Over, and So Cold. But when I asked Terry about his personal favorite track, he named Prosperous Futures—a song that, surprisingly, hasn’t made it into their setlist yet.

“We’ll see,” he said with a grin. “Maybe I’ll push for it next tour.”

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Bringing the Energy to Australia

Speaking of touring, Alien Ant Farm is set to hit Australia next week, and Terry couldn’t be more excited.

“Australia has always been special to us,” he said. “We played Big Day Out back in 2002, and it was insane. I also visited when I was 16, during the bicentennial celebrations, so I’ve got a lot of good memories there.”

Beyond the shows, Terry is looking forward to catching up with fans and experiencing Aussie culture again. “And maybe a few surf sessions,” he added.

The Unexpected Side of Rockers

It’s always interesting when you ask an artist what they can talk about for hours, and the answer is something completely unexpected. You meet heavily tattooed metalheads and expect tales of debauchery, but instead, they’ll launch into discussions on spirituality, philosophy, and Marcus Aurelius.

Terry chuckled when I brought this up. “Yeah, I can talk for hours about Marcus Aurelius.”

That led to a quick side tangent about Gladiator 2. “I saw it, but I didn’t like it as much as the first one. It just wasn’t as good,” he admitted. “Denzel’s great, but that’s not really his lane.”

Long-Term Aspirations

With Alien Ant Farm still going strong, I asked Terry if he had long-term goals beyond just more touring.

“Well, like I said before, we’re kind of on this little icebreaker run in Australia, but I’d love to put out another record and hit up some territories we haven’t been to in a while, or maybe never. Just getting to more places would be a cool way to eventually ride off into the sunset.”

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Advice for Aspiring Artists

So what advice does Terry have for small artists hoping to make it big?

“Work on your golf game,” he laughed. “Nah, I’m kidding. But really, things are always changing. You’ve gotta keep at it.”

That led to a discussion about change in the music industry – and in the world. Terry mentioned being hacked on Facebook multiple times recently. “Everything’s changing,” he said. “And don’t even get me started on the political situation.”

We briefly touched on global instability and the weight of historical events, with Terry recalling a recent visit to Poland where he met Alien Ant Farm’s longest-running fan club leader for the first time. “We had dinner and talked, and I could see real fear on his face when the conversation turned to global events. It’s scary, man.”

Craziest Moments in Music

One of Terry’s wildest experiences? The infamous These Days music video shoot, where Alien Ant Farm crashed the BET Awards by performing on a rooftop across the street.

“I remember thinking, ‘What we’re doing right now is NOT cool,’” he admitted. “The cops were pissed. We had a rendezvous point, so the band escaped, but the production company got fined for padlocking a fire door and for not having a fire certificate for the huge banner we dropped.”

I asked if they’d been invited back. “Nope. But we did get to play on top of the Jimmy Kimmel building, so that’s something.”

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Favorite Things

Time for some rapid-fire favorites.

Topic he could talk about for hours? “Dogs. I follow dog accounts more than people on Instagram.”

Favorite album? “Paul’s Boutique by Beastie Boys”
Favorite artist? “Zeppelin. They were massive – Beatles and Stones level.”
Favorite movie? “There Will Be Blood”
Favorite place to visit? “New Orleans.”
Favorite venue? “The Norva in Virginia. They’ve got saunas and a hot tub in the artist area – it’s like an oasis.”
Favorite food? “Breakfast burritos.”
Favorite drink? “Topo Chico seltzers.”
Favorite person in history? “Marcus Aurelius. And you, of course.”

The Iconic Smooth Criminal Cover

Before wrapping up, I had to ask about their legendary cover of Smooth Criminal and whether they spoke to Michael Jackson for approval.

“Never directly,” Terry said. “Our people talked to his people. But when we did the video, we sent it to him for approval because we didn’t want it to come off like we were making fun of him. He had a say in the final cut.”

Apparently, MJ had one interesting request. “There was a kid in the video wearing a mask, a nod to Michael’s look. He asked us to re-shoot it without the mask. So we did… and then he put the mask back on!”

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What’s Next?

As our conversation wrapped up, I asked Terry about dream collaborations. Without hesitation, he named Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

“An entire ODB record with heavy guitars and live drums? That would be sick,” he said.

With a new album, an upcoming tour, and a legacy that continues to resonate, Alien Ant Farm isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Closing Thoughts

Our chat ended with some lighthearted talk about Billy Bob Thornton’s series Goliath, the madness of American football, and Terry’s love for hockey. “It surprises people, but hockey is so fast-paced. It’s exciting.”

As we wrapped up, I asked if he’d be open to another deep-dive conversation for my upcoming podcast. “Why not?” he said. “It’s like a cleansing of sorts.”

Terry Corso, always down for a great conversation. Alien Ant Farm fans, stay tuned – there’s more music, more touring, and hopefully, more rooftop chaos to come.

Follow Alien Ant Farm for the latest updates, and stay tuned for more exclusive interviews on Amnplify!

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Check out the full interview below

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Press Release 20th November 2024 (below) HERE

DROWNING POOL
replace CKY on
ALIEN ANT FARM
Australian Tour

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AMNPLIFY – DB