Pretend you're in a band. You're about to go onstage. The lights dim, the crowd stirs: WHAT MUSIC SERVES AS YOUR INTRODUCTION?

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I remember the Smiths used to use Prokofiev's "Romeo & Juliet," which sounded dead cool. The Ramones, the Clash and Metallica both used the theme from "The Good, The Bad & the Ugly," which is a bit predictable and cliched, really. The Police used the theme from "the Muppet Show" for a while. U2 used to use Clannad's "Theme from Harry's Game". I remember seeing X in Columbus, Ohio in 1985 and they used the Bond theme, which was dead cool. Killing Joke used a portion of Vangelis' score to "Blade Runner" when I saw them in `94.

What would YOU use?

I'd use either Jerry Goldsmith's COMPLETELY ASS-KICKING theme from "The Wind & the Lion" (over-the-top arabic strings and soaring French horns a-go-go) or Goldsmith's surprisingly swingin' theme to "Escape From the Planet of the Apes", which ROXOXXOXOXOROXOROX!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 13 February 2005 23:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Rush used the Three Stooges theme at one point, as can be heard on A Show of Hands

As for me, Bauhaus' "Spirit" -- never sure which version, though.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Boston's "Foreplay" ...anyone remember which band used this to great effect?

Or I might even go with Aphex Twin's "Come To Daddy"

― PiersT, Monday, 14 February 2005 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Theme from Steptoe and Son.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

derek & clive...LOUD

― mullygrubbr (bulbs), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

mfa- the difference (superpitcher mix) , akira rabelais doing one of satie's gymnopoedies or john taverner's 'the protecting veil'

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"Also Sprach Zarathustra -->See See Rider"

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

prokofiev's "battle on the ice"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

or if i was sure that i was good: lfo - freak

― firstworldman (firstworldman), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

final fantasy start screen music.

― in sharky water, Monday, 14 February 2005 00:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Probably something ambient and very loop-based ... for example, Basinski's "Disintegration Loops Part 4", or 777's "Fay Deau Deau".

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:16 (twenty-one years ago)

i might just rip off gary numan, and use that portion of "replicas" that he opens his shows with.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

in a similar vein, simple minds' "themes for great cities"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

In the late 80s the Cramps used Also Sprach Zarathustra which went into the theme from 'The Price is Right'.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Foetus played "It's Gonna Rain" by Steve Reich in its entirety, VERY LOUD. So much fun. But it kinda kicked more ass than his show. So pre-show music is dangerous. I think playing something that is the total opposite of your own music is the best choice- I remember Fugazi used Barry White right before they played a free show in Sproul Plaza in Berkeley, it was a righteous choice.

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, and Brooks uses the frenzied Michael Nyman theme music to Peter Greenaway's "A Zed and Two Naughts" which is perfect for him.

― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

A dubbed tape of "For Those About to Rock" played on a cheap boobox into a microphone by a roadie.

― Dan M. (OutDatWay), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Theme from Steptoe and Son

theme from "sanford & son"!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
That should screw up a crowd waiting for no-wave gangsta thrash-skronk.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Electric Six, "Jimmy Carter"

― miccio (miccio), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:54 (twenty-one years ago)

wu tang clan - bring da ruckus

― 6335, Monday, 14 February 2005 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

either that, or kindergardners singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider".
Notice...I didn't say a recording...
(xpost x2)

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Monday, 14 February 2005 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

for my band's gigs, we used to play the german hymn sung by nico. that sets a special ambiance...love it...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 14 February 2005 01:24 (twenty-one years ago)

either "love is a battlefield" or "we didn't start the fire".

― mark p (Mark P), Monday, 14 February 2005 01:28 (twenty-one years ago)

and one of the worsts you could think of : that rocky song with the horns...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 14 February 2005 01:36 (twenty-one years ago)

We begin all of our shows with "Ed Takes Control" from the Ed Wood score.

― peepee (peepee), Monday, 14 February 2005 01:44 (twenty-one years ago)

It depends on what sort of band I'm in. If it were moody, then Breathless - "Across the Water". If it were poppy, then Lizzy Mercier Descloux's cover of Kool and the Gang's "Funky Stuff". If it were experimental (like my current project), then probably Cabaret Voltaire's "Seconds Too Late".

― Ian Riese-Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Monday, 14 February 2005 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Strapping Young Lad uses 'Blame Canada' from the South Park Movie. Works well.

In my first and only gig we used a loop of the first 45 seconds or so of Thunderstruck.

― blawa (blawa), Monday, 14 February 2005 02:01 (twenty-one years ago)

it'd be a toss-up between soft pink truth's big booty bitches or a ennio morricone track

― deyoung (ndeyoung), Monday, 14 February 2005 02:05 (twenty-one years ago)

yummy yummy yummy i got love in my tummy

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Monday, 14 February 2005 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

something by goblin.

― blackmail.is.my.life (blackmail.is.my.life), Monday, 14 February 2005 04:25 (twenty-one years ago)

"Little Old Country Boy" by Parliament.

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Monday, 14 February 2005 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

"No Fun" by the Stooges.

― Ken L (Ken L), Monday, 14 February 2005 05:27 (twenty-one years ago)

STANDING ON THE VERGE OF GETTING IT ON

― Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Monday, 14 February 2005 05:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i've done this before and we played "spanish flea" by herb alpert & the tijuana brass.

― ath, Monday, 14 February 2005 05:54 (twenty-one years ago)

The theme from Shaft.

― David Beckhouse (David Beckhouse), Monday, 14 February 2005 05:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"Theme for the Scientist of the Invisible" - Masters of Reality

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 14 February 2005 08:21 (twenty-one years ago)

In bands I've been in in the past we've used (amongst others):

West One (Shine On Me) - Ruts
Ride Of The Valkries - Wagner
Who Are The Mystery Girls? - NY Dolls

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 14 February 2005 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

"Eat Yourself Fitter" by the Fall

― youn, Monday, 14 February 2005 10:24 (twenty-one years ago)

popcorn by hot butter

― coco, Monday, 14 February 2005 10:55 (twenty-one years ago)

A band I was in used to use the opening music from "Jesus Christ Superstar" which is fuggin' great intro music. Another gig we decided to use the theme from "Nationwide" and our singer gave the sound man a cassette to play thru the PA, unfortunately said drug-addled singer and recorded the music on the other side from a computer game cassette and forgot to rewind it, so we came on to three minutes of assorted electronic whirrs, buzzes and beeps. Afterwards I said it was an early Stockhausen piece.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 14 February 2005 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

"A band I was in used to use the opening music from "Jesus Christ Superstar"...."

Aaah yes, that reminds me.

One of the bands I was in used to use the theme music from Steptoe & Son.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 14 February 2005 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

"Bombastic Intro," Big Black. "Liberace," Showcase Showdown. "Mind Your Own Business," Chicks on Speed... all come to mind.. but I'd probably actually use "Capers," by the Birthday Party.

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 14 February 2005 12:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd like to use the Hitchiker's Guide music.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 14 February 2005 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

R0bin M@ckenzies Windows XP start sound house remix.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 14 February 2005 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

anacanapanacana by goddo

― todd (todd), Monday, 14 February 2005 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Stereophonics - Have A Nice Day

― DJ Mencap0))), Monday, 14 February 2005 13:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Van Halen - Mean Street...thats my entrance music for everything.

― Big Baby Bingo (Chris V), Monday, 14 February 2005 13:19 (twenty-one years ago)

this thread makes me wonder if it's a good idea to play an intro music !!

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 14 February 2005 13:23 (twenty-one years ago)

The Blue Aeroplanes used to come out to the sound of a jet engine panning across the stage.

I might use:
Ionisation - Edgard Varese
When You're Smiling - Tones on Tail

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 14 February 2005 13:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The Blue Aeroplanes used to come out to the sound of a jet engine panning across the stage.

But I thought they put on spontaneous rock and roll concerts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 February 2005 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

well, spontaneous as a fake jet, I guess.

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:28 (twenty-one years ago)

The fog's rolling, the scrim begins to ever-so-slowly lift, revealing the silhouetted figures behind, to the strains of the wailin' sax bit from Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street."

― briania (briania), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The Final Countdown, obv.

― Leon the Fatboy (Ex Leon), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

theme from Sailor Moon plz. k thx plz.

― g-kit (g-kit), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

The best show a band I've been in has ever played, the last five songs from Ill Communication were playing, so it went through the whole Monk chant -> "Sabrosa" dealie, which in turn led right into our CHUCKACHWOOWOWOWOWOWOWOW intro.

― known vaginatarian (nickalicious), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh wait, I think I misunderstood this question. You mean, like, music as the intro to our performance, not like the general music playing before the lights-dimming yadda yadda begins, right.

In that case, I will say that the theme from Looney Toons has always been my favorite borrowed piece to use as an intro. Especially as a lead-in to a sluggish, monstrous dirge.

― known vaginatarian (nickalicious), Monday, 14 February 2005 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Did the Buzzcocks use the Looney Tunes intro to their Spiral Scratch EP?

There's excessively long introductory music included on the Banshees' live at the Albert Hall 'Nocturne'- Stravinkey's Rites of Spring, I think.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 14 February 2005 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

The Final Countdown, obv.

I saw Faith No More in 1992 and this was their intro music. They all came out on stage and performed calisthenics (jumping jacks, pushups, etc.) while it played.

― joygoat (joygoat), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:38 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm glad someone finally said the Final Countdown. obv. the best ever.

― lemin (lemin), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

tommy james, "i think we're alone now"

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Monday, 14 February 2005 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

During the 'Monsters of Rock' tour in '91, Slayer or Megadeth or Anthraz (can't remeber which) used 'Black Sabbath' by Black Sabbath. Predictable but still cool.

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

'The Slider' - TRex

― 57 7th (calstars), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Moonshake" by Can or the theme from "Midnight Express".

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 14 February 2005 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

eight months pass...

new one -- "dr. mabuse" by propaganda.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 14 October 2005 05:50 (twenty years ago)

either the theme song from mr stabby or that acoustic cover of "i kill everything i fuck"

― vacuum cleaner (electricsound), Friday, 14 October 2005 05:51 (twenty years ago)

The theme from "Full House"

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 14 October 2005 05:54 (twenty years ago)

Spoon's been playing 1999 straight through. Which sets the bar pretty high, come to think...

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Friday, 14 October 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

The theme from "Full House"
-- Hurting

Haha

Theme from Sanford & Son

― van der who (van smack), Friday, 14 October 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Theme from Chariots of Fire? Or maybe just Benny Hill?

― js (honestengine), Friday, 14 October 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

actually I'd use the instrumental/jazz version of Frank Zappa's "Let's Make The Water Turn Black".

― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

"i'm the fuck you man"

― strng hlkngtn: what does it mean? (dubplatestyle), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

"my death" by scott walker, on repeat.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

the title theme from the french connection

― josh w (jbweb), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

We used to use Orbital's "Satan".

― Nöödle Vägue (noodle vague), Friday, 14 October 2005 14:48 (twenty years ago)

our exit music is Paul McCartney's "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Friday, 14 October 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

A few years back the Go Betweens used Miles Davis "Dark Magus" every night.

― TRG (TRG), Friday, 14 October 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

I've been using the Al Jolson version of Irving Berlin's "Let me sing and I'm happy" slowed down to about half-speed ------

― reacher, Friday, 14 October 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

John Barry - The Black hole theme

― snowballing (snowballing), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Ranuchy Young Lepers "They Ripped Up My Mind"

― donut hallivallerieburtonelli omg lol (donut), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

Eno's Windows startup chime, really loud

― blunt (blunt), Friday, 14 October 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

The stirring march from Mel Brooks' "Silent Movie"

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

"Rez" by Underworld!

― gear (gear), Friday, 14 October 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

shirley Bassey - goldfinger

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Friday, 14 October 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

Suicide "Ghost Rider"

― van der who (van smack), Friday, 14 October 2005 18:16 (twenty years ago)

A local ska-punk band played the Beetlejuice theme as its intro song.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 14 October 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

"Thunderstruck" - AC/DC

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 14 October 2005 22:38 (twenty years ago)

My old band used "Player's Anthem" by Junior M.A.F.I.A. before going on with our indiepop slack. I thought it was funny.

― strom (strom), Friday, 14 October 2005 22:58 (twenty years ago)

tommy james, "i think we're alone now"

-- fact checking cuz (factcheckingcu...), February 14th, 2005.

Well, now that's a bit pessimistic ...

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 15 October 2005 02:26 (twenty years ago)

HOT SNAKES SALTON CITY

ROY JONES JR THEME SONG BY ROY JONES

FUCK ROY JONES

― LeCoq (LeCoq), Saturday, 15 October 2005 03:41 (twenty years ago)

"Spanish Flea" by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
or
"Summer Samba (Samba de Verão)" by Walter Wanderley

― Voodoo Child, Saturday, 15 October 2005 03:45 (twenty years ago)

Cut Copy used Daft Punk - "Around the World" the other night and actually played "Future" into it. Amazing.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 15 October 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton

I fully intend to use this song when the band I'm in starts playing out next year.

― mzui (mzui), Saturday, 15 October 2005 06:42 (twenty years ago)

Cut Copy used Daft Punk - "Around the World" the other night and actually played "Future" into it. Amazing.

Interesting, although I still consider "One More Time" as the ultimate "taking the stage" music.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Saturday, 15 October 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

the only time i ever saw prince, he was preceded by a looooong set of his own songs, with a cardboard cut-out of prince propped up at the front of the stage. billy joel's standard intro music was one of his own instrumentals, "the mexican connection." who else uses their own music?

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Saturday, 15 October 2005 13:29 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, the Red Dwarf theme!! Hah.

― Hat (Hat), Saturday, 15 October 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

Something from the soundtrack to Katamari Damacy, probably.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Saturday, 15 October 2005 17:13 (twenty years ago)

I once saw Soul Coughing come on to a disco version of John Williams' Star Wars theme; that was totally in character.

What is the title of that Sousa march that Monty Python used as a theme? It'd be pretty hard for a band to live up to the associations, but I'd love to see them try. Bonus points if a giant foot and squishing sounds are used appropriately.

― j.lu (j.lu), Saturday, 15 October 2005 22:26 (twenty years ago)

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