"Thunder Kiss '65" is a song by American heavy metal band White Zombie, released in 1992 from the band's third studio album, La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One (1992). The song was released as their first official single and was later included on compilations, such as Rob Zombie's Past, Present & Future (2003) and The Best of Rob Zombie (2006).
| "Thunder Kiss '65" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by White Zombie | ||||
| from the album La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume One | ||||
| B-side | "Welcome to Planet Motherfucker/Psychoholic Slag" | |||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Recorded | May 1991 | |||
| Studio | 321, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:54 | |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | White Zombie | |||
| Producer(s) | Andy Wallace | |||
| White Zombie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Thunder Kiss '65" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editThe single was released three times as a single before it gained the attention of Mike Judge and its video was aired on Beavis and Butt-head in 1993.[5] Actor lines are heard from the 1965 exploitation film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!.[citation needed] The popularity of the single resulted in White Zombie's first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance later that year. In May 2006, the song was ranked number 32 on VH1's list, '40 Greatest Metal Songs'.[6]
A mix of the song was used by Extreme Championship Wrestling for their weekend syndicated show from 1994–1997.
The song was used to introduce Puck in the original broadcast of the 1994 season of The Real World: San Francisco.[7]
The song was featured on the 2005 video game Guitar Hero as a cover version performed by WaveGroup.
The song was used in the 2007 movie, Wild Hogs, starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy.
Music video
editThe song's music video gained significant airplay on MTV. This helped greatly to increase the band's popularity especially after having been played during the MTV animated series Beavis and Butt-head on the episode "Yogurt's Cool". The video was directed by Juliet Cuming and features the band playing the song out in a desert with dancers and monsters. According to Rob, it is the lowest budgeted music video released by the band.[8]
Releases
editFirst single track listing (1992)
- "Thunder Kiss '65 (LP version)" – 3:54
- "Welcome to Planet Motherfucker/Psychoholic Slag (LP version)" – 6:21
Second single track listing (1993)
- "Thunder Kiss '65 (Finger on the Trigger remix)" – 6:19
- "Welcome to Planet Motherfucker/Psychoholic Slag (LP version)" – 6:21
- "Black Sunshine (Indestructible "Sock It to Me" Psycho-Head mix)" – 4:58
- "Thunder Kiss '65 (The Diabolical Ramrodder remix)" – 6:17
Charts
edit| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Mainstream Rock[9] | 26 |
| RIANZ Singles Chart[10] | 47 |
References
edit- ^ Anderson, Kyle (April 9, 2015). "White Zombie's 'Astro-Creep 2000': 20 years of love and destruction". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (June 18, 2022). "A Deal With the TV God Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ Krovatin, Chris (March 31, 2020). "How White Zombie's La Sexorcisto Gave The '90s The Metal It Secretly Craved". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Album Pick of the Week". WSVNRadio. No. 1113. WSVN. August 24, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "White Zombie Interview". The Gauntlet. November 20, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "40 Greatest Metal Songs Ever". VH1. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ "Puck Real World Video".
- ^ "RockNet Interviews Rob Zombie of White Zombie". RockNet. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
- ^ Billboard.com single charts for White Zombie
- ^ austriancharts.at charts.org.nz, New Zealand charts for White Zombie