The Killing Moon

"The Killing Moon"
Single by Echo & the Bunnymen
from the album Ocean Rain
B-side	"Do It Clean"
Released	20 January 1984
Format	7", 12"
Recorded	Crescent Studio in Bath
Genre	Post-punk
Length	5:47
Label	Korova
Writer(s)	Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas
Producer	The Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen singles chronology
"Never Stop" (1983) "The Killing Moon" (1984) The Sound of Echo (1984)

The Killing Moon is a single by the band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on their 1984 album, Ocean Rain. It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number nine in the UK Singles Chart.

Lyrics

According to the liner notes of Echo and the Bunnymen's Crystal Days box set, Ian McCulloch woke up one morning with the phrase "fate up against a whale" in mind. He wrote it down but then decided to change it to 'your will' later.

Appearances on film and television

• In 1998, the song appeared in the film Gia.
• The song was used quite prominently in the 2001 cult film Donnie Darko. Played over the opening sequence, it was in fact a last minute substitution by the film's director, Richard Kelly, when he could not obtain the rights to use INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart", which was later used in the director's cut. In the director's cut "The Killing Moon" was played as originally intended during the Halloween party towards the end of the film.
• Another use of the song was in Grosse Pointe Blank at the scene when Martin Blank exits Debbie Newberry's radio-booth after a short interview in which we learn he stood her up at prom night and disappeared for 10 years.
• The song was also used in the film The Girl Next Door in the scene in which the protagonist first sees his new neighbour.
• "The Killing Moon" was used in Transworld's "First Love". It was the song used for Shiloh Greathouse's part.
• "The Killing Moon" was also used in a UK Promotional Spot for the TV series Supernatural.
• Snowboarding film "More" by Absinthe films features this song.
• "The Killing Moon" was also used in a commercial for the Discovery World channel series Events that Shook the World in 2009.
• The song was used in the 5th episode in Series 2 of the E4 British comedy-drama, Misfits
• The song was used in the Audi 2012 Game Day Commercial - Vampire Party

Appearances in popular culture

• "The Killing Moon" is referred to in World of Warcraft, a popular MMORPG published by Blizzard Entertainment. Alliance quests named "Fate, Up Against Your Will" and "The Killing Time" are components of a larger quest chain involving the retaking of the Undercity from a group of insurgents.

• "The Killing Moon" is featured as part of the on-disc setlist in the video game Rock Band 3.

• "The Killing Moon" is covered by Brian Lopez.

Cover versions

"The Killing Moon" has been covered by many artists:

• A version can be found on the 1998 compilation album New Wave Goes to Hell, sung by deathrock singer Eva O.
• In 1999, the American indie rock group Pavement released a live version on their Major Leagues EP.
• The Quakes, an American psychobilly group, recorded a version for their 2001 album Last of the Human Beings.
• American singer-songwriter Grant-Lee Phillips recorded an acoustic version for his 2006 covers album, Nineteeneighties.
• French group Nouvelle Vague recorded a version for their 2006 covers album, Bande à Part.
• Australian musician Wendy Rule recorded a version on the B-side of her single "Artemis".
• The Australian rock group Something for Kate released a version on the B-side to their 2006 single "Cigarettes and Suitcases".
• American singer-songwriter Greg Laswell recorded a version for his 2009 EP, Covers.
• American singer-songwriter Brian Lopez recorded a version for his 2011 LP, Ultra (Funzalo Records). The video has been relaesed by Gwarr Greff for TOXIC-MUSIC

Track listing

• UK 12"

1. "The Killing Moon" (All Night Version)
2. "The Killing Moon"
3. "Do It Clean" (Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall London 18 July 1983)

External links

• Echo & The Bunnymen Official Website
• Promotional video at the band's official website