13 badass marching band covers of your favorite songs

Here are some high school and college groups that stepped out of their comfort zones. Instead of patriotic, child-friendly favorites, they played some unconventional choices that fit right in when blasted by huge ensembles.

Read more: 10 stunning tattoo sleeves dedicated to bands

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE – “Bulls On Parade” (George Mason University)

This video shows George Mason University’s marching band rocking out to one of Rage Against The Machine’s greatest hits. Who wouldn’t feel the energy of this song after watching the student in the front row headbanging?

PANIC! AT THE DISCO – “Victorious” (Ohio University’s Marching 110)

You’ve got to love the football announcer’s cheesy introduction to this tune. And listen to those blaring horns: OU knows what’s up when it comes to picking good marching band covers.

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – “Welcome Home” (Trojan marching band, University of Southern California)

You know you’re doing something right when a band takes notice of cover versions of their songs. The Trojan marching band actually performed with Coheed at Coachella back in 2010, but the video above shows the full band’s rendition of the song on the field.

PARAMORE – “Ain’t It Fun” (Temple University)

Paramore’s poppiest song comes to life a little bit differently when blasted on a football field, but it’s still just as fun, ain’t it?

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – “Almost Easy” (Trojan marching band, USC)

The Trojan marching band appear twice on this list because they’re pretty much as metal as it gets—when it comes to a marching band anyway. F’reals: There’s a reason they regularly appear on TV and at the Grammys.

METALLICA – “Seek And Destroy,” “Master Of Puppets,” “Enter Sandman,” “Turn The Page” (University Of Nevada Wolf Pack marching band)

University Of Nevada’s marching band crammed four Metallica songs into a full tribute show, and the whole thing rocks. Skip to 1:30 for the fast-paced highlight, “Master Of Puppets.”

FALL OUT BOY – “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up),” “Centuries,” “I Don’t Care,” “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” (University Of Northern Iowa)

Here’s another killer tribute show, this time by the University of Northern Iowa’s marching band honoring Fall Out Boy. They picked FOB’s more popular tunes, spanning from 2007’s “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” to 2015’s “Centuries.”

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TWENTY ONE PILOTS – “Tear In My Heart” (Bellevue High School)

Any band nerd would be stoked to play a TOP song, like Bellevue high school did. Hopefully there will soon be a few TOP tribute shows popping up during halftime shows. Maybe they’ll even manage to get a crowdsurfing drumset on the field, in the manner of drummer Josh Dun.

P!ATD – “LA Devotee,” “Nine in the Afternoon,” “Victorious” and “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (Bowling Green State University)

This is is possibly the coolest marching band ever, since they did an entire P!ATD halftime show. The band approved, and we do, too.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN – “Question!” (Leland Stanford Junior University)

This marching band broke away from the norm when they picked System Of A Down for their show, and they were even less conventional when they decided to not pick “Chop Suey” or “B.Y.O.B.” Instead, this version of “Question!” is pretty heavy with the marching band’s in-your-face wall of sound.

GREEN DAY – “Basket Case” (Alabama University Million Dollar Band)

This cover of “Basket Case” shows band members bobbing back and forth in a coordinated dance. Even better, you can hear every instrument in the band rocking out—including the piccolos in the front row.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE – “Welcome To The Black Parade” (Union Grove High School)

 

“When I was a young boy, my father took me into the city to see a marching band.” Given the opening lyrics to “Welcome To The Black Parade,” it’s no shock that at least one band have taken it upon themselves to perform this song during a halftime show.

P!ATD – “Death Of A Bachelor” and “Victorious”  (UCLA Bruin Marching Band)

Marching bands really like Panic! At The Disco, apparently. We're not complaning; on the contrary, we're all for it.