UNLISTED CRASH PROMO: Fallen Star Remix Mephisto Odyssey, Brad Gillis, Wayne Static, Batman Beyond

Description:

This is the UNLISTED PRESS PROMO to the completely reimagined version of CRASH, (featuring Wayne Static of Static-X), by Mephisto Odyssey founder Mikael Johnston, with additional production and guitar by legendary guitarist Brad Gillis (Ozzy, Night Ranger). The song was originally written by Mikael Johnston with the help of Michael Julien Morris of Faith No Man (which later became Faith No More) and Wayne Wells (aka Wayne Static), the song was slated for release on Mephisto Odyssey’s forthcoming album on Warner Bros. Records. In 2000, the label approached Mikael about using Crash for the soundtrack of the animated feature Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker, starring Mark Hamill as the Joker. Mikael agreed and a music video, directed by Len Wiseman, was shot featuring the then-current lineup of Mephisto Odyssey, as well as Wayne Static and Static-X guitarist Koichi Fukuda. However, both Mikael and Wayne felt that the original mix didn’t fully capture the song’s energy and that the video was too focused on promoting the animated feature rather than the music itself. Talks of a remix and a re-edit of the video began, but for years, various demos and ideas remained unfinished. Finally, in 2024—10 years after Wayne’s passing—Mikael revisited the original multitracks, giving the original version of Crash a brand-new mix, which was then mastered by Maor Appelbaum. The video was also re-edited in 4K using the original 35mm prints, which had been dormant in the Warner Vaults for 25 years. These film canisters contained never-before-seen footage, inspiring Mikael to completely reimagine Crash from the ground up, using what has been dubbed the "lost track" demo as inspiration for both the song and the darker theme of the video which contained additional footage shot and edited by director William Instone; now known as the "Falling Star Remix." A demo of this new version was played for longtime friend Brad Gillis, who loved the direction and contributed guitars throughout the track as well as helping to shape the bridge in a more melodic direction to help break up the tension of the harsher more industrial verses and Chorus that were heavily influenced by artists like Marilyn Manson, Ministry, The Prodigy, Ministry and Rammstein. . Both the new mix and master of the original version and the newly reimagined "Falling Star" version of Crash will be released as an anniversary single under the title "CRASH Reborn" on Warner/Rhino Records in 2026 (exact release date pending). 🔔 Stay tuned for updates, and let us know in the comments what you think!