I have always had a dream of witnessing a genuine UFO sighting. Similar to Fox Mulder from The X-Files, I truly want to believe that there is something extraterrestrial out there in the vast expanse of the observable universe, which is home to approximately two trillion galaxies. The location of the infamous Falcon Lake Incident in 1967 happened to be just a few miles from where my grandparents lived, and ever since then, I have been captivated by the possibility of having a close encounter of some kind.
I hope that the futuristic visions portrayed in Star Trek will eventually become a reality. It would be incredible if, like Zefram Cochrane, a pioneer could launch the first warp drive flight on April 5, 2061, initiating First Contact with a passing Vulcan ship. In my dreams, there is a black monolith perfectly proportioned buried under the hydrangeas in my backyard, warning me to leave Europa alone. I fantasize about picking up an Alan Freed broadcast from 1955 on my small transistor radio, echoed back to us from a civilization within a 35-light-year radius. I would much prefer this scenario over encountering the contentious issues that arose in Contact, such as dealing with Hitler. Additionally, the fast radio bursts discovered in space hold more appeal to me if they are genuine interstellar or intergalactic WOW signals, especially the one currently generating excitement. It would be far more exciting than searching for hydroxyl emissions.
However, despite my constant vigilance, all I have ever witnessed in the night sky are shooting stars, passing satellites, and the occasional sight of a space station. Nonetheless, my optimism has grown as of late. The New York Times recently published reports about US Navy pilots encountering Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAPs) – the new name for UFOs. The evidence has piled up to such an extent that whistleblowers came forward last week, testifying under oath in front of the House Oversight Congressional Committee. They claimed that the government has been concealing the recovery of “non-human” bodies and extraterrestrial technologies from crashed vehicles.
Millions of us eagerly await the truth, and among those anxiously anticipating answers are several prominent musicians. One such musician is Tom DeLonge, who is now back playing guitar with Blink-182. His fascination with aliens predates his time with the band. In their early days, he would spend countless hours on the tour bus, gazing out the window in search of UFOs. The band’s 1999 hit album, Enema of the State, even included the song “Aliens Exist.” Tom’s dedication to exploring theories and conspiracies surrounding aliens and UAPs created tension within the band, leading to his estrangement from bandmates Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker for several years. During his time away from Blink-182, Tom co-authored numerous novels and non-fiction books about what he refers to as “sekret machines” (UAPs). He also played a prominent role in the History Channel series, “Unidentified: Inside America’s UFO Investigation.” Furthermore, he founded the To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences, a company encompassing both entertainment and aerospace divisions dedicated to ufology, technological research, and scientific endeavors. The Academy’s team consists of academics, engineers, NASA scientists, and former government officials, including ex-CIA personnel. They have been relentless in their pursuit of government transparency.
Tom is currently extremely excited about the recent revelations. During Blink-182’s ongoing tour, his bandmate, Mark Hoppus, has even acknowledged that Tom was right about his beliefs. Meanwhile, everyone at To The Stars Academy is eagerly awaiting the next developments. If you ever have the opportunity to speak with Tom, be prepared to delve into a deep conversation about his theories on “zero-point energy” – it could take hours.
Tom is not the only musician passionate about uncovering the truth about extraterrestrial life. Matt Bellamy, the lead singer of Muse, shares the same fascination with UFOs. He has expressed a desire to go alien hunting with Tom and has an open invitation to explore a warehouse near Las Vegas that supposedly contains a treasure trove of “weird alien [stuff].” Additionally, Matt believes that he may have been abducted by aliens on one occasion, attributing it to a flashing light he witnessed in the woods at one in the morning. His next memory was waking up at home. He does, however, acknowledge that recreational substances may have influenced his perception, and it might have been nothing more than an ordinary helicopter. Nevertheless, Matt will continue to write songs exploring conspiratorial, cosmological, and astronomical themes.
Another musician with an interest in aliens is Black Francis of The Pixies. Whether as part of the band or as a solo artist, he has written songs on the subject. This passion stems from a sighting his mother and several cousins had in 1965. They witnessed a flying saucer hovering above their house for thirty minutes, and despite the state police’s efforts to chase it, they were unable to catch up. Black Francis remarked that although his mother was eccentric, she had no reason to fabricate such a story. He also stated that The Pixies’ goal was to elevate the science fiction theme and make it more operatic and a serious topic within the domain of rock music. They aimed to make UFOs an acceptable and romantic subject.
Shaun Ryder of The Happy Mondays claims to have had multiple encounters with flying saucers, remarking, “I don’t go looking for aliens. They find me.” At the age of fifteen, Shaun and a friend witnessed strange, zig-zagging objects while walking to a bus stop. He insists that he was too young to have ingested any hallucinogenic substances at the time, sparking a lifelong interest in extraterrestrial phenomena. He has even created a documentary series on the subject.
Even Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones has an anecdote related to UFOs. He believes that his Redlands estate in West Sussex served as a landing site for UFOs in 1968. Keith has seen a few UFOs but acknowledges that the government would not believe his encounters. He firmly believes that UFOs are tied to significant events in human history, such as the dawn of civilization. Despite not being an expert, Keith continues to strive for a better understanding of these phenomena.
Lastly, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, named after the nickname given to Allied airmen investigating mysterious fireballs during World War II, also possesses a keen interest in UFOs. He even named his record label Roswell Records after the New Mexico town associated with a supposed crashed weather balloon in 1947. Dave is skeptical of the official explanation and believes that there is more to the story, challenging the authenticity of Area 51 and the contents of Hangar 18. Foo Fighters’ name and Dave’s curiosity about UFOs reflect his fascination with the subject.
Sadly, many iconic musicians who were believers and witnesses of UFOs, such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, and Lemmy from Motorhead, are no longer with us. However, I would like to think that wherever they may be now, the truth about extraterrestrial existence has been revealed to them.
Currently, there has been a significant increase in UFO sightings across the globe. If you should encounter any shape-shifting Reptilians, it is advisable not to turn your back on them, particularly if they are sporting a “KEEP CALM AND PROBE ON” t-shirt.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is a man dressed in a black suit and sunglasses who wishes to discuss a peculiar matter with me, involving the use of a flashy device.
-Alan Cross, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge broadcaster, and Global News commentator