Supercross
This is the sound of '90s motocross
Rewind the years and get into the right headspace for Red Bull Straight Rhythm's nostalgia-fest, courtesy of a playlist of tracks big in the motocross world during the 1990s.
If you’re looking for the most outrageous era in motocross, the ‘90s is it. From zebra print motocross gear and a rebellious attitude to videos of boozed-up racers engaging in questionable behaviour, the ‘90s were defined by chaos, free expression, debauchery – and questionable sartorial decisions.
Baggy snowboarding pants and jerseys by the likes of LBZ and SMP were everywhere, while pro racers could be spotted in clubs clad in ridiculous velvet suits and the occasional oversized cowboy hat. Gear designs, meanwhile, were just as comically big and in-your-face. There was more purple than even Prince would've excused and some of the colours were so loud you needed ear plugs.
There hasn’t been anything like it since – and there probably won’t ever be again – but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a blast down memory lane. With the two-stroke-celebrating nostalgia-fest that is Red Bull Straight Rhythm returning to Pomona, California, on Saturday, October 5, what better way to get back into that ‘90s headspace than with a playlist capturing the era's spirit?
There are, of course, thousands of songs representing this golden era of the sport, but here are 10 that are guaranteed to take you back to motocross’s decade of fast and furious decadence.
Final
Riders race down half a mile of rollers, whoops, doubles, tables and all other kinds of rhythmic insanity.
1. Fuel by Metallica
Almost any song by Metallica will do nicely if you’re looking to steel yourself to throw a leg over your motorcycle. But Fuel, a song about going as fast as possible, reigns at the top of the list. If the song’s frenetic pace and lyrics like, "adrenaline crash and crash my head, nitro junkie, paint me dead", don’t make you want to pin it, then you might want to check your pulse.
2. Steppin’ Up by Burnin' Groove
Orange County punks Burnin’ Groove must have featured some pretty major dirt-bike enthusiasts, because a whole bunch of their songs are about riding – such as, ahem, Let’s Just Ride. And with mentions of Carey Hart, Travis Pastrana, Seth Enslow, and Evel Knievel in the lyrics to Steppin' Up, there’s no mistaking who the song is aimed at.
3. More Human Than Human by White Zombie
Played on radio stations across the US, this White Zombie song was massive outside of motocross. But the track was particularly big in MX circles thanks to the popular video, Crusty Demons Of Dirt 4: God Bless The Freaks, in which it appeared. It still resonates today, too. If you want to get jacked up to moto, hit play on this raging gem.
4. Symphony Of Destruction by Megadeth
Is there be a better way to describe the ‘90s motocross scene than the title of this Megadeth anthem? From the baggy pants and unruly attitudes, it was all about living life wide open, on and off the bike. The end result wasn’t always pretty, but the voyage sure was fun.
5. Caught Up In Da Game by Infinite Mass
Not every single motocross song from the ‘90s was stuffed with in-your-face attitude and served with a side plate of aggression. Some, like this track by Swedish hip-hop outfit Infinite Mass, were delivered with finesse. Not surprisingly, Caught Up In Da Game proved to be a perfect match for Jeremy McGrath’s smooth style in Terrafirma 4.
6. Disconnected by Face To Face
Jeremy McGrath was the biggest star of all in the ‘90s and featured in many, many riding videos. One of the most popular segments was in Terrafirma 2 and this is the song that accompanied it. While the song was popular all by itself, it became especially prevalent in motocross circles. If you were to walk through the pits at any track in the country in the '90s, chances are you would have heard someone playing this track by California's Face To Face. The video segment itself was so well-liked that Ken Roczen even recreated it in this clip.
7 min
The '90s 2-Stroke glory
Moto legends dive into what made the '90s the most epic era of American motocross
7. Whiskey by Guttermouth
All Guttermouth songs are great for riding and the band’s outrageous approach was synonymous with the full-tilt, punk-rock attitude that was so strong in MX at the time. But let’s face it, there was also plenty of partying going down, even at the highest level. So this '90s track kills two birds with one stone.
8. Bro Hymn by Pennywise
This song might be from the ‘90s, but it still very much applies today. One of motocross’s best traits has always been brotherhood and the lyrics of this song, by skater-kid favourites Pennywise, are about just that. Plus it’s punk rock, which perfectly epitomises the disrespectful attitude of that decade's motocross scene.
9. Ashes by Strung Out
Everywhere you looked in '90s motocross, people were burning the candle at both ends. So it’s fitting that a song from Crusty Demons Of Dirt, which repeats, "burn it to the ground", over and over should make it on to this playlist. And, like most songs associated with motocross in the '90s, Strung Out's full-on punk-rock energy will make you want to twist the throttle with urgency.
10. The Devil May Care by Glü Gun
Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced song to get your blood pumping, or lyrics that link motorcycles with freedom, Glü Gun's The Devil May Care is your jam. You just can’t go wrong with a chorus line that includes the words, "kickstart a frozen motor, I feel the engine turn, that’s the sound of freedom baby!".
Oh no! This video is currently not available.
