• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Wheatus’ Teenage Dirtbag is based on a seriously dark true story

Home> Entertainment> Music

Published 15:47 14 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Wheatus’ Teenage Dirtbag is based on a seriously dark true story

It was inspired by one of the singer's childhood experiences

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

Wheatus’ 'Teenage Dirtbag' has a seriously creepy true story behind it, and it's left fans horrified.

Whether it was blasted at your primary school discos or a fan-favourite go-to at any dodgy karaoke night - the track has become cemented in pretty much everyone's brains if you happen to be born pre-millennium.

Now, while many of us could probably recite the catchy lyrics off by heart now, what a lot of us don't know are the eerie origins of the smash hit.

There are some pretty harrowing origins to Wheatus' smash-hit 'Teenage Dirtbag'.
YouTube/Wheatus

Advert

The debut single first graced our earholes back in the year 2000 and is arguably the most well-known song by Wheatus after selling millions upon millions of copies worldwide.

It was written by guitarist and vocalist Brendan B. Brown and has become a cult classic made popular by its relatable coming-of-age lyrics about an unrequited high school romance.

In case you need your jukebox memory jogging, the song is sung from the perspective of a narrator who longs for a girl who doesn’t seem to notice him until the very end at which point she asks him to go to an Iron Maiden concert with her at the school prom.

It's all very American let's just say.

Oh yeah - the iconic music video also featured clips from the movie Loser which starred American Pie's Jason Biggs and American Beauty's Mena Suvari.

Some of the lyrics include: "Her boyfriend's a d*ck / And he brings a gun to school," as well as "I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby / Listen to Iron Maiden, baby, with me."

The song was actually inspired by a childhood experience of Brown's as he opened up about his muse in a 2012 interview with Tone Deaf.

The song was inspired by one of Brown's childhood experiences.
YouTube/Wheatus

The star revealed: "It came from the summer of 1984 on Long Island, when I was 10 years old.

"That summer in the woods behind my house, there was a Satanic, drug-induced ritual teen homicide that went down; and the kid who did it was called Ricky Kasso, and he was arrested wearing an AC/DC T-shirt.

"That made all the papers, and the television, obviously; and here I was, 10 years old, walking around with a case full of AC/DC and Iron Maiden and Metallica – and all the parents and the teachers and the cops thought I was some kind of Satan worshipper.

"So that's the backdrop for that song," Brown concluded.

He also added in the same interview the possible reason why he thought the song was so successful, recalling his father's words: "Every teenager has to go through that 'being an outsider' thing, at least a little bit. So that story is still the same for people, even if it's thirty years after I went through it."

Guess you really do learn something new every day.

LADbible are on WhatsApp! We've launched a dedicated news channel to send you the latest news, features and plenty more directly on WhatsApp - all you need to do to sign up is click through to our one-way broadcast channel HERE for 'LADbible News' to appear in the 'Updates' tab on your WhatsApp.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Wheatus

Topics: Music, Weird, Crime

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
    6 hours ago

    Chappell Roan responds after leaving Grammys in shock with X-rated ‘topless’ outfit on red carpet

    The singer certainly turned her heads with the look complete with prosthetics

    Entertainment
  • Davidoff Studios/Getty Images
    8 hours ago

    Legal expert weighs in on whether Donald Trump can sue Grammys host Trevor Noah over Epstein joke

    A legal expert, who won a nearly $50,000,000 case against Alex Jones, has weighed in on Trump's threat

    Entertainment
  • Savion Washington/WireImage
    8 hours ago

    Ali Larter reveals why she left Hollywood as she stars in new role

    The Legally Blonde star, 49, has opened up about stepping back from the LA lifestyle

    Entertainment
  • Peacock
    8 hours ago

    Disturbing John Wayne Gacy true crime drama never shows him as killer clown now streaming

    The serial killer was convicted of murdering 33 teens and young men

    Entertainment
  • Sobering true story behind haunting image with four young children 'for sale'
  • Shocking story of 'Toxic Lady' who made doctors seriously ill by just visiting the room she was in
  • Netflix true crime doc reveals moment Gabby Petito's friends spotted 'dark side' to fiancé before he killed her
  • Scientists make major discovery at site of Noah’s Ark that could prove story is true