Circles Around the Sun

Album: Circles Around the Sun (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is based on Larry Perry, a disabled man who was reportedly sent unwillingly into space by NASA in the '60s. Dispatch's vocalist and guitarist, Chad Urmston, told Rolling Stone: "In the early 1960s the space race had captured America. Looking to outdo the Soviets without putting their necks on the line, NASA, in an unprecedented, controversial move, took a very disabled young man away from his family to ready him for space flight. Both the USSR and USA had sent dogs and chimps into space, but the USA wanted more. Larry cannot walk or speak but was in perfect health and, more importantly, in the eyes of the government, expendable. Unbeknownst to them, from a very young age, Larry had always been an adrenaline junkie and the scientists and government officials were actually fulfilling the biggest adventure he could ever dream - to be launched into space. To everyone's surprise, Larry returns from space triumphant and smiling." In our interview, we asked Urmston why he was inspired to write about this: "Larry is an old friend of mine. He passed away last year but I'd known him since I was 17. Whether or not this legend is actually true is still hotly debated among experts and conspiracy theorists."
  • This is the title track to Dispatch's fifth album, and first in 12 years, Circles Around the Sun. In our interview, Urmston told us how it felt recording with Dispatch after all that time: "It's always challenging to put an album together with three different song writers. But being 12 years older and taking all that time away helped as we had a better appreciation for each other."

Comments: 1

  • Devilhunter from Manizales, ColombiaThe first time that I heard about this track was while I was playing Need For Speed Most Wanted 2012. Since then I felt in love of this marvelous song, mostly when I saw the videoclip.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Ralph Casale  - Session Pro

Ralph Casale - Session ProSongwriter Interviews

A top New York studio musician, Ralph played guitar on many '60s hits, including "Lightnin' Strikes," "A Lover's Concerto" and "I Am A Rock."