Stars Who Turned UFO Sightings Into Songs

Creedence Clearwater Revival UFO

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 track ‘It Came Out of the Sky’ is a satirical tale set ‘just a little south of Moline,’ imagining a UFO landing and the world’s chaotic reaction. While not inspired by a specific sighting, it reflects the public’s fascination with extraterrestrials during the post–Roswell era.

John Fogerty wrote it as a humorous take on how different sectors, scientists, politicians, and media would interpret an alien landing. Though the song’s story is fictional, its social commentary remains strikingly relevant.

Hendrix’s ‘Third Stone’ Inspiration

Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 track ‘Third Stone from the Sun’ showcases his deep interest in space and science fiction. While not directly tied to a confirmed sighting, Hendrix often spoke about cosmic themes and was rumored (though never confirmed) to have had personal UFO experiences.

The instrumental track features hidden spoken-word segments referencing space travel, lending it an intergalactic tone. Hendrix often talked about alien life and psychic sensitivity in interviews, adding to the song’s cosmic mystique. His fascination with the unknown added depth to his psychedelic sound.

Lennon’s New York UFO

John Lennon wrote about his 1974 UFO sighting in New York City on his album Walls and Bridges, stamping “On the 23rd Aug. 1974 at 9 o’clock I saw a U.F.O.” on the liner notes. He witnessed a flattened‑cone craft with circling lights hovering above a building.

His girlfriend May Pang described the flashing rim of white bulbs and a steady red light. The event directly inspired his 1984 song “Nobody Told Me,” which includes the lyric, “There’s UFOs over New York, and I ain’t too surprised.”

Bowie’s Alien Persona Took Flight

David Bowie’s fascination with space was central to his identity as Ziggy Stardust. While there are no verified UFO sightings linked to him, Bowie often used extraterrestrial imagery as a metaphor for alienation and fame.

Songs like ‘Starman’ and ‘Life on Mars?’ fused sci-fi themes with social commentary. In the 1970s, he spoke in interviews about his interest in the paranormal and alternative realities. Though no firsthand sightings were reported, Bowie’s music explored outer space as both artistic frontier and emotional landscape.”

Dave Davies Telepathy Claims

Dave Davies, guitarist of The Kinks, has shared that he experienced multiple UFO sightings and even believed he had telepathic ties to extraterrestrials. Though he didn’t immediately go public, he later explained that psychic sensitivity, including with his brother Ray Davies, opened his mind to unusual signals. His claims reflect an intimate blend of musical creativity and spiritual curiosity.

Whether literal or symbolic, Davies’s experiences emphasize how UFO encounters can blur the line between reality and artistic inspiration.

Elvis Presley’s Alien Visions

Elvis Presley reportedly had numerous UFO sightings while touring the American Southwest, with his friend Larry Geller sharing accounts of them seeing glowing desert lights. Presley’s recollection of a childhood telepathic dream and desert lights as a youth reflects a lifelong intrigue.

Geller also recounted Vernon Presley seeing a blue light above their home when Elvis was born. Though not tied to a specific song, these experiences added supernatural mystique to his legend.

Gram Parsons’ UFO Obsession

Gram Parsons often journeyed into the Mojave Desert, including Joshua Tree, where he immersed himself in hallucinogenic retreats and openly searched the skies for UFOs, as recounted by his road manager Phil Kaufman and documented in contemporaneous music biographies

He appeared in the unreleased sci‑fi film Saturation 70, blending musical creativity with cosmic interest. While his early death at 26 cut his arc short, Parsons remains a cult symbol of rock, country, and cosmic curiosity intersecting.

Rolling Stones’ Jagger UFO Moments

Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones claimed to have seen a UFO in 1968 while camping with Marianne Faithfull, then again amid the chaos of Altamont in 1969. These sightings resonated so strongly that he reportedly installed UFO detection equipment at his home.

These recurring experiences reflect how even rock royalty were drawn into the cosmic mystery swirling around UFO lore during the late 1960s.

Keith Richards’ Sussex UFOs

Keith Richards also witnessed UFOs over his Sussex estate in 1968, describing them as real but unreportable to official sources. He speculated about their connection to humanity’s early days: “They are tied up with a lot of things, like the dawn of man”.

The guitarist’s straightforward mix of skepticism and wonder underscores the deeper philosophical appeal UFOs held for him. It’s a reminder that even the most down‑to‑earth musician can be curious about cosmic beginnings.

Sun Ra’s Space Identity

Avant‑jazz pioneer Sun Ra claimed to be from Saturn and led the Sun Ra Arkestra in “space experiences”. His album We Travel the Space Ways and persona blurred alien mythology and musical performance.

He spoke of going to another dimension, requiring discipline and protection from time zones. For Sun Ra, the alien identity was literal, a cosmic mission rather than a metaphor, but still a creative act that challenged earthly norms and rituals.

Tom DeLonge’s Active Investigation

Blink‑182’s Tom DeLonge wrote the song “Aliens Exist” (1999), rooted in his obsession with UFOs and government secrecy. He co‑wrote Enema of the State’s track to parody conspiracy theories, but his seriousness grew over time.

In 2015, near Area 51, he described feeling static electricity and hearing voices around his campsite. DeLonge later founded To the Stars Academy and credits his influence in the Pentagon for establishing the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office

Isaac Brock’s Phoenix Lights Memory

Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock witnessed the famous 1997 Phoenix Lights event, and that eerie moment inspired the song “The Best Room” on Strangers to Ourselves. Stranded in a taped‑off Phoenix hotel as helicopters buzzed overhead, Brock internalized the atmosphere.

Though the lyrics focus more on tension and confinement, the UFO backdrop shaped the song’s mood. It’s a compelling example of how a mass UFO event can fuel indie‑rock storytelling rooted in real‑life strangeness.

Kesha’s Joshua Tree UFO Vision

Pop star Kesha recounted seeing five to seven “spaceships” hovering over Joshua Tree National Park while recording her album Rainbow. This literal sighting inspired the album’s UFO‑themed aesthetics, song “Spaceship,” and cover art.

Kesha later affirmed on Instagram, “UFOs are real. I have seen them. Not playing.” It’s a rare case where pop music and open belief in UFOs intersect transparently, infusing her music with cosmic wonder.

Wider Cosmic Song Catalogue

Many artists have written songs about UFOs, including Pink Floyd (“Let There Be More Light”), The Byrds (“Mr. Spaceman”), Elton John (“I’ve Seen the Saucers”), Klaatu and The Carpenters (“Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft”), Radiohead (“Subterranean Homesick Alien”), Blink‑182, Milla Jovovich, Tool, The Killers, Taylor Swift, and more.

Even as Elton John has faced recent health challenges, like his recovery from eye surgery, which you can read about here, his earlier work continues to explore cosmic themes. This wide list shows UFOs as a recurring, versatile symbol in music, used for sci‑fi fun, metaphoric escape, or grappling with existential questions about life and the universe.

UFOs and Music Explained

The connection between UFOs and music goes beyond novelty; it reflects artists’ search for meaning, altered states, spiritual curiosity, and cosmic storytelling. From Hendrix’s experimental sounds and Bowie’s alien alter‑ego to DeLonge’s real investigations and Kesha’s park sighting, UFOs spark creativity in diverse genres.

And speaking of Hendrix, you can dive into how he and others shaped rock history in this feature on rock’s most legendary guitarists. Whether a playful lyric, a psychedelic jam, or a confessional song, these cosmic sightings continue to inspire.

UFO‑themed music blends personal experience with universal wonder, tapping into our timeless fascination with the unknown.

What’s your favorite UFO-inspired song, or did we miss one you love? Let us know!

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.