The band's cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" topped the Billboard Alternative songs charts in 2001,[1] and was featured in the film American Pie 2.

They released their debut album Greatest Hits independently in 1999, then signed to DreamWorks Records in 2000.

Their second album ANThology was released in 2001 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies and reaching number 11 on the Billboard 200.

The album was produced by brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, and made it to number 42 on the Billboard 200.

In 2005, the band recorded their next album 3rd Draft, however its release was denied by the label after Geffen bought out DreamWorks.

The band was formed in 1996 in Riverside, California,[2] the original lineup consisting of Dryden Mitchell (vocals), Terry Corso (guitars), Mike Cosgrove (drums) and Tye Zamora (bass).Their name comes from an idea Corso had about aliens and the Earth: "It was just my daydream about our planet being seeded by entities from other dimensions.

[9] In 2000, after forging a friendship with the band Papa Roach, Alien Ant Farm signed with Dreamworks SKG for their second studio album, Anthology.

Corso, the band's guitarist, addressed this in an MTV interview on the set of the music video, saying, "We want to pay homage to Michael Jackson, but on our level.

[15][2] Alien Ant Farm soon returned to the studio to work on their next album, Truant, which was released in 2003 and produced by Stone Temple Pilots' Robert and Dean DeLeo.

[16] The video for "These Days", the first single from the album, was filmed on top of a nearby building during the Red Carpet at the 2003 BET Awards.

On June 29, 2006, the band performed on G4's Attack of the Show, and on July 18, 2006, Up In The Attic was released worldwide, along with BUSted: The Definitive DVD.

It was also revealed that the band had "unofficially broken up" in 2007 due to the fact that 2006's Up in the Attic was their least successful album.

[27] They had also performed "Smooth Criminal" at the 2009 Vans' Warped Tour in memory of Michael Jackson, who had recently died.

[28] On February 9, 2010, Alien Ant Farm posted on their official website that the original line up (Dryden Mitchell, Terry Corso, Tye Zamora and Mike Cosgrove) was back together for the first time since 2003.

[29] On February 27, 2010, the Alien Ant Farm official website released the band's first "webizode" titled Bassmasters.

[36] Also in the summer of 2013, Alien Ant Farm participated in "The Big Night Out Tour", opening for Hoobastank and Fuel.

[38] At the same time Michael Anaya joined as a touring member of the band, providing backing vocals, percussion, and keyboards.

[41] On March 31, 2016, Alien Ant Farm announced on their official Facebook page that they were writing material for a new album.

[50] On December 30, 2022, Dryden Mitchell was charged with battery after an incident during the Alien Ant Farm concert at Fort Lauderdale's Broward Center for the Performing Arts on October 29.

[63] Spin stated in 2003 that their hit cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" proved that "nu metal could be funny on purpose".