The American media helped to make the song popular by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth culture of the time.

[5] Its controversial lyrics caused it to be banned by some American radio stations, "claiming it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam".

[6][7] The song was offered to the Byrds as a potential single in the style of their Bob Dylan covers, but they rejected it.

McGuire's vocal track was not intended to be the final version, but a copy of the rough mix "leaked" out to a disc jockey, who began playing it.

McGuire recalled in later years that "Eve of Destruction" had been recorded in one take on a Tuesday morning, with him reading lyrics scrawled on a crumpled piece of paper.

He said the following Monday morning he received a phone call from the record company at 7am telling him to turn on the radio, his song was playing.

Sloan recalled: "Barry McGuire was the lead singer for a popular folk group at the time called the New Christy Minstrels.

Singer Tony Mammarella released a positive answer song titled "Eve of Tomorrow".

[28] Johnny Sea's 1966 spoken word recording, "Day For Decision", was also a response to the song, and was a Top 40 hit.

The song is prominently featured in the second season episode of The Greatest American Hero, entitled "Operation Spoilsport".