GRAMMY® Winners The String Revolution Bring “Bad Zombies” to Life
What do Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, a popular video game and a GRAMMY®-winning guitar trio have in common? As it turns out, quite a bit! The String Revolution has teamed up with acclaimed cellist Tina Guo for “Bad Zombies,” an inventive instrumental that combines Billie Eilish's hit “bad guy” with “Crazy Dave's Theme” from the video game Plants vs. Zombies. Released on Lakeshore Records in association with EA Games, the track brings together acoustic guitars, cello, classical influences and rock energy in a way that's both unexpected and surprisingly natural. It's a clever musical experiment that gives listeners something entirely new to enjoy, whether they're fans of contemporary pop, video games or instrumental music.
The idea came from Steve Schnur, President of Music at EA, who recognized a connection between the two musical worlds. Billie Eilish and FINNEAS grew up playing Plants vs. Zombies, and its music helped inspire elements of “bad guy.” Working alongside The String Revolution, the siblings contributed to the arrangement as it developed, while Tina Guo added her distinctive cello performance. The trio also composed original classical-inspired passages to open and close the piece, taking it well beyond a traditional mashup. Produced by Schnur, Darrell Brown and The String Revolution, and recorded at The Village Studios in Los Angeles, “Bad Zombies” moves between the playful personality of the video game and the darker, minimalist feel of Eilish's song. It's an imaginative collaboration that shows how music from completely different worlds can come together in unexpected ways.
The String Revolution, featuring guitarists Janet Robin, Markus Illko and Rober Luis, has built a reputation for reimagining familiar music through a combination of classical, rock, jazz and world influences. Robin studied with legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads and has toured and recorded with Lindsey Buckingham, Meredith Brooks and Air Supply. Austrian guitarist Illko brings a background in composition and production, while Cuban-born Luis adds his own rhythmic and melodic influences. The trio's recordings include Stringborn and Red Drops, along with inventive interpretations of “Rocket Man,” “Englishman in New York” and “Crazy Train,” the latter featuring Steve Stevens. Their collaboration with Tommy Emmanuel on Johnny Cash's “Folsom Prison Blues” earned them the 2024 GRAMMY® Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella. With “Bad Zombies,” The String Revolution continues to demonstrate that great music doesn't have to stay within the boundaries of any one genre.
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