A Classic Rock Band Refused to Put Their Song in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ at 1st

If you put a classic rock song in a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Gen Z will learn it backward and forward. Shockingly, a classic rock band didn’t want one of their hits to be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 . Here’s a look at what changed that.

The director of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ removed a classic rock song from it

James Gunn is the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. The first film included 1970s radio staples like Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love,” Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” and Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling.” During a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone , Gunn revealed that the film was initially going to use a song by the Electric Light Orchestra in the first Guardians of the Galaxy but he cut it. Subsequently, Gunn wanted “Mr. Blue Sky” to be part of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 .

“I’ve always said that if the Guardians had a house band, it would be ELO, and ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ is one of my favorite songs by them,” he explained. “We had a hard time getting the rights. We had to really fight to get the song, and I personally appealed to Jeff Lynne.”

At first, Lynne didn’t want “Mr. Blue Sky” to appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 after the first film cut one of his songs. Gunn explained why Lynne relented by referencing a famous 1970s movie. “I think we made him an offer he couldn’t refuse,” he said.

How James Gunn chose the songs from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’

The songs from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are supposed to reflect the taste of Meredith Quill, Star-Lord’s mother. “She’s a music lover, but she’s completely not elitist,” Gunn said. “If it’s something that’s thought of as goofy and pop, she likes it. If it’s cool or funk, she likes it. She just likes hooks and melodies.” Who knows if Lynne would like one of his signature songs to be called “goofy” pop?

“She’s a very quirky, young girl who fell in love with, you know, as it ends up, an alien,” he added. “And falling in love with an alien is right up there in Meredith Quill’s alley. She’s an oddball, like her son.” “Mr. Blue Sky” fits Meredith’s style, as it’s one of those progressive rock songs that feels like it could have come from outer space. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 , the song plays while the ritual superhero team fights a giant alien monster straight out of a Godzilla movie.

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How ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ became a classic rock song

“Mr. Blue Sky” became a decent hit for ELO back in the 1970s. The Official Charts Company reports it reached No. 6 in the United Kingdom, staying on the chart for 11 weeks. The tune was part of the album Out of the Blue . That record climbed to No. 4 in the U.K. and charted for an impressive 108 weeks. Out of the Blue remains ELO’s biggest studio album in the U.K.

“Mr. Blue Sky” is one of ELO’s crowning achievements, and Guardians of the Galaxy will ensure its fame for years to come.