In a remarkable twist of fate, a scene from the iconic TV show “The Simpsons” has come to life. The hip-hop group Cypress Hill recently performed with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall, a collaboration that was humorously predicted in a 1996 episode of the animated series titled “Homerpalooza.”
In the episode, Cypress Hill accidentally books a gig with the LSO, “possibly while high,” leading to a memorable performance of their hit single “Insane in the Brain.” Fast forward 28 years, and this fictional scenario has become a reality. B Real, a member of Cypress Hill, took to social media to share his excitement: “Tonight we are rocking with the @londonsymphony at @RoyalAlbertHall.. Inspired by @TheSimpsons via the ‘Homerpalooza’ episode.”
The idea of this unique collaboration had been in the works for several years. B Real mentioned, “This idea of doing this show has been a conversation for several years. Fortunately, as fate would have it, we will fulfill this objective tonight. Love to everyone coming thru for this experience.”
The event’s description on the Royal Albert Hall website promised a “special rendition” of Cypress Hill’s four-times platinum album “Black Sunday,” along with other hits from their extensive catalog. Tickets for the show sold out quickly, with seats priced at £128.50 ($165) each.
Nearly three decades after their fictional pairing, Cypress Hill and the LSO finally shared the stage, answering the long-standing question from “The Simpsons”: Who ordered the London Symphony Orchestra — possibly while high? The answer, both then and now, is Cypress Hill.
The performance was conducted by Troy Miller and featured symphonic versions of Cypress Hill’s biggest hits. The show took place on July 10 at the Royal Albert Hall, a venue befitting such a historic collaboration. “We are thrilled to be performing with the London Symphony Orchestra in such a prestigious venue as the Royal Albert Hall,” Cypress Hill said in a statement. “It’s a dream come true, a collaboration only The Simpsons could have predicted.”
This collaboration wasn’t entirely out of the blue. Back in 2017, Cypress Hill and the LSO engaged in playful Twitter banter about the possibility of performing together, but nothing materialized at the time. Last year, however, Cypress Hill began laying the groundwork for this collaboration by booking several shows in the United States with various symphony orchestras, including the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony.
“After years of social media teasing it, many fans may have started to believe it would only be a pipe dream – but the LSO is delighted to finally be joining Cypress Hill on stage and in person, and look forward to creating an unforgettable musical moment!” said LSO Managing Director Kathryn McDowell.
Cypress Hill was one of several musical guests featured in the “Homerpalooza” episode, which spoofed the heyday of Nineties alt-nation and traveling festivals like the original Lollapalooza. Other guests included the Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, and Peter Frampton.
The Simpsons has a reputation for predicting future events, and this collaboration is yet another example. In the classic season seven episode “Homerpalooza,” Cypress Hill and the LSO perform a classical version of “Insane in the Brain.” On July 10, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, life imitated art as Cypress Hill took the stage backed by the full LSO.
Dressed in suits, the group performed their second studio album, “Black Sunday,” which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. The album, a commercial and critical success, topped the Billboard album charts in 1993 and has sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. alone. “Black Sunday” contains many of Cypress Hill’s most well-known songs, and the group performed “I Wanna Get High,” “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That,” “When the Shit Goes Down,” “Lick a Shot,” and of course “Insane in the Brain” with full orchestral accompaniment.
“It’s been something that we’ve talked about for many years since The Simpsons episode first aired,” Cypress Hill rapper B-Real told the BBC. “So it’s very special for us. And it’s coming off the heels of our 30th anniversary for our Black Sunday album.”
He added, “We’ve played a lot of historical venues throughout our career and stuff like that, but nothing as prestigious as this.”
The performance was a testament to the enduring influence of “The Simpsons” and the power of music to bring people together in unexpected ways. As Lucy Noble, artistic director at entertainment company AEG Presents, said, “It’s been a long time since these two legendary acts paired up in Springfield, but we know that the real thing will be worth the wait.”
Source: CNN, BBC News, PA Media
