In addition to their fabulous full-length records, the Pixies issued a number of great B-sides during their original late ‘80s/early ‘90s run. One of their lesser known—but still totally awesome—non-LP tracks was an unlikely remake.

During the 1980s, the United States government’s “War on Drugs” was in full swing. In 1986, Ronald Reagan signed into law the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which established mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes. Incarceration rates for nonviolent drug offenders also increased dramatically under Reagan’s watch. It was in this era of “Say No to Drugs” that a new video game emerged.

In 1988, NARC debuted in arcades across the country. The game pitted law enforcement against individuals involved in the distribution or consumption of illegal drugs. Coming across as some sort of far right-wing fantasy, the object of the game was to apprehend or kill (but mainly kill) anyone associated with unlawful drug activity. NARC was one of the first ultra-violent games, and it raised the eyebrows of parents concerned about its display of graphic violence.
 

 
It’s been reported that during the recording sessions for Trompe Le Monde (1991), Pixies singer/guitarist Black Francis became obsessed with Nintendo’s home version of NARC. The Pixies were by no means an anti-drug band, and it’s unclear how their frontman became hooked on NARC. Perhaps he played it during repeated lulls in the studio, or absorbing himself in a violent video game was a way to blow off steam (tensions within the group would lead to a break up in early 1993). Regardless, we know that Black Francis definitely was drawn to one element of NARC—its music. There’s a brief quote that circulates online, said to be from the fanzine, Rock a My Soul, in which Francis talks a bit about the video game’s theme.

“Theme From NARC” doesn’t really have a chorus. I thought it was pretty cool, because the chord progression in it is completely fucked up. It isn’t a standard rock ‘n’ roll progression.

Brian Schmidt is a pioneer in the audio side of the gaming industry. He’s been creating music and sounds for games since 1987, when he was hired by Williams Electronic Games. While there, he worked on the music for NARC, and is the game’s primary composer. Though there aren’t many ways to hear the synth-based music for NARC in a standalone setting, there is an extended rendition of Schmidt’s driving, dramatic theme—minus other game effects—on YouTube:
 

 
The Pixies splendid, surfy interpretation of “Theme From NARC” was released as a B-side of the Trompe Le Monde era single, “Planet of Sound”. Brian Schmidt, who had no idea the band had covered the piece, learned about it thanks to a friend who handed him a “Planet of Sound” CD single. Schmidt was stunned—but in a good way! He’s called the Pixies version “very cool,” and has said that he’s proud they covered his composition. It’s included amongst his achievements on his website.
 

Brian Schmidt

Some YouTuber had the bright idea of synching the Pixies cover of “Theme From Narc” with the video game:
 

 
A playthrough video of Nintendo’s 1990 home version of NARC:
 

 
The “Planet of Sound” single is long out of print in physical formats, but there is a digital edition available. The handy—and in my opinion, essential—Pixies collection, Complete ‘B’ Sides, is still in print.
 

 
The Pixies performing songs from Trompe Le Monde during their February 1992 appearances on The Dennis Miller Show: