Danny Elfman Almost Had A "Nervous Breakdown" Composing Batman

Danny Elfman was the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Oingo Boingo when he asked to [...]

Danny Elfman was the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Oingo Boingo when he asked to have a meeting with a young, unknown filmmaker that dramatically changed his life. He met with Tim Burton, who asked him to score Pee-wee's Big Adventure, even though he lacked formal training. It went so well that years later Burton would call on Elfman again to score 1989's Batman, which almost broke the composer, mentally.

"Batman was very stressful — almost nervous-breakdown stressful, Elfman disclosed to the NY Post. "All I had done up to then was quirky comedies. Nobody but Tim wanted me on the movie. I really had to prove myself. There was a desire to have me collaborate with Prince [who wrote additional music for the film], but I was not open to that."

Listen to the main theme of his Batman score below.

Which is your favorite Batman score? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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