‘Affected my game’ – Stephen Bunting was paid big money to change walk-on song to ‘Bird Is The Word’
Stephen Bunting has taken to social media fame like a duck to water, despite dropping ‘Bird Is The Word’ as his walk-on song. Eagled-eyed darts fans at Ally Pally will spot his uncanny resemblance to cartoon character Peter Griffin from animated comedy Family Guy. Bunting has become something of a national treasureGetty The 39-year-old is one of the most popular figures on the oche and will unite the crowd again at the PDC World Championship. Bunting, alongside using his own hashtag Lets Go Bunting Mental (LGBM), walks on to DJ David Guetta’s 2011 hit song ‘Titanium’. However, that wasn’t always the case, with ‘The Bullet’ previously using ‘Bird Is The Word’, aka Surfin’ Bird, by The Trashmen. The 1963 track discovered a new lease of life in popular culture following its inclusion in a 2008 episode of Family Guy. Main character Griffin claimed it is his favourite song while doing a unique shuffle which has since become a running gag on the show. Why did Bunting change his walk-on song? A video of Bunting emulating his cartoon counterpart in dancing to the song circulated on YouTube a decade ago. His popularity then began to skyrocket after he used it as his walk-on music at the 2011 World Championship. However, Bunting has since admitted that the relentless Family Guy impression has negatively influenced his playing for years. He told Wayne Mardle on his YouTube show Club 501: “The Bird Is The Word, I got paid a lot of money to change my walk on to that. “It was all well and good at the time but I was more nervous in thinking more about the walk-on than I was about playing. So, It sort of affected my game.” Bunting told talkSPORT how he became a TikTok sensation Bunting, who won his first-ever PDC major at the Masters earlier this season, was reluctant to reveal the exact figure he was paid. He did concede that it was ‘multiple thousands (pounds)’. Ironically, Bunting has since proven he is a family guy by adopting ‘Titanium’ by Guetta featuring Sia in honour of his son. “When we play in some of these vast arenas, darts can be won by the width of a wire, but when you’re playing at some of these big arenas you need to focus. Sometimes you need that crowd on your side. The cheering really does get you focused,” Bunting told Sky Sports. “When I go to Germany or Belgium I’m still getting that support but it’s really important to keep them on my side. “When you’re playing darts it can be a very lonely place but when you’ve got the fans behind you it’s far easier. “The walk-on songs gets you a lot of fans as well. It’s really important that the crowd have a good time as well, so long may that continue. “‘Titanium’ is my son’s favourite song so that was the reason behind that and it’s got the bulletproof tag line. “I got rid of the bird because it was just a lot of hard work. I had to get on stage and do the Peter Griffin dance.” Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95. Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website. Highlights include: Luke Littler brass 22g steel tip darts, £14.95 – buy here Luke Littler playing shirt, £39.95 – buy here Luke Littler 90% tungsten G1 SP darts, £99.95 – buy here Takoma Luke Litter wallet, £16.95 – buy here Luke Littler cabinet and dartboard with two sets of darts, £69.95 – buy here
Stephen Bunting has taken to social media fame like a duck to water, despite dropping ‘Bird Is The Word’ as his walk-on song.
Eagled-eyed darts fans at Ally Pally will spot his uncanny resemblance to cartoon character Peter Griffin from animated comedy Family Guy.
The 39-year-old is one of the most popular figures on the oche and will unite the crowd again at the PDC World Championship.
Bunting, alongside using his own hashtag Lets Go Bunting Mental (LGBM), walks on to DJ David Guetta’s 2011 hit song ‘Titanium’.
However, that wasn’t always the case, with ‘The Bullet’ previously using ‘Bird Is The Word’, aka Surfin’ Bird, by The Trashmen.
The 1963 track discovered a new lease of life in popular culture following its inclusion in a 2008 episode of Family Guy.
Main character Griffin claimed it is his favourite song while doing a unique shuffle which has since become a running gag on the show.
Why did Bunting change his walk-on song?
A video of Bunting emulating his cartoon counterpart in dancing to the song circulated on YouTube a decade ago.
His popularity then began to skyrocket after he used it as his walk-on music at the 2011 World Championship.
However, Bunting has since admitted that the relentless Family Guy impression has negatively influenced his playing for years.
He told Wayne Mardle on his YouTube show Club 501: “The Bird Is The Word, I got paid a lot of money to change my walk on to that.
“It was all well and good at the time but I was more nervous in thinking more about the walk-on than I was about playing. So, It sort of affected my game.”
Bunting, who won his first-ever PDC major at the Masters earlier this season, was reluctant to reveal the exact figure he was paid.
He did concede that it was ‘multiple thousands (pounds)’.
Ironically, Bunting has since proven he is a family guy by adopting ‘Titanium’ by Guetta featuring Sia in honour of his son.
“When we play in some of these vast arenas, darts can be won by the width of a wire, but when you’re playing at some of these big arenas you need to focus. Sometimes you need that crowd on your side. The cheering really does get you focused,” Bunting told Sky Sports.
“When I go to Germany or Belgium I’m still getting that support but it’s really important to keep them on my side.
“When you’re playing darts it can be a very lonely place but when you’ve got the fans behind you it’s far easier.
“The walk-on songs gets you a lot of fans as well. It’s really important that the crowd have a good time as well, so long may that continue.
“‘Titanium’ is my son’s favourite song so that was the reason behind that and it’s got the bulletproof tag line.
“I got rid of the bird because it was just a lot of hard work. I had to get on stage and do the Peter Griffin dance.”
Where to buy Luke Littler's darts range
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has released a collection with Target Darts, with prices starting at just £14.95.
Choose from darts, hardware and accessories endorsed by the Grand Slam of Darts Champion 2024, or pick up The Nuke’s purple playing shirt, on the Target Darts website.
Highlights include:
