Alice Cooper - "Welcome To My Nightmare" (Live 1979)

Happy Halloween Kids!

Watch out for witches!

Yowsa!

Bing Crosby - "The Headless Horseman" (1949)

Hello Friends,

A straight-up vintage Halloween tune right here.

Sing it Bing!

RIP John Zacherle aka "The Cool Ghoul" - "Dinner With Drac" (1958)

Sad News Friends!

John Zacherle, aka The Cool Ghoul, radio D.J. and horror host pioneer won't live to see another Halloween (at least in this world) as he died at the ripe old age of 98 yesterday!

Damn... just three days short of his 98th Halloween!  We're not too upset though... he lived a really long life, never got married and he'll probably be back at some point anyways!

R.I.P. Zach!

Here's a nice article from the AV Club...

Zacherle at work in 1958. (Photo: Robert W. Kelley / Getty Images)

Zacherle at work in 1958. (Photo: Robert W. Kelley / Getty Images)

Halloween just got a little less spooky, as Philly Voice reports that John Zacherle, who paved the way for horror hosts from Svengoolie to Elvira with his pioneering character “Zacharley The Cool Ghoul,” has died. He died yesterday at home in Manhattan. He was 98.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Zacherlle attended the University of Pennsylvania enlisting in the Army during World War II. After returning from duty in Europe and North Africa, he started working in local TV, eventually landing a job as host of Philadelphia’s WCAU’s Shock Theater in 1957. There, he created the character of Roland, an undertaker in a long black coat who introduced—and occasionally interrupted— campy low-budget horror movies in equally campy monologues and skits with his “assistant” Igor, a model that later influenced the creators of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

In 1959, Zacherle moved his act to New York’s WBAC, where he changed the name of his character to Zacherly and officially adopted the nickname “the cool ghoul,” which had been bestowed on him by his friend and colleague Dick Clark back in Philadelphia. He would continue to refine the character throughout the ’60s and ’70s on shows like Chiller Theater, even briefly hosting a hybrid horror/music show called Disc-O-Teen that featured acts like Lovin’ Spoonful, The Young Rascals, and The Doors. In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, Zacherle recalled, “Jim Morrison looked at our weird set and mumbled, ‘This is the damnedest TV show I’ve ever seen.’”

Zacherle’s status as a rock ‘n’ roll tastemaker—he was reportedly a regular at the Fillmore East in the late ’60s—was confirmed by his occasional guest-hosting stints on American Bandstand, a notoriety that led to a career as a rock radio DJ in the ‘70s and ‘80s. He also released a handful of horror-themed novelty songs, the most successful of which, “Dinner With Drac,” was a Top 10 hit in 1958. He also acted in a handful of horror movies, including an uncredited role as the evil, disembodied brain Aylmer in Frank Henenlotter’s 1988 film Brain Damage.

Zacherle never married, and lived alone in his rent-controlled Manhattan apartment until his death. He continued to surround himself with friends and admirers, though, and appeared regularly on the convention circuit well into his 90s. He was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Ramones - "Pet Sematary" (1989)

Its Halloween weekend friends!

And we're getting in the trick or treating mood with this kick-ass Ramones tune which was for the soundtrack of the 1989 movie of the classic Stephen King novel.

I don't want to live my life again...

Horisont - "Writing on the Wall" (2013)

Hello Friends,

We're not sure what they're putting in the water over in Sweden, but we'd like some of whatever it is.

Here's Swedish hardrockers, Horisont, channeling Sabbath, Lizzy, Priest and even a little early Iron Maiden in a sexy video featuring some pukey nuns!

Enjoy!

Ghost - "Square Hammer" (2016)

Hello Friends,

Spooky October evening!  The wind is blowing, leaves are rustling, clowns are hiding beneath the street lamps... We're conjuring up some demons tonight!

Enjoy!

Popestar

Ghost - "Popestar" (2016) - Loma Vista

Hello Friends,

A brand-spanking new EP by Swedish metal band, Ghost-- just in time for Halloween!

Five tracks with one original (the great "Square Hammer") and four relatively pedestrian cover songs including takes on Echo & The Bunnymen ("Nocturnal Me"), Simian Mobile Disco ("I Believe"), The Eurythmics ("Missionary Man") and 80's Swedish pop group, Imperiet ("Bible").

"Square Hammer" makes it worth the price of admission alone with the Echo & The Bunnymen & Eurythmics songs as close runners up.  Overall, a good EP that leans a bit more synthy than the band's usual sound. 





RATING: 4 are you ready to swear right here, right now before the devil out of 5 

What is this that stands before me? Figure in black which points at me, turn 'round quick and start to run...

Black Sabbath - "Black Sabbath" (1970) - Warner Bros.

Hello Friends,

Its a great night for drinking cocktails and conjuring demons by the light of the full Hunter's moon.

And there's no better soundtrack to a stoned and spooky October evening than the original doom rockers, Black Sabbath.  Tonight we're cranking their self-titled debut record on the ol' turntable.  An album that remains one of rock & roll's most influential featuring a sound that was unlike anything else being done at the time!  Its the sound of a demonic jam session outside the gates to Hell where partygoers are clamoring to get invited in. Hippies, Jesus freaks and holy rollers step aside, tonight we're getting our faces melted with the deliquents, the long hairs, the other assorted ne'er do wells and outcasts. 

Couldn't agree more!

Things start off, like most good things, with some menacing thunderclaps and foreboding rain.  "Black Sabbath" would remain one of the band's most evil and sludgiest-sounding songs. Featuring a doom-filled guitar playing the devil's chord over and over again until the dam finally breaks open and Hell is unleashed in the form of one Tony Iommi's imitable guitar solos.  Fucking great!  If the dark lord Satan himself isn't sitting at the barstool next to you after playing this song (on vinyl) then you really should pick the needle up and play it again!

Next up, "The Wizard" is conjured.  Like Sabbath's contemporaries, Led Zeppelin, a lot of the imagery being used seems pretty influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien.  "The Wizard" is no exception; a heavy rocker featuring some bluesy harmonica, stomping Bill Ward drums, misty mountains and some more great guitar & bass work.

From Tolkien the band shifts gears to the much darker worlds of H.P. Lovecraft.  "Behind the Wall of Sleep" is based on the Lovecraft short story, "Beyond the Wall of Sleep", about a spirit who tries to communicate with the living through a prisoner in a mental hospital. Its another sludgy masterpiece featuring Ozzy's mournful vocals repeating the line "Take your body to a corpse..."

Closing out the side is a fantastic, heavily wah-wah'd bass solo by Geezer Butler ("Bassically") that blends right into the epic, "N.I.B."  "N.I.B."-- a song about Lucifer falling in love for the first time and begging this woman to spend eternity with him-- sounds like what Cream might have sounded like if Anton Lavey had produced Disraeli Gears.  

The fun continues on Side Two.  "Wicked World" picks up with a boogie beat and a guitar riff that sounds a little like something Robbie Kreiger was doing on The Doors' song "Wild Child".  The band switches focus from the supernatural to the political here and instead of singing about Wizards, figures cloaked in black and the dating troubles of Satan, "Wicked World" seems to focus its attention on the Viet Nam war and the ineptitude of elected leaders.  (I guess in this way, it would be kind of a precursor to "War Pigs".)

To wrap things up is the 15 minute suite, "A Bit Of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning". 

"A Bit of Finger" starts off pastorally enough featuring some minstrel-like finger-picking by Iommi while Osbourne sings about crying cockerels and soft blowing breezes accented by the occasional spooky twang of a Jews Harp. (Actually, the guitar work here sounds like it might have influenced the finger-picking at the beginning of Radiohead's "Street Spirit".)

This gives way to the ripping instrumental "Sleeping Village" which would not sound out of place as a jam on Led Zeppelin I.

Things get bass-y and heavy again on "Warning", a cover of a song by The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation.  Its bluesy and Zeppelin-y, but its also weird-sounding, psychedelic and even a little sloppy (in a GOOD way!).

An essential record to any rock & roll collection (especially for fans of early hard rock/heavy metal!)  Black Sabbath must've freaked a lot of people out in 1970, but still holds up very, very well today.  

RATING: 5 my name is Lucifer, please take me by the hand out of 5

John Carpenter - "Utopian Facade" (2016)

Hello Friends,

Here's some new music from Horror-meister & spooky-synth loving weirdo auteur, John Carpenter.

He didn't direct this video (he was probably too busy feuding with Rob Zombie), but it reminds us a little of his movie, Starman.

Enjoy!

Carpenter Brut - "Turbo Killer" (2016)

Hello Friends,

October's here (aka the best month) and you know what that means.

Its time to conjure up some demons and listen to some dark and twisted music.

Here's a song by French electronica artist, Carpenter Brut, whose entire catalog sounds like peak Giorgio Moroder sitting around taking MDMA while immersed in John Carpenter movies. The results are fantastic!  Soundtracks for fucked up movies that don't exist!

This just-as excellent video is directed by Seth Ickerman, who specializes in a John Carpenter-inspired, nostalgic sci-fiction look.  Amazing!

Enjoy!

Roky Erickson - "Bloody Hammer" - Live Rockpalast 2010

Hello Friends,

Another Halloween has come and gone and we're left with the damp, drizzly Novembers of the soul.

Good thing we still have Roky Erickson to help us through our Halloween hangovers!

Enjoy!

The Evil One

Roky Erickson and the Aliens - "The Evil One" (1981) -  Light in the Attic Records

Hello Friends,

Tonight we're sipping some cocktails and listening to a three-sided record featuring Two Headed Dogs and Fire Demons courtesy of one of rock's most legendary troubled souls, Roky Erickson.

The Evil One, released in 1981, contains 15 songs over 3 record sides and the 4th side is left blank, but with an etching of Two Headed Dog in place of grooves(!).  Every single song is fucking great!  Straightforward, economical rock & roll with Roky's growling, bluesy vocals and paranoid, horror-inspired lyrics.  

Its like if Little Richard was possessed by Baphomet and had the original Alice Cooper Band playing back up.

This record marks the great Roky Erickson's return to the fold since The 13th Floor Elevators disbanded and he spent much of the 70's in and out of mental institutions.

The result is an undersung and undisputed classic.  

The song title alone are worth the price of admission.  They read like a catalog of Classic B Horror flicks!

Two Headed Dog
I Walked With A Zombie
Night Of The Vampire
It's A Cold Night For Alligators
Mine Mine Mind
Sputnik
White Faces
I Think Of Demons
Creature With The Atom Brain
The Wind And More
Don't Shake Me Lucifer
Bloody Hammer
Stand For The Fire Demon
Click Your Fingers
If You Have Ghosts

Again, every single song is good.  Every single song rocks.  Great, disturbing lyrics with passionate, disturbed vocals and good ol' fashioned raucous rock roll to back it all up!

Fun Fact: Hey kids, this record was produced by Stu Cook, former bassist of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

RATING: 5 demons up in the attic to the left out of 5

Velvet Underground - "Venus In Furs" (1967)

Happy Halloween Friends!

Here's a fan made video for the creepy Velvet's song, "Venus in Furs" set to some scenes from Jesus Franco's sexploitation classic, Vampyros Lesbos.

Enjoy!

David Bowie - "We Are The Dead" (1974)

Hello Friends,

Alice Cooper on 1973's Billion Dollar Babies declares on the album's closer, "I Love The Dead".

The following year, on his conceptual Diamond Dogs record, David Bowie would go a step further and up the ante with his song, "We Are The Dead".

This is a fan-made video for the song that we found at youtube!  Enjoy!

Teddy Durant - "The Night Stalker" (1965)

Hey Hepcats,

Here's a swinging 60's Halloween tune to help get you in the Trick or Treatin' mood! 

Enjoy!

Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper - "Billion Dollar Babies" (1973) - Warner Bros.

Hello Friends,

Halloween is fast approaching and you know what that means... time to break out the Alice Cooper vinyl!

Billion Dollar Babies would be the band's sixth studio album and the fourth produced by longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin.

The band, Alice Cooper, had quite the run on their first six records introducing the world to sleazy yet well-constructed and theatrical garage rock with subject matter and themes that range from classic Horror imagery, to drug use, child abuse, insanity and Leonard Bernstein.

Billion Dollar Babies would continue with these themes and throw in some elements of glam rock, Cabaret-style theatrics, politics, necrophilia and other twisted perversions.

Undoubtedly, a great album from start to finish and like the best Alice Cooper, its also a very fun album with lots of great hooks, pitch black humor and not-so-subtle innuendo!

Kicking off with the Cabaret-inspired "Hello Hooray", the only non-original song on the record, written by the very German-sounding Rolf Kempf and originally performed by Judy Collins in 1968.  

"Raped and Freezin'" harkens back to what the band sounded like on 1971's Love It To Death.  A great road/driving song about a young male hitchhiker getting picked up (and sexually assaulted) by "some old Broad down in Santa Fe" who leaves him naked, raped and freezin' somewhere over the Mexican border!  We've been there before, friends!

The epic and theatrical sounding "Elected" points more to the direction that Alice Cooper (the solo act) would head in a few years later with Welcome To My Nightmare.  It also reminds us of something from Quadrophenia.  I would undoubtedly vote for whatever candidate uses this as their campaign song!

The great title track is up next and something we never realized until we read the liner notes to this record is that its none other than Donovan singing harmony vocals on the song!  Glen Buxton, the original guitarist for The Alice Cooper Band, is in especially fine form here as well.   

Alice Cooper's ode to his fear of dentists (anti-dentite?),"Unfinished Sweet", closes out the side and it too is great, but at 6:18 perhaps a minute too long! 

And speaking of sweets... 

I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing
Until they got a hold of me

Side Two kicks off with one of Alice Cooper's best and most revered songs, "No More Mr. Nice Guy".  

Full blown theatrics and operatics are back on "Generation Landslide", again which reminds us of something that might be found on The Who's Quadrophenia  (which, we should mention, also came out in 1973 but several months after Billion Dollar Babies was released!)

"Sick Things" is sleazy and creepy-sounding (both good things!) and sounds as if its coming from the pov of Charlie Manson or some other cult-type leader!

Sticking with the creepy theme is "Mary Ann" a soft piano ballad that being presumably being sung to a transvestite!? Or maybe a corpse?  Or a transvestite corpse?? Alice sounds a little like Wings-era McCartney or even Todd Rundgren here.

But speaking of creepy...

I love the dead before they're cold
They're bluing flesh for me to hold
Cadaver eyes upon me see nothing...

The album concludes (and climaxes) with the band's epic ode to necrophilia, "I Love The Dead". Alice Cooper might have fallen in love with "Cold Ethyl" two years later on Nightmare, but you don't need to do any Google searches on this one to interpret what this song is about!  Scatting and all!

Spooky!

RATING: 5 Sticky Sweet Suckers in the Halloween Air out of 5