The De-Canonization of St. Death

Well cats and kittens, I thought long and hard(around 3 minutes) about what to post for today, and I've decided that perhaps we should all huddle 'round the headstone for story time. I've written a few introductory paragraphs to what I hope will turn into a half-way decent short story in the high tradition of the 'mad confession'. In case you have yet to discover this fact, we undead are huge fans of the melodramatic. I'd love to hear thoughts, comments, praise, criticism, or absolute lunatic babbling. Anything but silence. If you want to hear more of the story, SAY SO.
That being said, I submit for the approval of the midnight....Er, I mean, I give you:

The De-Canonization of St. Death

    It is entirely possible that my story is not worth telling. I've often asked myself if it's even worth remembering, but, sadly, that is not within my control. As with any story, I ought to begin at the beginning, though I could begin with the end and work my way back for effect. To be perfectly honest, I don't think it will make a difference either way. My memory has been somewhat augmented by a series of desperate and failed attempts at forgetting: liquor, narcotics, strange and exotic debaucheries invented for the sole purpose of escaping reality. Yes, every attempt only served to bring the horror into greater relief.

    I do not wish to share with you my experiences. To blacken the innocence of my fellow man by damning him to the knowledge of such evil seems a crime of a kind with my darkest sins. Yet any discipline, any control I maintain over my own actions is diminishing momently. There is a beast battering the walls of my soul and he will not be detained.

    Here I sit in the comfort of my study, the friendly embrace of my well-worn chair offering no longer the solace I have always found between it's massive arms. Though the air about her portrait is heavy with incense and the smoke moves sensually in the candlelight, as though imbued with some feminine intelligence, I find no pleasure, no quickening of the blood. Youth has long since abandoned me and rightfully so. My books keep a watchful eye over me, yet I have no sense of security. Here I sit to tell you of a horror of infinite magnitude, and I will not find peace until I share with you my curse.

In the Face!

The Ghoulfriend recently took up crocheting. You know crocheting, right? It's that craft with yarn and the giant face-stabbing needle. She attempted to teach me how it's done, but I have paint shakers for hands and it was during my battle with the Molar Monster so I was heavily medicated. There is a point to all of this and here it is: while perusing the Countdown to Halloween list, I came across a creepy crochet blog that has me in stitches, or bobbles, or other craft words. In the 'spirit' of Halloween, which is sharing treats, I'll be putting up this link. It's the same as this one.

Also...

What a Horrible Month to be Broke

   It's October and theaters are soaked in blood. I already missed Last Exorcism and chances are I won't catch Devil. With the soon to be released Let Me In, Case 39, and My Soul to Take, I think I might just cry. What's a creep to do? I will see Paranormal Activity 2 if I have to sell a kidney....not my own ofcourse.

   In these economic dark ages I find comfort in my idiot box. The month of October has always been a good time for television but this year might just top them all. As of 8:00 P.M.(7:00 Central) TCM will be unleashing a horde of Hammer horror classics beginning with 1958's Horror of Dracula! I know I'm cutting it a bit short with this one but there's really nothing you can do about that is there. Go here for more information on TCM's Hammer Horror series(every Friday).

   For those of you without satellite/cable, Elvira, the queen of the spookshow, will be hosting her Movie Macabre throughout October on local stations. Check here for your local listings.

   That's all the noose for now jerks and jerkettes. Be sure to check back often, and don't forget about that Free Delighfully-Deadly-Download posted earlier today. Also, it wouldn't kill you to leave a comment. If it does, I promise not to let my next reader leave one.  “Dig” you later.

Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday

   The Molar Monster is out! It took quite a bit of work, but I can finally sleep. For those of you who are shaking your heads at the magnitude of my stupidity, I did have the tooth pulled by a professional dentist....I did. He let me keep it so I staged this little photo. Credit to Ashley for the great idea.
   Now that I've come down off of all those painkillers I can resume the blog, and what better time to re-kick things off than the first of October? Yes, haunting season officially begins today and the Ghoulfriend and I couldn't be more excited.
   In an effort to increase readership(from 0 to something slightly higher), I'll be participating in the Countdown to Halloween which begins as of now. Even if they don't link to me, I'm still counting down the days.
   Speaking of counting down the days, I know that's exactly what you beautiful little creeps have all been doing in anticipation of Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday. Let's start October with a good old-fashion, grease soaked, blood stained, rock and roll ruckus. Chop Shop were the baddest hot-rodding horror fiends to ever take the stage and their Badlands E.P. can be found here along with some demos.
   Wish I had more time to stick around and chew the rat with you boils and ghouls, but sunrise is just around the corner and I haven't even made my coffin. Goodnight and may you all rot in peace.

Molar Monster

I'm all doped up on painkillers and seriously considering performing dental surgery on myself. I will return to posting as soon as I get my tooth fixed. Until then, enjoy this sketch I made of the Molar Monster.

Interview with Beth Balousek

Autumn is upon us and I have a variety of chemicals to make my rotting tooth bearable. You may or may not have noticed the distinct lack of Wednesday yesterday, but we will chalk it up to ridiculous levels of pain. I'm sure you'll understand.
Tonight I have for you the long awaited interview with Beth Balousek of Scarecrow.

Casket Case: The NY area seems to have been darkly fertile in the early 80s. What was your wildest experience in the scene?

Beth Balousek: 80's on the Lower east side were a BLAST - seems as if everyone was 18-25 years old, all of us high school rejects (or at least, none of us were the homecoming king/queen.....) wildly artistic. Felt like we were running the show for a while - the uptown-ers would come downtown to check out our art/music/clothing. Great fun. Not just that, but we helped each other out - supported each other's art, had rent parties...we had phone hot lines that could rally up hundreds of people for everything from Victor Bruno's renegade parties to instant demonstrations to help keep the building squatters safe from the police. Safety in numbers -

CC: How was your relationship with the guys in the band?

BB: Still talk to Joe and Ron - known Ron since 1980 - met him in Ann Arbor. We had a band then - used to play the Detroit/Ann Arbor scene before we moved to NYC. Had even crazier times in Michigan - hanging out with Niagra/Ron Ashton/Mike Davis - Destroy All Monsters and entourage.

CC: Who were your biggest influences at the time, and how has your opinion of their music changed over the years?

BB: Big influences - Siouxsie, Patti Smith...Iggy. I am a Detroit girl. Give me a fast car and a stack of Marshalls....yep, still.

CC: What is you opinion of the current goth/deathrock revival?

BB: Like hearing that the old stuff is still getting played...funny that folks think goth is some new thang -

CC: I've made out a good deal of your lyrics and it's obvious that you neither skimp out on the startling imagery nor go for the easy rhyme(a personal pet peeve). Being a poet, how important do you feel lyrics are in a song? What role do they play in the music in the context of personal expression as well as the 'public consumption'?

BB: Lyrics? Gawd! Can't sing without them!

CC: What is the writing process like for you?

BB: Writing process is very bumpy. Sometimes it comes. Sometimes , not. Right now I'm in a "not" phase and hating it.

CC: Your thoughts on the business aspect of music?

BB: Must say, I don't think I've ever had any thoughts on the biz end of music - being on stage was always more a matter of performance art, not a job.
Was in a couple bands before Scarecrow and before that I was a performance artist on my own. It's always been about the mood a performer can set. the image on stage and the twists that image makes. Don't know if that's gonna make much sense...

So, the words/poesy/lyrics play into the performing/persona

That's that kids. Hope you enjoyed it.

Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday

It's Free-Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday and I've managed to once again deliver the ghoulish goods. This EP by The Four Roses will keep you in stitches. I know I've found a new classic for my Annual Halloween Playlist. The Halloween Ep by The Four Roses: Get it here. Pay special attention to the first track.