Halloween has always been my favorite time of year. Haunted houses, ghosts, witches, kids dressing up and having a great time: everything about it is just so appealing to me! I have always been obsessed with “scary” things, such as horror movies, horror novels and comic books, Living Dead Dolls, serial killers, and of course, music and musicians, so Halloween is the perfect time of year for me to express my love of the special artists that have always been creepy in a good way for me.
I’ll start with an obvious choice: Marilyn Manson, the original “spooky kid” himself.
Marilyn Manson has been giving us wonderfully creepy music since I was a young teenager, ultimately inspiring the goth girl inside of me to come out in the mid-90s. With songs/videos like “Crypt Orchid”, “Tourniquet”, “Dope Hat”, and “Sweet Dreams”, Manson captured all that was strange yet darkly beautiful to me at that age, and I still love him and his music to this day.
“Next up is a man that no doubt inspired Marilyn Manson, the one and only Alice Cooper”
Alice Cooper is a master of the macabre when it comes to stage shows, his look in general, and his music. “Welcome to My Nightmare”, “Teenage Frankenstein”, “Poison”, and “Feed My Frankenstein” are just a mere few of the many songs that Alice has graced us with. And as wonderfully frightful as his sound may be, his performances are even better!
“Welcome To My Nightmare”
“Another of my favorites is Rob Zombie”
I would be quite surprised to find anyone who couldn’t equate Rob with Halloween! After all, he did remake the Halloween movies, and has several movies of his own: House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, The Lords of Salem, and his newest, 31. Some of my favorite tracks by Zombie include “Living Dead Girl”, “Dragula”, “Super Beast”, and “More Human Than Human” among others. And speaking of bad ass stage shows, he is another that never seems to disappoint!
“Next up is Ghost”
Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with the delightful Satanic rockers, and there is plenty about them that merits their presence on this list of spooky favorites. “Ghuleh/Zombie Queen” is one of my favorites by them. Some other favorites are “Ritual”, “Elizabeth”, “Absolution, “Mummy Dust”, and… well, to be honest, all of their songs are my favorites!
“Ghuleh/Zombie Queen” Live
“Another band that I love who has music about the super natural is Blue Oyster Cult”
“Godzilla”, “Death Valley Nights”, and “Don’t Fear the Reaper” are just a few of the many hits they have that deal with the supernatural. I have loved this band since I was a little girl, and they are no doubt the reason that I am so heavily obsessed with Ghost (I certainly hear the influence).
“Another band that aided in my love with all things ghoulish”
Danzig or Graves, it makes no difference to me since I love them both. “Dig Up Her Bones” is probably always going to be my favorite, but “Helena”, “Zombie Girl”, “Death Comes Ripping”, “American Psycho”, and “Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?” are some of my other favorites.
“Dig Up Her Bones”
“The last band I’m listing is one that I feel no Halloween list I create could ever be without”
“Bloody Kisses (A Death in the Family)”, “All Hallows Eve”, “Spooky Green Lights”, “Black No. 1 (Little Miss Scare All)”- the list could go on and on with these guys. Type O Negative was always been about the gothy, spooky feel, and that is what we all love about them even now. Dark and brooding, the dearly-departed frontman, Peter Steele, will most likely remain many goth-girl’s favorite.
“All Hallows Eve”
With only a few days left until Halloween arrives I know I will be playing these bands more and more. Links to some of the music listed above is posted below. Again, this is by no means an all-inclusive list, merely a list of personal faves, as I know there are plenty of other creepy, spooky bands out there- feel free to post some of your favorites in the comments below! Here’s hoping each of you has a safe but brutal Halloween!
Monica Redwine / Metalheads Forever Magazine
