Music to Make Horror Movies By: Lainie Kazan

Published January 21, 2018 by biggayhorrorfan

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More than blood and gore, horror films survive on their sense of dramatic stakes. Similarly, theater diva Lainie Kazan, who has graced a number of horror themed projects, has as much drama in her voice as the best of them.

First coming to prominence as Barbra Striesand’s understudy in the original Broadway run of Funny Girl, Kazan may be better known as a comedienne in projects such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Lust in the Dust. But she’s added sass and vibrancy to Out of the Dark, a late ‘80s slasher featuring a golden cast of stand-bys including Karen Black, Tab Hunter and Geoffrey Lewis, and an episode of Tales From the Crypt that featured other notables such as Bill Paxton and Brad Dourif…who did away with her overbearing office manager character in a very gruesome manner.

Lainie

www.lainiekazan.com

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Alice Faye

Published January 14, 2018 by biggayhorrorfan

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Beautiful. Violent. A showcase for the brilliance of Doug Jones. Yes, Guillermo Del Toro’s The Shape of Water is many things. But, as an ode to the cinema of old it, nicely, also introduces modern audiences to the majesty of such golden age troupers as Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda and Betty Grable.

As a prominent part of the soundtrack, Faye’s husky, thoughtful version of You’ll Never Know definitely mimics the emotional lives of the outsiders at the film’s core.

Not surprisingly, Del Toro hasn’t been the first genre specialist to recognize Faye’s brilliance. Eagle eared viewers may remember her signature stylings from Innocence, a Season Two offering from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, as well.

Auteurs recognize. Now, it’s your turn.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Chad Everett

Published December 31, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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His seven year stint on Medical Center assured him a place on the list of the world’s handsomest television doctors. But Chad Everett also supplied some grizzled atmospherics to the Alien-like television horror The Intruder Within. The role of businessman Tom Cassidy gave him an opportunity to add some roguish charm to Gus Van Sant’s much reviled Psycho reimagining, as well.

Not altogether surprisingly, as many heartthrobs before him, Everett also had a modest recording career in the ‘70s. Interestingly, the arrangement of his take on Nights on Broadway, off of his self titled release, gives that song a much more somber glow than the Bee Gees’ hit version. Here, he continues that serious vibe with this version of Ain’t No Sunshine.

Everett, who died from cancer complications in 2012, gave genre enthusiasts further hope with appearances on Supernatural and David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive, as well.

May he rest where all bright things glow, forever!

chad psycho

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Phoebe Snow

Published December 17, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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The dusky soulfulness of singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow seems far removed from the world of horror. This may be exactly why the producers of Ash Vs. Evil Dead decided to use her classic love ballad Poetry Man as the end title song for Confinement, a particularly gruesome second season episode. Amazing artistry can often be found in extreme contrasts.

…and, indeed, from the ‘70s until her untimely death at the age of 60 in 2011, Snow always provided the world with impeccable artistry.

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Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Toto Coelo

Published December 10, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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While it seemed like artists like Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne and Gary Numan covered all the bases on horror and science fiction themes in recording during the ‘80s, a close look at Man o’ War, the single album release from the colorful Toto Coelo, proves that there was another vibrant, less appreciated force at work.

Decorated with a sense of neon fun, this group’s biggest hit I Eat Cannibals is included here along with numbers such as (I May Commit) the Perfect Crime, the title track, Spy Vs. Spy and the stylish, dance influenced Dracula’s Tango (I’m a Sucker for Your Love). One just has to say “fangs” for a title like that, right?!?

Unable to replicate the success of Cannibals, and perhaps disappointed about the non-release of the horror sequel Grizzly 2 (In which they appeared in concert footage), the group disbanded in 1985. But lucky bargain bin hunters know that the electric joy and goofy gothic charms of Toto Coelo will never truly fade. Now, if only the folks at Stranger Things would take notice…

Toto Coelo

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Julie Wilson

Published December 3, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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Elegant yet slightly naughty, the legendary Julie Wilson enlivened Broadway stages, nightclubs and some minor Golden Age of Hollywood productions with her always divine, truly eclectic talents. Her electric presence was, perhaps, best met with one of her signature numbers, the fun and bawdy I’m a Bad Woman.

While, naturally, adored in the refined climes of the cabaret scene, Wilson also gave a little something to the Frankenstein Kids with her appearance on the A Face for Radio episode of Monsters…proving she was not only an eternal beauty, but a truly generous soul, as well!

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Fergie

Published November 26, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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“Like a barnacle they stick to me, like a zombie’s teeth in my flesh…”

As Tammy in Planet Terror, the multi-hyphenate Fergie unsuccessfully dealt with some vicious undead trauma. But in real life, this wise woman knows that the true emotional horror comes from a relationship gone cold.

Nicely, the video for Save It Til Morning, off of Double Duchess, her latest release, also prominently features handsome actor Jay Hernandez, known not only for his work in my deepest fantasies, but in the Hostel series, as well.

Of course, you can get in touch with this gorgeous songstress anytime of the day at www.fergie.com or https://www.facebook.com/fergie.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Crystal Bernard

Published August 20, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

Crystal 1.jpg Art sometimes does imitate life. As the perky Courtney in Slumber Party Massacre II, Crystal Bernard played an enthusiastic (and endangered) member of an all girl band. Trivia experts, of course, know that cinematic creation’s tracks were played by poppy new wave band Wednesday Week.

In the mid-‘90s, though, Bernard came into her own as a vocalist, releasing two country albums and performing duets with the likes of Peter Cetera, Billy Dean and Jim Messina.

The latter assignments often found her cooing along on pretty ballads, but the more upbeat State of Mind is sure to appeal to all those fans who admired her joyous mock rock n roll all those years ago.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

Crystal 2

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Diana Dors

Published August 13, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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She was England’s answer to Marilyn Monroe, but the glorious Diana Dors soon proved she was her own very unique creature. Almost immediately, she lit up a bevy of British noir films and, by the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, was giving honest and heartfelt performances in a variety of horror films including Berserk (with Joan Crawford), the Vincent Price classic Theater of Blood, the anthology From Beyond the Grave and Nothing But the Night (with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee).

Dors was also an accomplished vocalist. Her album Swinging Dors, a fan favorite, features peppy versions of a number of standards, but she also knew how to rock ‘n roll. Her sensuality and common sense were put to great use with the one off single, So Little Time.

Move over, Presley!

Dors in the “Children of the Full Moon” episode of Hammer House of Horrors

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: The Jones Girls

Published July 23, 2017 by biggayhorrorfan

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For several years, I lived with a guy with the last name of Jones. His mom was a petite blonde woman named Shirley. I could probably, truthfully, claim that I’ve never really been in love. But if I miss anyone, it has to be this guy. Therefore, (R and B sensations) The Jones Girls, no relation to my long distant paramour by the way, have always sparked a subtle interest in me.

Nicely, I have recently discovered that they performed a mysterious and sensuous version of Children of the Night, probably best known as a semi-standard of The Stylistics. (It’s even rumored that their version found its way onto an episode of The Walking Dead.) But, I have always preferred my luscious divas to my dapper gents and the spooky vibe provided by these siblings, including (perhaps necessarily) a sister named Shirley, makes me imagine that any creature, be it seductive vampire or trembling love struck ghoul, could find some romance in the witching hour.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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