LONDON Retrospective and Interview with Rebel Rocker Frontman, Nadir D’Priest:

By: Lucy Hall

LONDON Logo

     If there is one thing that has remained constant throughout Nadir D'Priest’s career, it’s his determination and passion for his work. His band LONDON formed in 1978 and had many incarnations throughout the years. Famous members included founding member Nikki Sixx, Blackie Lawless, Steven Adler, Slash, Tony Richards, Izzy Stradlin, Fred Coury and Nigel Benjamin. After years of trying to get a record deal, the band finally achieved that goal when Nadir joined in 84' and they began to build a following. 

The Always Playful LONDON Rockers

     As a frontman Nadir D’Priest was not only known to have a distinctive, expressive voice and powerful stage presence but also, he was known to be a true badass rocker who liked to make waves. During his interview in the cult classic Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years; Nadir flaunted a black eye he received after an altercation with a police officer. During the era of battling Tipper Gore, the Parental Advisory, and the great divide between metal subgenres glam and thrash; Nadir was never afraid to speak freely concerning social issues or politics. He even proclaimed his own badassdom in the Inside Metal documentary stating, he had a reputation for being known as a crazy son of a bitch who was armed, high, and fucked the girlfriends of the other bands. However, although his life was fueled by partying, girls and band rivalry of the time Nadir had values that he stuck by which included sticking up for not just his own rights but that of his band. He went on to say that he never went out of the way to hurt another band by degrading or talking shit about them.

Nadir D'Priest Onstage in the 80s'

Nadir D'Priest Current Stage Photo

I had the pleasure of interviewing this rock and roll rebel, Nadir D'Priest:

HEAVY MAKEUP: Throughout the years you have gone off to do other jobs and projects but you always come back to London. What inspires you and keeps you coming back to the band?

Nadir D'Priest: First I wanna thank you for the interview it's always fun to see new questions on LONDON. To answer your question I never left the band it was more like we were all in hiatus. Some chose to move onto family, business spending more time doing you. LONDON is a well-oiled ship and we love what we do. Taking a break was needed to clean up the mess from the hurricane surrounding us.

HEAVY MAKEUP: LONDON has had more than a dozen members and has gone through several breakups and reformations. At this point what do you value most about the band?

Nadir D'Priest: My friendship with my players, family fans and friends. Without all these elements it is not as fun at least for this band. Longevity goes a long way and we keep the music/genre alive that also keeps us going. We love what we do and that's very important.

HEAVY MAKEUP: LONDON has had many famous members. Yet no band member scored a record deal until you came along. What would you attribute to this accomplishment? What was it that you brought to the band that was different?

Nadir D'Priest: I brought in Nadir D’Priest this crazy person/kid with absolutely no training in the music business and or the “Fleas & Ticks of Rock Music” in LA. You had to navigate Hollywood with caution. I had a lot to prove and at the same time  I/we did bring in our 1st record deal. It was in 1985 with Mike Varney's of Shrapnel Records One of the most exciting times in our lives I believe. Our firstborn was coming together and we were stout not a big deal but we had a deal. I also did a video for radio stars which we shot and edited ourselves so we were very proud of that. Lizzie Grey and I had managed to get through the music adding more to heavy-metal sound. That gave us LONDON Non-Stop Rock, LONDON Don't Cry Wolf, LONDON Playa Del Rock. Lizzie didn't get to perform on Playa Del Rock but co-wrote “Russian Winter” with me.

HEAVY MAKEUP: How did the musical stamp of famed producer Kim Fowley impact your songs?

Nadir D'Priest: Unfortunately for us or should I say fortunately we basically hired Kim as a producer. Kim was fun to be around until his hypoglycemia would kick in and bring out angry Kim. He spent his time cutting newspapers on the recording studio floor and telling stories. LONDON Don't Cry Wolf was written and arranged by Lizzie, Brian and myself. The album went out as a Produced by LONDON and Kim Fowley. Rip Kim. We worked really hard on DCW the whole party had to be contained and finish the recordings. We had Gene Meros engineering with was working with Van Halen’s Fair Warning album. A great time in music.

HEAVY MAKEUP: London was featured in The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years. How did appearing in the film affect your career?

Nadir D'Priest: Well, this is the ongoing question that I get on a lot of in interviews. Yes it affected my musical career and everyone in it is a good, maybe some are a little better than others. I will always cherish my time working with director Penelope Spheeris and her crew was always top-notch. LONDON had a great time throughout the film in and out.

You can read the complete Nadir D'Priest Interview and The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years - Cult Movie Review in HEAVY MAKEUP: A Book about Camp that Rocks! The 80's Volume One set for release Dec. 2019 -Jan. 2020.

Interview with White Boy and the Average Rat Band’s Mike Matney:

By: Lucy Hall

White Boy and the Average Rat Band Logo

     The not so average band, White Boy and the Average Rat Band began their musical journey in 1979. The band was formed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Matney. In pursuit of his dreams, Mike ventured out from his home town to the music city of Nashville Tennessee. There he joined Kriss Famous’ act Tabu, replacing Ron Keel as lead guitarist. During this time he was given a nickname which would define his musical direction, White Boy. After departing Tabu, ever so resourceful Mike would go on to work in a record store and exchange his labor for recording studio time with the owner. During this time, he began his project known as White Boy and the Average Rat Band. Early band members included Tommy Altizer on bass, Seth Kelly rhythm guitar, and Tim Gilbert on drums. Later on, Darrell ‘Rambo’ Gibson would replace Altizer and Jerry ‘Hog’ Hogeston would replace Gilbert on drums.  

Band Promo Photo

     The band’s self - titled debut album was released in 1980. At the time the album had a very limited release, which elevated interest and curiosity in the band. The album would grow to be highly sought after by collectors worldwide and sold for hundreds of dollars. The album was so obscure and difficult to find that in 2010, a bootleg pressing began to circulate. This unofficial release was unauthorized and unknown to the band at the time. However, the bootleg ended up contributing to the band developing a cult following and becoming part of the American rock and roll underground.  In 2016 Mike was surprisingly contacted by Heaven and Hell Records CEO with an offer to re-master and re-issue the album. 

Mike Matney Stage Performance Photo

Interview with Mike Matney:

HEAVY MAKEUP: The band has been around since the early '80s.  What can you tell potential new fans about the band? How did the band form? How did you come up with your name?

Mike Matney: To try to make a long story short when I was young I got an opportunity to record in a small 4-track studio. The band formed as a result of the album. Before the recording and shortly after getting out of school I spent some time in Nashville. It was there I took Ron Keel’s place in the band Tabu when he left to play with Steeler. I was one of the only white guys in the band and somehow the name just stuck. I didn’t mind. I didn’t realize it but there was that song ‘Dirty White Boy’ by Foreigner in 1979 and we’re actually on the same bill as Lou Graham in August. Will be cool to meet him.

HEAVY MAKEUP: What would you consider to be the band’s main strength?

Mike Matney: The strength behind the name definitely lies in the studio. I love the creative aspect. To take what’s in my head and make it come out to where you can hear it is very satisfying. That’s my forte. Playing live is always challenging for me. I get stage fright. It’s also because I’m kinda a control freak. In the studio I'm a fanatic, I can spend two weeks on one guitar part. There are way too many variables live. That being said it’s thrilling, you have to think on your feet, and I love getting to meet all those people. I like to travel too. With the reissue of the White Boy And The Average Rat Band album by Heaven And Hell Records in 2017, the band hit the road and called it “The Back In The Rat Race Tour”.  In August we take off again to support the new Love My Ride album.

HEAVY MAKEUP: Your music appears to be heavily influenced by 70’s hard rock ranging from bits of doom metal to acoustic blues. How would you like people to view your music?

Mike Matney: Well that’s kinda an odd question for me because I’m used to being told that my music was quirky or different.  It’s not quite metal but not hard rock. I’m constantly faced with that genre problem. I totally get the 70s’ reference as I am a child of the 70s’. I guess I'd like people to think of the band's stuff as hard-driving, good timing rock and roll. Feel good adrenaline real songs.

HEAVY MAKEUP: The track “Section 387” has spoken word and a science fiction theme. What can you tell us about the track, and the inspiration for it?

Mike Matney: You are asking about a track from the first album. That track and “Neon Warriors” are two of the more popular tracks on the album. I will say this I was young, I did experiment, and I did inhale. I was always a big sci-fi buff. I read a lot. Looking back on it, ahh..nope can’t remember!

HEAVY MAKEUP: What part of the creative process do you enjoy the most?

Mike Matney: Listen, I had a straight job and a boss, I gotta wife who likes to boss, I got a record label guy I call boss and then there’s the big boss upstairs. When I go into the studio with my music it’s the only place I get to be boss. When I got out of school and moved back to the farm from Nashville I built a nice recording studio based on what I’d seen in Nashville. My wife calls it the Doghouse. I’ve recorded a lot of the new tracks for the Love My Ride album there. Sanctuary!

HEAVY MAKEUP: Your debut album was initially released in 1980. It had a limited release which led to the album being sought after by collectors. In 2016 Heaven and Hell Records contacted the band to re-issue the album. What are your thoughts on the album becoming a cult classic and the re-issue?

Mike Matney: I've been asked this before. First off I'm humbled by the fact that it happened. As the story goes there were only two-hundred and fifty of them, to begin with. As kids, we had scraped the money together for them. We basically gave them away, and sold a few. I had a friend here whose family was originally from England and their dad was a collector. It wasn't till years later I found out from him what the album was doing. He didn't live to see the reissue but he did get to see that we played The Whisky A-Go-Go in Hollywood. That freaked him out. The guys at Heaven And Hell Records opened the door for us with the reissue. We were always a somewhat obscure band. Now with the reissue, the new album and some digital marketing there’s beginning to be a little more recognition.

HEAVY MAKEUP: You have sat in as a guitarist for Dr. Hook, played festivals with Blackfoot, and you have toured with Zebra. Of all the people you have worked with who has inspired you the most, or has been the most memorable? Any highlights to share?

Mike Matney: Let me clear something up. I never played guitar with Dr. Hook. What I did have the good fortune to do was spend some time with his producer Terry Smith. Through him, I got to meet some really big names at an early age. I did play guitar for a few shows with David Allan Coe. He fired me. Again I was really young and at the time I had a wee bit of a drug problem. I got the job with him and met Terry as well as many others through my friend Kriss Famous. I met Kriss in a music store in 1980. I took Ron Keel’s place in his band just as Ron left for LA. One of the highlights for me was through Kriss and Terry two weeks out of high school and moving to Nashville I was able to get my mom and dad backstage at the Grand Ole Opry to meet Roy Acuff.

HEAVY MAKEUP: You have visited many places and venues during your career. The band has performed at the famed Whiskey-A-Go-Go more than once. What places or venue stands out as the most memorable for you?

Mike Matney: In August it’ll make four times for me playing The Whisky. The vibe in Hollywood is awesome and that is such an iconic venue. It’s hard to get your mind around who all have gone before you when you walk down those stairs to the stage. So yea, The Whisky. I did have the privilege of playing with Canadian blues rockers Zedhead in Sweden one time and that was a pretty cool gig. I’m also fond of The Funhouse in Seattle and The Tonic Lounge in Portland. Did I forget to mention Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia?

HEAVY MAKEUP: How has the internet helped your success?

Mike Matney: Good question yes and no. The album and the band have always been shrouded in obscurity an enigma of sorts. All kinds of crazy rumor and conjecture about us and our ‘cult following’. It was really collectors and a select few had access. So the legend grew. With the internet all that changed. For example the other night one of the publicists we hired ask me about our SoundCloud account and just for giggles I hit one of these little marketing companies and promoted a track I had pre-released within hours it had 20,000 listens...in Vietnam. Cracked me up but undeniably the internet has had a profound effect. Heaven And Hell found us through the Metal Archives. 

HEAVY MAKEUP: What can you tell us about the band's current work, the new album, and tour plans?

Mike Matney: Thought you'd never ask. The new album Love My Ride is a culmination of years of work. It was recorded in several different studios and had some really pro-people involved with it. I can't wait for you to hear it. It'll be here July 15th and it'll be available everywhere. Lotsa lotsa guitar! I tell people it has guitars, cars, women, weed, and Jesus on it. We head out in support of the new album in August. The tour starts in Montana at the Rockin The Rivers Festival. There we are on the same bill with Zak Wylde, Cheap Trick, Dokken, Lou Graham, etc.. Then on to Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Hollywood, Vegas, Nashville and more. I hope everyone will come hang out with us along the way. You to Lucy!! Thanks for taking the time to interview me. You Rock!!!

Band Promo Photo

     Throughout the 2000s the band played several gigs on the southern rock circuit which included festivals with such acts as Blackfoot and Black Oak Arkansas. They have performed at such famous venues as The Whiskey-A-Go- Go, in Los Angeles, California and The Funhouse in Seattle, Washington to sold-out shows. The band’s music has been used in radio show intros and even a skateboarding DVD by Boston skateboard company Fancy Lad. Currently, the band is on the Rat Race Tour which previously kicked off at the ‘Rockin’ the River Festival’ along with Zakk Wylde, Cheap Trick, Dokken, Warrant, Lou Graham and Asia.     

Early Band Promo Photo

     White Boy and the Average Rat Band have been described in various ways from punk, proto-metal, and blues-rock to doom metal due to their very diverse style, sound, and influences. It seems that the band’s appeal does span from classic and southern rock styles to punk and metal but the best way to describe them is raw, powerful, pure, unapologetic, old school rock and roll.

Self Titled Debut Album Cover

Love My Ride Album Cover

Current Band Members:

Mike Matney: Lead guitar and vocals

Darrell "Rambo" Gibson: Bass guitars

Jerry "Hog" Hogeston: Drums

Split Sydney Retrospective and Interview with the East Coast Rocker, Chris DeLisa:

By: Lucy Hall

Chris DeLisa Performance Photo

     One man, two sticks - big sound! For a drummer to have had such volume from his kit, and a right foot that could have moved mountains; Chris DeLisa was completely oblivious to the mark he had made on both the 80's club scene and cult movies when he began his career in music.

Chris Delisa Performance Photo

     During the decade of excess when many vain rockers were more concerned with working on their hair rather than their sound; Chris DeLisa and his band Split Sydney were focused on playing unadulterated rock and keeping it real with their audience. They exerted a profound and acutely recognized influence on the rock club scene during the '80s and '90s. The band unintentionally wrote revolutionary compositions with a heavy sound and performed energetic rock anthems because they were creating the music they loved and not what was expected from a hard rock act during that era. 

Split Sydney Concert Flyer

HEAVY MAKEUP: What was it that shaped you into the amazing drummer you are today? What was the appeal for you to stick with drumming?

Chris DeLisa: Well, I actually started drumming when I was about two or three years old. I started banging on anything I could find be it boxes, pots or pans. I would use wooden spoons for drum sticks; just anything my mom had lying around. I was banging all the time. My parents were like "This kid, all he does is bang on things". My dad worked and I had a stay at home mom. You know, I love music and my mom always played music around the house. So, we always had music around. My dad got me my first snare drum when I was around five years old but I really took to it around the age of seven or eight. It was at that age that I got my first drum set and started playing along with records.

HEAVY MAKEUP: Your band Split Sydney was portrayed by the fictional rock band Jaded in the horror cult classic, Neon Maniacs. How did the project come to you?

Chris DeLisa: Well, the deal with that was Split Sydney actually didn't star in the film. The recording was ours but actors played the part of the band in the film. How the project came about was we were recording tracks in North Lake Studio in Westchester County and Eddie Solan was the engineer. He worked with KISS in the early days and he was good friends with Ace. He worked with KISS prior to the band making it in the Bronx. Eddie was recording tracks with us and he said there is a horror movie and they need a song for the soundtrack. He said he thought that "I've Had Enough" was a great song. We were like sure we will do it! I think the movie was filmed in Glendale L.A. We recorded the track in New York. We specifically recorded that song for the movie but that is not us in the movie. Those are actors. I found out that the film has a huge cult following. It's kind of really campy! But man, looking on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 4.8 out of 5 ratings. It continues to have a huge cult following to this day. I have it on DVD and it's funny that I saw the movie at the theatre when it initially came out.

HEAVY MAKEUP: While performing "We Had Enough" Jaded looks like trouble; shrouded in the dark, dimly lit fog-filled stage, the singer cracking whips, jerking back quickly from the microphone while the band is rocking hard. They look like glam rock outlaws. With that said, compared to the fictional band how would you describe Split Sydney's onstage persona?

Chris DeLisa: We were more raw edge like I said before and I would classify us closely to Guns N Roses. We wore jeans, t-shirts, bandanas, we had no makeup, and we had long hair. We weren't glam what so ever. We actually were the opposite and that's why a lot of people liked us because there were a lot of bands that had that look with the makeup and stuff. We weren't doing that we were just totally more about the music. However, we did have a big stage show. We had lights, bombs, and flames. It was one of the most amazing shows that were actually in a club. We had like ten thousand watts of lights and flames that shot up to eight feet high on each side of the drum riser. I remember feeling the heat off of the flames and we had a licensed pyrotechnic do the bombs on stage, so our shows were unbelievable. I mean for a club it was as if we were playing Madison Square. I mean it was an insane show with lights and sounds. The cost was probably twelve or thirteen hundred for us but we were making good money at that time. But yea the band was more raw edge and not so glam and it was more about the music and stage show rather than an image.

HEAVY MAKEUP: How did you get involved with Sabian Cymbals?

Chris DeLisa: I was actually working on 48th Street at a famous music store called Manny's Music. The store opened in the 50s and Hendrix, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin shopped there. It was probably the most iconic music shop in the world. A friend got me a job down there and I worked there for two years on 48th Street Music Row. It is gone now because they knocked it all down. Sadly, the entire block and everything are gone. While I was working there I got a call from a friend that said Sabian needs a rep. So I started out as a West Coast rep and ended up getting a job with them and was the regional manager for ten years. I was able to do clinic tours with a lot of famous drummers such as Neal Peart of Rush whose drum set was all over Canada and Western U.S., Ray Luzier of Korn, and Todd Sucherman of Styx. I became really good friends with those guys so it was a fantastic job. I would travel all over the West Coast.

Young Chris DeLisa and His Kit

You can read the complete Chris DeLisa Interview and Neon Maniacs - Cult Movie Review in HEAVY MAKEUP: A Book about Camp that Rocks! The 80's Volume One set for release Dec. 2019 -Jan. 2020.

Allan Love Retrospective and Interview with the Wizard of Sound and Stage:

By: Lucy Hall

Allan Love in Godspell

      The chiseled, bare-chested frontman with cascading curls, snug flared jeans and a voice that drips with emotion, soul and fire; a sight to behold, a living legend, a golden mythic demi-god of rock. Could I possibly be describing Robert Plant or Roger Daltry? Not exactly, but close, very close. I'm speaking of Allan Love. His looks, powerful voice, and energetic stage presence was evidence that he was destined to be a pop icon. 

Allan Love in Tommy

Allan Love Interview:

HEAVY MAKEUP: What or who got you into performing?

Allan Love: Okay, this could be quite long. It was 1965, I was nineteen and living with my wife and two-year-old son, (together with the rats) in a run-down, 1-bedroom tenement slum in the "Worlds End" Chelsea, (this was before it became fashionable). The whole area was full of salt of the earth people but the area had been earmarked for demolition. In hindsight, I think the local council just wanted to break the hearts of the community, who knows? Anyway, we were the last ones living there waiting to be re-housed. The Worlds End had a very colorful community, infamous for villains, larger than life characters and a whole bunch of very successful but seriously dodgy, thieves. These people relished life and went about their daily routines, mostly in the pubs, getting pissed, before going off to rob jewelers and the wealthy people's houses. Come on, it wasn't such a bad life, lots of spare time on your hands and plenty of money. So, here was me, nineteen, very impressionable and thought I might join this merry band of geezers and go thieving. How else was I supposed to make my way in the world? That was before my then, father in law, Stan, got me to join the local boxing gym where he was the head trainer and saved me from a rather iffy career path. This was the start of my boxing career (or so liked to call it. LOL!) I was an amateur and boxed for the then famous, Chelsea Boys Club. I used to sing while I trained driving everyone mad, whilst the other guys were huffing and puffing and generally being macho. I was the little songbird, (more like a puffin) and going about my daily grind, warbling, until one day my personal trainer, a stocky black guy named, Sammy, (a contender for the lightweight championship of England) said I'd make a better singer than a boxer. Oh, did I mention, this was after he'd picked me off the floor after three rounds of sparring with a "know nothing" professional that knocked ten kinds of shit outa me. LOL! This was when I decided that I was never going to be a pro boxer, more like Popeye in shorts that were ten sizes too big for me and tattered boxing boots. Anyway, onwards and upwards; I had some friends from the Worlds End that told me that there was an amateur theatrics' company that was looking for boys to be in the chorus of a musical they were performing. An Ivan Novelo piece called "Perchance to Dream". It was a singing part, so I went for an audition and the director asked me to join the company. He was gay, I think he fancied me but what the hell, that's another story. So, after the show had performed in public, I decided that I enjoyed the experience so much that I'd needed to sing for a living. This was the start of the incredible journey. Have I bored you yet?? LOL!

HEAVY MAKEUP: Allan Love boring...never!

Allan Love: I found a manager, the now deceased, Derek Chicksand, a guy who knew a bit about show biz and together we created the band, "Opal Butterfly". I think you know the history of that band so I won't go into the saga.

HEAVY MAKEUP: You started in the psychedelic band Opal Butterfly and the glam band Merlin before having a solo career. Did you ever feel unsure of the direction you wanted to take your music in?

Allan Love: Yeah, I was a victim of my looks, image, and personality. Everyone in the industry saw me as a huge star, "Allan is like, this person or that person, we can mold him, get some writers and producers and let's make a major star." All bullshit really, but I fell for it. I got locked into various record companies without too much success, because no one knew what to do with me and I was just so grateful to be there, I didn't complain. In the early days, I didn't write much, didn't have a lot of confidence in myself as a writer so I never really pushed. It was only in later years that I got serious about writing and by then it was a little too late for my personal performing career.

HEAVY MAKEUP: How did starring in the film, The Apple affect your career?

Allan Love: Well the movie was, in its day, a huge budget movie. The German government along with Cannon Films had put up the money for the production and we were whisked off the Berlin for a four-month shoot. The cast, chorus, and crew were vast, maybe 300 to 400 people, all in 5-star hotels, food, limo's everywhere, extras, maybe 1,000? I thought I was going to be the next John Travolta. This was it, the break I was waiting for, the time I could show the world what I had and boy, was I going to show them. After the film had been wrapped, I decided to go to L.A. to figure out my way forward. I arrived and was treated with huge respect as the movie was being cut at Fox and it was the talk of the town, a huge budget movie. Cannon had all it'd finance in the movie and no one knew what or when it was going to be previewed. I was invited to every party in town, all the agents wanted to meet me, I saw directors, producers, casting directors, I was in awe of the whole procedure, but it was time to go home to England and back to reality.

HEAVY MAKEUP: You played the lead role in The Who's Tommy at the Queen's Theatre. How were you feeling at that time? What was it like to work with Pete Townshend?

Allan Love: Probably the highlight of my career, Pete and the rest of The Who, became great friends. Pete was still crazy in those days and he'd come to my dressing room every night and drink Remy Brandy, the guy used to live on it. We would go out and get totally fucked up. Wow! We also had a really good working relationship, a genius, probably the best rhythm guitar player I ever met. Love the guy. We did a lot of TV shows where Pete would play and we'd sing together great days. If there was a role, I think I was born to play, it was Tommy. I loved every moment of my time in the show, great cast, and great production.

Allan Love in The Apple

Check out Allan's Website for Rhocky's Bar:

www.rhockysbar.com

You can read the complete Alan Love Interview and The Apple - Cult Movie Review in HEAVY MAKEUP: A Book about Camp that Rocks! The 80's Volume One set for release Dec. 2019 - Jan. 2020.

Cult Movie Review: Rocktober Blood

By: Lucy Hall

Me & My Rocktober Blood VHS

 "He's back from the dead with a message from hell!"

     Rocktober Blood AKA Rocktober Blood Paradise was released by Vestron Video in 1984. It was my first introduction to rock horror films. While scanning the aisles of the VHS store as a kid my eyes rested upon an unforgettable box cover.  The cover photo popped out at me and demanded attention. A leather studded killer in a monster mask with a hot chick tossed across his shoulder while clutching a bloody knife in the other hand. Who could not have been totally swayed to rent this gem? Well, I did and since then it has remained on my personal list of all-time favorite cult films.

Rocktober Blood Movie Poster

     The plot consists of a cat and mouse game between the two central characters. The seemingly mad, wicked, errant lead singer, Billy Eye of the hard rock act Rocktober Blood and his backup singer girlfriend Lynn Starling. To spite his extraordinary talent the rock star appears to throw it all away for his obsession with blood, gore, and debauchery. Apparently, Billy lost his sanity somewhere between backmasking tracks, tokin a joint and a groupie quickie. The best part of the film is that it featured the rock band Sorcery and showcases their talent and music.        

Billy Tokin Up

     Within viewing the first few minutes of the opening sequence the viewer is immediately hooked.  The movie opens with Billy belting out some killer lyrics, “When you least expect it, I will attack, there be hell to pay I’m back!” Billy promises our rock starlet she can record her signature song, “Rainbow Eyes” then leaves her to hang with a groupie.       

Billy In The Recording Studio

     Subsequent to recording her song Pat Benatar style, Lynn decides to get undressed for the Jacuzzi while a killer in combat boots stalks the recording studio. Afterward, the killer with a sinister laugh resembling Billy forces Lynn to sing "Rainbow Eyes" at knifepoint. Lynn survives the attack and points the finger at Billy who is labeled as a hard rock killer who has murdered five rock and rollers, his engineer Kevin Eddie and his assistant, and is accused of Lynn’s near-fatal stabbing.  He is tried, found to be guilty, sentenced to death and executed.                   

     Flash forward two years and now Lynn has become the successful lead singer of Billy’s old band, the newly reformed Headmistress band. The plot then follows Lynn and the remaining band members as they attend the Rocktober Blood tour press party.

Teased Hair & Chest Hair On Display At The Tour Party

Chris Engages In A Conversation With Lynn While A Partygoer With A Teased Mullet Looks On

     At the party, Lynn is interviewed by MVtv’s V.J. Rick Righteous. The V.J. brings up the subject of Billy’s fall from grace, how Lynn is the sole survivor of his bloody rampage and the fact that she was the one who testified against him at the murder trial. Rick asked how it felt performing Billy’s show with his band at this “rock and roll spectacular of death” and the fact that Billy claimed his innocence right up till his death. Lynn confirmed her ordeal but was more concerned with announcing her upcoming tour with Headmistress. When asked for a brief description of the show, she responded, “Its smoke, blood, and guts”. While Lynn completes her interview a mysterious figure wearing a Rocktober Blood death mask lurks in the set’s shadows. Lynn is then stalked by the death mask figure and is convinced that it is Billy backstage and unhappy with her new position in the group. She frantically runs into boyfriend/manager Chris’ arms and he persuades her to believe it is just a party guest prank. Later on, more evidence of  Billy stalking Lynn mounts. She becomes convinced he has come back from the grave to haunt her. Chris then decides it would be good to send Lynn and some friends to his lake house to relax and ease her nerves. At the lake, while enjoying nature hikes and photography Lynn thinks she hears Billy’s voice taunting her. Back at the house, she receives a series of obscene calls. The terror and tension escalate and no matter how much 80's jazzercise she does with her friends and hot bubble baths she takes; she just can’t seem to shake Billy’s malevolent presence.

Lynn and Friends Partake In

Some 80’s Aerobics

     Billy relentlessly pursues Lynn, murdering various people but hiding the victims to make Lynn and others question her sanity. Lynn desperately tries to convince everyone that Billy is after her. Lynn thought Billy went wacko, but tables turn when every one of her peers start to believe she is nuts. Her friends warn that she will have to return to psychiatric care if she doesn’t cut out the bullshit.  Lynn continually encounters the blood thirty Billy right on up to the kickoff performance. But is Lynn being stalked by the supernatural, a ghost, or the undead? Is it all in her head? Billy is seemingly the killer or is he? Or is there more than meets the “Eye”? Billy Eye that is! Regardless of the ominous events, opening night of the well-promoted tour is about to take place and in the music business, the show must go on…

     The brilliant directors/writers who gave us this hard rock musical is married couple Beverly and Fred Sebastian. Their company Sebastian International Pictures was basically a family business. Beverly directed Rocktober Blood, Fred produced and worked behind the set of the film. Rock star Billy Eye was played by the couple’s son Tray Loren (stage name) and their other son Ben Sebastian had a part as head of security. In addition to Rocktober Blood, Sebastian International Pictures provided fans a few other exploitation cult movies including the classic Gator Bait. 
     The soundtrack was scored by various artists with original songs for the film. Sorcery played the fictional band Headmistress. Nigel Benjamin provided vocals on three Sorcery songs for the film; “I’m Back!”, “Killer on The Loose” and “Watching You”. The film’s theme song, “Rainbow Eyes” was performed by Sorcery with vocals provided by Susie Rose Major. The Sorcery KCAB-MI track is the backmasked version of "I'm Back" with added sinister sound effects. Apparently "I'm Back!" is a kick-ass song whether it is played forwards or backward! Nigel was the talented singer who provided the character Billy's vocals. In addition to the Sorcery songs, Nigel’s band, Eyes is credited for the song, "Soul Searcher" featured on the soundtrack. He also played the manager, Chris in the film. Nigel was once the lead singer of Mott the Hopple and fronted an L.A. Band called London.      The actress, Donna Scoggins plays Lynn Starling and her voice comes courtesy of Susie Rose Major. Susie’s group Facedown provided several songs for the soundtrack "Would You Let Me (Touch You)”," "High School Boys," "Watch Me Rock" and "You Can't Kill Rock 'n Roll."  

Actors, Tray Loren and Donna Scoggins Make Convincing Rock Stars

     What’s not to love about Rocktober Blood? First off it has a great title and an impressive movie poster that are both unforgettable. It has all the glitz and glam of the 80’s decade of decadence and outrageous excesses. It has a unique plot concerning a crazed singer returning from the dead to murder the members of his former band. It has fun kills and witty one-liners. The director and writers build up some intense atmosphere which supplements the interesting characters, grisly murders, plot twists, and the climactic concert bloodbath. Rocktober Blood is a traditional 80’s slasher in every sense of the term with the exception of being artistically made.
     Sure, Rocktober Blood is one of the myriads of rock horror films from the '80s. During that decade it was a hot idea to combine rock and horror. What gave birth to this trend? Was it due to horror and rock genres sharing common themes? Beginning in 1969 with the band Earth who was inspired by the Mario Bava’s horror film, Black Sabbath to change their name to that title and incorporate horror themes into their music. Was it due to the appeal of the handful of rock horror films of the previous decade, most notably Phantom of the Paradise? We have seen it in Phantom of the Paradise and later on in Trick or Treat; when a performer is robbed of his or her music or cheated out of their performance…when he or she feels that their art is not valued...bad things happen…very bad things...things like horror rock can happen!  So, what makes Rocktober Blood different? The best part of the movie is the featured band of rock legends, Sorcery playing epic, theatrical, raw hard rock that only they can create. One of the better heavy metal horror films of the 80’s thanks to Sorcery’s killer performances. They have created some of the best horror film music. I could name a dozen reasons why Rocktober Blood has become a personal favorite but it all comes down to two factors for me. One, of course, is Sorcery starring in it, the other is the fact that the film was written, and directed by a woman, the main character and the rocker who voiced her songs were females. The overall factor of it being primarily female-oriented appealed to me due to being a female musician and lifelong heavy metal fan myself. One scene in particular that I adore is seeing one of my favorite musicians, Sorcery drummer Perry Morris in his signature top hat looking on in disbelief as Lynn rises out of a coffin onstage and remaining cool throughout the chaos he instructs his band to just play “I’m Back!”. 

Lynn Rises Out of a Coffin Onstage While Perry Morris Looks On in Disbelief and Continues to Rock

    I would recommend this film to fans of both hard rock/metal and horror. Overall, it has everything a rock and horror fan would want. A gnarly soundtrack with catchy metal tunes, sexy screaming chicks in chains, a fog machine, gore, and concert footage.

Sorcery, Behind the Scenes, Courtesy Perry Morris

Headmistress Band, Behind the Scenes, Courtesy Perry Morris

 Rocktober Blood: WTF Moments:

• 80’s tan lines galore! Lynn undresses for a conveniently placed Jacuzzi at the recording studio and later again for a hot bubble bath while a gory dismemberment takes place in another room. 

• Billy just plain despises the way Lynn sings his songs so he demands her at knifepoint to sing "Rainbow Eyes” and then some titty slicing takes place. 

• Sorcery sings, “There’s a Killer on the Loose” and there really is but Lynn is the only one who is aware of it.

•  During the Rocktober Blood tour press party, there are massive amounts of headbangers with giant teased hair, skin-tight leather pants, short skirts, tattered/ripped/torn clothing, chest hair and Japanese battle flag tees. There is lots of drinking, cigarette smoking, face painting and coke snorting going on. At one point I had to rewind and pause several times on the crowd because I could have sworn I saw Eddie Van Halen hanging out. Seems it was just a look alike.

Eddie Van Halen in a Japanese Battle Tee, Nope! Just a Clever Look Alike!

•  A partygoer wearing the Rocktober Blood death mask is on a platform miming, and break dancing among the headbangers. This is what happens when worlds collide miming and break dancing becomes incorporated into the heavy metal scene. WTF!

Infamous Breakdancer in the Death Mask

• Our psycho antagonist allows his victims to know he means business by his villainous over the top laugher throughout the film to the point of ridiculousness.

• Billy apparently felt he was not intense enough with his own crazed look because mid-film he wears a mask under a mask. He parades around in the death mask and it is revealed he is wearing face paint under it.

Billy in his Rocktober Blood Face Paint

• Lynn receives a series of prank calls. The phone continuously rings yet it’s not even on the hook. Is Billy haunting the phone? What’s happening?

• Billy must have been extremely unhappy with his engineer’s mix because the guy ends with a slit throat on a pinball machine and his assistant is impaled. 

•  Mandatory grave digging with Lynn, friend Honey, and Chris wearing fur and leather exposes a worm covered skeleton wearing a bandana (a traditional accessory of the rock uniform) is proof enough of Billy’s burial.

• A chloroformed Lynn is placed in a coffin and used as a prop.

• There are several grisly creative stages kills taking place including a microphone stand with a sword on the end used to stab victims, disembowelment, decapitation, bloody heads and organs tossed about in the audience but the best…death by Les Paul electrocution!

 One of Many Hot Chicks in Chains

Rocktober Blood: Killer Quotes:

• “You think I’m sick huh? I’m going to show you what rock and roll gore is all about!”

•  “I want your hot steaming pussy blood all over my face!”

• “Tonight you are going to die but first we will put on a show they will never forget! The ultimate Rocktober Blood and gore show!”

•  “I’m back I’m going to take you to hell with me!”

Bloody Billy Performing

     At one time the film and soundtrack were incredibly rare and difficult to find. The film was only available on VHS and the soundtrack on vinyl. Because of this scarce availability, they quickly became very expensive collector's items. The great news is fans no longer have to buy a bootleg or VHS copies of the film. It is now available on DVD. In 2015 both soundtrack and film were re-released. When I was able to purchase the DVD, I made a pleasant discovery. Preceding the credits there is extra footage and interviews with Beverly and Fred Sebastian which I found to be inspiring. They discuss how they found God and have a passion for rescuing Greyhounds.   

Great News! The Film Is Also Available On DVD Not Just VHS!

You can purchase the soundtrack and DVD from Perry Morris at:

http://sorcerymusic.com/

Headmistress Performance

Sorcery/Headmistress Lineup for Rocktober Blood:

• Richard Taylor - lead guitars
• Lon Cohen - guitars
• Richie King - bass
• Perry Morris - drums

Eyes Lineup for Rocktober Blood:

• Nigel Benjamin - vocals
• Bob Steffan - guitars
• John Telsco - bass
• Pat Reagen - keyboards
• Richard Onri - drums

Facedown Lineup for Rocktober Blood:

• Susie Major - vocals
• Paul Bennette - guitars
• Michael Zionch - bass
• Barry Brant - drums

Lucy