My top three rock songs from horror movies
1) “Pet Sematary” by The Ramones – Listening to the late Joey Ramone singing about skeletons, dying, and choosing to not live again his life if given the choice can send shivers down the spine of any serious fan of the Ramones.
A song that was released way back in 1989, it captures the horror trends of that time and the campiness to go along with it, the music video with its simple outlay and a backdrop of people gathering around the supposed soon-to-be-burial site of the Ramones is almost cryptic at this point.
And considering the fact that three of the founding and original members of the Ramones are no longer with us, it only further adds almost an eerie feeling when listening to this song but it doesn’t take away the greatness that has become of the Ramones.
Most people even remember this song more than the actual movie itself. And this song really captures the signature style of the Ramones during that specific time of their careers in the latter years.
From the simple lyrics – and just straight rocking out–is what I remember best about this song. To the Ramones who are surely not buried in any pet sematary and are definitely now with the other legends of rock in heaven…to borrow the title of the last album of the Ramones – Adios Amigos!
2) “Cold” by Static X – This is one of the songs in the OST of the movie entitled Queen of the Damned wherein the late Aaliyah played the lead role. The sudden death of Aaliyah and the decision to still release the movie had people accusing the producers of taking advantage of her death to promote the movie. Some of the fans may have hated it but in the end, this OST had some of the best bands at the time contributing songs for this one–all good songs, in fact.
This was a bit hard to decide to what to include in my list. But I had to go with this one because of the direction of the music video and of how lead singer Wayne Static had just reached a new career high with this song as the industrial metal band wasn’t that well known outside other genres,
The music video featured vampires the way it should be–scary as hell, thirsty for blood, and not twinkling in the sunlight. This isn’t a knock on Robert Pattinson fans. Just one person’s opinion, hey. They even got the band members of Static X to wear to prosthetic fangs and Wayne Static playing the traditional vampire slayer complete with crossbow and all, minus his signature electrocuted standing hair. ‘Nuff said.
3) “Why I was born” by Iggy Pop – How can I not include one of the all-time greatest horror franchises of all– A Nightmare on Elm Street on the list– and not choose a song performed by one of the true monsters of rock, “the Iguana man” himself – Iggy Pop!
From the wailing guitars, steady thumping of the bass, and a song vamping on raw power! Iggy Pop had this song raking on as the number one song from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. This song perfectly suited the movie itself as Iggy Pop had a knack for shocking people with his unpredictable behavior on stage, just as Freddy Kruger had the tendencies to do so likewise.
While it is believed a cameo from Iggy Pop would have been great to have in the movie–and should have happened, in fact– he at least got his song played at the beginning of the end credits.
