A Halloween Music Video Round-up: Our Favorite Songs Inspired by Horror Films
Happy Halloween from Original Fuzz! Get spooky with us! We're just ten days away from the most ghoulish night of them all. In celebration, we've gathered a list of our favorite rock & roll songs inspired by horror, b-sides, and cult films to get you in the mood. Enjoy our best of Halloween music video round-up below!
1. "Pet Sematary" - The Ramones
It's not truly Halloween without listening to The Ramones "Pet Sematary," inspired by Stephen King's film. Rumor has it that King, himself, handed bassist Dee Dee Ramone a copy of his novel at one of their shows in Maine. Moments (most likely hours) later, Dee Dee comes up with this song. The music video features cameos by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie, and members of The Dead Boys.
2. "Psycho" - The Sonics & "Psycho Killer" - The Talking Heads
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Both of these songs are said to be inspired by Hitchcock's Psycho. David Byrne writes, "I imagined Alice Cooper doing a Randy Newman-type ballad. Both the Joker and Hannibal Lecter were much more fascinating than the good guys. Everybody sort of roots for the bad guys in movies."
"Pinhead" - The Ramones
Another Ramones song! Yes! This song is taken from Tod Browning's film, Freaks, from 1932! This (plus Lolita) was one of the first films I had Netflix deliver to me when I was in college. It's kooky, wonderful, and beautifully made. Plus this is where The Ramones got inspiration for "Pinhead." Check it out.
"Human Fly" - The Cramps
This song is tough. This short film is tough. The Human Fly is tough. Lux Interior and Poison Ivy are tough. Halloween is tough.
"I Walked With A Zombie" - Roky Erikson
Best known as one of the founding members of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psych-rock movement, Roky Erikson writes beautifully-haunting songs; including this one, inspired by the 1943 film by Jacques Tourneur.
"Werewolves of London" - Warren Zevon
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This song should be on every Halloween playlist. Can't get better than Lon Cheney Jr., mutilated-little old ladies, and werewolves. Inspired by the 1936 film Werewolf of London.
"Jack the Ripper" - Screaming Lord Sutch & "I Put a Spell on You" - Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
These songs are for your health! Turn up the volume!
"It’s Halloween" - The Shaggs
We're not sure if this is the greatest song by the greatest band we've ever heard, or, just, real bad. See for yourself. Either way, it's a rock & roll song about Halloween.
"Time Warp" - Rocky Horror Picture Show
Last, but by no means least, this song by the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show is the best song in the best Halloween cult film ever made.
Hope these music videos get you in the mood! Enjoy our playlist we made last year for even more Halloween vibes.