Is there a link between horror fiction and rock music

A.� There is�- particularly because of a sympathetic understanding between the anti-heroes of horror fiction, and the similarly disposed inhabitants of the outer circles of rock.

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Q.� Is it just a matter of image

A.� No, it undoubtedly goes deeper than that. Leaving aside the mainstream examples for a moment, musician Greg Kihn, a long way from a traditional image of a shock rocker is an accomplished writer, his debut novel The Horror Show was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award For Outstanding Achievement In A First Novel. Other novelists can point to a rock music connection�- Del James has written lyrics for Guns 'n' Roses, and The Almighty, and John Shirley has written for Blue Oyster Cult. Top selling horror writer Stephen King points out that his best sellers are created to the deafening sounds of Metallica and others, beamed into his Maine home via the local rock radio station. When the station switched to a MOR format, King bought the station outright, and suggested that the previously popular rock format be resumed.

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Q.� Where does the link between horror and rock come from

A.� It dates right back to 1956, and the inimitable Screamin' Jay Hawkins who performed the seminal I Put A Spell On You, and livening up his stage act by emerging from a coffin and wearing some seriously scary makeup.

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Q.� And it's gone on from there

A.� Pretty much�- the aforementioned sympathy between outsiders has seen a number of rock musicians making hugely successful careers out of adopting horror props and themes for their live and studio works.

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Q.� For example

A.� The most obvious and enduring is Alice Cooper. Back in the 1970's the horror-meister was singing of Dead Babies and using a mock execution in his live shows. Alice has been hung, guillotined and electrocuted for a number of years now, and still fans flock to see his shows. His less obvious horror homage is the song Ballad Of Dwight Fry from the 1971 Love It To Death album�- the character in question was the actor (his name is spelled Frye) who played Frankenstein's manservant in the classic James Whale film, and also Renfield, the bug-eating acolyte of Dracula, again from the pre-war original film.

Q.� Are there more examples

A.� Loads of them�- the biggest and most modern rock / horror icon is Marilyn Manson, virtually a 'son-of-Alice' character for young rock fans who want their own version of the anti-hero to bond with their friends and upset their parents. Marilyn delights in issuing outrageous statements while shrewdly marketing his mixture of extreme Goth-metal to a large, and growing audience.

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Apart from Mr Manson, bands like Twisted Sister, featuring Dee Schneider with his filed teeth, Lizzy Borden, King Diamond, Morbid Angel, White Zombie and many more have used a similar path to fame and varying degrees of fortune, trading on the established rock and horror link.

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Q.� The list does seem to lean towards the American bands, are there no British bands that work in the same musical field

A.� There are plenty�- Ozzy Osbourne, as a solo artist, and with Black Sabbath, has enjoyed massive success by playing the horror / clown card in his presentation. Ozzy is renowned for carrying his horror credentials to extremes, specifically by biting the head of a live bat which someone threw on stage during one of his concerts. Denying that he knew the animal to be alive didn't stop Ozzy's reputation being enshrined forever as the hard man of horror rock�- a label that has outlasted the memory of the seriously unpleasant series of rabies injections he was forced to endure as a consequence of his actions.

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Britain has always been the home of Goth, a style of music that draws its imagery directly from the Gothic horror novels, and although not as popular as it has been, some bands still enjoy a visual and stylistic link with the genre. Some, like Dave Vanian of The Damned, take the idea with a pinch of salt.�Dave's image is more that of Victorian dandy with his frock coats and cravats, but he has been known to play up to his naturally pale complexion and widow's peak hair, by adding some additional whiteness to one, and blackness to the other. The addition of Dave's wife Patricia Morrison has added to the Goth credo of the couple�- with her long raven hair and even paler skin, Patricia embraces the Goth ethic even further, especially with the faultless credentials of having been a member of template Goths, The Sisters Of Mercy. Fore the finest example of the ongoing bond between rock music and horror imagery, look no further than Cradle Of Filth, and their lead singer Danni Filth, who has just completed a role in a soon to be released British horror film, as well as thoroughly enjoying testing the strength of the band's fans with their stomach-churning videos.

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By:� Andy Hughes.