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I am very much into all things Spooky, Creepy, and Cool and would like to share that with YOU!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

The Zombified Halloween Interview!

Wow! With Halloween so close, I have a great little treat for all of you Spookies and Creepies out there in Interweb land.


Krystal Fancey Beck, is the artist behind The Zombified, which features her own original Horror and Halloween inspired artwork, pendants, and other goodies. Intended for the "darkly inclined", Krystal is also the creator of her own Halloween themed comic series, Hallowhaus.


Krystal was kind enough to take a bit of time to answer some SpookyCreepyCool Halloween questions. So with no further babbling, please enjoy this SpookyCreepyCool Halloween interview with...


THE ZOMBIFIED





What is your favorite memory of Halloween as a child?
The first year- or couple of years (to be honest my memory can be pretty
fuzzy)- that I stopped going trick-or-treating. I stopped trick-or-treating
a lot earlier than most kids, first because I'd ended up having surgery just
before Halloween one year and my mom didn't want me roaming the streets at
night in a fairly fresh cast. Anyhow, I remember spending the night watching
a marathon of Are You Afraid of the Dark? on YTV (a Canadian TV channel)-
that was probably the first year- and later renting everything from
the Halloween series my local video store had to offer and spending the
evening attempting to watch as many of those as possible.



What is your favorite memory of Halloween as an adult?
Honestly, it gets better every year as we get better at cramming as many
thing as possible into October, making Halloween a glorious month-long
celebration! I did get married over Halloween weekend in 2006, which was
obviously awesome and definitely worth noting, but with all the wedding and
moving stuff we didn't do much for actual-Halloween. Last year we hit a
midnight screening of George Romero's Day of the Dead (one of my favorite
movies), the Houston Zombie Walk, a Halloween bash at a local nightclub, and
the All Hallow's Eve theme weekend at the Texas Renaissance Festival (which
is also where the aforementioned wedding took place). This year we're
repeating a bunch of those, plus catching a midnight screening of Lucio
Fulci's Zombie, and kicked everything off at the beginning of the month with
the SplatterFest horror film festival. See? Better every year!



What is your idea of the perfect Halloween?

As much as I love all of the exciting events sprinkled throughout the
Halloween season, I am- at heart- admittedly a bit of a shut-in. On the
actual day of Halloween I just want to do a little bit of people-watching
during the day to check out costumes and such, then grab a Pumpkin Spice
Frappuccino and head home to a big stack of horror movies and a mountain of
fresh popcorn. Ideally, it'll be just cold enough to make a big blanket feel
*awesome* (and I do have a badass Halloween blanket I made myself) and all
of the cats will lay scattered all over the bed just *delighted* to be
wearing their little Halloween costumes. Hey- this is just how it plays out
in my head... in reality the cats just barely put up with their costumes
long enough to get a couple pictures!



What was your favorite Halloween costume?

As a kid, I was always a cat. Every year. Now, I (of course) do a good
zombie, and my Hellboy (...girl?) costume is pretty great, but in the end I
have to say my most favorite is my Hitchhiker (Texas Chainsaw Massacre '74)
costume. It's not terribly extravagant, and I'm not sure how many people
actually recognized it (come on! I live in Texas!), but he's my favorite
character from my absolute favorite movie ever, so it's the one that
delights me the most.



What is your favorite Halloween candy?

I'd take roasted pumpkin seeds over the sugary stuff.

What are some of your favorite Halloween attractions?

I haven't been to many. Where I grew up was pretty isolated and there was
never really anything like that within reasonable driving distance. Since
moving I've been to a couple, but so far nothing too impressive,
unfortunately.



What are some songs and bands that really get you into the Halloween spirit?

The Misfits, Creature Feature, Calabrese, God Module, a good chunk of Alien
Sex Fiend... so many more. My Halloween playlist is seriously over 19 hours
long!



What are some movies that get you into the Halloween spirit?

I'm a bit of a horror addict year round, but I do have a routine though
October. Late September and early October start off with the simple task of
watching more horror (in general), then some old black and white Universal
horror, some Hammer, anything with Vincent Price. I try to rewatch some
favorites- Day of the Dead, The Omen & Omen II, Re-Animator, Puppet Master,
Evil Dead, etc. I try to save the most Halloween-y for last... ideally on
actual Halloween- Sleepy Hollow, Mad Monster Party, Trick 'r Treat, and (of
course) Halloween.
Often when Halloween's over I'll repeat the list in reverse whilst sobbing
hysterically into my (awesome) monster-movie popcorn bowl because I'm so
upset that it's over. (I'm only half kidding...)



What are some of your favorite Halloween TV specials?

Man, it's been so long... I'm pretty sure I really dug Garfield's Halloween
Adventure as a kid.

Who are some of your favorite artists out there doing Spooky, Creepy, Cool,
type artwork?

Gris Grimly, Keith Thompson, Chad Savage, Eric Pigors, etc.

What are some of your inspirations for creating your Spooky, Creepy, Cool artwork?

Halloween everything, horror, anything that just drips with the ooky
spooky!



Do you have anything you are working on currently that we can all look forward to?

Somehow I recently managed to squeeze in a last minute custom piece for
Freddy in Space & Scares for Pairs' Trick or Treat for Breast Cancer
fundraiser (http://www.freddyinspace.com/2011/10/freddy-in-space-scares-for-pairs-trick.html), with the original lineart up for grabs as well.


Where can we go to see and purchase your artwork?

http://www.thezombified.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thezombified
http://www.facebook.com/TheZombified



Any Spooky, Creepy, Cool parting words?

Stay shamelessly spooky. Always.


Sunday, October 9, 2011

Calabrese Halloween interview.

Hello fiends.  


One of the Greatest horror punk rock bands around Calabrese were kind enough to answer my series of SpookyCreepyCool Halloween questions. 


Calabrese make incredible music that will assault your ear holes with brain blasting rock n roll that can easily be put aside The Misfits classic horror punk. The three brothers from Arizona embody the spirit of Halloween and all things rocking and evil. Calabrese should be a must on everybody's Halloween playlist. 


So with no further adieu please enjoy this SpookyCreepyCool interview with...





What are your favorite childhood memories of Halloween?


Jimmy- When I was little I used to feel the magic in the air during Halloween. I grew up in Illinois so I got to experience the seasons change. It was always a great time for me as a kid watching the leaves change color and feeling that first chill in the air.
Bobby -- Nothing specific, but I'll always remember the crazy asshole who always set up the most intricate and insane junk to scare you at their doorstep. It was like a terrifying obstacle course for a few handfuls of candy. I always liked the people who let you walk in their garage-turned-haunted house, too. You don't see too much of that anymore, it sucks!





What are your favorite adult memories of Halloween?


Jimmy – Our Halloween shows have been my highlight.
Bobby -- Yeah, for the last 10 years we've been playing shows on Halloween night -- it's all I've got! But when I was wildest and daring-est, I liked drinking with friends in graveyards around Halloween time. It was stupid and dumb and creepy...but it was great!





What are your ideas of the perfect Halloween?


Bobby -- Buying a ton of crazy monster masks and wandering the streets and neighborhoods like creep!
Jimmy – Being at a Misfits show back 1978. 





What were your favorite Halloween costumes?


Jimmy – I think it was my Count Dracula costume my mom made for me…last year. Just kidding! I think I was in first grade.
Bobby -- I mentioned monster masks before, but...I really like monster masks! Easy and effective. My favorites are of zombies, the more fucked up and mutated looking the better. I hate how you breathe your gross candy breath into your face all night, but they look damn cool!





What are your favorite Halloween candies?


Jimmy - Candy corn.
Bobby -- I used to like all the sour and chewy stuff, but now I'm all about the chocolate. Gimme Baby Ruths and Twix!





What are some of your favorite Halloween attractions?


Bobby -- Buying a ton of crazy monster masks and wandering the streets and neighborhoods!
Jimmy- I thought the haunted house at Universal Studios was pretty cool. They had some pretty good sets. I’ve seen Disney at Halloween and that was disappointing. I remember one really good haunted house in Illinois when I was a kid that I begged my Dad to take me into. I can’t recall the name of the place but halfway through the maze of darkness I was clutching my Dad begging him to take me out of there. What a terrifying rush that was!





What are some songs and bands that really get you into the Halloween spirit?


Jimmy – The Misfits, White Zombie, Zombie Ghost Train.
Bobby -- The Ghastly Ones, Slayer, Samhain, Buahaus, The Cramps, Oingo Boingo, The Damned and any film soundtracks by Goblin!




What are some movies that get you into the Halloween spirit?


Jimmy – Halloween, Fright Night, and Nightmare on Elm Street.
Bobby -- Definitely Halloween! I like the third one, that has a cool vibe to it, although it ends pretty terribly. Return of the Living Dead, Dead Alive, Evil Dead 2, Waxwork, Trick or Treat. I try to watch a ton of new horror movies during the season, but sticking to the classics like Argento, Fulci and Romero is never a bad thing! Oh, and the Night of the Living Dead remake gets me in the Halloweeny mood! Totally rad!





What are some of your favorite Halloween TV specials?


Bobby -- I LOVE when sitcoms do their Halloween episodes. I always liked the Home Improvement, Simpsons, Family Matters and Roseanne specials. Roseanne was always the best! Yeah, I watch too much TV.
Jimmy – I like that Disney movie Hocus Pocus that they play every year. I don’t remember any of the TV specials as a kid.





Who are some of your favorite musicians out there doing Spooky, Creepy, Cool, type music?


Bobby -- Creature Feature has a cool thing going! I always liked Zombeast, too, may they rest in peace.
Jimmy- Nim Vind, Chapel of Thieves, Stellar Corpses, Hour Of The Wolf.





Who are some of your favorite artists out there doing Spooky, Creepy, Cool, type artwork?


Bobby -- Matthew Skiff, who's doing a lot of our recent stuff, which ranges from t-shirt of voodoo women to an upcoming Monster Squad parody! His art is great! 
Jimmy- The always awesome Andrew Barr, Eric Powell who did our last album art, Kotsu from New Jersey, D.W. Frydendall and so much more!




What are some of your musical inspirations?


Jimmy – Normally I would just name off bands but I must say I’m inspired by great music. As my life changes so does my tastes. Bands that I hated 10 years ago I can finally appreciate, and vice versa.
Bobby -- I love anything loud and dumb!





Do you have anything you are working on currently that we can all look forward to?


Jimmy- We have an animated music video that’s in the works, a new CD that we are currently writing, too. And we are always posting new episodes of the Calabrese Adventures on youtube, so check 'em out!


Where can we learn more about what you guys are currently working on, upcoming shows, and where to pick up your music?


Jimmy – You can check out http://www.facebook.com/l/KAQD-PO_cAQC-IqUDjQKldHwo2DKOE8GFJQEIf0hBp_V8Ng/www.CalabreseRock.com, that’s our main website that points to all our other sites like youtube, facebook, itunes and our merch page. You can also pick up our CD’s wherever music is still sold.




Any Spooky, Creepy, Cool parting words?


Jimmy – A call to action! Stop zoning out and create! Create art, create a blog, start a band! Nothing ever will ever happen to you if you don’t do something. 
Bobby -- In the immortal words of Eddie and the Hotrods -- "Do anything you wanna do!" 



Monday, October 3, 2011

D.W. Frydendall Halloween Interview.

Hello once again Creepy Creepers. What an awesome treat I have for you this wonderful October day. D.W. Frydendall was kind enough to take the time to answer some SpookyCreepyCool Halloween questions.


Mr. Frydendall makes some of the most impressive horror art out there today. From some of the most beautifully gruesome horror portraits to some of the creepiest, coolest illustrations. He's done artwork for bands like Calabrese and the ghastly Ones to name a couple. He has also done some incredible Disney Haunted Mansion artwork that is to die for. Truly Incredible stuff. 


Well with no further babbling on my part, please enjoy this Halloween interview with...






What is you favorite memory of Halloween as a child?

Being Darth Vader in the second grade with my oversized helmet. It was a hoot!




What is your favorite memory of Halloween as an adult?

1994. That entire month of October. Went to the premier of Interview with a Vampire and met White Zombie and everyone in Hollywood Then my friends and I had a HUGE Halloween party that took t months to get together. Then I won 500.00 for my vampire costume halloween night. Crazy month...




What is your idea of the perfect Halloween?

Horror movie on all day long and a perfectly orange dusk. Kind of warm weather with leaves on the ground.




What was your favorite Halloween costume?

Probably my Victorian Vampire costume or my Wyatt Earp costume.




What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Probably Peanut M&Ms.




What are some of your favorite Halloween attractions?

Knott's scary Farm, Universal horror nights, There used to be this thing in Studio City called Hallowed Haunting Grounds which was the coolest thing ever. 


What are some songs and bands that really get you into the Halloween spirit?

Ghastly Ones, Calabrese, The Misfits, Old White Zombie, The Howlers, The Returners, Horror film soundtracks...




What are some movies that get you into the Halloween spirit?

Halloween, the Thing, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Trick r' Treat, The Changeling, Shining, Ghostwatch, The Entity.




What are some of your favorite Halloween TV specials?

I watch In Search Of... alot during this season. Salem's Lot. Anything ghost or spooky. A lot of british television like "Whistle and I'll come for youand other Ghost stories for Christmas. Check it out.... 




Who are some of your favorite artists out there doing Spooky, Creepy, Cool, type artwork?

Gris Grimly, Unkle Piggors from ToxicToons, Dienzo, Clint Carney, Dan Harding, Jeremy Cross, Evil Paul, Krys Sapp, Tatomir, Nicolas Caesar, Gary Pullin, Kevin Klemm... So many...




What are some of your inspirations for creating your Spooky, Creepy, Cool artwork?

Harry Clarke, Alphonse Mucha, Berni Wrightson, Arthur Adams...






Do you have anything you are working on currently that we can all look forward to?

I currently have art up in The October Shadows show (http://www.creaturefeatures.com/octobershadows/), On Saturday October 15th Hyaena Gallery in Burbank will be showing my horror portrait work from this year. I'm really excited about this show.






Where can we go to see and purchase your artwork?

Hyaena Gallery in Burbank. http://www.hyaenagallery.com/






Any Spooky, Creepy, Cool parting words?

Watch a horror movie as often as you can. And stay away from remakes. They just suck.