Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode 18--2011 Year in Review

 

Good evening, my fellow time travellers!

Tonight, Johnny Zombie counts down the top twenty-two news stories of the year. What, who does a top twenty-two? I do, and I did!

From The Royal Wedding, to the death of Kim Jong Il, to the end of the Crown Vic; I cover a lot of ground in this fully-loaded episode. While this is not typical of the format of this show, it's a welcome departure. Instead of focusing on the media, I focus on the top news stories of 2011. Each story is given a few minutes of commentary. Musical breaks to groove to are scattered throughout.  

The Episode is divided into the following sections:

1. The Top Twenty-Two News Stories of 2011

2. Pop Culture Anniversaries of 2011

3. Those We Have Lost

4. Many Happy Returns

5. Memorable Moments

6. Upcoming Events in 2012

7. Personal Impressions of 2011

As always, you can listen to the news-worthy goodness here, or download directly from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

Music in This Week's Episode
Commie 64
Track: Start
EP: Bolean Values
CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

Artist: Palpable
Track:  Bionic Commando Theme (Armed and Dangerous)
CLICK HERE: To download from OC Remix.org

Artist: Joshua Morse
Track: Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (Solace of the Daylight)
CLICK HERE: To download from OC Remix.org

...And many others are available on OC Remix.org

Videos of the Week
U2: New Years Day

Zooey and Joe Gordon-Levitt serenade us with, What Are You Doing on New Years Eve?

NEXT TIME: The Second Coming of Beavis!

 

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Seventeen--Cthulhu Mass Holiday Special 2011

Hallo Succubi and Ghouls!

This week I present to you an episode of original material, written and performed by your's truly.

This episode is an eclectic assortment of spoofs, original fiction, and a disturbing Christmas list or two.

I hope you enjoy.

As always, you can listen to the disturbing goodness here. Or, you can download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

Don't forget to check out my comedy blog: "Too Soon? Too Bad!"  

Video of the Week
John Carpenter's THE THING: The Musical!

Next Episode: The Year in Review--2011

Email: Nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com 



Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Sixteen--Urban Legends

Good evening!

Johnny Zombie is back after a month-long hiatus. Well rested, and back on the job, he presents to you these tantilizing tales of terror!

In this episode we examine urban legends. Two famous examples, The Sitter, and The Hook, are discussed and analyzed. I also recount a personal experience that is connected with a more recent urban legend, Something Icky This Way Comes!

This episode goes out to Justine, of Justine's Halloween. It was inspired by her enthusiastic response to the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark episode. Thanks, Justine! You can read her deliciously morbid thoughts here: Justine's Halloween (updated all year round)

And be sure to check out my comedy blog, "Too Soon, Too Bad," at: http://too-soon-too-bad.blogspot.com/

As always, you can listen to the gory goodness here. Or, you can download from archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download From Archive.org

Video of the Week

From the Discovery Channel's Website: THE HOOK! (While I don't agree with everything he says, it still pretty damn good.)

Music of the Week
Title: Panic at Camp Crystal
Artist: Ghetto Lee Lewis
From OC Remix.org
CLICK HERE: To Download From ocremix.org

NEXT EPISODE: Cthulhu Mass! (The Nightmare Fuel Holiday Special)

Nightmare Fuel Podcast: Episode Fifteen--A Halloween Reading--Kipling's Pool Playing Spectres!

Good Evening...


Tonight's tale is one of ghoulish goings on in the heart of India.


I present to you, as voted by listeners, the Halloween Reading for 2011!


Rudyard Kipling's My Own True Ghost Story.


As always, you can listen to the haunting goodness here. Or, you can download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download This Episode From Archive.org

Kipling, "I ain't afraid of no bhoots!"

Videos of the Week

An MTV Halloween Classic...Somebody's Watching Me...(And yes, that's The King of Pop on the chorus)

Pumpkin Madness II! Another classic from my childhood.

Happy Halloween, everybody! Now, get into the spirit!

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Fourteen: A Classic Halloween Jukebox (Bonus Episode)

Good evening...

It's time to dance...with the dead!

This time, I present to you three classic selections of horror-based music. In this episode, you'll groove to the somber sounds of J.S. Bach, Charles-Camille Saint-Saens, and Modest Mussorgsky. You'll waltz with the dead in a French graveyard. Then, you'll hang with witches on Bald Mountain. All the while, I share with you the legends surrounding this music.

To top it all off, you'll tremble at the throne of Fortune, Empress of the World.

As always, you can listen to the macabre goodness here. Or, you can download this episode from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download From Archive.org

Videos of the Week

An animated Danse Macabre

The Controversial segment from Fantasia.


NEXT TIME: The Halloween Reading

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Thirteen: The DARK SIDE of English Lit

Elizabeth Siddal as Ophelia

Good Evening...

Tonight's tales are taken from the torrid trappings of the story tellers, poets, painters, and movers and shakers of 19th century Britain.

I present to you...

The DARK SIDE of English Lit!

How dark is it? Well, you can tell it's really dark because I put the phrase DARK SIDE in all caps! That's how DARK it is!

The stories in this episode are the thing of literary legend. Oddly enough, they are all true. I've heard these stories time and time again over the course of my life. Now, I share them with you.

Tonights tales include...

1. Jane Austen's Lost Brother

2. Rossetti Digs Liz

3. Percy's on Fire for Mary

I also weigh in on the season premiere of The Walking Dead. Who knew that zombies have a taste for woodchucks? Daryl and Sheriff Rick both know. No worries here, no spoilers in this episode.

I also read out some feedback from the talented and bright Miss Justine, of Justine's Halloween Blog.
Which you can read here: Justine's Halloween
You can also find Justine's Halloween in the LINKS OF DOOM to the left of this post.

As always, you can listen to the DARK LIT goodness here. Or, download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download From Archive.org

Feedback can be addressed to: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com
Or, use the comments box below this episode's show notes.

The Players in Tonight's Drama

Jane Austen (The Queen of Romantic Comedies)

Elizabeth Siddal (The Tragic Muse/Supermodel)

Mary Shelley (Mother of Monsters)

Percy Shelley (Poetic Rebel With a Teenage Lust, er, Lust for Teenage Girls)

D.G. Rossetti (Poet, Painter, Playboy, and Man With a Shovel)

Videos of the Week

Some speculate that Jane Austen haunts her old house in Chawton. I suggest she's just a free spirited woman.

Victorians were dead sexy. They had a taste of the morbid, and drank heavily of it. This video is about the seance craze and Elizabeth Siddal's passing.

Courtesy of Justine's Halloween, an audio book reading of one of Schwartz's most gruesome retellings of an urban legend.

Music of the Week
Song: Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ - BWV 639
Performer: Anthony La Mort
LP: Hauptwerk Organ Pieces One
CLICK HERE: To Download from Archive.org

NEXT TIME: The Halloween Reading for 2011!

May your better angels prevail...And may the saints preserve you.

Elizabeth Siddal as The Virgin Mary

Nightmare Fuel Podcast: Episode Twelve--Alvin Schwartz SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK TRILOGY

Good evening...

Tonight, I offer you a trilogy of tantilizing tales to tease, taunt, titilate, and terrorize!

And I put guest host The Crypt Keeper back in his tomb for another night.

Tonight, I offer to you an analysis of three classic tales from Alvin Schwartz trilogy of young adult horror anthologies. The Scary Stories trilogy was a highly popular, and controversial, compendium of folklore retold by author Alvin Schwartz. The books were a staple of my adolescence.They introduced me to horror as a literary genre, as opposed to just a filmic one. For that, I am eternally grateful.

I share with you three stories from Alvin Schwartz seminal work.

1. The Girl Who Stood on a Grave
2. The Bus Stop
3. The Appointment

Consider this a primer on folklore, both new and old. While a good bit of Schwartz work deals with urban legends, that great genre of folklore will get its own episode soon.

As always, you can listen to the folkloric goodness here. Or, download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download From Archive.org

Email for this podcast: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

Remember to vote in the Halloween Reading Poll!
Only five days left!

The choices are...

1. The Hound--H.P. Lovecraft
2. My Own True Ghost Story--Rudyard Kipling
3. Lot 249--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
4. Dracula's Guest--Bram Stoker

Videos of the Week

Count Creepy and Friends Playset (one of many horror toys I enjoyed as a kid)

Mad Scientist Monster Lab! (One of the grossest toys I ever owned)

NEXT TIME: The Dark Side of English Lit.

Till Next Time...Try to Get Some Beauty Rest...

Stephen Gammell's fantastic grotesquery

 

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Eleven: The Murder of Mary Kelly

Good evening!

This week, I round out the discussion of the victims of Jack The Ripper.


Mary Kelly was the youngest of the victims. She's also the one we know the least about. Her origins are obscure, but her death is infamous.


WARNING: Listener discretion is advised. I read a large portion of the autopsy report in this episode. In the words of Dr. Praetorious, "Well, we warned you."

As always you can listen to the show on the site. Or, you can download from archive.org

CLICK HERE: To Download This Week's Episode

Feedback is appreciated, and can be addressed to: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

Remember to vote in the Halloween Reading Poll
The poll is in the left panel.
The choices are...
1. The Hound--H.P. Lovecraft
2. My Own True Ghost Story--Rudyard Kipling
3. Lot 249--Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
4. Dracula's Guest--Bram Stoker

So far, it's a three day tie between The Hound, Lot 249, and Dracula's Guest.  


Videos of the Week

Morrissey sings...well, you know.

I won't go Emo on you...maybe just this once.

NEXT TIME: Alvin Schwartz's SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Ten: The Victims of Jack The Ripper (Part Two)

The killing spree of Jack the Ripper continues.

In this episode you will hear the tragic stories of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes--both of whom were killed on the same night, only blocks apart. Their deaths came to be known as the Double Event, and have influenced Ripper-lore to this day.

WARNING: Listener discretion is advised.

Podcaster's Note: Correction--The Dear Boss letter is often regarded as the first correspondence from Jack The Ripper. In this week's episode, I claimed the Saucy Jack postcard was the first. By the time this episode was recorded, it was too late to rectify the innacuracy.

As always, you can listen to the show here. Or, you can download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To download this episode from Archive.org

Music this week
Artist: Iambic
Song: Storm's Theme
Album: As the Snow Fell
CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

Videos This Week

Screaming Lord Sutch, and his version of Jack the Ripper

Jack The Ripper meets California surf rock?

NEXT WEEK: The Death of Mary Jane Kelly

Nightmare Fuel--Episode Nine: The Victims of Jack The Ripper (Part One)

They were the crimes that shocked a nation and defined an era. Partly truth, and partly legend, the story of Jack the Ripper has fascinated and terrified the public for over one-hundred-and- twenty years. The identity and motive of the killer remains a mystery. All that is known for certain is that five women (that we know of) lost their lives in the autumn of 1888. 

This episode begins a series of retellings of the lives and deaths of the so-called Canonical Five victims of Jack The Ripper. Their killer was never brought to justice. Their stories are often ignored. The mythos of Jack the Ripper has been romanticised in countless novels, films, and television programs. These dramatised accounts normally focus on the deeds and possible identity of the killer. The names of the victims often become plot devices in a murder mystery for entertainment. Instead, I offer an alternative with these following episodes. I present to you the tragic lives of those who perished under the knife of history's most infamous killer.

In this episode: The lives of Polly Ann Nichols and Annie Chapman.

LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

While I have taken great care in the writing of this episode, I could not be true to the story of this case without being somewhat graphic. What you are about to hear are depictions of real death taken from coroner's reports and other sources.

As always, you can listen to this week's episode here, or download from Archive.org

CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

PODCASTER's NOTE: I would normally include photos or drawings of those I talk about in an episode. However, since the only photos I could find were disturbing morgue photos, I decided not to. If you want to see them for yourself you can visit one of my sources Casebook.org (just click the text). It is of historical note that many of the victims were not photographed prior to their deaths. Tasteful artist conceptions of them in life are rare. As I was unable to find any prior to the posting of this episode, I have decided to refer listeners to resources where post mortem photos can be found. WARNING--view at your own risk. Some of these photos are very graphic.

Videos of the Week
Technically not a video. Still, it's Motorhead playing Jack the Ripper 
From the album: March or Die  

   The Trailer for Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper (Video Game)

Music of the Week
Song: Cloud Counting
Artist: Milieu
Album: Self-titled
Available from Archive.org
CLICK HERE: to download their music from Archive.org

Artist: Venefica
Song: Scarlet
Album: Scarlet
CLICK HERE: To download from Archive.org

Email: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

NEXT WEEK: The Victims of Jack The Ripper (Part Two)

65 Years of Freddie Mercury

Hi everyone!


It was sixty-five years ago today that one of rock's greatest voices was born. As the dynamic frontman of Queen, Freddie Mercury brought a mix of pure talent, charisma, and raw energy to the stage. In my opinion he had the best voice in Rock music (closely seconded by Jim Morrison).

Queen was part of the musical landscape of my childhood. Whether it be in the form of iconic albums like A Night at the Opera, or catchy tunes such as, A Crazy Little Thing Called Love--Queen was always on the tube or the stereo. How could one not dance to Another One Bites the Dust? Or, not sing along with the satiric Fat-Bottom Girls? The emotional power of the Highlander soundtrack is just as memorable as the film itself. The majesty of Queen's music isn't limited to any one medium. Whether listening to it in the solitude of one's room. Or, with an audience of revelers and friends, Queen's music has touched all of us.

Even after Freddie's passing in 1991, his stature has not diminished. The influence of his music has permeated some of hardrock and pop music's biggest names--Metallica, Foo Fighters, Guns and Roses, and Katy Perry...the list goes on.

There had never been a recording artist like Freddie before Queen's rise. And since he left us, that hasn't been one since. Though gone from us in person, he remains in spirit. His music will live on for future generations to discover. People of all ages will dance, sing-a-long, and emulate this unique talent for as long as we have rockers.

While an episode about Freddie simply wouldn't do justice to his memory, I did something else to honor him.

Below are some of my favorite Queen videos.

Please note that today is the Freddie for a Day celebration. People all over the world are dressing as Freddie, to raise money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust--the charity established in Freddie's memory.

To learn how you can help the Mercury Phoenix Trust in the fight against AIDS, please visit the link below.
The Mercury Phoenix Trust Website


Now...ready for Freddie?

A Kind of Magic
(From The Highlander soundtrack, and The Best of Queen)

A Crazy Little Thing Called Love
(from the album Jazz)

Princes of the Universe
(From The Highlander Soundtrack)

Another One Bites the Dust
(from the album The Game)

Breakthru
(from the album The Miracle)

Enjoy this small celebration of Freddie's life and music!

Nightmare Fuel will be back with another episode on Saturday.

    

Nighmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Eight--Eldritch Biology 101: Cthulhu

"An octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature...a pulpy head, with a mass of feelers at its mouth."

--H.P. Lovecraft.

H.P. Lovecraft's most famous creation goes under the microscope, in a manner of speaking. In this episode, I do an astrobiology primer on the Great Old One himself, Cthulhu!


Astrobiology is a nacent science, as we have yet to actually encounter alien life (intelligent, eldritch, or otherwise). However, it is a legitimate science, concerned with the potential forms that extraterrestrial life may take. While Cthulhu is a derived from very human concepts, he hales from a foreign planet. His unique biology allowed him to adapt to Earth's oceans--where he dwells in slumber until, "The stars are right."


As always, you can listen to the raging E.T. god goodness here. Or, on Archive.org

CLICK HERE: to download from Archive.org
Podcaster's Note: I made two faux-pas in the podcast. One, is that I said "chromoreceptors" when I meant to say "chemoreceptors," to describe the octopus' ability to taste what it touches. Another error that I made, which I caught in playback, is when I said "annotate," instead of "accomodate." This is in reference to the size of Cthulhu's sepulchre. These were verbal typos that couldn't be undone before the episode was finished.

Speaking of episodes...

I've just started another podcast--one dedicated to astronomy and sci-fi. Rest assured, Nightmare Fuel will continue. The spinoff podcast and blog is called Plastic Spacemen. It can be seen and heared at http://plasticspacemen.blogspot.com

Videos of the Week

Cthulhu in Spore

Myth-O's Cereal. From the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

Music This Week

Song: Island on the Horizon
Artist: Roy Garrou
Album: Island

CLICK HERE: to download from Archive.org


Comments can be addressed in the comments box, or via e-mail.
E-Mail: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

NEXT WEEK: Jack the Ripper--Fact from Fiction

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Seven--In Search of...Nimoy and Clarke's Mysterious World

In Search Of...lovely deviants!

I offer up to you an episode of mysteries and wonders. This is an episode that boldy goes where no man has gone...yeah, you know the rest. This week, I talk about two of my favorite supernatural programs.

In Search Of...was an after school pleasure of mine. A paranormal primer hosted by the best possible of inter-steller guides, Leonard Nimoy. This was often followed up with weekend re-runs of Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World, and it's duo of spin-offs--World of Strange Powers, and Mysterious Universe. These shows were staples of my teenage viewing habits. They acted as both discussion point, and story telling device.

Now, I present them to you.

You can listen to the outer-worldly goodness here, or, on Archive.org

CLICK HERE: to download from Archive.org
Running Time: 32 Mins Approx.

Videos of the Week
Leonard Nimoy talks about how he became the host of In Search Of...

Sir Arthur predicts the future.

Music in this Week's Episode

Legend of the Ruins by Roy Garrou
From the EP: Island  
Availble to download for free from Archive.org
CLICK HERE: to download from archive.org

NEXT WEEK: Something, or someone, rises from the deep...

Email, comments, etc. can be addressed to: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

Nightmare Fuel Podcast--Episode Six--Carmilla on the Silver Screen

Good evening, my lovely deviants!


Carmilla has been filmed many, many times. The films discussed in this episode constitute just a small slice of the delicious, blood-filled, vampire pie that is Carmilla on film. Indulge the decadent goodness with this episode. The films discussed are completely SPOILER FREE! No artificial fillers, or preservatives were used either.

I also discuss my impressions of the Steel City Con which was held at the end of July. I finally got round to recording it all here, after many delays.

As always, you can enjoy the vampy goodness here (via the player below) or download on Archive.org

CLICK HERE: to download from Archive.org

As always, comments are greatly appreciated...
Either comment in the box below the post. Or, via email: nightmarefuelpodcast@gmail.com

Images of the Week

Ingrid Pitt as Carmilla

The lovely Collinson Twins (see if you can tell which is which)

Katya Wyeth as Carmilla

Yutte Stensgaard as Carmilla

Videos of the Week

Madeline Collinson brings sexy vamp!

Ingrid Pitt proves why being a vampire can be a pain in the neck sometimes.

Music for this Episode

Venefica from the EP Scarlet. Featured tracks for the past two episodes were--Little Fragments, and, Scarlet.

CLICK HERE: to download this EP from archive.org
Website: http://myspace.com/veneficaproject
Email for this artist: aria.venefica@gmail.com

Next Week: Insearch of...Sir Arthur C. Clarke's World of Mysterious Nimoy Powers! (Vulcan Edition)