Section: The Devil Inside

“The city was drifted with human bones…”

This is the month I force you Lip Service junkies to dig into something ya might not have done for a while. You creeps are gonna read a book … or two. But not just any books! We are gonna get into pure adventure and escapism. THRILLER. The imagination takes over and dives you into our world like you’ve never seen it. Or could believe. This month we read graphic sci/fi-thriller novels that will “put lead in yer pencil.”

I’m privileged and honored to get the chance to interview not only a brilliant writer but a true friend I had the chance to grow up with on the backwoods plains of “B.F.E.” At a very young age I noticed my friend had an intense power to wield the pen to manipulate life in every way shape and form… Long story short.

My broham PATRICK LEE is talented as hell.

The reviews about his books will speak for themselves.

“Audacious and terrifying, uncannily believable.” -Lee Child

“Patrick Lee’s ‘Ghost Country’ is in a word: Brilliant. Less novel, than an adventure, it left me breathless and awed. It’s explosive, innovative, and ultimately mind blowing. Pure exhilaration from the first page to the last.” -James Rollins, ‘New York Times’ bestselling author of the ‘Doomsday Key.”

“Settle back and savor this one. Patrick Lee has an intense brand of storytelling. He’s a most welcome addition to the genre. The real deal. I look forward to reading more from him.” -Steve Berry, “New York Times” bestselling author

“Holy shit I’m interviewing Pat Lee next month…” I should read his books.” -Chad Cherry,  author of “Gimme Back My Leather Pants Bitch.”  *bogus review

“Wow! Double wow! Starkly original, ‘Ghost Country’ will make Asimov and Heinlein cheers with the angels. The techo-thriller meets sci-fi, and the result is mind-blowing.” -Stephen Coonts

Ladies and germs… I give you the ‘New York Times’ bestselling author of ‘The Breach’ and ‘Ghost Country.’ PATRICK LEE.

C.C. Pat it’s great to hear from you and it’s great to see your books on the shelves everywhere I go. Your character ‘Travis Chase’ (the hero in your series) is a no bullshit, “hard as they come” real deal fucking bad ass. Why did you mold his likeness after yours truly Chad Cherry? I haven’t dealt with “top secret anomalies” “other worldly power” or have been “mankind’s only hope” for a very long time.

P.L. When I was seven, my grandfather’s dying words were, “Chad Cherry is going to be a badass rockstar–if you ever get off your ass and write a book, model the main character after him.”  Then the crocodile dragged him under and that was the end of it.  I’m never going back to Australian Disney World.

C.C. Soooooooooooo Pat. I shit myself after I read both of your books. That’s how good your writing is. Does this happen to everyone that reads your stuff? Can you explain this to me?

P.L. I was actually going for a laxative effect with these books, but they were supposed to “work gently overnight,” like the products in all those TV spots showing people sleeping peacefully, smiling.  Instead, something has gone horribly wrong, and now only one man can stop the nightmare before it’s too–oh, sorry about that.  I get caught up in making things sound dramatic.

C.C. Let’s talk about the character Paige Campbell. So tough, so intelligent, so ruthless at times, so hot. Where do I go to find her? Please tell me she is real.

P.L. She exists deep in the stuck-in-adolescence part of my mind (95% of the brain, by volume) which causes me, when I’m playing Tomb Raider, to turn carefully in doorways so that the camera zooms in on just Lara Croft’s boobs and the MP5 submachinegun she’s holding.

C.C. When I read your books I genuinely see everything in my mind as a film that needs to be made. The story and your characters are so identifiable and perfect for the silver screen. We grew up on a shit ton of great movies and books.. criticizing (but still enjoying) most. Who do you see playing the part of Travis Chase (besides me)?

P.L. Hmmm, let’s see.  If the studio can’t work things out with you, I’d probably want them to use some CGI mixture of Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio.  Or if that’s expensive for some reason, Pitt by himself would be pretty awesome.

C.C. How far off am I for thinking Kate Beckinsale could play the part of Paige Campbell?

P.L. I would walk from here to Los Angeles on my ass cheeks to beg her to play the role.  (Only to be devastated to learn she lives in England.)  On the other hand, I could probably try asking the producers to call her agent and pitch it; a crazy approach like that might be better.

C.C. Are you still screen writing? And can you let the kids know about your past work on this subject?

P.L. I actually stopped writing scripts a few years ago, to focus on books.  It’s definitely fun working on scripts, but I think it finally just hit me that I’m more suited to novels.  As far as the scripts, though, I sold two of them in my early twenties, and… I think they almost got made.  (This may be what every ex-screenwriter thinks.)

C.C. Blondes or Brunettes now?

P.L. There’s a definite preponderance of brunettes in my dating past.  The fact that they’re in my past instead of my present is probably a result of my using words like preponderance.  (It could also be the zooming in on Lara Croft’s boobs.)

C.C. Your writings include loads and loads of brutal, graphic violence. (Thank you!) Do you think the young adults that read your books will want to go out and beat people’s head open with steal pipes? (I did get inspired)

P.L. Only a tiny percentage of my readers have actually been caught doing this.  The rest are smart enough to wipe the prints and ditch the weapon.

C.C. Your brother Chris is the reason I got into Van Halen. Does he still have the Eddie guitar?

P.L. Oh, I totally remember that thing.  I think he used masking and electrical tape to match the look.  It might be in a closet somewhere, but I haven’t seen it since circa 1991.

C.C. I’m so over asking you questions. You live in Chicago now, I’m in Chicago right now too…. Let’s go get some strange. Ya?

P.L. Shit ya!!

C.C. Well Pat, I’m proud of you and can’t wait for another book. I’m glad I got shit goin’ on in my life so I don’t have to be jealous of you becoming the bad ass that ya are. And thank you for the nightmares.

P.L. Dude, I’m proud of you too!  We’re living proof that you shouldn’t pay attention in school; just sit in the back of the class and make fun of people, including the teacher, and you’ll end up with your dream career.  (That statement is not legally binding, kids.  Your results may vary.)

So don’t be dumb and pick up Patrick Lee’s books immediately. All b.s. set aside (just for a second anyway) These novels are phenomenal front to back.

“Because something is loose in the world. And doomsday is not only possible…. it is inevitable.”

Patrick Lee at Harper Collins
PatrickLeeFiction.com

Maintaining my status as a guy that still doesn’t know or cares how to conduct a proper interview… but does it anyway.

Chad Cherry.

Chad Cherry from The Last Vegas has been naked under Lip-Service Clothing since 1917.
“That is a very long time to be wearing L.S.C. but I still think I look as wicked as I seem. Muawhahaha! If the record isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” C.C. XXX
TheLastVegas.com

-WALK AMONG US-

There’s only a handful of musical acts we can say, “Oh, that band? One of my faves.” You can listen to their tunes for years on end and not get sick of ‘em. You still love everything about the songs, the imagery, and the attitude. The feelings and memories take you to a place you love and will probably be there for ya when you create new wonders as well. No matter how much you change and grow in life, this music has remained with you, un-calloused.

Quick story……

- Discovery for a young Chad Cherry in the record store…
(Dream like flash back waves and sound fx placed here…)

“What’s this creepy lookin’ shit near the MC-5 records? Whatever it is it probably sucks … Hey, wait just a minute here … It looks like some kinda … Some kinda horror movies in the form of 7′ vinyl records!!! Hold on… Is this for real?!?!

And without question I knew I needed them.

“I’m stealing these fuckers.”  (My credit was good.)

- A young Chad Cherry back at his room playing his new find on the turn table … (The record player wasn’t stolen.. Don’t judge me.)

“B-horror and sci-fi inspired songs! Painted skeletal patterns on performance clothing! Devilocks!!! Holy shit! I’m home! They’re singing about Jackie O doin’ what?!?! This is like ‘Night of the Living Dead’ meets ‘The Ramones’ in a dirty basement filled with hooks … but not stabbing hooks … melody hooks!!! Hairs at end! THE MISFITS!”

“Favs”

‘The Misfits’ it was … and ‘The Misfits’ it is …

A name taken from Marilyn Monroe’s last film, The Misfits in each incarnation have made use of horror and science fiction inspired themes and imagery with make-up, clothing, artwork, and lyrics that came from B-movie and t.v. serials. They are recognized as the progenitors of the horror-punk sub-genre and have drawn from punk-rock, heavy metal, and 50′s era r-n-r, rockabilly (the song ‘Angel Fuck’… Soooo greaser tough.) to inform their killer style. “The archetypal horror-punk band of the late 70′s early 80′s.” They are considered icons in punk rock and culture.

I always thought of them as a “punk-rock” band but there was something different about ‘em. They were not your average by any means. Associated with the hardcore punk movement of the early 80′s for sure, but check it. Steve Blush, author of American Hardcore, notes “Though crucial to the rise of H.C., they were in fact in a league of their own … The Misfits delivered a hyper-yet melodic assault based in 50′s/60′s style of rock, taking the Buddy Holly/Gene Vincent foundation and making it nuclear.” Indeed.

I think, for many generations to come, I’ll still see that skeletal figure mascot inspired by the 1946 film serial “The Crimson Ghost” on t-shirts. (Even if the kids don’t listen to the music. Or we all die from this “Zombie Apocalypse” I’ve been hearing about on all the news channels.) I think I’m cool with this. And I’m sure Glenn is too.

My favorite quote while inspecting old Misfit’s videos on youtube. Coming from one day ago. “I miss the old punk-rock. And I’m 13.”

The Danzig era (or the incarnation now) of The Misfits will be timeless music/horror/sci-fi entertainment. This band has been an obvious influence on me and a fuck-load of other rock heads (including Metallica and G-n-R) who still look up to Alice Cooper as … well, Alice Cooper. No matter how much music changes and how many fads come and go, I think the Misfits will never not be cool.

You should already know this fashion fiends. But I wrote about it just in case you didn’t. “Lets go where eagles dare.”

Now take off my Lip Service clothes and give me a bath … Not you … Your girlfriend.

-Chad Cherry at his ‘Fortress of Blood’:

I’ve been listening to a few final mixes on several new tunes from The Last Vegas at casa de Cherry and I’m very happy with what I’ve been diggin’. (I will refuse to rush anything on these babies.) Johnny K, our producer, is just as nuts as we are … this is good. I will listen to the new songs and then want to listen to them over again. This is also good. I’m enjoying rockin’ ‘em out at my place instead of the studio which, to me, is another good sign. My black cat, Knuckles, goes bananas crazy wild when I play some of these mixes (he’s a v.i.p., gets all the new TLV goods first.). I’m not sure what this means but it’s funny as hell and I like watching him get rowdy to the shit. Animal rock. (The only other time cat acts up like this is when I play ‘Mississippi Queen’ by ‘Mountain’…?)

For those of you that are antic……………………………….ipating the new Last Vegas… I like you for it. It will be out of this world for sure, astro baby!

All Hell Breaks Loose
-Chad Cherry
TheLastVegas.com

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My Hunger
My recent residency in Hollywood made me realize something I’ve let slip through my mind in the many years of chaos …

All the warm sunshine can make a woman’s blood taste so exquisite …

Everything you think you know about Vampires is true. Or is it? To understand the myth is to understand the concept of the Gods. This all depends upon the era, the culture, individual imagination, gullibility or faith.

The days are here where you can’t even move without vamps being everywhere. Fangs on t.v., fangs in the movies, fangs in the bedroom. Everywhere vampires. Stripped down, junior romance, bad movies. Vampires, as Stephen King said, taking Erica Jong’s phrase, were the ultimate zipless fuck.

But you can never kill the undead. And they wouldn’t be popular if there hadn’t have been centuries of amazing literature as their foundation. Be it metaphoric or whatever else that stirs you, makes you nervous, or wakes you up from your dreams.

Vampires will always be with us.

Forever.

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Hey everyone! This is Mich (writer of Lip SerVICES and editor of the LS ‘zine). Chad and I had a chance to plot and scheme together while he was here in H’wood. We shot a full photo story series for Vampyrotic (with the lovely Shauna Ryanne). In it, Chad is a rock star and Shauna a … well … an aspiring Starfucker (you will note clever use of Starfucker Fishnet along w/ the micro-mini in the shots!). As you can image, Shauna gets a bit more than she bargained for in seducing this rock n roll vampire.

In the meanwhile, here’s a little peek! We’ll add some more to our production blog as we get closer to publishing the new issue. Enjoy!

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PEACE ON PLANET EARTH
(And to all other planets I visit.)

This month I’ve decided to give you the gift of rock-n-roll music. After all, it is the silly season and consider this my X-Mas present to the fiends who believe in the power of music. Oh, and to all who know looking fabulous in Lip Service clothing means you’ll get more presents this year. L.S.Clothing makes your naughtiness; a nice thing hehe. Yep, yep. And it contributes to the whole peace on earth, good will to mankind, be cool to others thing as well … The power of good fashion … It’s there for you my friends.
Cheers to all … I say love and respect shall lead the way every day and not just through one certain time of year … Let it be an ongoing thing and shine with it my brothers and sisters. We are all in this together. Rise above and be beautiful to each other. YEYEAH!!!!!!

I’ve just put some finishing touches on the new TLV record and I’m glad to say it’s on its way to completion with mix and mastering. This record has been a completely different studio experience than I’ve ever gone though. And it’s been the most work. (But some of the things that went down late night were quite a trip …Very tasty … I will let you in someday when you are old enough.) It’s everything you will want it to be. 100% TLV. Looking forward to the future as always. Can’t wait to unleash the monster and give you a wild and exciting ride into the depths of a band of five guys who want nothing more than to seduce you to the spooky groovy and make ya jump out of your skin to sex beats and hot leather attitude … Get ready.
Till then, here is the brand new single from our album Whatever Gets You Off … ‘Apologize’ … Download it for free. thelastvegas.com
And don’t miss out on the video. I threw up some stills from the shoot. Enjoy.

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Happy Holidaze to all and to all a devilishly R-n-R good time!!!!!! See you all in Los Angeles in January. (I’m not staying in Chicago for the damn winter time.) Joy! C.C.

DEREK MEARS KILLS PEOPLE…. But damn is he a nice guy…

American actor and stuntman Derek Mears is best known for his role as serial killer Jason Voorhees in the re-make of “Friday the 13th.”

He’s also known for not being around or anywhere near L.A. when The Last Vegas want him to be in their music videos … Derek is like … “Oh, sorry, I have to kill people on location for the next month” or “Oh damn, I’m in Guam … I mean, London … right now working on another movie.”

Born in Bakersfield California, (I will always think of the Rolling Stones song “Girl with far away eyes” whenever that town is ever mentioned … Did I ask if you gave a shit?) Mearsy got his start performing improv comedy, which can tell ya a lil’ about how cool of a dude the D.M. is. You can not do horror or sci-fi without a great sense of humor. That’s what I always say … (I’ve never actually said that.)

Derek has mega creds, both as a stuntman and as an actor on the boob tube and the silver screen. He’s done E.R., Alias, Nash Bridges, The Shield, My Name Is Earl, CSI:Miami, Angel, Bones, CSI: N.Y., Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Mans Chest, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, The Hills Have Eyes II, Men In Black II, Cursed, Zathura, His Name was Jason: 30 years of Friday the 13th (documentary), Predators, and (just announced) will be in the next Friday the 13th … Possibly …

Mearsman had a breakthrough role in the new ‘Friday’ film, with Scott Stoddard creating the new look for Mears’ character Jason Voorhees. Dereks’ height is 6 ft. 5 in., making him one of the tallest actors to ever portray Mr. Voorhees. (Ken Zirzinger is close … Did I ask again? … ) He was nominated for an MTV movie award in the category of best villain for his portrayal of Hockey Mask head. (Heath Ledger got it that year.) And, I think, he’s contracted to return for another ‘Friday’ sequel or another film being made by Platinum Dunes. I’m not sure, but I’m gonna find out.

He recently portrayed a ‘Classic Predator’ in the 2010 sci-fi horror film sequel ‘Predators’ … Yeyeah, looking good in that one D! He appeared in the American Sitcom Community episode “Romantic Expressionism” as the star of the movies “Kick Puncher” and “Kick Puncher II” … Ha Ha Ha … Good stuff.

He is also set to appear in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strange Tides” as an unknown role … (He’s taking over for Johnny Depp … It’s a joke … please don’t come at me with law suits.)

Derek actually found some time in his busy world of avoiding TLV video locations to rap with me and answer a lil’ Q and A with yours truly …

C.C.- I’m just gonna get to the point here Derek … I’ve been learning some martial arts over here for the last 3 days and I know with your background as a stuntman, you’ve had a lot of training. So, I was thinking, the next time I’m in your neck of the woods maybe we could practice some karate in your garage or something? I know you’re well over 6 ft. tall and I’m like 5 something, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough training so far to take you down … Are we cool with this? … Just answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ Derek … And don’t get cocky with me please … Ok …

D.M.- Yes

C.C.- What was it like playing ‘Captain Jack Sparrow’ in that ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie you did?

D.M.- Umm, I think you may have me confused with someone else. I did just film Pirates 4, but …

C.C.- I don’t have anymore questions for you. That’s really all I wanted to ask ya.

D.M.- (Long pause) This is awkward.

C.C.- (Long pause) No … It’s not.

C.C.- Oh wait, is there any way you could explain to us what it’s like playing the role of a sex symbol, such as Jason Voorhees? I mean, it seems the ladies really dig the mongoloid killing spree types lately. Do you see this as a fad?

D.M.- Sex symbol? Jason? I do get some unique emails, but I … Um, fad? Is this interview going well?

C.C. (Long pause) Yes … It is.

C.C.- I actually do have a few more questions I forgot I had that are not on the serious tip. What are your top favorite rock-n-roll bands?  Just off the top of yer head. You know I have to ask.

D.M.- Anything with Mike Patton, let’s see I like Korn, Metallica, Powerman 5000 … (Long pause) … What? … You want me to say The Last Vegas, right? … (pause) … Fine, The Last Vegas.

C.C.- Axe or Machete?

D.M.- AXECHETE

C.C.- Will you be playing Mr. V. again in a sequel? And, if so, can we expect to see a hot pin-up calender for the ladies to go along with it?

D.M.- Part 2 isn’t green lighted yet, so no word if I’m returning.

C.C. As Capt. Jack Sparrow?

D.M. (Long pause.. Then finishes his answer like I never asked) No word if I’m returning as Jason. No word on the pin-up calendar as well. I really should be goin’.

C.C.- Last question. Will you go out drinking with me after I whip you in Karate? I’m pretty sure I will forget my wallet if we do this.

I love being a professional … (Professional what, I don’t know)

Check out Derek in the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie coming soon. And for the Karate match of the century with me. Should be on pay per view never.

So I’m still in the recording studio. “Mega” is all I’ll say at this point. I also just got done filming the video for the next TLV single ‘Apologize’. It will drop in December. I’m starting to feel like a mad scientist … I like that feeling! Do you think Lip Service can make me a lab coat?

Dr. Chad Cherry

<a href=”http://www.thelastvegas.com” target=”_blank”>TheLastVegas.com</a>

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‘Black cats and goblins
and broomsticks and ghosts
Covens of witches
With all of their hosts
You may think they scare me
You’re probably right
Black cats and goblins
On Halloween night!’
-Children’s Rhyme

DAYS ARE SHORT…SHADOWS ARE LONG.
-A Holiday Burning-

Like I said earlier this month, you all are gonna get another dose of Halloween mayhem … And I’m in the mood for some John Carpenter.

“The descent to Avernus is easy; the gate of Pluto stands open night and day; but to retrace one’s steps and return to the upper air, that is the toil, that the difficulty” - Virgil

I’m writing this from being inspired by the original ‘The Halloween’ movies.

Days are short and shadows are long. The earth tilts further on it’s axis and the seasons hang suspended between autumn and winter; when the very light seems to change and colors deepen mysteriously…

You know what it’s like.

The morning sun arcs away across the sky, the afternoon rushes impatiently toward dusk, the cutting edge of darkness like the blade of a sundial pointed and turning under eaves and porches. A time of dampness and slow, flaking rust, of barking dogs that are never seen, of creaking lampposts and pale neon signs, of power lines that crackle as if underwater. Of distant traffic and laughter of children fading behind you and in front of you all at once; of the broken moon drifting like a gauze covered face. Of dripping condensation in chattering drainpipes, of the clutching of wings in the roofs of mouldering garages. Of frost on glass. Of litter dropped in gutters melting into paste, of laundry strung out to dry wilting before it can be folded, of labels bucking from jars in the musty cupboard and of your own white breathing, alone at midnight, glazing the window and then slipping out through the screen to meet the cold steam settling in the flowerbeds below…

It’s October thirty first… It’s very late… Once again, it’s Halloween.

…

The movie Halloween was one of the most successful low-budget horror films ever made and it spawned a whole sub-genre of inferior stalk ‘n’ slash imitations in the late 70′s and 80′s. This film is a staple to this holiday of doom. Set in a small Illinois town, it follows babysitter Laurie Strode as she is menaced by a masked killer, returned home after 15 years in a mental asylum. Director John Carpenter stages the brutal (but pretty bloodless) killings unrelentingly and his psychopathic protagonist, Michael Myers, is finally revealed as a wicked menace ( I still don’t know if he’s supernatural or just unstoppable) during the gripping climax when he keeps miraculously returning from the dead. You know the damn story … And might think it’s stale … But I don’t.

“Nowadays, violence is so commonplace,” agrees Carpenter. ‘It seems so random; it happens all around us, in every place. People seem to be seeking reassurance in the movies. I suppose that the time is over for the kind of movie Halloween is. It’s time to move on, to tell other stories.” … This quote was obviously before Rob Zombie’s outstanding re-make came into play. John’s film, which was originally going to be entitled ‘The Babysitter Murders’, was too powerful to move away from.

“Movies don’t make people kill. It’s life that does it.” - John Carpenter

The Boogyman is gonna get you…

It’s human nature to be fascinated by the horrible and the forbidden. We fear death and dismemberment, we fear pain, insanity and loss, we even fear sexuality, and it’s only by addressing these fears we avoid living in a state of constant trepidation. Horror can speak of such things in a way a more realistic or naturalistic genre can’t.

Horror is a leap of faith and imagination in a world where the subconscious holds dominion, a call to enter a territory where no image or act is so damnable it cannot be explored, kissed and courted; finally – why whisper it? – embrace.

If any time of the year, now is that time … Or if you are like me … Every day is Halloween.

Well, well, well … All is crazy, all is cool, all is shakin’ for this rock-n-roll fool! The Last Vegas are currently in the studio still working the graveyard shift on the music you love to get down to. It’s going to be MASSIVE!!! … Of course.

On top of that, we are also working on a new video for our soon to be released single ‘Apologize’. Stay tuned, stay wicked and stay sexy in your Lip Service style. Ya Dig?

-Chad Cherry- The Prince of Skynrd Punk.

Halloween.

Well, well, well, kiddies. It seems to be that time of year again. The summer is over, the air is a bit cooler, and where I’m at right now the leaves on trees are starting to change their color from green to lively shades of red, orange and yellows before they completely die and fall to the ground. It’s harvest time for 2010. Which means Samhain is coming … The God of Death. HALLOWEEN.

On the last day of October, when the harvest season has ended and the days get shorter and colder, the God Samhain allows the souls of the dead to visit where they once dwelled. For those of you who still think Samhain is just a Glenn Danzig musical act, then good for you! You’re not right, but you are cool for knowing that.

I’m gonna get brainy on ya for a sec … I know you Lip Service junkies love it when I do this … You’re all such smart lil’ fiends!

Historian Nicholas Rogers noted “… some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman Feast of Pomona, the Goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the Dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic Festival of Samhain. Original spelling – Samuin, an old Irish name meaning Summer’s End”.

This festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the “Lighter Half” of the year and the beginning of the “Darker Half”. Samhian is to be believed to border between this world and the otherworld, allowing spirits (not vodka tonics), some harmless and some harmful, to pass through. The good spookies can go home for a few and see who’s been sleeping with their spouse and the bad spookys are there for pain and mayhem. Those bad bitches need to be chased away … How are ya gonna get rid of a bastard spirit? … You wear a costume or a mask, genius! The purpose is to disguise oneself as a harmful spirit, thus avoiding the bullshit a ghost can pull. (I guess bad phantoms are afraid of their own likeness and are pretty fuckin’ stupid … -Note to ghosts- I’m just kidding, please don’t mess up my house or break my fine China … Epp!!)

Samhain is also time to take stock of food supplies and slaughter livestock for winter (In mid-western tongue this means getting fat as hell for the rest of the year.).

Bonfires!!! Fire! Fire! Fire! Uh-huh, uh-huh! A big part of this festival. The bones of the slaughtered livestock (aka Little Debbie Zebra cake wrappers and empty Doritos bags, in clearer terms) were cast into the flames. Bonfires would be built side by side and people and livestock would walk between them as a cleansing ritual. Food and drink we’re also involved. To be more clear, once again, this means cow, corn and P.B.R. … I think … I’m getting off track here.

Anyway! Listen! You have to dress up for Halloween! Or yer screwed with the whole spirit harassment thing. It will mess up your night, trust me I’ve seen it. Halloween costumes are traditionally those of monsters such as vamps, ghosts, skeletons, witches, devils, and aliens etc. This is cool. There are also costumes of pop culture figures like presidents, athletes, celebrities, film, TV and cartoon characters, too. However, these costumes are not cool. They are lame unless you get creative with ‘em. And by creative I mean lots and lots of BLOOD!!! The more morbid the better kiddos.

Really though, for me the true meaning of Halloween is the excuse … I mean … The popular trend for women to wear the most revealing and sexiest costumes ever!!! I want ya to show off more skin until you ladies are socially unacceptable … Which is very acceptable! Thank you so much for this evening called Halloween, sweet Satan.

My costume suggestions … Just for the ladies. Vampirella is a very, very, very good one. And don’t forget Elvira!!!! Bikini beach-time Elvira is nice. She will never not be cool. Can’t wait to see it!

There will be more Halloween madness from Lip Service next month. You’re not gettin’ off that easy punks.

All is ROCKING with The Last Vegas this month. We are in the legendary Groovemaster Studios for the next several months (if not more) conjuring up the wicked music that will make hearts beat to the rhythm of voodoo drums and souls go to the other side of reality with deep hard grooves that will make you feel as sexy as you do when yer wearin’ Lip Service … Or when you’re not.
Loving you freaks all to death, C.Cherry TheLastVegas.com

Jessie: Chad Cherry and I (respectively) have both seen our share of poo and glamor when comes to independent industry. While he is focused mainly in music, we share common ground when it comes to ye olde moving picture. Today we would like share with you some of our experience and (God help us) wisdom from working on sets.

Chad Cherry: Filming a The Last Vegas Music Video

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Chad: Working on music videos is something I’ve been doing since I started playing Rock-n-Roll. If you have a great song, you gotta to have a great video. Or just a bucket full of money to make a crappy song seem cooler then it really is on screen. Entertainment = Smoke and mirrors, so making videos and movies can get extremely expensive. After running around the block a few times, learning the ropes, and spending money on everything and everyone that has nothing to do with the project in the works (“Why did this ripped up black t-shirt cost $300 again?.. And why are there 50 people standing around on the set getting paid to look at boobs and text message their twitter friends?”), you learn fast.

I found the key to any form of good media isn’t just putting a ton of dough into an art form to make it sing. It helps sometimes (most of the time) and depends on what you’re going for, but my point is: If you have the right team that’s on the same page and believes in your vision, well, then you have a leg to stand on. Look at greats such as John Carpenter, who has used most of the same actors in his films, or amazing rock bands who have used the same producer on all their records. They all understand what needs to be done to make it happen. But here’s the bottom line. If your script or song is already amazing, your best weapon will be your imagination.

Some of the best albums and movies have been done on nearly shoe string budgets but have had phenomenal impact. Shunned at first maybe because the ideas of their creators were too ahead of their time. Then the dust settles and you have a cult classic. If you truly believe in what you’re doing, the results will speak for themselves.

This is a subject that is completely in the Nos court (She is the Goddess of Gore ya know kiddies) and I am working my way more towards the evil eye of motion pictures like she does, but I do have some stills from my video shoots from the past. I like it spooky.
We are here for your entertainment … And to scare the living daylights out of you!!! That’s the way you like it.

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Nos: Filming Horror Movies

Nos: The desire to make movies has always been inside of me.

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I’m a very eclectic person and being on a film set tends to fulfill all my artistic interests at once. In my “early years” this enthusiasm got the best of me and I tended to take on more than I should have on sets. But in the end, taking on so much taught me how to really get things done and gave me the confidence I needed to do my own projects. Filmmaking is one of those things you can’t really learn in school … I mean, sure, you can go to a fancy film school and they can teach you technical things, but the real filmmaking comes from the gut. You either have it or you don’t. The only way to find out is to be on set. You’re not going to start out as a famous director, you have to pay dues. This might mean you might do unglamorous work and not get thanked. Even when you reach some level of success, you’re still not guaranteed anything.

At this point you might be thinking, “Fuck this!” or you might be shaking your head thinking that I’m over-exaggerating. But if you’re the type of person who doesn’t scare easy and this is stuff you already know … read on:

If you want to make movies (or model, or write, or make music, or go to the moon) just get off your butt and do it! Seriously! No one is going to do those things for you … and no one is going to “discover” you if you’re sitting in your room eating potato chips and playing video games all day.  None of this is easy but must of it is worth it.

I’ve never once regretted any experience I’ve had on a film set. Believe that sometimes it gets rough … like when you’re shooting outside under what the weather man calls “arctic conditions” or when a lead actor bails 48 hours before a shoot and you’re the one who has to step into his spot. But these are the things that also make it fun! You never know just how something will play out and you have to be quick to think of a solution when it starts to fall apart.

Professionalism also goes a long way, too. You never know who’s connected to who or who’s going to grow and be what … so it’s not in your best interest to act like a twat. You should always seek out the person who knows more than you and learn from them. You’ll grow so much faster that way and impress people with your ability to learn new things. When their next project comes along and needs crew or talent, they’ll always remember the person who was level-headed and receptive on set.

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WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO:

Chad: Summer time rolls and I’m happy to inform you freaks TLV will be in the studio to record a full-length album at the end of August. That’s right, you heard it here first creeps. And you’re not going to believe what we are up to. But you will find out soon …www.thelastvegas.com Oh, and buy some Lip Service clothes… You will look better then you already do… (Ya Right haha)… I didn’t write that… The Devil made me do it.  Chad Cherry XXX

Nos: After a summer out on the road, I’m back at the home base and sorting through a big stack of photos for my website, GoddessOfGoreNos.com I’ve obtained a nifty new wallet AND discovered a theater that plays first run movies for $4.75.  This may be the best end of summer yet …

BRAINS FOR DINNER, BRAINS FOR LUNCH, BRAINS FOR BREAKFAST, BRAINS FOR BRUNCH …

Nos: You can tell you really love something when it goes through a fit of popularity, vomits out a bunch of half assed movies, and you still, STILL want more. This is how I feel about zombie movies. I have no idea why horror trends to the point of ad nauseum…. but it does. Vampires are all the rage now but not all that long ago, zombies ruled both the big and small screen.  This was a mixed blessing that brought both trash and strokes of brilliance to the genre.  Whether you enjoy the new, rapid moving zombies or prefer the classic, slow moving kind … if you have mad love for the sleek Hollywood interpretations or stay loyal to the Italian screen, zombies have an undeniable appeal to them. I think it’s because they’re the most believable out of all the monsters. Something deep down inside of you always knows that you could wake up in the zombie apocalypse any day now. Well that’s how my mind drifts anyway…

Chad Cherry and I have decided to give our lists for the top picks for zombie movies. Romero has been left off our lists because most of his films are a given. We’ll talk more about him towards the end …

Chad: For the most, part Zombies are depicted as mindless, decaying corpses who love eating human flesh. For the record, they like brains in particular. But you should already know this fashion fiends. (To me this sounds like the normal everyday person I see on the streets, just replace the lust of cranium noodle for greed.)

The “Zombie” likeness has been shoved down our throats so much recently, I feel as if the undead are no longer scary. In ’09 Zombies and Vampires became king. But only the candy-coated Disney-esque almost-lovable ones which are safe enough for church and family time in front of the idiot box ( That’s t.v… I still like you idiot box ) …

Fuck that! I’m gonna show you the real deal ugly Zombie movies which will scar you and the kids, the shit Hollywood wants to flush down the toilet!

It’s time to realize these atrocities are neither cute nor funny, and they are not ‘for cryin’ in the night’ sexy. Unless they’re eating your flesh in Lip Service clothing, that is!

READY TO GET BLOODY ON THIS ONE BITCHES?

In the beginning…..

Author, and one of my favorite un-p.c.horror gurus, H.P. Lovecraft wrote of such monsters in novelettes which explored undead themes back in the 1920′s and into the 30′s. Some of his stories portrayed Frankenstein-inspired creeps which helped define the modern concept of the Zombie. (“In the Vault” might have the first recorded character bitten by one.)

W.B. Seabrook’s book “The Magic Island” exposed western culture to the concept of voodoo cults in Haiti resurrecting stiffs in 1929. It’s the book that introduced the word “Zombi” in to U.S. speech. Well alright!!! Enough of those silly things with words and such in ‘em … What are they called again … Reading hankies? Oh! Books! That’s right … You all want MOVIES!

(You will regret this.)

I’ve hit up some of my favorite obvious “Zombie” flicks in previous articles, so I’ll be touchin’ on some which need to be in the spotlight … But honestly … They should be left in the shadows.

Chad’s picks!

WHITE ZOMBIE

1932. Directed by Victor Halperin and starring Bela Lugosi (If you don’t know who Bela is chloroform yourself.), White Zombie is regarded as the first real zombie film ever. It has a voodoo theme three years prior to Seabrook’s book. This is where the blood ball get’s rollin’ and the walking dead start to become movie stars.

EROTIC NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD

1980 by Joe D’Amato. Fucking Italian! Horror, exploitation, eroticism, rip off artist and voyeurism. Porno Zombie Rape! Euuuwww… Good luck finding this one. (While yer lookin’ check for “Porno Holocaust” and the ‘nunsploitation’ “Images in a Covent”) X trash. The music is ridiculously awesome.

ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE

1986 by Jack Braveman. A complete ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000″ flick. (All of these fuckers are.) But the soundtrack: Motorhead, Virgin Steele, Girl School, and one from the ‘glam- metal’ era by Pantera. Jon Miki Thor did the incidental music and plays the Zombie (reasons to not see this). To make up for that, it’s Tia Carrere’s feature film debut. Before she started “Crucial Tawnt” and met Wayne. Ugh.

Mutual Nos & Chad Favorites!

ZOMBI II (A.K.A. ZOMBIE)

1979 by Lucio Fulci.
Nos: This will always be my favorite zombie film and it’s the standard I set all other zombie films by. Unfair? Perhaps … but when it’s the King of all zombie movies, you have to show some respect. One of the more amazing things about this film is the flesh eaters look like they’ve been rotting. Have you seen the poster art? Fucking disgusting and I adore it. There’s even an epic zombie v.s. shark scene and whole lot of creepy Voodoo. Very much worth your time.

Chad: The flick that put Fulci on the map. Conservative British Parliament scorned this puppy. A Zombie actually fights a real tiger shark underwater. Top that shit. Banned in several countries. Another “Video Nasties”. Likey.

BRAINDEAD (A.K.A. DEAD ALIVE)

1992 by Peter Jackson.
Nos: Pre LORD OF THE RINGS crap-fest Peter Jackson is pretty damn cool. This movie is gross and fun to spring on unsuspecting people at a party. A Sumatran monkey/rat gets the party started by taking a bite out of an old woman, who turns into a zombie. Our hero must fight to protect his new found love and his home town.

Chad: All I have to say is that there’s like a 10 minute lawnmower Zombie splatter, and I mean splatter, scene that will never be topped. Fuckin’ knarly! This one will gross out the most liberal horror fan. A true “Splatstick” Hahaha!!!! SHUT UP!

THE BEYOND

1981 by Lucio Fulci.
Nos: Another classic Fulci that takes place in the great state of Louisiana. While this really is more of a ghost story, there are still some incredible zombies populating this film. GRINDHOUSE releasing put out a great DVD of this which I highly recommend you find.

Chad: I’m a sucker for Italians. What can I say? Praise this one for oneiric incoherence. Dreamy and deadly. Love this!

& 

Nos’ Picks!

THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW

By Wes Craven.
Not only is this an amazing zombie film, it’s also my favorite by Mr. Craven. This story takes a very realistic approach to zombies and explores the ties to Haiti where the legend comes from.  This is one of the few films which creeps me out every time I watch it.  Bill Pullman (CASPER) plays an anthropologist in search of a drug used in black magic, which he hope to bring back to the states for profit. What awaits him in Haiti is something truly terrifying.

DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE (A.K.A.CEMETERY MAN)

By Michele Soavi
Rupert Everett stars as Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery keeper who is placed with the task of killing the zombies the rise from the burial ground. A truly beautiful film! I really wish Everett did more horror, he looks dreamy covered in gore…

28 DAYS LATER

By Danny Boyle
Some people make a negative fuss over this movie but honestly I really love it. 28 DAYS is a whole new look at a zombie apocalypse. I like the virus approach to newer zombie films anyway and feel this movie really nailed it. Not in the least bit traditional and alarmingly accurate to how humans would handle such a thing. And while I do prefer my zombies to move at a slower pace, I got to admit that if they moved like they do in this film, we all would be fucked.  If for some reason you missed this a few years ago, check it out!

Chad: There’s a lot of 80s stuff going on there, but I could go on and on and on and … on with Zombie movies that you all love more than Justin Beiber’s swoopy head, (Sorry J.B., I know you are an easy target, I can do better.) but I’m gonna stop this madness right now and give it all up to the master of disaster on this subject. He will be the first to deny this fact but the GodZombieFather of it all is …

George A. Romero

Nos: You could really write volumes on this man’s work alone. While I’m not personally a fan of all “DEAD” movies, most have a special place in my heart. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was one of the first ten horror films I saw and I think I still watch it at least three times a year.  For being made in 1968, this movie has a real 1950’s b-movie feel to it. Take that and combine it with brilliant writing and infuse social commentary and you’ve got yourself the perfect zombie movie, my friend! Romero’s formula for zombies evolves with every new entry. He stays true to the original root but is never afraid to expand and take risks with the world he has created. This man is truly fucking brilliant.

Chad:
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD -1968

THE CRAZIES (still a zombie movie) -1971

DAWN OF THE DEAD -1978

DAY OF THE DEAD -1985

LAND OF THE DEAD -2005

DIARY OF THE DEAD-2008

SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD – 2010

Cheers to you Mr. Romero.

Now, I don’t even wanna think about getting C.C. brain juice on my Lip Service jeans. Cerebral cortex is so messy and can leave such awful stains. I realize the cingulate gyrus and the temporal lobe are some of the tastiest parts, and you really gotta dig deep to get at em’, but come on! … Very hard to get out of the material. So you “Zombies” out there… (I see some of you right now) Back off. Cuz I WILL make ya watch some of these movies that are made about you. And you don’t want that now do you.. Ya rotten bastards….

Well that’s that. I bid you all a good evening and remember one thing about Zombies kiddies …“SHOOT ‘EM MAN!!! … SHOOT ‘EM IN THE HEAD”!!!!

(All views in this article do not reflect on Lip Service … Lip Service does not promote the eradication of the living dead unless they have terrible sense in fashion )

From out of the coffin and into your heart.
-Rock-n-Roll Astro Vampire Zombie TLV Motherf**ker from Hell… (Huh?)
-Chad Cherry XXX
Come see the sexy scary sounds of The Last Vegas… If you dare…You can not hide.. I am everywhere. Mwwuahahaha!!!!
thelastvegas.com

Nos: Well I’ve been on the road most of this summer! My website (Goddessofgorenos.com) has been met with great enthusiasm and I am truly grateful for all the support I’ve been given.  Film project wise, RATLINE is looking better and better each day … I can’t wait to show it off to the world! Till then you can a clip of it up on FEARNET.com

Xo

Nos

Seriously. I’ve come full circle with these damn things…

Just like the “She/He has schizophrenia and the whole ending is part of a delusion” got really old, really fast, remakes don’t have a good track record. At first I was on the fence about them. TEXAS CHAINSAW blew the big one but I really enjoyed HILLS HAVE EYES. Then the onslaught of crap-o-rama came.  Nothing was sacred from big budget remakes and the studios (naturally) didn’t give two shits whether it looked good, made sense, or even had longevity.  They just wanted the profits from opening weekend.

“Oh the injustice!” … “Oh the shame!”

Horror fans around the globe, myself included, bitched up a storm as one by one our favorites got re-cast with WB actors. I boycotted, wrote angry things on forums, and burned promo posters to express my rage at the situation. Then I just sorta got numb to the whole thing. Eventually, I started to see the positives … like the fact that some forgotten treasures found the their way to a special edition DVD because of the remake. I began to calm down and just accept that it’s all part of the landscape.

Then came the “American version” remakes.

Yes, I understand this concept is nothing new. Japanese horror film renditions  for American viewers saw a great surge ten years ago (THE RING, THE GRUDGE). The popular response to these remakes was always “Well I found the original to be much more scary, when I saw it two years ago.” – In this particular situation, I’m gonna have to call people out on a little bit of bull. There is a huge cultural and language difference between America and Japan. It’s not to say their films can’t be scary (Hello, AUDITION)  but pound for pound these films don’t tend to strike a fear chord with us. In these cases I can see why an American version is appealing.

What’s really getting my Irish up are these American versions of French, Spanish, and Italian films … that were made less than five years ago. Long gone are the days of imports, when you had the option to watch a foreign film dubbed in English or (God forbid) in its original language with subtitles in the theater. In this politically correct society, we are much too delicate for horror films (or any film for that matter) which may challenge or disgust us.  So we take a concept and homogenize it to fit our standards. This is both an outrage and a perfect snapshot of today’s America.

Conspiracy? Maybe … but that’s a topic to be explored in another column. Right now I’m just pissed off because the producer from TWILIGHT has a hold of the MARTYRS remake.

IN OTHER NEWS ……

The long awaited Nos website … goddessofgorenos.com  has an official content launch date! That means I’ll be terrorizing the internet with my own brand of sexy in just a few days. It’s different, doesn’t play by the rules, and I’m sure you’ll love it.  - Or you’ll hate it and never talk to me again. Either way it all goes down JULY 1st!

My bestie Ugly Shyla (http://www.uglyart.net/) has been hard at work on new morbid fine art dolls. Check out the latest one on her etsy shop. Ugly’s work is pretty incredible and any fan of horror should own at least ONE of her pieces in their lifetime.

AFTER PARTY MASSACRE has its first trailer up and I’m in it! Wheee! http://www.afterpartymassacre.com/mdf/

XoXo

Nos