The sounds of Lost Themes III are certainly cinematic: the sinister dread of the ominous-title track could soundtrack the opening titles to an ’80s horror flick, while The Dead Walk conjures up a graveyard rave. The song titles themselves (Weeping Ghost, Vampire’s Touch, Dripping Blood) could be a list of B-movie frightfests. But John says he didn’t have a story in mind when creating any of the Lost Themes albums; instead, he insists, the narrative should come from the minds of the listeners themselves.
“They are scores for the movies that you’re playing in your head,” he explains. “If you sit down at night, turn off the lights, and put on one of these albums and start fantasising, that’s what it’s for. So you do the movie directing, I don’t do it anymore – I just provide you with the score for your movie. I’m tired of writing these narratives. I want you to do it now!”
Cody, Daniel and John have worked together on a number of other projects since that first Lost Themes album: in 2017 they released Anthology: Movie Themes 1974–1998, re-recording many of John’s classic horror tunes like Escape From New York and The Fog, and in 2018 the trio scored the latest Halloween film. They also headed out on the road to play a headline tour that saw them performing songs from the Lost Themes albums alongside John Carpenter’s horror classics. After a lifetime of stage-fright, he was petrified by the prospect.
“Being in front of a crowd of people, I’m scared of it,” John admits. “For years I’ve been very stiff. At the first concert I was terrified. But by the second one, I was having a blast; it was so much fun. I started coming up with introductions for the music, trying to make people laugh. After this experience I’m embracing being back onstage. Especially with my son and godson – playing with them is astonishing. I mean, who gets to do that? It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
The veteran composer isn’t sure where he sees his new music fitting in, but he’s happy to have found plenty of fans in the metal world. And when Kerrang! asks if he’s a fan of the heavy stuff himself, he responds warmly.
“Oh yeah, I mean, not every piece of music, but I am a fan. I love Metallica. But you know,” he adds, “my life will be complete if I get endorsed by the Japanese group BABYMETAL. I love them! They’re so fabulous.” We suggest that perhaps a collaboration is in order? “I would love it,” he says. Watch this space…
Lost Themes III: Alive After Death is out February 5 via Sacred Bones.
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