Neca has been turning the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles into classic Universal Monsters for a mashup toy line, and the latest figure in the line has been revealed this week.
Shown off with an official image gallery (below), the next release in Neca’s Universal Monsters x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure line is Raphael as the Wolf Man!
Neca previews, “This continuing line pays tribute to the world’s most famous turtles and Universal’s icons of horror. This 7” scale action figure reimagines Raphael as the tragically doomed Wolf Man, and he’s packed with accessories. This fully articulated figure includes two sais that fit into his belt (one of which is styled after the movie’s wolf head cane), two interchangeable heads, swappable hands, and animal trap. Comes in collector-friendly window box packaging with opening flap featuring an all-new illustration by Daniel Horne.”
The figure is now shipping to select retailers,...
Shown off with an official image gallery (below), the next release in Neca’s Universal Monsters x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure line is Raphael as the Wolf Man!
Neca previews, “This continuing line pays tribute to the world’s most famous turtles and Universal’s icons of horror. This 7” scale action figure reimagines Raphael as the tragically doomed Wolf Man, and he’s packed with accessories. This fully articulated figure includes two sais that fit into his belt (one of which is styled after the movie’s wolf head cane), two interchangeable heads, swappable hands, and animal trap. Comes in collector-friendly window box packaging with opening flap featuring an all-new illustration by Daniel Horne.”
The figure is now shipping to select retailers,...
- 1/25/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Like most movies, The Invisible Man travelled a long and winding road to the silver screen, and perhaps longer and more winding than most. As biographer James Curtis put it in his book James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters, “The gestation of The Invisible Man was the lengthiest and most convoluted of all of James Whale’s films. It involved four directors, nine writers, six treatments, and ten separate screenplays—all for a film that emerged very much in harmony with the book on which it was based.” It was first suggested as a possible follow-up to Dracula (1931), perhaps as a vehicle for new star Bela Lugosi, but was dropped in favor of Frankenstein (1931) due to the complicated special effects it would require. After Frankenstein was an even bigger success, both director James Whale and star Boris Karloff were immediately attached to The Invisible Man and several...
- 12/21/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
One of this year’s home video highlights for the Halloween season was supposed to be a brand new Universal Monsters Limited Edition 4K set, originally set for release Today.
Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon, however, that the set will no longer be releasing in time for Halloween 2023. In fact, the 4K set has been bumped all the way to 2024.
Universal explains, “Due to an unexpected packaging issue, the originally planned October 3, 2023 release of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s upcoming 4K collectible box set of the “Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection” is moving to February 13, 2024. We appreciate your patience and are very sorry for the inconvenience.”
From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters and this upcoming collection showcases 8 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man,...
Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon, however, that the set will no longer be releasing in time for Halloween 2023. In fact, the 4K set has been bumped all the way to 2024.
Universal explains, “Due to an unexpected packaging issue, the originally planned October 3, 2023 release of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s upcoming 4K collectible box set of the “Universal Classic Monsters Limited Edition Collection” is moving to February 13, 2024. We appreciate your patience and are very sorry for the inconvenience.”
From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters and this upcoming collection showcases 8 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man,...
- 10/3/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Halloween Horror Nights is now open select nights at both Universal Studios Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood, and both parks are serving up spooky treats this year.
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to indulge in tempting horror-inspired cuisine inspired by the event with specialty items based on “Stranger Things 4,” “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” “The Last of Us” and Dia de los Muertos.
Fans of “Stranger Things” can frequent several venues inspired by the hit series, including the Surfer Boy Pizza shop to enjoy such pizzas as the Try Before You Deny, plus Pineapple Buffalo Wings and a decadent Hellfire Pop dessert.
Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor serves refreshingly sweet treats, including Eleven’s Waffle Sundae and the Upside Down World Milkshake.
The “Stranger Things 4” theming continues at the new ‘80’s themed Stellar Bar, located adjacent to “Jurassic World—The Ride,” where guests are invited to step...
Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood invites guests to indulge in tempting horror-inspired cuisine inspired by the event with specialty items based on “Stranger Things 4,” “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” “The Last of Us” and Dia de los Muertos.
Fans of “Stranger Things” can frequent several venues inspired by the hit series, including the Surfer Boy Pizza shop to enjoy such pizzas as the Try Before You Deny, plus Pineapple Buffalo Wings and a decadent Hellfire Pop dessert.
Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor serves refreshingly sweet treats, including Eleven’s Waffle Sundae and the Upside Down World Milkshake.
The “Stranger Things 4” theming continues at the new ‘80’s themed Stellar Bar, located adjacent to “Jurassic World—The Ride,” where guests are invited to step...
- 9/26/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Halloween Horror Nights makes its return to Universal Studios this month in both Hollywood and Orlando, and Bloody Disgusting’s Vanessa Decker and Elwood Walker took an early tour of two of the most anticipated attractions in Hollywood. First up, a brand new Chucky maze inspired by the hit tv series & past installments of the iconic franchise.
Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count casts the killer doll as the star of his very own haunted house for the first time. A true sadistic killer, Chucky has been mired in the agony of disrespect he feels from his peers at not being taken seriously. Thus begins his quest to turn his haunted house into a living slaughterhouse by killing every person who enters.
Creative director John Murdy says that this is “the most ambitious house in Horror Nights history,” featuring over 17 different Chucky animatronics that can talk, run, and most importantly, kill. The...
Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count casts the killer doll as the star of his very own haunted house for the first time. A true sadistic killer, Chucky has been mired in the agony of disrespect he feels from his peers at not being taken seriously. Thus begins his quest to turn his haunted house into a living slaughterhouse by killing every person who enters.
Creative director John Murdy says that this is “the most ambitious house in Horror Nights history,” featuring over 17 different Chucky animatronics that can talk, run, and most importantly, kill. The...
- 9/1/2023
- by Bloody Disgusting Staff
- bloody-disgusting.com
Acclaimed horror production company Blumhouse is bringing two new live entertainment experiences – “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” and “Blumhouse: Behind the Screams” – inspired by some of its blockbuster films, to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon.
It’s been a decade since The Purge first declared all crime legal for 12 hours as part of the government’s annually sanctioned Purge and an iconic horror franchise was born. Now, for the first time, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” takes the blockbuster film franchise into an entirely new environment…open waters, in an all-new live show.
It’s a race against time when a politician and his entourage escape to an island to avoid The Purge. Sanctuary is fleeting when the island is quickly overrun by Purgers and the hunt is on. Located in the WaterWorld venue and featuring adrenaline-filled action sequences, stunts, spectacular lighting and laser effects,...
It’s been a decade since The Purge first declared all crime legal for 12 hours as part of the government’s annually sanctioned Purge and an iconic horror franchise was born. Now, for the first time, “The Purge: Dangerous Waters” takes the blockbuster film franchise into an entirely new environment…open waters, in an all-new live show.
It’s a race against time when a politician and his entourage escape to an island to avoid The Purge. Sanctuary is fleeting when the island is quickly overrun by Purgers and the hunt is on. Located in the WaterWorld venue and featuring adrenaline-filled action sequences, stunts, spectacular lighting and laser effects,...
- 8/31/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Prime Video has unveiled a teaser trailer for their upcoming series Wilderness, which has been described as a “twisted love story” and stars Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Invisible Man). Check it out in the embed above! Along with this trailer comes the announcement that Wilderness will premiere on the Prime Video streaming service on September 15th.
Written and created by Marnie Dickens, Wilderness is based on a novel by B.E. Jones (pick up a copy Here). The story centers on British couple Liv (Coleman) and Will (Jackson-Cohen) who seem to have it all: a rock-solid marriage; a glamorous new life in New York thousands of miles from their provincial hometown; and still young enough to feel that their whole lives are ahead of them. Until Liv learns about Will’s affair. Heartbreak is swiftly followed by another emotion: fury. Revenge is her only option, and when...
Written and created by Marnie Dickens, Wilderness is based on a novel by B.E. Jones (pick up a copy Here). The story centers on British couple Liv (Coleman) and Will (Jackson-Cohen) who seem to have it all: a rock-solid marriage; a glamorous new life in New York thousands of miles from their provincial hometown; and still young enough to feel that their whole lives are ahead of them. Until Liv learns about Will’s affair. Heartbreak is swiftly followed by another emotion: fury. Revenge is her only option, and when...
- 8/23/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
While the temperature in Los Angeles is still stiflingly hot, autumn is (theoretically) just around the corner and Universal Studios Hollywood has announced the full lineup for its annual Halloween Horror Nights event, which is always one of the season’s must-do activities.
And this year is no different, with a collection of hair-raising haunted houses inspired by some of your favorite movies and TV shows, including a just-announced “Evil Dead Rise”-inspired house, and a terrifying new overlay to the studio tour.
This year Universal Studios Hollywood lineup includes eight houses and the terror tram, described thusly:
“The Last of Us” engrosses guests in a struggle to survive against fearsome Clickers, Bloaters, and more from Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning video game.
“Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana, where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series.
“The Exorcist: Believer...
And this year is no different, with a collection of hair-raising haunted houses inspired by some of your favorite movies and TV shows, including a just-announced “Evil Dead Rise”-inspired house, and a terrifying new overlay to the studio tour.
This year Universal Studios Hollywood lineup includes eight houses and the terror tram, described thusly:
“The Last of Us” engrosses guests in a struggle to survive against fearsome Clickers, Bloaters, and more from Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning video game.
“Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana, where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series.
“The Exorcist: Believer...
- 8/9/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
This year’s gruesome box office hit Evil Dead Rise is headed to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood with a house based on the Lee Cronin-directed movie, Bd has learned today.
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2023 will also include attractions based on The Exorcist: Believer, “Stranger Things 4,” and Don Mancini’s “Chucky” television series.
Here’s the full lineup for this year’s Universal Hollywood event…
“The Last of Us” engrosses guests in a struggle to survive against fearsome Clickers, Bloaters, and more from Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning video game. “Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series. “The Exorcist: Believer” invites visitors into a terrifying new beginning in horror, as two families battle a sinister demonic force that has possessed their young daughters. “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters...
Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood 2023 will also include attractions based on The Exorcist: Believer, “Stranger Things 4,” and Don Mancini’s “Chucky” television series.
Here’s the full lineup for this year’s Universal Hollywood event…
“The Last of Us” engrosses guests in a struggle to survive against fearsome Clickers, Bloaters, and more from Naughty Dog and PlayStation’s award-winning video game. “Stranger Things 4” transports guests to Hawkins, Indiana where they will face off against the evil Vecna in the fourth season of Netflix’s original series. “The Exorcist: Believer” invites visitors into a terrifying new beginning in horror, as two families battle a sinister demonic force that has possessed their young daughters. “Universal Monsters: Unmasked” expands on the Universal Monsters...
- 8/9/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights event will be returning to the Universal Orlando Resort on September 1st, and the festivities will begin at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 7th. A couple months ago, we heard that haunted houses based on The Last of Us will be added to both theme parks this year, and soon after it was revealed that a haunted house inspired by season 4 of Stranger Things will also be in the mix. Now Universal has announced several more attractions that will be part of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights – including haunted houses inspired by the killer doll Chucky, the Universal Monsters, and the new Exorcist sequel The Exorcist: Believer, which is set to reach theatres on October 13th!
Here’s a bit more information on each of the new haunted houses, as reported by Fangoria.
The Exorcist: Believer – In this new chapter, guests will be transported...
Here’s a bit more information on each of the new haunted houses, as reported by Fangoria.
The Exorcist: Believer – In this new chapter, guests will be transported...
- 8/1/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Halloween Horror Nights is adding The Exorcist and Chucky to its terrifying lineup of 2023 houses.
Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood attendees will have the chance to experience the scares of three new houses — The Exorcist: Believer, Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count and Universal Monsters: Unmasked — when the annual event kicks off in September.
The Exorcist: Believer is inspired not by the original 1973 film, which still ranks as one of the most terrifying films ever made, but by Universal Pictures’ new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment. The house will transport guests to a busy Haiti street market, where a strange folk doll with three eyes helps open a demonic portal. What follows is an “awakening of sinister spirits,” according to Universal Parks, along with the disappearances of two 12-year-old girls who are found three days later. Despite having no memory of what happened, they exhibit unsettling behavior...
Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood attendees will have the chance to experience the scares of three new houses — The Exorcist: Believer, Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count and Universal Monsters: Unmasked — when the annual event kicks off in September.
The Exorcist: Believer is inspired not by the original 1973 film, which still ranks as one of the most terrifying films ever made, but by Universal Pictures’ new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment. The house will transport guests to a busy Haiti street market, where a strange folk doll with three eyes helps open a demonic portal. What follows is an “awakening of sinister spirits,” according to Universal Parks, along with the disappearances of two 12-year-old girls who are found three days later. Despite having no memory of what happened, they exhibit unsettling behavior...
- 7/28/2023
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ Possesses Halloween Horror Nights With Its Own Haunted Attraction This Year
While you wait for the movie in October, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that The Exorcist: Believer is getting its own Halloween Horror Nights attraction this year.
The countdown begins for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood as the destinations have just announced additional all-new terrifying haunted houses, including “The Exorcist: Believer,” inspired by the new Universal Pictures film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment, “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” based on the popular USA & Syfy series, and “Universal Monsters: Unmasked,” inspired by Universal’s legacy of iconic cinematic monsters.
The terror kicks off at Universal Orlando Resort on Friday, September 1 and at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 7. Below is a sneak peek at what to expect:
The Exorcist: Believer
Inspired by Universal Pictures’ terrifying new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment (in theaters Friday, October 13), “The Exorcist: Believer” haunted house will...
The countdown begins for Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood as the destinations have just announced additional all-new terrifying haunted houses, including “The Exorcist: Believer,” inspired by the new Universal Pictures film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment, “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” based on the popular USA & Syfy series, and “Universal Monsters: Unmasked,” inspired by Universal’s legacy of iconic cinematic monsters.
The terror kicks off at Universal Orlando Resort on Friday, September 1 and at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 7. Below is a sneak peek at what to expect:
The Exorcist: Believer
Inspired by Universal Pictures’ terrifying new horror film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment (in theaters Friday, October 13), “The Exorcist: Believer” haunted house will...
- 7/28/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Announced this week, Neca’s incredible line of Universal Monsters action figures is getting a new arrival with the addition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon later this year.
Neca previews, “The debut of Universal’s 1954 film The Creature from the Black Lagoon took audiences deep into the Amazon! This 7” scale Ultimate action figure depicts the mysterious and terrifying Creature in extraordinary detail.”
The upcoming figure comes with three extra pairs of hands, and three interchangeable head sculpts. As always, it’ll be housed in display-friendly window box packaging.
In the 1954 classic, “A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.”
You can expect Neca’s Creature in August 2023. The figure serves as a wonderful tribute piece to Creature performer Ricou Browning, who passed away earlier this year.
Preview the upcoming action figure below…...
Neca previews, “The debut of Universal’s 1954 film The Creature from the Black Lagoon took audiences deep into the Amazon! This 7” scale Ultimate action figure depicts the mysterious and terrifying Creature in extraordinary detail.”
The upcoming figure comes with three extra pairs of hands, and three interchangeable head sculpts. As always, it’ll be housed in display-friendly window box packaging.
In the 1954 classic, “A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.”
You can expect Neca’s Creature in August 2023. The figure serves as a wonderful tribute piece to Creature performer Ricou Browning, who passed away earlier this year.
Preview the upcoming action figure below…...
- 3/22/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
If you were paying attention to James Gunn and Peter Safran's presentation about the future of DC superhero movies, you may have noticed that something sounded familiar.
No, it's not the fact that we're getting new versions of movies we've already seen before, like Superman and Batman and Swamp Thing. And no, we're not even talking about how it's yet another series of gigantic promises about an interconnected universe in a modern pop culture environment that eats almost all of those up and spits them out.
In addition to all the tantalizing, puzzling, and just plain weird news about the future of DC superhero movies, there was also a curious choice for a title. This first chapter of Gunn and Safran's interconnected universe will be called "Gods and Monsters," and that's a very specific title with a very specific history connected to it.
A history that goes all the way back to,...
No, it's not the fact that we're getting new versions of movies we've already seen before, like Superman and Batman and Swamp Thing. And no, we're not even talking about how it's yet another series of gigantic promises about an interconnected universe in a modern pop culture environment that eats almost all of those up and spits them out.
In addition to all the tantalizing, puzzling, and just plain weird news about the future of DC superhero movies, there was also a curious choice for a title. This first chapter of Gunn and Safran's interconnected universe will be called "Gods and Monsters," and that's a very specific title with a very specific history connected to it.
A history that goes all the way back to,...
- 2/2/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
When Harry Styles left the U.K. boy band One Direction he was eager to prove his musical ambition and historical knowledge. His debut 2017 single was the brazenly enormous Bowie/Queen-style ballad “Sign of the Times.” An artist in his position could’ve come off as insecure or overreaching, but Styles has relaxed with winning ease into his role as a gender-fluid, genre-fluid megastar, a new-look rock & roll gentleman who can flip from guitar raunch to soul to soft rock and convincingly pull off a come-on like “I know that...
- 5/16/2022
- by Jon Dolan
- Rollingstone.com
Back in 2016, as the snappy, swooping “Lake by the Ocean” was blanketing R&b radio, Maxwell was already thinking about the end of a long-gestating album trilogy that started in 2009. He had just released the second part, blackSUMMERS’night, and he was daydreaming aloud about following it quickly with part three, blacksummers’Night. “Then I’ll be free,” he joked. Free to start a new trilogy, perhaps. “I can have PURPLEwinterafternoon!”
That vision is now hardening into a reality — with the possible exception of PURPLEwinterafternoon — in more ways than one.
That vision is now hardening into a reality — with the possible exception of PURPLEwinterafternoon — in more ways than one.
- 11/16/2021
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
Michael Jackson’s video for “Thriller” was released nearly 40 years ago, on December 2nd, 1983. Director John Landis (The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London) extended the track — the seventh and final single released from the Thriller album — into a nearly 14-minute-long musical horror film, letting Michael indulge his monster-movie fantasies.
“Thriller” got saturation play on MTV and has been seen more than 149 million times on YouTube. Here’s 12 things you might not have realized the first time, or the 200th time, you watched it.
1. All “Thriller,” Some Filler
The...
“Thriller” got saturation play on MTV and has been seen more than 149 million times on YouTube. Here’s 12 things you might not have realized the first time, or the 200th time, you watched it.
1. All “Thriller,” Some Filler
The...
- 11/30/2020
- by Gavin Edwards
- Rollingstone.com
Bruce Swedien, the celebrated audio engineer and producer who worked on records by Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Donna Summer, Duke Ellington, Paul McCartney and many more, died Tuesday at the age of 86.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
Swedien’s daughter, the musician Roberta Swedien, confirmed his death on Facebook, writing, “A legend in the music industry for over 65 years and five-time Grammy winner, he was known for his work with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and many more. He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage. We will celebrate that life.
- 11/18/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
In 1989, Quincy Jones had already amassed one of the most enviable discographies in pop history, playing, writing, arranging, or producing for Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Lesley Gore, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Patti Austin, and Michael Jackson.
But the legendary polymath still had more to do — Jones set out to create an album that “represents everything I have worked for after 40 years,” according to The Billboard Book of Number One R&b Hits. That turned into Back on the Block, which spawned one of the last hits in Jones’ hit-filled...
But the legendary polymath still had more to do — Jones set out to create an album that “represents everything I have worked for after 40 years,” according to The Billboard Book of Number One R&b Hits. That turned into Back on the Block, which spawned one of the last hits in Jones’ hit-filled...
- 8/20/2020
- by Elias Leight
- Rollingstone.com
This article marks Part 18 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the winners.
The 1985 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:
“The Power of Love” from “Back to the Future”
“Surprise, Surprise” from “A Chorus Line”
“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)” from “The Color Purple”
“Say You, Say Me” from “White Nights”
“Separate Lives” from “White Nights”
Won: “Say You, Say Me” from “White Nights”
Should’ve won: “Separate Lives” from “White Nights”
If 1984 is a merely frustrating year of Best Original Song at the Oscars – given the lack of “Purple Rain” love and Stevie Wonder having defeated four marvelous songs with a decidedly inferior track – 1985 is a flat-out aggravating affair, a year featuring not one or two but five ho-hom pieces,...
The 1985 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:
“The Power of Love” from “Back to the Future”
“Surprise, Surprise” from “A Chorus Line”
“Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)” from “The Color Purple”
“Say You, Say Me” from “White Nights”
“Separate Lives” from “White Nights”
Won: “Say You, Say Me” from “White Nights”
Should’ve won: “Separate Lives” from “White Nights”
If 1984 is a merely frustrating year of Best Original Song at the Oscars – given the lack of “Purple Rain” love and Stevie Wonder having defeated four marvelous songs with a decidedly inferior track – 1985 is a flat-out aggravating affair, a year featuring not one or two but five ho-hom pieces,...
- 12/29/2018
- by Andrew Carden
- Gold Derby
Aretha Franklin, who died on August 16th at age 76, recorded more than 40 full-length albums in her six-decade career. It’s a deep catalog, crowded with indisputable classics and hidden gems. Rolling Stone’s music staff is paying its R.E.S.P.E.C.T.s to the Queen with tributes to our favorite Aretha LPs. Next up: David Browne on Aretha’s glide into the synth-happy 1980s.
The early ’80s and the dawn of the MTV takeover weren’t always kind to singers and bands from the previous two decades,...
The early ’80s and the dawn of the MTV takeover weren’t always kind to singers and bands from the previous two decades,...
- 8/18/2018
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Rod Temperton, the songwriter who penned Michael Jackson hit “Thriller,” died last week. He was 66. Rod Temperton Dies Temperton died last week in London following “a brief aggressive battle with cancer,” Warner/Chappell music publishing’s Jon Platt told the BBC. “His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times.” […]
The post Rod Temperton, ‘Thriller’ Songwriter, Dies At 66 appeared first on uInterview.
The post Rod Temperton, ‘Thriller’ Songwriter, Dies At 66 appeared first on uInterview.
- 10/6/2016
- by Chelsea Regan
- Uinterview
Rod Temperton, pop music’s “invisible man” behind a string of influential and highly successful songs in the 1970s and 80s, including Michael Jackson’s hit “Thriller”, and who was nominated for two Academy Awards in 1986 for his work alongside Quincy Jones on The Color Purple soundtrack and score, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 66. Temperton’s impact in the sound and texture of popular music during his peak years was enormous, matched only by artists like…...
- 10/5/2016
- Deadline
It’s a sad day for anyone who loved Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as the BBC is reporting that the song’s writer, Rod Temperton, has passed on at age 66 after a brief but aggressive battle with cancer. If the 80s are remembered for… Continue Reading →
The post Rest in Peace: Thriller Composer Rod Temperton appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Rest in Peace: Thriller Composer Rod Temperton appeared first on Dread Central.
- 10/5/2016
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Rod Temperton, the songwriter best known for writing Michael Jackson’s hits “Thriller” and “Rock With You,” has died. He was 66. Jon Platt, the chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell, told BBC that Temperton died in London last week after “a brief aggressive battle with cancer.” Temperton’s other writing credits include Jackson’s “Off The Wall” and “Baby Be Mine,” as well as “Boogie Nights” for his band Heatwave. Also Read: Agnes Nixon, 'All My Children' Creator, Dies at 88 “His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times,” Platt added. Chic...
- 10/5/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Rod Temperton, the songwriter behind several of Michael Jackson's hits, including "Thriller" ... has died after a brief battle with cancer. The chairman of Warner/Chappell made the announcement Wednesday morning ... though it appears Temperton died days earlier. His family has already had his funeral. "Thriller" producer Quincy Jones brought in Temperton to write or co-write "Thriller," "Baby Be Mine" and "The Lady in My Life." He also penned "Off The Wall" and "Rock With You" for Mj.
- 10/5/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Michael Jackson made bigger records than Off the Wall, but he arguably never made a better one — the album's masterful fusion of funk, disco, pop and Quiet Storm R&B captures the singer at his most effervescent. A deluxe edition of the record arrives February 26th, accompanied by a new documentary, Michael Jackson's Journey From Motown to Off the Wall, helmed by Spike Lee, who also directed a movie about the 25th anniversary of Bad. From Motown to Off the Wall premiered at Sundance in January, and it airs on Showtime February 5th.
- 2/5/2016
- Rollingstone.com
By Anjelica Oswald
Managing Editor
From the 79 original songs on the Oscar shortlist, five were nominated a week ago on Jan. 15: “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie, “Glory” from Selma, “Grateful” from Beyond the Lights, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me and “Lost Stars” from Begin Again.
Following a recent trend, none of the nominees have made it to the top of the BIllboard Hot 100 chart, which tracks the success of singles by looking at radio play, online streaming and sales.
Following the announcement of the nominations, “Glory” made its debut at No. 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated Jan. 31 and is currently No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
When “Everything Was Awesome” debuted in January 2014, the song debuted at No. 7 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart and peaked at No. 57 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
“Lost Stars...
Managing Editor
From the 79 original songs on the Oscar shortlist, five were nominated a week ago on Jan. 15: “Everything Is Awesome” from The Lego Movie, “Glory” from Selma, “Grateful” from Beyond the Lights, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” from Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me and “Lost Stars” from Begin Again.
Following a recent trend, none of the nominees have made it to the top of the BIllboard Hot 100 chart, which tracks the success of singles by looking at radio play, online streaming and sales.
Following the announcement of the nominations, “Glory” made its debut at No. 25 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated Jan. 31 and is currently No. 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
When “Everything Was Awesome” debuted in January 2014, the song debuted at No. 7 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart and peaked at No. 57 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
“Lost Stars...
- 1/22/2015
- by Anjelica Oswald
- Scott Feinberg
1967
Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing at Baxter's (RCA)
This was the Airplane's second LP of 1967, and on it they took the studio freedom their two huge hit singles had earned them and went wild and unsupervised, making a real psychedelic album rather than the carefully contrived simulation of psychedelia that had been Surrealistic Pillow. The result had more avant-garde weirdness than hit singles (RCA had unrealistic hopes for "Watch Her Ride"), but the album actually coheres far better; for all the stylistic disjunctions and studio effects and Jorma Kaukonen's often-abrasive guitar sounds, and for that matter the nine-minute instrumental trio improvisation "Spare Chaynge," it flows organically, creating its own logic.
Cream: Disraeli Gears (I'm not even a Cream fan and I still have to acknowledge the brilliance of "Strange Brew," "Sunshine of Your Love," "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and "Swlabr")
Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed (early blast of prog-rock,...
Jefferson Airplane: After Bathing at Baxter's (RCA)
This was the Airplane's second LP of 1967, and on it they took the studio freedom their two huge hit singles had earned them and went wild and unsupervised, making a real psychedelic album rather than the carefully contrived simulation of psychedelia that had been Surrealistic Pillow. The result had more avant-garde weirdness than hit singles (RCA had unrealistic hopes for "Watch Her Ride"), but the album actually coheres far better; for all the stylistic disjunctions and studio effects and Jorma Kaukonen's often-abrasive guitar sounds, and for that matter the nine-minute instrumental trio improvisation "Spare Chaynge," it flows organically, creating its own logic.
Cream: Disraeli Gears (I'm not even a Cream fan and I still have to acknowledge the brilliance of "Strange Brew," "Sunshine of Your Love," "Tales of Brave Ulysses," and "Swlabr")
Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed (early blast of prog-rock,...
- 12/1/2012
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
New York (AP) — Elvis Costello, B.B. King and Ray Davies are among the nominees for the 2013 Songwriters Hall of Fame. They're joined by a slew of top acts, including Jimmy Buffett, Vince Gill and Rod Temperton, who wrote Michael Jackson's "Thriller," ''Rock With You" and "Off the Wall." Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press a list of nominees in advance of the official announcement, set for Oct. 16. The gala takes place June 13 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Also nominated are Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, former Eurythmics bandmates Annie Lennox and Dave...
- 10/11/2012
- by Mesfin Fekadu (AP)
- Hitfix
This Is It director Kenny Ortega to shoot new film based on groundbreaking Thriller video and song
Hollywood studios are set to fight it out for the chance to produce a new film based on Michael Jackson's groundbreaking Thriller video and song. Kenny Ortega, the High School Musical director who oversaw plans for Jackson's ill-fated comeback tour and the film that chronicled rehearsals for it, This Is It, is in line to take charge of the cameras.
Thriller's famous video, in which Jackson leads a horde of zombies in a frenetic, deathly dance, was famously shot by John Landis, who had perfected the special effects work on his Oscar-winning 1982 horror An American Werewolf in London a year earlier. Jackson had become enraptured by the film and engaged Landis to shoot a 14-minute promo, which is often considered the greatest pop music video of all time. It is also...
Hollywood studios are set to fight it out for the chance to produce a new film based on Michael Jackson's groundbreaking Thriller video and song. Kenny Ortega, the High School Musical director who oversaw plans for Jackson's ill-fated comeback tour and the film that chronicled rehearsals for it, This Is It, is in line to take charge of the cameras.
Thriller's famous video, in which Jackson leads a horde of zombies in a frenetic, deathly dance, was famously shot by John Landis, who had perfected the special effects work on his Oscar-winning 1982 horror An American Werewolf in London a year earlier. Jackson had become enraptured by the film and engaged Landis to shoot a 14-minute promo, which is often considered the greatest pop music video of all time. It is also...
- 10/27/2010
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Michael Jackson became the top-earning dead celebrity by taking in $275 million over the past year, but the money-making isn't about to slow down. Deadline is reporting that Real Effects Entertainment has been shopping a film based on Jackson's "Thriller" song with Kenny Ortega (This Is It, High School Musical) attached to direct. Gk Films (The Town, Edge of Darkness) is currently in active negotiations to acquire the package. The plot is being kept a secret, but the film will have a budget of under $50 million and include the help of "Thriller" songwriter Rod Temperton. Jeremy Garelick (The Break-Up) will write the screenplay. "Thriller" Music Video:...
- 10/27/2010
- WorstPreviews.com
Exclusive: Michael Jackson, who reportedly earned $275 million posthumously over the past year for his estate, isn't slowing down anytime soon. I'm told that Gk Films is in active negotiations to acquire a package for a film that is being fashioned around his groundbreaking hit song Thriller. The film, which has been quietly shopped over the past several weeks by Real Effects Entertainment, has Kenny Ortega attached to direct, and The Hangover scribe Jeremy Garelick to write the screenplay. While Gk is in the driver's seat, I'm told that Fox 2000, Mandate/Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment are all in the mix on what will shape up as a pricey rights deal, but which will turn out to be a film budgeted at under $50 million. Plot is being kept under wraps but I understand it has to do with the song's folklore, involving Vincent Price and the town he grew up in. All...
- 10/26/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Messages written on Post-it notes and pieces of paper have reportedly been found in Michael Jackson's bathroom. Two of the notes served as reminders for the late singer, one ensuring that he didn’t forget to perform 'We Are The World' on stage and the other prompting him to ring Rod Temperton, who co-wrote songs including 'Thriller' with him. A source told the News of the World:"It's worrying that he had to write reminders about things as obvious as these while he was rehearsing for his tour. And he would have had Dr Thome's number in his phone - so why would he need the card? "But the drugs he was taking obviously had a huge impact on his mind and memory." Friends (more)...
- 9/13/2009
- by By Anisa Kadri
- Digital Spy
Only two of Michael Jackson's tunes won the Grammy for record of the year ("Beat It," "We Are the World") and he only, technically, received the trophy for one of them ("Beat It – the prize for "We Are the World" went to USA for Africa). Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie shared the Grammy for best song (bestowed to the songwriter; best record goes to the recording artist) for "We Are the World." Those were his only top Grammys for individual tunes. Did the Grammys get it right? Is either "Beat It" or "We Are the World" Jackson's greatest song, or does another one beat them? Not included among choices below are songs Michael Jackson didn't write: "I'll Be There" (Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch), "Man in the Mirror" (Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett), "Rock With You" (Rod Temperton), "She's Out of My Life" (Tom Bahler), "Thriller" (Rod Temperton...
- 7/8/2009
- by tomoneil
- Gold Derby
Part 2 of 5: Off the Wall establishes Jackson as a solo star.
By James Montgomery
Michael Jackson performs on the Destiny tour in 1979
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
In 1978, Michael Jackson was known primarily for being "the cute one" in the Jackson 5. He had released four solo albums, scored a #1 solo hit ('72's "Ben," from the film of the same name) and had just left his longtime home — Motown Records — for a new deal with Epic Records. He wasn't yet the King of Pop — he was barely even a prince. Rather, he was a child star trying to make the leap from precocious to profound — a leap that most can't pull off.
Still, Jackson had a better shot than many. In '78, he starred as the Scarecrow in "The Wiz," a big-budget retelling of "The Wizard of Oz." The film, starring Diana Ross and Richard Pryor, was unsuccessful,...
By James Montgomery
Michael Jackson performs on the Destiny tour in 1979
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
In 1978, Michael Jackson was known primarily for being "the cute one" in the Jackson 5. He had released four solo albums, scored a #1 solo hit ('72's "Ben," from the film of the same name) and had just left his longtime home — Motown Records — for a new deal with Epic Records. He wasn't yet the King of Pop — he was barely even a prince. Rather, he was a child star trying to make the leap from precocious to profound — a leap that most can't pull off.
Still, Jackson had a better shot than many. In '78, he starred as the Scarecrow in "The Wiz," a big-budget retelling of "The Wizard of Oz." The film, starring Diana Ross and Richard Pryor, was unsuccessful,...
- 7/6/2009
- MTV Music News
Legendary producer worked with Mj on Off the Wall, Thriller.
By Eric Ditzian
Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in 2001
Photo: Kevin Kane/WireImage
Of all the artists, producers, entertainers and celebrities who have paid tribute to Michael Jackson since his death on Thursday, perhaps the person who knows his music best is the man who launched his career as the King of Pop: Quincy Jones.
Starting with Jackson's 1979 album, Off the Wall, Jones became the singer's longtime producer, and in a revealing, intimate blog post for the Los Angeles Times, Jones wrote about Jackson's dedication to his craft, their work in the studio and how an unlikely collaboration on the set of a big-screen musical led to one of the most successful creative partnerships in pop music history.
"In 1978, [director] Sidney Lumet pulled me kicking and screaming into doing the music for 'The Wiz,' and in hindsight I'm so glad he did,...
By Eric Ditzian
Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in 2001
Photo: Kevin Kane/WireImage
Of all the artists, producers, entertainers and celebrities who have paid tribute to Michael Jackson since his death on Thursday, perhaps the person who knows his music best is the man who launched his career as the King of Pop: Quincy Jones.
Starting with Jackson's 1979 album, Off the Wall, Jones became the singer's longtime producer, and in a revealing, intimate blog post for the Los Angeles Times, Jones wrote about Jackson's dedication to his craft, their work in the studio and how an unlikely collaboration on the set of a big-screen musical led to one of the most successful creative partnerships in pop music history.
"In 1978, [director] Sidney Lumet pulled me kicking and screaming into doing the music for 'The Wiz,' and in hindsight I'm so glad he did,...
- 6/30/2009
- MTV Music News
Diddy, Nas and Jennifer Lopez also borrowed from the King of Pop for some of their biggest hits.
By James Montgomery
Kanye West in his music video for "Good Life"
Photo: Roc-a-Fella
Michael Jackson's best songs were alive, and they made the listener feel the same way. They had heart and soul, blood, sweat and even some tears — they were living things, expertly crafted by some of the best scientists in the business (Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, etc.). Jackson's voice — sometimes lithe and tender, other times pained and downright dangerous — was always the lifeblood, the stuff that primed the pump. The musical flourishes (the disco rushes, the rock-hard guitar solos, the cinematic orchestral sweeps) were the DNA. The beat was the backbone.
Those building blocks were used to create some of the most undeniable music of the past quarter-century, massive hits that still fill dance floors and...
By James Montgomery
Kanye West in his music video for "Good Life"
Photo: Roc-a-Fella
Michael Jackson's best songs were alive, and they made the listener feel the same way. They had heart and soul, blood, sweat and even some tears — they were living things, expertly crafted by some of the best scientists in the business (Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, etc.). Jackson's voice — sometimes lithe and tender, other times pained and downright dangerous — was always the lifeblood, the stuff that primed the pump. The musical flourishes (the disco rushes, the rock-hard guitar solos, the cinematic orchestral sweeps) were the DNA. The beat was the backbone.
Those building blocks were used to create some of the most undeniable music of the past quarter-century, massive hits that still fill dance floors and...
- 6/26/2009
- MTV Music News
Artists from Alien Ant Farm to Amy Winehouse have had success with their versions of Mj's classics.
By James Montgomery
Mariah Carey performs "I'll Be There"
Michael Jackson was the consummate entertainer; a groundbreaking dancer and showman, and that's saying nothing about his songbook, which ranks right up there with the tunes of Elvis and the Beatles (which he also once owned). From his early days with the Jackson 5 to his transcendent solo career, Jackson worked with the best in the business — Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard, Rod Temperton, to name just a few — and the end result was a veritable treasure trove of totally classic tunes.
Over the course of his career, Jackson scored 13 #1 singles — more than any other male artist of the past 50 years. His musical output was so great that a whole new generation of artists...
By James Montgomery
Mariah Carey performs "I'll Be There"
Michael Jackson was the consummate entertainer; a groundbreaking dancer and showman, and that's saying nothing about his songbook, which ranks right up there with the tunes of Elvis and the Beatles (which he also once owned). From his early days with the Jackson 5 to his transcendent solo career, Jackson worked with the best in the business — Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Teddy Riley, Glen Ballard, Rod Temperton, to name just a few — and the end result was a veritable treasure trove of totally classic tunes.
Over the course of his career, Jackson scored 13 #1 singles — more than any other male artist of the past 50 years. His musical output was so great that a whole new generation of artists...
- 6/26/2009
- MTV Music News
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