Comic Book Rock
Recently in the Cuyamaca Rock, Pop, and Soul Ensemble we had the amazing task of performing the Motion Picture Soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy, A.K.A, The Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Volume 1. In preparation of shows I like to find a way to set the mood, get into character if you will. My first attempt at this was to grow a Chia Groot. I was going to rock out to GotG with little Chia Groot all beside me. Unfortunately, a couple weeks into the semester Chia Groot withered away much like the Groot at the end of Infinity War. So, after that debacle I compelled my own Ultimate Guardians of the Galaxy Mix. Which was mainly made up of songs from both awesome mix tapes vol. 1 and 2, the cosmic mix from the Disney XD cartoon, songs James Gunn wanted to use in the movies and didn’t, and of course a few of my own choices. It was over 3 hours long and I didn’t have enough time on a daily basis during the semester to listen to it all. Back to the original 12 song mix. I then decided it was time to just read the comic books to help set the mood. After reading the 2008 Abnett and Lanning run of the comic book series, it hit me.
I will just do what I normally do and compel a list of all my favorite times the music and comic worlds have clashed. (besides Guardians of the Galaxy)
Are We Not Thor? We be Devo
Mark Mothersbaugh from the band Devo was called in for the third installment of Marvel’s Thor. Ragnarok stands out from the other two Thor movies, and personally I believe Mothersbaugh’s music may have something to do with it. Mothersbaugh has also worked on Lego and Rugrats films.
Kristofferson as Whistler
The Star is Born actor and Highway Man praised the role of vampire hunter Abraham Whistler for all three Blade movies.
Archie Meets Kiss
Kiss are no Strangers in the comic book world (or this list). Since their first appearance in Howard the Duck # 12, Kiss have appeared in Marvel, Darkhorse, Image, Platinum studios, and of course Archie Comics.
Marvel Music
In 1994 Marvel introduced a short lived and disastrous, Marvel Music series. After just a few issues with Aerosmith, Bob Marley, Onyx, and Billy Ray Cyrus it discontinued in 1995.
Go Ninja Go
Aw yes, Vanilla Ice’s Ninja Rap from the 1991 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze. Nothing makes me want to dance, eat pizza, and crap myself like this song.
Ziggy Marley’s Marijuanaman
I read this comic book once but I didn’t inhale.
Ice-T and Iggy Pop in Tank Girl
Ice-T and Iggy have never looked more ridicules as they did in the 1995 film Tank girl as T-Saint and Rat Face.
Carnage Rules
In 1994 there was no cooler video game then Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage game. (okay maybe Mortal Kombat 2) The cartridges for the Super NES and Sega Genesis were a solid blood red. The Soundtrack to the game was done by Green Jelly, and the game played computerized renditions of their songs “Carnage Rules” and “Rock N Roll Pumpkin”
Danzig
In 1994 Glen Danzig created his own dark adult themed comic book company Verotik, a mixture of the words “violent” and “erotic”. One of the brands titles “Grub Girl” was made into a porno. Side note my little brother met Danzig at the Comic Con one year.
Tom Morello’s Orchid
Rage Against the Machine and AudioSlave guitarist Tom Morello’s tale of a teenage prostitute versus a totalitarian dictator is actually a pretty good one. As a bonus the Dark Horse comic comes with some artwork by Shepard Fairey, and music by Morello.
Mcfarlane’s Kiss
The Demon, The Starbearer, The King of Beasts, The Celestial! Kiss never looked as good as they did in their Psycho Circus comic book run with Image Comics.
TMNT the Album
In 1990 the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went on live musical tour. Yes, you heard me, I actually remember getting the album “Coming Out of Our Shells” at Pizza Hut as a kid. I use to sing to the song “Skipping Stones”. I even watched the concert on pay per view. I was going to look up the real musicians that played on this album but I didn’t want to ruin my childhood. Mikey, Leo, Donatello, and Raphael sang those songs.
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper made his first comic book appearance way back in 1979’s Marvel Premier #50. Since then he has made appearances, and had his own titles in several comic book publications.
Danny Elfman
The former Oingo Boingo singer has been helping combine film, comics, and music since the late 80’s. From Tim Burton’s Batman, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, to Marvel’s Age of Ultron.
The Ramone’s Spider-Man
This one has to make the list. I can’t see Spider-Man’s face without hearing Joey Ramone’s voice.
Prince’s Batman Album
The 1989 blockbuster Batman film not only had a score by Danny Elfman but music from Prince as well. I grew up watching the Joker vandalizing an art museum to Prince’s “Partyman”, “Batdance” topped the charts at one point in 1989, and the album was number 1 for six weeks. It’s a shame so many consider this album to be a low point in Prince’s career.
Wu Tang Clan ain’t nothing to F**k with
Especially the Image comic book version
Amory Wars
No rockstar has had more success at combining comics and music then Coheed and Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez. His Sci-fi fantasy tale based off of his girlfriend and himself, has led to several successful comic book series runs and some pretty stellar albums as well.
Inked in Kiss Blood
Once again Kiss make the list. The very first issue of Kiss features the members own blood mixed in with red ink. The band members made a stop while on tour to have their blood extracted on February 21st 1977. A notary public duly certified the authenticity of the process, and the notarized document was made available as the “KISS comic book contract”
references and RPSE performance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w98pSlxdEtw&t=2561s
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