From the early 1980s, comes another one of my favorite Metalsploitation/heavy metal horror films, Terror on Tour. The film opens with an awesome Alice Cooper/KISS-esque shock rock band called the Clowns performing their song "Forever Love" live. The band, consisting of lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Cherry (Dave Galluzzo), lead guitarist Henry (Rich Pemberton), bassist Fred (Rick Styles), and drummer Ralph (Chip Greenman), are all identically costumed as scary clowns with multi-colored afro wigs, face paint, capes, and more. To end their concerts, they pretend to kill dancers and dummies on stage, then threaten the audience; clearly an awesome show.
After we are introduced to the Clowns, we learn that they are on tour and they are starting to become a hit. They have a record on the charts, and the future looks bright. Unfortunately during the after-party, several people, fans and groupies, are all brutally murdered by someone in the band's signature stage garb. The police begin to investigate, and at first believe the killer might be a crazed band member getting too carried away with the stage antics, or possibly an obsessed fan. Or the killer could possibly be Herb (Jeff Morgan), a roadie who is so shy that he feels the need to dress as a band member in order to meet women. Or the killer could possibly be their other roadie Jeff (Dave Thompson), who is very bitter and always shows up late, and can never explain his whereabouts. The killer could even be the band's nice guy manager Tim (Larry Thomas), who we find out, was raised by religious zealots.
Before the next concert, Lt Lambert (John Green) brings in an ex-con, Jane (Lisa Rodriguez), to pose as a groupie to find out the identity of the killer. During the concert, she is chased by the killer, so we know that the killer can't be any of the band members. And so, the search for the murder's identity, as well as a struggle to survive, begins.
Soundtrack:
Apparently, the soundtrack was never officially released, but the songs in the movie are still great! The five original songs by the Clowns were written and performed by Rockford, Illinois based power metal group, The Names. After this soundtrack was recorded, the band members were then asked to play the fictional band in the movie. So, the band members then starred in the movie as the fictional band, marking the first time they had acted in a feature film.
1) Forever Love
The song that is performed at the beginning of the movie is a great song, with some fantastic twin lead guitar solos. This song really should have been a hit.
2) Let it Rain
A stellar and lengthy song with a bluesy vibe to it, heard during the party scene in the film, as well as during the end credits.
3) Remembering
Is a beautiful acoustic ballad that the band plays midway through the film, where it is implied that they used to be a folk band before becoming the Clowns.
4) Bachelor Girls
This is a really nice, lively anthem that the band performs near the end of the film.
5) The Living End
This is another great, high energy song that the band performs at the end of the film. During the movie, the song is ended by a lengthy instrumental jam.
These songs are fabulous. Although this is from the 80's, the songs have a raw 60's/70's metal sound. As mentioned before, the band members in the movie were the same ones who did the actual songs, with Dave Galluzzo on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and possibly on keyboards, Rich Pemberton on lead guitar, Rick Styles on bass and possibly acoustic guitar on "Remembering", and Chip Greenman on drums. It is unknown who the producer of the songs was, but according to Chip Greenman, they were recorded at The Curtom Studios in Rockford, Illinois. Even though the soundtrack was never released, Chip Greenman sent me a CD with all five songs on it, so this was very cool.
Terror on Tour is a true masterpiece with great music, cool characters, scary moments, funny moments, sexy moments, a 60's/70's feel to it, and is very artistically made; featuring one of the best bands in the world - real or fictional. I hope they reunite one day.
I'm thankful to have become friends with many of the people involved in the film, especially Dave Galluzzo and Chip Greenman, who are very nice as well as talented. They have told me many cool behind the scene stories of the making of the film; such as besides the band, most actors were college acting students, including Larry Thomas who plays Tim, and went on to play the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. Dave Thompson went on to become the voice of one of the Telletubbies, and John Green got the role of Lt. Lambert because he was a real police officer, and then he played another police officer in a similar rock and roll slasher film called New Year's Evil, made around the same time. Chip stated that the movie and the soundtrack were done in 1980, but the movie was not actually released until '82 or '83. Chip Greenman also sent me a package including many cool items from the movie, including some promotional material, and an actual copy of the script! The script also has some different/alternate scenes that did not make it to the final product. I have many fond memories tied in with this movie, and I'm hoping to do a stage version of TOT in the future, possibly with a new member of the fictional band, Richie, on keyboards. It will probably be dedicated to the film's director, the legendary film director, Don Edmonds, who passed away in 2009.
Unfortunately, the movie has not been officially released on DVD as of this writing. VHS copies are hard to come by. Add to that, the soundtrack was never officially released, but we should always be hopeful that they might release it one day. I spoke to a representative from a company that produces rare horror films the DVD treatment, and he said he is planning to possibly release it with bonus features, including interviews.
So, be a clown, and check out this underrated gem!
Filmed at Wilshire Theater in Hollywood, California with a soundtrack recorded at Curtom Studios in Rockford, Illinois.
For full cast and crew, click here.
Billy Larouqe, HMS
Read the previous installment.