Hello, my HorrorBuzz brothers and sisters. Today, I invite you to think back, way, way back, to April of 2015. I know that might be hard to do for some of us. If you’re like me, your days and nights tend to blend together. Maybe it’s all the punches and kicks to the face? Maybe it’s the endless nights of sipping fancy cocktails, and rock n’ roll? Im not quite sure, myself, but if the latter sounds familiar to you, then we should totally be friends! I could be the next “guy on your couch”! But I digress.
2015 was a great year for all things Horror! One of the year’s most memorable events took place at The Rockbar Theater in San Jose, where they hosted the amazingly horror-centric, Kirk Von Hammett’s Fear FestEvil. Now, it’s a well-documented fact that, Mr. Hammett, of Metallica-fame LOVES everything Horror! It’s also well-documented that he has the softest, most luxurious mane of ringlet hair in all of metal, but that’s neither here, nor there. LET’S STAY ON TOPIC, PEOPLE.
Being in one of heavy metal’s most successful bands comes with a lot of perks. One of those perks includes having enough money to buy whatever the hell he wants! So what does this master of puppets (and the wah-wah pedal) do with this disposable income? He flaunts it in rap videos, duh! Actually, he collects Horror memorabilia! I mean, wouldn’t you?! From horror movie props, to posters, life size wax figures of famous monsters, to toys! Kirk collects it all.
Now, what is the use of having one of the world’s largest horror collections if you can’t share it with everyone? That, my fiends, is where the FestEvil comes into play! This three daylong event boasted live performances from bands such as, Meshuggah, and High on Fire, a live jam and Q and A with musical artists John5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), and more! Not only was a partial selection of Kirks personal crypt collection on display, there were also a slew of, “meet and greets” with the likes of Slash (Guns n’ Roses), Bill Moseley (The Devils Rejects), horror royalty such as members of the Lugosi and Karloff family, various vendors, artists, and the piece de resistance: a VIP Murder Mystery dinner, hosted by Kirk himself at the world famous Winchester Mystery House!
Let’s take a look back at this monstrous event, as I catch my breath!
Here’s where I’ll be this weekend! #kirkvonhammettsfearfestevil #winchestermysteryhouse #badass
A photo posted by Sarah French (@sarahfrenchonline) on
Reach out, and touch faith. Props from various television and movies turned the inside of the Rockbar theater into a scary crypt you could get up close and personal with.
Mr and Mrs F. #fearfestevil2015 #kirkvonhammett #kirkvonhammettsfearfestevil #frankenstein
A photo posted by Logan Palo (@calikid666) on
A video posted by Sarah French (@sarahfrenchonline) on
All my friends are dead. People showed up in their Sunday worst for the popular costume contest. My screams/votes were for the Silent Hill Pyrimid Head, and Nurses.
Saturday had great costumes, but Sunday’s winner took home the @ESPGuitarsUSA Nosferatu @KirkHammett played both days pic.twitter.com/JP9q8LwmNk
— Fear FestEVIL (@fearfestevil) April 17, 2015
Till death do us part. I could not get over the classic monsters on display. Life size, and with authentic costumes from the movie sets themselves.
Two Days till Metal w/ @Meshuggah @HighonFireBand @GhoulOfficial @orchid_sf and @KirkHammett http://t.co/QFbkNRu196 pic.twitter.com/EnisVpq8Jf
— Fear FestEVIL (@fearfestevil) April 9, 2015
VIP treatment. The Fear Fest and The Rockbar Theater didn’t sell anyone short of a total interactive experience. Not only did you get to attend one of a kind panels, an evil Carnival with various vendors, but you were able to meet the celebrities and pick their brains a bit. Mmmmm, brains.
The Ripper and The Ripper Jr #FearFestEvil pic.twitter.com/VuCIg3FR63
— Fear FestEVIL (@fearfestevil) April 11, 2015
All my friends are dead! Even the Rockbar staff got in the mood.
That’s all she wrote. This trip down memory lane holds a special, if not deep, dark, corner in my rotten brain, as I was lucky enough to attend two out of the three days. If you have had any similar experiences at festivals or conventions around the globe, we want to check it out! Tag us in your photos on social media with @HorrorBuzz or with the hashtag #MyHorrorGram and your photos could end up in one of our weekly HorrorGram articles! Scare ya later, creeps!
