J is for Jem

This music is not something you would expect me to enjoy because anyone following along knows I’m less fond of female vocalists. In truth I picked up the album by way of an auction when I really wanted other items in the lot. Yet Jemma Griffiths is not only a gifted singer but writes some really macabre lyrics. Just finding a female lyricist makes my day. And her voice sounds heavenly.


Today's fake band is called Just Cherry. The name was inspired by a line in the movie “Planet Terror” that came out nearly ten years ago (!), in which actress Rose McGowan played a comically dour character. In the end, she apparently saves the human race. I think this band would play something like the awesome Mark Ronson tune voiced by Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”.

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I is for Incubus

I own two albums by Incubus and had a blast watching them perform live years ago. It surprised me when another fan expressed disapproval over their changed sound at the time. I wonder if it had more to do with her disliking change than the music itself. Anyway, later you can read about a band that opened for them who inspired me to buy still more CDs.

{Confession time: I’m old school. I rarely download tunes because I enjoy the visceral pleasure of holding a real case in my sweaty little palm. Besides, nobody can take my music away, unlike downloads.}


Today’s unreal band goes by the name Ick Factor. I like to think their music would incorporate video game soundbites similar to what George Clinton used from the “Mortal Kombat” film for that soundtrack.

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H is for Hollywood Undead

This is another group whose name intrigued me almost as much as the singles initially played over the local alternative station airwaves. I don’t listen every day to Hollywood Undead, but their first album “Swan Songs” remains my favorite. The sometimes shouted lyrics wouldn’t appeal to everyone but make me want to pump my fist in the air.


Halitosis is the name of my phony band for the letter H. Heck, there’s a real band called Saliva. So why not? Maybe they could go on tour together. Of course the lack of oral moisture promotes stinky breath, so maybe that wouldn’t work. That’s your little factoid for the day, by the way.

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G is for Gorillaz

I adore this group’s first album “Demon Days” from 2005, which still gets me into a funky groove regardless of what I’m doing. The fact that members are portrayed as cool cartoon characters only ups the anty for me. The late, great Dennis Hopper actually laid a fantastical voice track for “Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head”. And who else in the world titles a tune after Clint Eastwood? It’s another alternative radio station favorite.


Grave Robbers is my fantasy band for the letter G (separate from the real band without the pluralization). I can’t help but think of the incredibly talented singer/songwriter/actor/what-have-you Terrance Zdunich who corroborated with other artists to brought us “Repo: The Genetic Opera” and “Devil’s Carnival”, both terrific musical productions. He played a character named Graverobber in "Repo". His wide ranging croon is to die for and I imagine this fantasy group would do his operatic style true justice.

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F is for Faster Pussycat

I consider Faster Pussycat a guilty pleasure due to the blatant sexual content. That said, one track is an homage to the lead singer and bassist of Betty Blowtorch, Bianca Halstead’s tragic death marking the group’s demise. Another reinvents the classic “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” first made a hit by Nancy Sinatra. I adore Ms. Sinatra’s version from the soundtrack of “Full Metal Jacket”, which just makes Faster Pussycat’s take that much more fun.


My phony band for today goes by the name The Frozen. As you can probably already guess, they also have a counter-pop culture sensibility. I think they may write angst ridden tunes similar to The Faint (“Ballad of a Paralyzed Citizen” being one great example). In a cool aside, tunes by The Faint featured on episodes of the creepy television show “American Horror Story: Hotel” last year. What a treat.

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E is for Ego Likeness

I not only like my music dark, but other artwork as well. Musician Steven Archer of Ego Likeness crafted amazing multi media paintings featuring H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos, several of which adorn my home. He and writer Donna Lynch, whose book "Isabel Burning" is a captivating read, make a great team in all mediums. I’m glad to own their EP “The Lowest Place on Earth” and probably should pick up the rest of their catalog.


For the letter E I came up with the fake band named Empty Life. This seems perfect for a post-modern goth/punk band. Doesn’t it?

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D is for Disturbed

As promised, I bring you Disturbed. Front man David Dramon turned forty-two years of age as of March 14 this year. I note this because I hope he rocks on into his eighties or later because the band’s hiatus broke my heart just a little bit. Oh, what a happy day when they came out with “Immortalized” in 2015.


Demon Dolls is my feaux rock band for the day. Because my imagined name evokes the Gorillaz debut album “Demon Days” I have decided they share the group’s eclectic sound featuring a wide range of guest vocalists.

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C is for The Cure

It’s embarrassing but I only came to understood this band’s name a few years ago. They stayed true to the cliche of sex, drugs, and rock and roll since “the cure” refers to drug and/or alcohol addiction treatment. On that note I find The Cure's music plenty addictive. Robert Smith is simply fabulous.


Crumpled is my fake band for today. It was going to be Corrupted Angel until yesterday's wind storm ripped at a chunk of our house (pictures below). Crumpled might have a sound similar to the Goo Goo Dolls.

By the way, our flashing beat the roof like a whip before pieces started breaking off - a frightening sight. I ventured out several times to collect pieces before someone got injured by our flying debris.

Former Flashing

The Remnant Where the Flashing Used to Be

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