EarCookies Podcast Episode 1: Roky Erickson’s Horror Rock

Feast your ears on some hard-rocking songs by the late, great musician Roky Erickson, who used his ferocious voice to blast epic stories of ghosts, goblins, aliens, and “alligator persons.” I discuss the surprising effect of this “horror rock” on me and people like me, after giving a super-short overview of Roky’s time with the pioneering psychedelic rock band, the 13th Floor Elevators.

Listen to the episode on my website, on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. The companion playlist is also on Spotify. It collects some of Roky Erickson’s best and most ferocious songs that he performed with the 13th Floor Elevators, the Aliens, the Explosives, and Okkervil River. I’ve included a few fun covers for good measure.

Songs From the Podcast

As of this writing, the performances I excerpted in my podcast aren’t in print. So here are links to the YouTube videos.

• The Creature With the Atom Brain, Roky Erickson and the Explosives live in Norway in 2007. This is my all-time favorite performance of the song, but I enjoy comparing how the spoken word part differs across this and the two other versions included in my playlist. “Doctor Walker is under the impression that these murders are being perpetrated by dead men . . . ” All three versions HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
• Heroin, Roky Erickson live, I’m not sure what year this is or who is backing him, but to me the guitar playing sounds like Cam King of the Explosives. This was on the original release of the album Gremlins Have Pictures, but the second edition of the album replaces it with a shorter version that sounds anemic in comparison. The version I link to is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and I hope it makes its way onto wax again.
• Red Temple Prayer better known as “Two Headed Dog,” performed live for television in 1980 by Roky Erickson and, I think, the Explosives. That’s definitely Cam King on lead guitar, whose playing is absolutely smokin’ in this video. Roky’s rhythm playing cuts like a buzzsaw, especially here. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
• Those performances of The Wind and More and You’re Gonna Miss Me appear on the live album Casting the Runes. I can’t tell whether Casting the Runes is a legitimate release or a bootleg. Not the best album to start with, but these two cuts are cookin’.

Dig Deeper

The Evil One collects much of Roky’s best horror rock. Fans of 1960s psychedelic rock and garage rock should continue on to Easter Everywhere and The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. My favorite of Roky’s later recordings is True Love Cast Out All Evil.

If Roky’s story intrigues you, check out the 2005 documentary You’re Gonna Miss Me, a good overview of his life, struggles, and lasting influence. If you enjoy Roky’s early music, take a look at Paul Drummond’s book 13th Floor Elevators: A Visual History.

Errata for Episode 1. Roky actually spent closer to three years in custody at Rusk, not just two years. The You’re Gonna Miss Me documentary was released in 2005 (not 2007).