FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ: EPISODE 215 The Picture of Rich Ragsdale

There are those of us from Generation X in the U.S. that grew up on a steady diet of horror films, underground comix, sci-fi mags, punk and metal music while the rest of the country soaked up sitcoms and disco.  It was an era where such preoccupations were not met with wide enthusiasm despite occasional mainstream successes. 

 

This, of course, has all changed. To define grunge, for example, is to say that it was the synthesis of metal & punk with both noise and classic rock thrown in for good measure. Hollywood has gone all in on horror and especially films starring people in tights. The kids that grew up throughout the 70s and 80s have now become the tastemakers and almost everything has become mainstream (even bands like The Velvet Underground and Mötörhead).

 

On this episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ, the Buzzards get down with an artist that defines the best combination of all of those influences, Rich Ragsdale. As a director he's made the horror films THE CURSE OF EL CHARRO, GHOST HOUSE and the upcoming THE LONG NIGHT and music videos for Avicii & Lenny Kravitz, Sean Lennon and Les Claypool, Chevelle, Theory of a Deadman and countless others.  He's composed scores for most of his films and films EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS, BIG RIVER MAN and THE GIANT MECHANICAL MAN and TV series' "The King of Queens,"  "According to Jim" and "Freakshow." His recent spate of cartoons revolving around the last four years in politics takes their grotesque cue from famous EC horror comics from the 50s. 

 

Rich is the definition of the modern Renaissance Man influenced by John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, Richard Corbin, Jack Davis, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bernard Herrmann and Iron Maiden. 

 

The Buzzards go down the proverbial rabbit hole of all these topics and more as Rich Ragsdale gives insight into his childhood and influences that helped shape an artist that just keeps growing with each new avenue he pursues. 

 

So, turn out the lights, pour a mug of hard cider and take a walk down memory lane with the current reign of the new prince of darkness, Rich Ragsdale. 

 

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