Since we’re on a big Vinny Price kick (what else is new?), here’s a preview of an illustration Royal Flush had me do up for their upcoming piece on the 25th anniversary release of Micheal Jackson’s Thriller.

After watching the video before I began, I remembered “Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller” when it was first released on VHS. I was ten or eleven years old and my love for horror had already over taken me like an incurable disease. Zombies, full moons and werewolves were a daily staple and how could any young horror fan resist the evil of the Thriller? Uh, I’m sure there’s a million jokes in there somewhere but let’s move on. It was all set up. I was going to stay over at my aunt and uncle’s place who had reserved it at our local Jumbo Video. We stocked up on large amounts of popcorn, Reeses Pieces and headed to the video store. Only to discover they had accidentally rented out the tape. I was crest fallen! Inconsolable! I couldn’t grasp the reality that I wasn’t going to see it that night and no free rental of The Boogens or Parasite was going to make it any better! Everybody and their brother kept it rented, but eventually I was able to nab a copy. I loved it. Watching Rick Baker turning everyone into zombies was one of the coolest things I had seen!

Anyways, Vincent Price made the song totally legit, there was no question he needed to be in the piece. What’s your earliest memory of The Thriller? It’s OK, we’re alone and Micheal is far, far away.