As The Dodologist reminded us yesterday, Edward Woodward, star of The Wicker Man, possibly the film that most influenced Neofolk, has just passed away. If you have not seen this superb thriller, featuring one of Christopher Lee's finest performances, and have any interest at all in Neofolk, modern Paganism, or film, you need to do so. Just take care to get the 1973 original, and not to confuse it with the recent remake (which Lord Bassington-Bassington considers an act of sacrilege).
About two decades ago, the young Lord Bassington-Bassington saw this film while sitting on the couch of the superb people behind Cthulhu Records. He has loved the film ever since.
So what better way for a Neofolk-advocating blog to mark the passing of Mr. Woodward than to publish two Neofolk bands interpreting songs from The Wicker Man?
Here is Nature and Organisation's cover of "Willow's Song".
And here is Italy's The Green Man playing "Corn Rigs".
Rest in peace, Mr. Woodward.
We mourn his passing.
ReplyDeleteAs for The Wicker Man, we are anticipating the release of a sequel - to the original, by the original writer-director who was driven away from the movie business after the first film. This one will be set in Scottland. A proposed third film, rounding out a trilogy will be set on Iceland and deal with old norse religion.
It's a great movie, but to me Woodward will always be The Equalizer.
ReplyDeleteThose sequels sure sound interesting! Maybe one can have Wicker Man marathons some day, when one has grown tired of Lord of the Rings marathons?
ReplyDeleteThat would be a couple of years ago ;-P
ReplyDeleteReally shouldn't, but simply have to: Woodward sure was a basket case, though ...
ReplyDeleteUnlike all the well-adjusted, normal, middle-of-the-road people who write and are written about on this blog...
ReplyDeleteYabba yabba. They never have burned ME in a basket.
ReplyDeleteOh, you're just wicke(re)d!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QqgIzlmdBc
ReplyDelete