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The Scream

John Skipp,

Craig Spector

3.92 · Rating details · 483 ratings · 38 reviews

Rock 'n' Roll. Hell. Two great tastes that taste great together. Long before Elvis gyrated on the Sullivan Show or the Beatles toiled the smoky red-light bars of Hamburg, music has been sowing the seeds of liberation. Or damnation. With each new generation the edge of rebellion pushed farther. Rhythms quickened. Volume increased. Lyrics coarsened. The rules continued to be ...more

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Hardcover, 448 pages

Published June 1st 2001 by Stealth Press (first published 1987)

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· 483 ratings · 38 reviews

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Jan 24, 2017 Twerking To Beethoven rated it it was ok

I didn't like "The Scream" one bit.

I'm an eighties kid, alright. One of my all time favourite movies happens to be Trick or Treat , a monumental, humongous piece of crap of a horror movie about a snuffed rockstar coming back from the dead because some bullied high-school kid spins his records backwards. Pure, unadulterated & delicious eighties cheese, boyos. Check this out: https://youtu.be/pjOnfKvqGEQ ("Gonna drive my long steel missile down on your love channel")

Even though "Trick or Treat" is ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Grady Hendrix rated it it was ok

Lurid and over the top, but also features a giant monster who eats people with her vagina, and the first female character is introduced when we peer up her skirt while she's onstage. So there's that. ...more

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May 23, 2020 Craig rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Skipp & Spector's fourth collaborative novel is a sex & drugs & rock'n'roll splatterpunk gore fest, extremely graphic and disturbing at times, with controversial examinations of the changing world and values of the 1980s. It's a pretty good story, too, though not for the squeamish. I'd put it on the same shelf as Martin's Armageddon Rag, McCammon's The Five, and Denton's Wrack and Roll, except with a more horrific heavy-metal punkish slant. Rust never sleeps... let God sort it out. ...more

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Sep 08, 2013 Dan rated it really liked it

This is a far more complex book than any of the tag-lines would lead you to believe. Yes, it's an incredibly visceral horror story set in the world of rock-and-roll, but there are far deeper subjects that get addressed and discussed throughout the book.

One of the most obvious - and controversial - is that of abortion. One of the side characters struggles with the keeping of a pregnancy in light of her career, her history, her temperament, and her relationship with the father. Because of the natu This is a far more complex book than any of the tag-lines would lead you to believe. Yes, it's an incredibly visceral horror story set in the world of rock-and-roll, but there are far deeper subjects that get addressed and discussed throughout the book.

One of the most obvious - and controversial - is that of abortion. One of the side characters struggles with the keeping of a pregnancy in light of her career, her history, her temperament, and her relationship with the father. Because of the nature of the book, the extremes of both sides get put before us, and we can see the ugliness - and maybe the truths - of each side.

Other issues presented: rock-and-roll music as a controversial entertainment. This book was published in 1988, in the aftermath of the PMRC's congressional hearing and sticker parade. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents_... for more info). Again, the book shows both sides of the argument (with obvious partiality, but still relatively fair, if not overly sympathetic to the opposing side) in both good and negative lights. And that's kind of the point.

If you take anything to its polar extremes, it turns bad, no matter which way you slice it. In this particular example, you have rock-and-roll music (an outdated term, to be sure, but you get what I'm talking about: "the music your parents hate") which, in and of itself, is neutral. But you have extreme right-wing conservatives, typically claiming the Christian moniker, who want ALL rock music outlawed, because themes in "that type of music" run counter to their way of life and way of thinking. Standing in the middle ground, for story purposes, are musicians who are fighting for their livelihood. They recognize that what the right-wingers want to do is complete censorship for control purposes, and they want none of that. The know that rock music is cathartic, and downright necessary for human growth - rebellion aiding in the breaking away from mommy and daddy. On the far other side, in the story, are the centerpiece band THE SCREAM. Their goals are far more sinister, closer in scope to what the far-right wingers believe ALL rockers are about: the destruction of the youth of the world.

The book also deals with post traumatic stress disorder, both war-induced and tragedy-induced, and how people with this disorder react and cope with breakouts in their own personal ways.

I've read this book a couple of times, and as usual, I had forgotten about certain aspects from the previous reading. Maybe as I grow older, I see certain things from a different perspective.

Again, fair warning, the authors of this book were part of the "splatterpunk" movement of the mid-80's to early 90's, and as such, this story drips with blood. There is no pulling away from cringe-worthy scenes, no pulling punches. In fact, the camera plays pretty steady on the most violent scenes (you'll never look at a staple gun quite the same way again).

If you can handle that kind of gore, and don't have issue with themes touching on the satanic and blasphemous, then I recommend this book to you. If you do have issues with those things, I strongly recommend you not come near this book. You will be highly offended, even though there is some very good passages regarding God and Good fighting Evil and faith and salvation. Ultimately, it's your choice.

And that's kinda the point. ...more

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Oct 09, 2020 Daniel James rated it really liked it · review of another edition

When I first heard about this I jumped at the chance to read it, with it having numerous ingredients to whet my appetite to the point where I was salivating: heavy metal, demonic forces, a hedonistic band as the main protagonists, Catholic-bashing, and Vietnam, the most rock 'n' roll of all wars (at least in fiction, obvs in real life all war just flat-out sucks!!). And having read the Book of the Dead Vol. 1 & 2 as a feral child, I knew that The Scream wasn't going to skimp on the gory carnage When I first heard about this I jumped at the chance to read it, with it having numerous ingredients to whet my appetite to the point where I was salivating: heavy metal, demonic forces, a hedonistic band as the main protagonists, Catholic-bashing, and Vietnam, the most rock 'n' roll of all wars (at least in fiction, obvs in real life all war just flat-out sucks!!). And having read the Book of the Dead Vol. 1 & 2 as a feral child, I knew that The Scream wasn't going to skimp on the gory carnage when things go south.

So why only 3 stars? Well, to be fair, it isn't the story, the characters, or the "gory carnage" the latter of which you get in spades, but my own opinion of the first half of the book. It opens very well, and yanked my attention like two cold hands roughly gripping my cheeks, but somewhere not long afterwards I personally felt as though the plot meandered a little, however, I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate, I think the issue might have been the overwriting which tended to pop up here and there in various chapters, repeatedly derailing my attention, and therefore enjoyment of the advancing plot. This being a purely subjective criticism, I MUST point out that other readers might love the prose (and there really is some lovely writing here, I just think the editor should have reined in the language on occasion), and the story itself was very enjoyable: Jake Hamer is a tortured 'Nam vet and lead singer, who along with fellow ex-soldier and sax player Hempstead, are two members of the top-flight metal band, the Jacob Hamer Band, who along with the eponymous The Scream, and the rest of the '80's headbanging enthusiasts, find themselves targeted as the sinful, evil pariahs of youthful corruption by the hypocritical Pastor Furniss and his brainless and bible-thumping masses. However, The Scream are the real deal, they are sinful, they are evil, and their music truly is the product of the Devil.
Despite my wandering attention, from the mid-point on, this book really took off, and was very entertaining, all culminating in a truly great and blood-drenched climax, and as somebody who loves their horror stories to end with a satisfying body count I can't fault the finale.

In fact, screw it, playing it back in my head, I'm upping it to 4 stars. \m/ ...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Brian Surratt rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, splatterpunk

Read this MANY moons ago, senior yeah of high school I think, on the recommendation of a friend. Very intense, very visceral, very graphic. The characters are fairly well developed and diverse in a complex story.

A few common tropes for the late 80's (Vietnam, heavy metal satanism, single mothers, corrupt televangelists, the works). But that's what the story is about, taping into the absurd paranoia of the time. It literally is a parent's rock and roll nightmare.

If you were going to compare this ...more

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Aug 30, 2020 Phil rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Skipp and Spector's third novel The Scream, published in 1988, is a real blast from the past, but many of the cultural links I believe will be lost to those not living in 1980s. The center of the novel is the band called The Scream-- a heavy metal act that is taking the nation by storm. Our main lead Jake Hamer is a Vietnam vet and leads his own heavy metal band. Early on, Jake appears on a talk show with a few other rockers (one side) and a minister and the wife of a senator (the other side) wh Skipp and Spector's third novel The Scream, published in 1988, is a real blast from the past, but many of the cultural links I believe will be lost to those not living in 1980s. The center of the novel is the band called The Scream-- a heavy metal act that is taking the nation by storm. Our main lead Jake Hamer is a Vietnam vet and leads his own heavy metal band. Early on, Jake appears on a talk show with a few other rockers (one side) and a minister and the wife of a senator (the other side) who want heavy metal (the devil's music) either outright banned or at least given parental ratings. Of course, this is a reference to Tipper Gore, who in the 80s help lead the campaign to 'censor' metal bands. I vividly remember living through this controversy and was/am a huge metal fan-- my first concert was Judas Priest and Iron Maiden back in 1982. Sanctimonious assholes like Jimmy Swaggart and other moral majority types basically declared rock music the enemy and it was a cultural struggle. Skipp and Spector nail this head on with flare and elan; like I wrote above, it brought back a lot of memories.

Well, Jake and friends decide to take the bull by the horns and arrange a large concert in Philly 'Rock Aid' to raise money for bands being sued and so forth. Again, this is a clever reference to all the 'Aid' concerts back then for various causes ("feed the world, don't they know its Christmas..."). It seems, however, that The Scream really _are_ somehow affiliated with evil/the devil what have you. Some of their fans ('Screamers') are carrying out nasty murders and starting bloody riots when The Scream play their way across the US from the West Coast to reach Philly for Rock Aid.
The story slowly unfolds with many flashbacks from Jake and others on Vietnam; something happened there that comes to play a role today with The Scream, but I cannot say more without spoilers.

Overall, a fun read that touched some fun buttons and clearly fits into the splatterpunk genre that Skipp and Spector helped invent. The actual book is well produced with a little fold out poster inside as well. My biggest problems were the at times glacial pacing and character introspection that slowed the story down; with a different editor, this could be a much stronger book. Yet, it really encapsulates a piece of history so nicely I can over look its faults. 3.5 stars, rounding up-- Rock On! ...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Craig DiLouie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror-and-apocalyptic-fiction

Recently finished THE SCREAM by John Skipp and Craig Spector and was amazed at how talented these guys are. They can tell one hell of a story. In THE SCREAM, Jake, a Vietnam vet and leader of a heavy metal band, jousts with Christian fundamentalists campaigning against what they see as Satanic rock music. What neither understands is that mega-cult band The Scream is actually using their music to plant the seeds of slaughter and literally raise Hell. Grounded in rich detail about the rock industr ...more

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Jan 22, 2017 Albert rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, ha-tbr-shelf-challenge-2017

Ok I guess. This is my fourth Skipp/Spector novel and so far I'm all over the place when rating these guys.
This is the second book of theirs where I was completely indifferent towards all the characters, and to me forming some kind of emotional attachment to a character goes a long way towards making or breaking a novel. I thought the story itself was pretty unique though and somewhat interesting, and I had no problem with the writing style. ...more

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May 24, 2015 Todd Charlton rated it liked it · review of another edition

Rock'n'roll and its bastard child Heavy Metal were more conversational in the 1980's than at any other time thanks to organisations like Tipper Gore's Parents Music Resource Center and countless TV evangelists. John Skipp and Craig Spector made this fact the foundation of their third novel The Scream. The Scream is a Heavy Metal band led by an impossibly beautiful woman; the ultimate femme fatal. Jake Hamer is a rocker as well, but his group is less extreme. He publicly takes on the wowzers, led ...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Adam Wilson rated it it was ok

The Scream by John Skipp and Craig Spector wasn't much of a fun read for me. I loved the descriptions of the band members, fans, and the life styles of both, but for

the most part the book felt like a mess of undicisive writing. Half the time I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on and when I did think I knew what was

happening I didn't know why. I hated the dream-like quality of this novel. Perhaps it was the purpose of the authors to write a book that felt like it was on the same

mind ...more

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Oct 11, 2018 Scott Waldie rated it liked it

Has all the visceral gross out factor of their other collaborations, and could probably be considered one of the better heavy metal or rock and roll horror novels, but it felt overlong and I didn’t care about the Christian/Antichristian elements, the ‘safe’ rocker lead characters or the other commentary here on issues like abortion. Meanders too much and thus dilutes all the good stuff. Doesn’t hold a candle to their other books like THE BRIDGE or THE LIGHT AT THE END.

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Jul 15, 2007 Robert Burnett rated it it was amazing

The defining 1980s splatterpunk novel and the pinnacle of Skipp and Spector's collaboration. What I'd give for a copy of The Scream's "Critical Mass" CD! One of the most entertaining horror novels ever written. ...more

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Jun 15, 2017 James Ranger rated it it was amazing

As always, Skipp and Spector NEVER fail. This book is so well written I am certain other writers of their generation hate them for being so good. And I don't blame them! The authors know how to deep dive into emotions and characterization. The people in the book were my family by the end. I read this every few years. Awesome book ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Mika Lietzén rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, horror

All the 80s kids are going crazy about rock music and the band of the moment is The Scream, an enigmatic and openly diabolical outfit that nobody really knows nothing about. Their debut album soon becomes a soundtrack to murder and mayhem as the band's hardcore fans, the Screamers, sort of zombies with their eyes gouged out, begin their slaughter-spree and suburban homes and concert venues become killing grounds. EEYAAOW! as them kids say.

Splatterpunk, which is basically a synonym for excess, w All the 80s kids are going crazy about rock music and the band of the moment is The Scream, an enigmatic and openly diabolical outfit that nobody really knows nothing about. Their debut album soon becomes a soundtrack to murder and mayhem as the band's hardcore fans, the Screamers, sort of zombies with their eyes gouged out, begin their slaughter-spree and suburban homes and concert venues become killing grounds. EEYAAOW! as them kids say.

Splatterpunk, which is basically a synonym for excess, was all the rage in the 80s and Skipp and Spector were the horror subgenre's best examples. The Scream has a good base to it - rock music is the Devil's music, after all - but as Manowar sang it, "all men play on ten", and so do Skipp and Spector. Sometimes the results are admittedly nice, but often they feel cartoonish, because everything that can go over the limit inevitably does. Especially problematic is the finale at a stadium concert, with one fictional band led by Jacob Hamer going after the by-gum-they-are-truly-evil The Scream with guns and grenades and what not. Seeing as the final concert takes place after The Scream's previous concert caused a massacre makes one wonder about the competence of the municipal authorities as well.

The subplot about the Christian right's crusade against rock music is a sign of the times, as are the references to Vietnam. Everyone and their uncle seems to be a veteran, probably because First Blood part 2 came out in 1985 and they all suddenly remembered. Getting the music right is the hardest part of any book dealing with music and while The Scream doesn't fumble too badly it hasn't aged too well either, mainly because the music that came after makes these fictional mid-80s bands pale in comparison. Sure, some of The Scream's lyrics are clearly evil invocations (the Screamers would probably have their minds blown by Morbid Angel, whose debut LP came in 1989), but mostly the lyrics spell generic mid-80s hard rock.

The Scream would be a quick fun read if not for its slightly bloated length, with too many secondary (or tertiary) characters one barely even remembers by name. There's simply too much filler here for an effective impact, and the impact is all one cares about in splatterpunk. ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Darren rated it it was amazing

TITLE: The Scream

AUTHOR: John Skipp and Craig Spector

GENRE: Horror

PAGES: 432

We have all heard the phrase "Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll". Well, if you go to the flipside of that coin you will see "Blood, Gore, and Goo!" Lucky for us, John Skipp and Craig Spector own that coin, and they have flipped it over and over and over again in their novel The Scream.

The Scream is a heavy metal rock and roll band that have legions of fans. Their fans see an awesome heavy metal group that goes beyond the norm ...more

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Dec 31, 2019 Cassandra Glissadevil rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror

4.7 stars!
The Scream popped my Splatterpunk cherry. What a long crazy ride. Demonic metal music massacre.
Puns, lyrics, poetry, insane terror!
Compulsory addition to any splatterpunk and horror collection.

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Jan 01, 2020 Olof rated it really liked it

Better than I remembered. Remember it to be more gruesome than it was (read it late 80s). Loved the premise. Not the best realization of it though. Really like the writing style. And the narrator was really great.

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Apr 02, 2018 M. Dixon rated it liked it

For the most part, I found this a rather entertaining horror novel. The end though was spectacular!

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Jun 15, 2018 Carson Moore rated it liked it

wild and mysoginistic but bloody and relatively well-written compared to books like The Sharing.

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Jan 19, 2020 Frances rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novel, horror, long-ago

"Welcome to the food chain!"

A classic of epic horror, evil vs badass rock'n'roll, and cults of zombie teenagers. ...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Todd Charlton rated it liked it

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Oct 23, 2014 Ed [Redacted] rated it liked it

After reading THE CLEANUP by Skipp and Spector, I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I was treated to a big pile of "rock and roll" fetishism and the type of stereotypical Vietnam veteran characters so common in the 80's. despite all of this, S&S are clearly talented writers. The writing is crisp as ever and several scenes in the book are quite effective. Unfortunately the whole plot left me cold, and the deeper themes I enjoyed so much in THE CLEANUP were missing. I had alre ...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Steven Shroyer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A dark journey through the excessive 1980's Heavy Metal scene. Skipp and Spector craft a brilliant tale set around a rock band whose goal is nothing less than the end of the world. Throw in jabs at the evangelical right wing and top it off with over the top gore and you have book that will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning. Do yourself a favor, skip the eventual DVD release of the rock musical "Rock of Ages" with Tom Cruise and get this e-book. It is a work truly rooted in the 1980' ...more

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Mar 24, 2009 DJMikeG rated it really liked it

A great, big, wild rock and roll horror novel by the masters of 'splatterpunk', Skipp and Spector. It isn't a perfect novel, but it is such a daring book that asks big questions in such a fearless style that you can't help but love it. Highly recommended. ...more

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Apr 22, 2009 Sherrie Gingery rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Light at the End

It's hard to impress me with a horror book because I not only do I require good writing, I want to feel creeped out. This is a fast moving story and there are quite a few characters to follow. It's scary! ...more

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Mar 01, 2010 Ken rated it did not like it

Hahahah! I read this Rock n Roll horror novel when I was 17 and just picked it up again out of nostalgia. It's not very well written, but it's entertaining in the way trashy reading can sometimes be. ...more

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Dec 08, 2010 James Debruicker rated it really liked it

The perfect early-80s rock and roll horror novel. It takes the whole Satanic Metal/PMRC scare thing and takes it to its logical conclusion. I'm also convinced that Joss Whedon borrowed some elements of this for the Judge plotline in Buffy, but that's neither here nor there. ...more

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May 11, 2013 Kim Chi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I've given this book to avid readers, and all of them pretty much told me the same thing.. they couldn't put it down once they started it, it scared the crap outa them, it was a kick ass book but to plz not ever give them another one like it... LOL this book rox... they need to make a movie outa it ...more

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Jul 24, 2014 William rated it liked it

Pulp '80s horror and rock and roll. Fun but empty. Not nearly as good as The Light At The End, by the same authors, about a punk rock vampire hunting in the NYC subway system. I will explore more Skipp & Specter in the future. ...more

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