We all know the tale of Sammi Curr, the rock star who sold his soul to the devil, now back from the dead via a back-masking recording technique.

Many people associate the band Fastway with former Motorhead guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke or perhaps the hard rock classic “Heft” but I will always associate the band with Halloween and the horror movie Trick Or Treat.

Fastway was formed in 1983 by ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke and bassist Pete Way (U.F.O). The rest of the group featured drummer Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie) and Dave King (Vocals). The band’s name is a combination of the two founding member’s names.

Ironically, Pete Way bowed out of the project before any recording began. Fastway went on to release seven full length albums. The group remained active until Eddie Clarke’s death in 2018, no official statement about the future of the band was ever made. Pete Way died in August of this year, sealing the fate of Fastway forever.

Although, Fastway’s debut album (Fastway – 1983) is no doubt a classic, I will always treasure the Trick Or Treat  soundtrack.  I remember hitting the movie theater back in 1986. We were all growing our hair back then, heavy metal ruled the airwaves and slasher films were the king of the sliver screen.

We all know the tale of Sammi Curr, the rock star who sold his soul to the devil, now back from the dead via a back-masking recording technique.  The film featured cameos by Gene Simmons (Kiss) and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath).

While I didn’t think much of the movie at the time, not enough boobs or blood, I picked up the soundtrack shortly after and have been playing it around Halloween ever since.

“What are you afraid of? It’s only Rock and Roll” has been my metal anthem. Whether it be the creativeness or sheer imagination, there’s something about horror and extreme music that seems to fit. Only in metal can a long haired leather clad rock star come back from the dead to help a fellow headbanger get his revenge on the stupid rich yuppies who resent him for his musical taste.

Fastway fits this role perfectly. Impersonating Sammi Curr through their music, misunderstood, excluded and resentful. Songs like “Trick Or Treat”, “After Midnight” and “Stand Up” seemingly personify this complex personality. We understand perfectly why they all need to pay, 66 Crush!

As you get spooky this non-contact year, I urge you to get your trick or treat on musically. Jam some Fastway and resurrect the ghost of Sammi Curr! \m/

 

Fastway (1986)

  • Dave King – Vocals
  • ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke – Guitar
  • Shane Carroll – Guitar
  • Paul Reid -Bass
  • Alan Connor – Drums
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