Ohhh boy, do we have something special for all you demons and demonesses out there today. This past weekend at Mad Monster Expo, Mutilated Mohawk Media had the wonderful chance to sit down with the king of hell himself, Mr. John Wayne Comunale. John Wayne is an absolutely kickass artist who does everything from making punk rock music to writing novels to keep you up at night. He also tours the states selling his books and playing his punk rock music to the masses.
Our Story Starts Here , Hellion
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m an author, musician, awesome dude for life, as you know I write horror novels, psychological horror, twist and turns, outer limits, Twilight Zone type of shit. I play punk rock music and pretty much a badass, you’re my son, and that’s all. Interview over.
Top 3 Favorite Horror Movies.
You just get right in, there’s no fucking lube or heavy petting or anything. You’re just ready to go jamming in, oh fuck dude. Okay, let me clear my throat *gagging noises*. Okay well The Gate is #1. We might have talked about that before, it’s my all time favorite horror movie, just because it’s got Satan and heavy metal. It’s just creepy. The Gate is where these kids open up a portal to Hell, playing this metal record backwards and just when you think they’ve got it together they don’t. It’s really great. Second to that, favorite horror movie is probably, you know we gotta go Friday the 13th: Part Five, with Roy. Ooh baby ooh baby, that holds like a special place, but it almost transcends horror movies because you know, enigmatic, amazing cinema maybe, does sarcasm read on these things? I’m not sure, but I do love that movie. I’d have to say probably nightmare on elmstreet part 1 really scared me as a kid, so I’d have to put that up there. And then, what else do I like that I watch a bunch? Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, oh yeah My Girl, with Macauly Culkin. Wait is that what we’re talking about? No I don’t know, I like the creepy off the wall type stuff more than anything else, so probably Halloween III: Season of the Witch will have to be in my top 3.
Who would win in a fight and why: Michael Myers or Leatherface?
Who would win in a fight between Michael Myers and Leatherface? Um… I think that, you know, Leatherface I wanna say would win because he’s got the brawn and the insanity. But Michael Myers has better writers so he would probably win in a fight. They would probably make it so he won in some way. That’s why, better writers.
A Demon's Journey
What motivates you?
Um, what I’m motivated by… I guess like I told you before, being disciplined is one of the things I’m good at, I tell people that yeah I’m just gonna be disciplined. If I wanna do something, I’ll do it. I’m motivated by mostly the idea in my head of “Why not me?”. You know people do this all the time, people have these careers. I was in an early on, just started writing, in a workshop with some big horror writers that were on it. And somebody asked something about how to make money doing it, and one of the writers said that if you’re in this to make money, you’re in it for the wrong reason, you’re in the wrong business. And people were just like “ha ha ha ha”, but I’m in this workshop because I already love to write, this is my craft, I do it anyway. So, the five of you sitting in front of us that have a career in writing, why not me? What is the separation? Yes it’s talent, yes it’s intuitiveness, you know the way you approach it, and not quitting. So, that’s what motivates me.
What inspired you to start writing?
I used to always like writing stories and shit when I was a kid, I always wrote all my life. It was just one of the few things I was good at and it was fun. I got into comics when I was in elementary school and middle school. I was reading things like comic books yes, but also graphic novel things like Calvin and Hobbes. Not necessarily the Marvel craziness. I was kind of cultivating a collection through those things, that was the way I kind of approached comic writing and I would write little comic strips and stuff all the time. But I always wrote stories. It was the only thing I was good at, one of the few things I was good at so I just kept with it. It’s fuuuunnnn.
What influences the very unique art style that has become your brand?
That’s hard to say in a sense of like, I don’t necessarily look to any visual artists where I’m like man that inspires me, whereas like I could point to authors or musicians who’ve inspired me. Drawing, I always did art when I was a kid, I was in the advanced art classes and all that bullshit and all that stuff. But I just liked to do it. I would have to say a huge influence then would be like a buddy of mine, Todd Gale, who is also an illustrator, who was doing some work for Letters to Voltron, my old band. He did some cover art for us, he did the art on the 7 Inch for Shit Sandwich. I took him this idea when I was first making JohnWayneIsDead, the band, like off the ground. I was like “Hey, could you draw something like this?” and I was showing him these ideas, then he said “I think you should just draw it dude”. I was like well maybe I should? So that’s how all of those things happened. Not that I needed to be in power to do it, but where I was like ‘he flipped the switch for me, maybe I can do this’. I don’t know, I’m not like a great artist, or a good visual artist, I’m just good at my style of drawing and that’s what I tell people all the time. So when people commission me to do things they want that specific style that I do. I’m not going to be like “Here’s a fucking photo realistic picture of Abe Lincoln tattooed on your right ass cheek”, which by the way you keep asking me and that’s not going to happen. But you know that’s not what I do that’s not my style. So if I could give anybody credit for at least nudging me in that direction, I do have to say Todd Gale. He really did, he was just like “Why don’t you just do what you want, you know what you’re doing, just do it”.
When you are not on the road, what does your typical workday look like?
So if I’m home back in my neon palace of sin, it depends on what I’ve got. So say I’m working on narrating a book, which I have to do a lot of. The first thing I’ll do is I’ll get up early, you’ve seen my stories I get up super early, and i’ll write down my goals for the day in my stupid little notebook. I’ll go work out in the gym right away, get shit like that out of the way to kind of get me going. I’ll sit and write for a few hours to kind of attack it like that. If I’m narrating a book I’ll have that blocked off for today, from like 2-6, just recording, just narration. So I kind of have that prepped and I’m ready for that. But other times it’s just like, it’s weird because I’ve worked super hard to get to this point where it’s like “Okay, I am in charge of my own day, but it’s also hips and nips or we don’t eat”. I can’t just be like “Ah you know I don’t feel like doing anything today, I’m just gonna fuck off”. Well you know, then how am I making money? So I’m always just kind of doing something, but it’s me personally, I’m very goal oriented for the day. I’m going to do this this and this today, not necessarily all of it is geared towards that day specifically. Like a “Oh today this thing needs to go out because it’s time sensitive”, it’s with the work that I do, I have to keep writing these books. I have to keep drawing these bookmarks, all these different things. I have to keep doing that so that I can get to things like “This needs to be posted today, this has to go out today”. First half of the day is always loaded with writing, creating, and all that. Second half of the day is more like *clap clap clap*, this has to go out, this is more business I guess.
How you keep track of all your goals and how do you stay committed?
I just kind of know what I need to get done. If you’re purposely writing a low amount of goals, where you’re just gaming the system, you’re not going to get anything out of it, you’re not challenging yourself. So I try to make sure I keep challenging myself, but I also keep track of what I did. I’ll write a line next to it, ‘only wrote 800 words today’, ‘got drunk by noon’, ‘fucked off with Dave’, shit like that. But only because it keeps me accountable, if I’m fucking up a bunch of days in a row, what’s the through line here? Where do I tighten up? Stuff like that helps keep me accountable, and it’s all about what you want. I tell people to adjust your expectations, what do you expect to get out of this. If you expect this, this, and this, well do this. But if you want this, this, and this, you’re gonna have to challenge yourself.
What does an average writing session look like for you?
Now it’s like “Okay it’s time to start writing”. I sit at my desk, where I have a desktop and a laptop and I only write on my laptop. I just put my feet up on a chair and write, you know I like to smoke a bunch of weed. I’ll usually be drinking coffee and smoking a couple bowls while I’m writing, and then I just go. I go for a few hours until I’m like “What’s happening now? Oh it’s maybe time to stop and take a break”. I do like though to write in the morning for a little while, then come back at night and pick it up again for an hour or so before I go to sleep and maybe add a few more things. It’s usually a grip it and rip it, I don’t have any like “Let me light a candle and lick my own butthole and I guess start writing”. It’s just go go go, it’s time to do it.
Does The Horror Live In Hell?
Some people we interview say that horror is in a golden age, while others make it seem like its grown stale. What are your thoughts on this and why?
Okay so, obviously where I’m going to be coming from is going to be weird, the perspective is going to be colored by the fact that I’m on the road constantly and I’m at a horror convention almost every week. So horror stuff is in my face all the time, and i’m always excited about new things that I see when it comes out. I think that horror is in a great spot, I don’t know if we’re in a golden age or a renaissance or anything like that, but there’s so many outlets that are mainstream leaking in. Take a fucking notepad today and walk around this weekend and tallymark how many fucking Hellfire Club shirts you’ll see this week. You’re going to be sick of it. I haven’t even seen ‘Stranger Things’ but that permeates the culture and that brings people more to horror and different things like that, where you’ll be like “Okay that’s cool”. It gives old things new life to new people. It gets exposure to new creators whether it’s movies, whether it’s books like I’m doing, whether it’s whatever. It brings new people in. So I think that it’s in a good place, I think there’s a lot of good crossover that happens right now in mainstream pop culture with horror. I don’t think it’s stale, especially with so many options like Shudder, Screambox, all these fucking weird channels where you can watch any horror movie that you ever thought you could imagine. That’s a good thing. If we were in a stale period I think we wouldn’t have those things.
What do you think it takes to a golden age?
Is that pen blinking?
No it’s a gem, the light is reflecting off of it.
Oh I thought “Dude are you doing some top secret shit, is that a camera?”
You’re being recorded, this is actually Casting Couch.
Well huh huh alright. To get to a golden age? I don’t know I think we’re there. I think you have to have access. Usually a big event in pop culture that plants the seed in more people than it normally would and they say “Maybe I wanna check out some horror. Maybe I would like something that’s a little darker”. I think things like ‘Stranger Things’, I’ve only seen the first season, I don’t know anything about it, I don’t have anything against it or towards it, but I know a lot of people like it and it brings a lot of people to horror. You have to have something big like that. I think we have some things that they’re able to get out there more like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, or the Halloween ones, that everyone can kind of get into immediately. I think that’s what it does take to get in the golden age, maybe we are in one. If that’s the parameters, if you’re trying to put parameters on it. Put parameters on your penis. You can put that in the notes.
Gatherings of The Damned
When you are on the convention floor, you’re booth is like a carnival. What is the strategy when you vend at conventions? What do you think sets you aside in this domain?
My strategy on the floor is to always be engaging and genuine. Even if you take away all the lights and crazy shit I have on the table, I’m still standing up the entire time, I’m still talking to everyone that walks by, I’m still trying to engage with you and be genuine. I think that that is the only reason why I have a career today. Even us talking today is a testament to that. Yes we’re very good friends and yes I love you like a son, but think about how we met. You were walking by the table, we struck up a genuine conversation about writing, it was a genuine connection. I know that’s what matters. So therefore I’m always trying to build those. I don’t give a shit if you’re going to buy my stuff or read my things, let’s just have a conversation about it and that’s fine. Maybe somewhere down the line it pays off, either way I’m here doing what I love, I’m going to be happy about it. So you can come up, I can talk to you about what I’m doing and have a great time, if not then no. It’s fun, I understand what this is. These people come to conventions, sometimes it’s their vacation for the whole year. We’re going to have fun, so if you’re coming by my booth it’s a good time, yes it’s very lively, there’s a lot of energy But it’s all about just making a connection and being who I am. Yes, all that shit is crazy, Dave, and you know that. The lights, the makeup, I’m still the same person regardless. We’re sitting in your room right now recording this, I’m the same if I was down at the booth. You know what I mean? And that’s what it’s really about.
John Wayne, you are a man of many tales. Some people don’t believe me when I say that these conventions are layered with absolutely insane stories. Do you have one for us that you could share?
I don’t know, what crazy things are you talking about? I’m just joking. So Nick P., shouts out, my best friend who I traveled with all the time, he and I were at a convention in Atlanta. In Atlanta or Indianapolis? It doesn’t matter. No we were in Atlanta. We took some acid, so like 4 hits, basically a bunch of acid. The floor is over, but I’m supposed to be playing a couple songs at the VIP Party afterwards. So Nick and I go up to the room, we’re already like “Woo!. We go to the bathroom, we smoke a bowl, and just start chatting, I was just like “We have to get it together we have to go back downstairs, so you’re coming with me right?” and he’s like “Yeah yeah”.
So I’m like alright, let’s go get ready. He walks out of the bathroom, I’m there, take a piss, wash up. Right before that Nick is like “Yeah I just have to get my belt on, then I should be ready”, I’m like alright cool. I walk into the room and Nick is standing there between the two beds, he’s got his belt in one hand, and a remote in the other hand. He’s watching this scene from this movie with Bruce Stern in it. It’s some sci fi movie, and he’s watching this scene where this falcon comes in and lands on his shoulder and shit, and we’re talking like “yeah ha ha that’s funny”. I walked out then came back in and was like “Dude I thought you were getting ready”, and he says “I am, I just gotta find my belt”. I was like, “dude you’re holding your belt” and he goes, “Oh ha ha you’re right I am!”. This is not a hyperbole, this is real. So Nick puts his belt on, I get my guitar, I put beers in my pocket to take down, and we finally get out to the hall. And he’s walking and I’m like dude hurry up. Nick is taking his sweet ass time, and I tell him to hurry up, we’re already supposed to be down there, let’s go. So we’re walking down the hallway, it’s a fair jaunt to the elevator at the end, and I turn around and Nick is like twenty feet behind me. Just looking at the fucking ceiling. I said, “Nick, dude, I know you’re feeling good but we have to hurry up we have to go, we have to keep it together, dude whatever the fuck you want but I have to be down there now”. So he says “I’m coming I’m coming”. I grunt and I turn around to the end of the hall where the elevator is, then I turn back around and Nick is gone. Like he’s gone. This is a long ass hallway, and Nick is just not there anymore. Nick is a big fat Mexican guy, he’s not flight of foot or fancy. If he were to run back I would’ve heard or seen him. So I’m like… okay I can’t even deal with this. So I just get in the elevator, I go down, I play a couple songs and have a couple of beers.
I go back upstairs, go to the room, and Nick is sitting on the bed, with the remote, playing that same fucking scene with the falcon landing on Bruce Stern’s shoulder. I was like, “Dude, what the fuck?!”. He went, “Oh hey man, was wondering where you went!”. “Where I went? Where the fuck did you go?”, he says, “What do you mean?”. “We were going to the fucking thing, you were in the hallway behind me and you just disappear”. He goes, “Ohhh, what?’. He actually just bent down to fix his shoelace and he went to lean on the wall but he accidentally leaned on the door that goes into where the ice machine and vending machines are. And it looks like the hotel room doors, but it just swings open. So he leans on that and stumbles in, doors shut, and he said, “I see the candy machine and thought I was on break or shit”. I said “On break from what?”. He goes, “Exactly”. He then says, “So yeah I just stood there for a few minutes and I was like oh yeah I was supposed to go to that thing- ah, nevermind. I just went back to the room and was waiting on you”. I was like what the fuck, and he said, “Yeah dude, look, Bruce Stern”. Then I laughed and we had another beer and just watched that fucking scene a bunch of times.
What does success look like to you?
Success is different to everybody. Everyone should have their own definition of success. Success to me is ever changing. It’s not a set it and forget it type of thing. But right now success for me is that this is what I get to do, I don’t have to punch a clock or do anything for anybody else. All i want to do is be comfortable and of course I have aspirations for growth in certain areas. You know success is that I don’t have to wait in line for anything, ie: come in the back door of everywhere like in that scene in Goodfellas. I want people to bring me free drugs all the time, and I want a low rider car. I’m like 2 out of 3, I’m almost fucking there. Just to be comfortable, not have to work for anybody else, I get to write my own check. That’s what my definition of success is, but I encourage everyone to find their own definition.
For someone who wants to do what you do, what is a final piece of motivation?
Don’t quit. It’s hard, none of this is an instant gratification thing. But if this is what you want to do, dedicate yourself to your craft, whatever your craft may be. Know that it is something that takes a lot of hard work, you may see me on social media or whatever, I make this look glamorous but it’s grinding. It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of sacrifice. But if you know what you want. Don’t quit and do the work that it takes to get it done.
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