ABC for Kids: Monster Mash (1991)
Bobby Pickett on New York at Night (1991)
The Chipmunks cover "The Monster Mash" (1994)
The Misfits cover "The Monster Mash" (1998)
The Monster Mash: Everything You Didn't Know (2024)
00:35:00
Bobby Boris Pickett’s Monster Mash became a cultural phenomenon, with even Boris Karloff, the original Frankenstein monster, showing appreciation for the song. In 1965, Karloff and Ted Cassidy (who played Lurch on The Addams Family) performed Monster Mash on the music show Shindig, creating a unique moment where Karloff was doing an impression of Pickett, who was in turn doing an impression of him. However, despite their mutual admiration for the song, Pickett and Karloff never met in person. The song’s legacy has only grown, with performances from stars like Mike Tyson and Bobby Brown in 2005, further cementing Monster Mash as an iconic Halloween anthem. Pickett also shared a story about Elvis Presley allegedly disliking the song. He claimed that a girl who frequented Elvis’ house told him that Elvis thought Monster Mash was “the stupidest thing” he had ever heard. Pickett, ever the performer, often retold this anecdote during his live shows, adding, “If you're still out there listening, Elvis, I'm still here,” poking fun at the King of Rock. This story added to Pickett's reputation as a playful and somewhat rebellious figure in the music world, keeping the audience engaged with his witty remarks and humorous commentary. Despite the success of Monster Mash, Pickett was unable to fully capitalize on it due to industry setbacks. John Zacherly, another TV horror host, released his own Monster Mash album before Pickett could record a follow-up, forcing Pickett to title his own album The Original Monster Mash. Pickett blamed delays and poor planning on his producer Gary Paxton, whom he described as unprofessional. These inefficiencies led to missed opportunities, as Zacherly’s version of the song sold tens of thousands of copies, and Pickett was unable to release a full album in time to match that success. Despite the frustration, Pickett and Zacherly had no ill will, and there’s even footage of the two performing the song together later on.
00:40:00
After Monster Mash, Bobby Boris Pickett attempted to reinvent himself as a teen idol, releasing a ballad called "Graduation Day," which he later admitted was embarrassing. Though it cracked the Hot 100 in 1963, it wasn’t enough to cement him as a lasting pop star. He continued his musical journey, though, recording a novelty cover of "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette" in 1964, which was released by his band, the Filter Tip Kickers. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t ideal, as smoking’s health risks were beginning to be widely recognized. Pickett did, however, manage to secure guest spots on TV shows like Dr. Kildare, Petticoat Junction, and Bonanza. Despite his hard work and versatility, Pickett never achieved significant success as an actor. He continued to perform in regional theater and eventually co-starred with Tony Curtis in the 1989 film Lobster Man from Mars. Pickett even ventured into folk music in the late 60s with his wife, Joan Payne, forming a duo and touring Europe, with reports suggesting they reached as far as Afghanistan. By the early 70s, the couple had moved to New York, where Pickett drove a cab and Payne worked as a waitress. During this time, Monster Mash recharted, and Pickett was unaware of its resurgence until he called the head of London Records, wondering if he could get paid for the song’s success. Pickett made another foray into novelty music in the 70s with Star Drek, a Star Trek parody that became a hit on the Dr. Demento show. The song featured the USS Enterprise being renamed the "Boobie Prize" and became a fan favorite. Pickett also made a return to live performances, and there’s even speculation that a young Eddie Van Halen may have played with him during the band's California gigs in the 1970s. Though his mainstream success never fully materialized, Pickett’s persistence in the entertainment world kept him relevant in niche circles for decades.
00:45:00
After his string of novelty hits, Bobby Boris Pickett continued to experiment with his music, releasing King Kong Your Song in 1984 and Monster Rap in 1985. The latter featured Frankenstein's monster learning how to rap under the guidance of a scientist voiced by Pickett, once again utilizing his signature Boris Karloff impression. Although the song blended elements of 80s hip hop with synthesizer beats, it still leaned into the novelty genre. Pickett also kept the Monster Mash brand alive, releasing Climate Mash in 2005, a version of the classic hit focused on climate change, and Monster Slash in 2004, a song encouraging citizens to protect America’s wilderness. Despite the continued novelty songs, Pickett often quipped that Monster Mash had been paying his rent for decades. However, the rights to Monster Mash became a persistent issue throughout his career. Despite Monster Mash's success, Pickett had a difficult time navigating the legal entanglements that came with it. In the late 70s, he and his producer Gary S. Paxton attempted to re-release the song but encountered roadblocks with Polygram International, which claimed ownership. In 1993, after discovering he did not own the master recording, Pickett worked with manager Stuart Hirsch to re-record the song and market it for licensing opportunities. They even set up a website, themonstermash.com, which is still live today and features Hirsch’s personal contact details. Pickett continued to perform, stating that by the mid-90s, he was working more than he had in years, including performing at theme parks like Spooky World, which was an international Halloween attraction. By this time, Pickett had also ventured into musical theater, writing a musical titled I'm Sorry, The Bridge Is Out, You'll Have To Spend The Night with Sheldon Allman, a TV writer. This caught the attention of Toy Story co-writers Joel Cohen and Alex Sokolow, who turned it into a movie called Monster Mash, starring Pickett, Dr. Demento, John Waters, and even Candace Cameron. The film was part of a broader wave of pop culture nostalgia, a testament to how Monster Mash and its creator had left an indelible mark on both Halloween music and pop culture, despite the ups and downs of Pickett's career.
