The Day We Played Dead

It must have been 1981, I was about 14 yo,  Josh and Pete came to me, my sister and our friends on East 18th Street  about a "photo shoot" for their band, Fallout. I remember it was a very small  print run - about 500 singles - I still have my copy hanging up on my bedroom wall.

Peter Steele - bass and vocals

Josh Silver - keyboards

John Campos - guitars

Louie Beateaux - Drums

Around the corner from Nettie and Pete's house was Midwood Field (where the Midwood HS football team played) and where Marty Markowitz held free concerts on Summer nights. I remember Peter and Josh told us to round up our friends and follow them behind the stadium, next to the train tracks to an overgrown area that was off limits to people (but everyone went there anyway).

While Peter's bandmates got themselves ready for the shoot, Peter and the photographer told us where he wanted us to lay down and pretend we were dead. Friends were positioned hanging out of trees, on rocks, on the floor, mouths open, eyes closed, while the band stood on us and next to us as the photographer snapped away.

I remember being thrilled because my crush (Josh) had his foot ontop of my back while posing for the pictures. We stayed back there for hours, covered in dirt, garbage and leaves, changing positions to suit the band's taste.

Months later I recieved my 45 record as a thank you for being an extra in the shots. The two songs released were Batteries Not Included and Rock Hard. It was a great experience, but I do remember being skeeved out by the worms and bugs that I saw up close.

But, it's what you do for art and family.