Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross rework John Carpenter’s classic theme “Halloween”

John Carpenter’s ‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’; a collection of his classic movie themes, is set for release next Friday, October 20th via Sacred Bones. To celebrate, this Friday 13th, we share a new version of the track by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

“I clearly remember my friends and I at 13 years old conning our parents into letting us see Halloween when it came out in 1978″ says Reznor. “We left the theatre forever changed. We were damaged and scarred, with the shit genuinely scared out of us and that theme stuck firmly in our heads.

John Carpenter, it’s your fault that I turned out the way I did.”

Reznor & Ross’ recorded their homage to one of horror’s greatest anthems from scratch and it got the seal of approval from the man himself. John Carpenter reacted to their recording saying: “Moody and dark, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ version of HALLOWEEN does amazing justice to the original. I’m impressed.”

Listen to “Halloween (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross version)” here: https://youtu.be/DAbDvqPFXvQ
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‘Anthology…’ will be celebrated with an album playback in absolute darkness in London this October 31st, courtesy of Pitchblack Playback. Details can be found here.

John Carpenter is a legend. As the director and composer behind dozens of classic movies, Carpenter has established a reputation as one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of modern cinema, as well as one of its most influential musicians. The minimal, synthesizer-driven themes to films like Halloween, Escape From New York, and Assault on Precinct 13 are as indelible as their images, and their timelessness was evident as Carpenter performed them live in a string of internationally sold-out concert dates in 2016.

‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’ collects 13 classic themes from Carpenter’s illustrious career together on one volume for the first time. Each theme has been newly recorded with the same collaborators that Carpenter worked with on his hit ‘Lost Themes’ studio albums: his son, Cody Carpenter, and godson, Daniel Davies.

‘Anthology…’ is a near-comprehensive survey of John Carpenter’s greatest themes, from his very first movie, the no-budget sci-fi film Dark Star, to 1998’s supernatural Western, Vampires. Those sit alongside the driving, Led Zeppelin-influenced Assault on Precinct 13 theme, Halloween’s iconic 5/4 piano riff, and the eerie synth work of The Fog. Carpenter and his band also cover Ennio Morricone’s bleak, minimalist theme for The Thing. (“I asked Morricone to please compose something with a very few notes,” Carpenter says. “And brilliantly, he did.”)

We also get vital new recordings of the themes to ’80s classics and fan favorites Big Trouble in Little China, Escape From New York, Christine, and They Live, along with the romantic Starman, which earned Jeff Bridges his first Oscar nomination as a lead actor. The collection is rounded out by the menacing, heavy themes to Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness, the latter a Metallica-inspired riff originally played for the film by Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, and now played by his son Daniel.

In the weeks following ‘Anthology’s October 20 release, Carpenter will return to the road, playing both classic movie themes and material from his two ‘Lost Themes’ albums. The performances will once again affirm the power of the Horror Master’s brilliant work as a composer and musician, and undoubtedly send audiences rushing home to their DVD libraries to dive yet again into the most rewarding filmography in genre cinema.

In addition to CD, black LP and digital version, ‘Anthology…’ will be available on the following limited edition colour vinyl formats:
– DELUXE LP w/ 7″ – “CHRISTINE RED” – 3000 units (exclusively available in stores outside of the US)
– DELUXE LP w/ 7″ – “THE FOG OVER ANTONIO BAY” – 2000 units (exclusively available in US stores)
– COLOUR LP – “ANTI-GOD GREEN” – 500 units (exclusively available through Sacred Bones mail-order) **SOLD OUT**
– DELUXE LP w/ 7″ – “HALLOWEEN ORANGE” – 500 units (exclusively available via Sacred Bones mail-order) **SOLD OUT**
– DELUXE LP w/ 7″ – “DARK STAR DEEP SPACE” – 500 units (exclusively available on tour)

‘Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998’ track list:
1. In the Mouth of Madness (stream)
2. Assault on Precinct 13
3. The Fog
4. Prince of Darkness
5. Santiago (Vampires)
6. Escape From New York
7. Halloween (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross version)
8. Porkchop Express (Big Trouble in Little China)
9. They Live
10. The Thing
11. Starman
12. Dark Star
13. Christine (official video)

John Carpenter North American live dates:
Oct 29: Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint at Hard Rock Casino
Oct 31: Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Nov 2: Anaheim, CA @ City National Grove
Nov 4: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Nov 5: Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
Nov 7: Maplewood, MN @ Myth Live
Nov 9: Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
Nov 10: Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
Nov 12: Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall
Nov 13: Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
Nov 15: Boston, MA @ Royale
Nov 16: New York, NY @ Terminal 5
Nov 18: Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
Nov 19: Syracuse, NY @ The Palace Theatre