EDITOR’S NOTE: Today we’re joined by Guest Contributor Michael Corbett! Michael has been writing for several years, but has been a strange kid all his life. Be sure to check out more of his brain drippings over on his site, My Rotting Brain.
Back in the days when VH1 and MTV played mainly music videos, they actually had a lot of fun and original programming. It’s hard to believe, given that both networks now seem to air nothing but reasons to be embarrassed about society’s current state, but I assure you it’s true. In VH1’s case, they enjoyed taking existing programs and injecting them with a rock element. You’ve probably heard of Rock & Roll Jeopardy, but chances are you’ve forgotten STRANGE FREQUENCY.
Strange Frequency was an anthology series that ran for one season back in 2001. Featuring tales of the weird, fantastic and macabre, it was very reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, but what set the show apart was that all its stories were in some way related to music. From a guitar tech who sells his soul for a song that will make him famous, to an aging rock star who destroys hotel rooms and the cleaning lady he can’t seem to best, each episode touches on the darker, more mysterious side of rock & roll.
The musical influence even extended out to the show’s host. While The Twilight Zone had Rod Serling and Tales from the Crypt had The Crypt Keeper, Strange Frequency had The Who’s Roger Daltrey. Daltrey seemed to relish the role, in fact, happily evoking a sinister tone whenever needed. He even took a turn acting on the show, playing the Devil in the episode “Soul Man.”
As far as episodes go, there are two that stand out in my mind the most. Unfortunately, neither is currently on Youtube, but both are on the DVD releases. The first episode “My Generation” has an aging hippie who preys on hitchhikers trying to catch a lift to a concert. It’s his way of showing his contempt for new music, as he doesn’t feel anyone appreciates the music from his generation. The hippie meets his match, however, in the form of a young hitchhiker who has a similar issue with people not respecting the music of today’s youth. What follows is a quick witted and fun cat-and-mouse game as the would-be killers try to one up each other.
The second memorable episode, titled “Disco Inferno” finds two headbangers who get into a car accident following a concert. Their search for help brings them to the only club they can find, an all night disco. The longer they stay, the more apparent it becomes that they may have just stumbled into their own personal hell… a hell from which they might never escape.
Sadly, Strange Frequency suffered the same fate as many horror anthologies and had an all too brief run of only one season. VH1 has almost never aired repeats and the show looked to be a lost relic until it found it’s way to DVD a few years ago. The two releases only cover eight of the twelve episodes, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers. If you love The Twilight Zone, and you like your music turned up to 11, then tune into Strange Frequency, it might be just what you’re looking for.
