One of the most prolific horror writers and well-known storytellers of all time, Stephen King has dipped his fingers into film, television, and books, but he also wrote a Southern Gothic-styled musical with none other than rock legend John Cougar Mellencamp.
A true master of horror, King has sold more than 350 million copies of his various novels, and has dominated the horror genre since the 1970s. Bursting onto the scene in 1973 with his smash hit, Carrie, King’s career was on the rise from that point on. To date, he has published 61 novels and has written around 200 short stories. The short stories have been featured in larger collections, such as his most recent, If It Bleeds (2020). King dabbles primarily in horror, but has reached outside into suspense and thriller categories, and has a distinct style that is character-driven, slow-burn, and closely examines different elements of the human condition. King has openly discussed his struggles with writer’s block, substance abuse, and other difficulties in his life, which have inspired novels such as The Shining and Misery.
Though TV and movie adaptations of King’s work have been featured for decades, King’s work still continues to be on the rise in the late 2010s and in 2020. Recently, one of his newer books, The Outsider, was adapted into a television series for HBO, Mike Flanagan tackled a movie adaptation of his sequel to The Shining, continuing the story of Danny Torrance in Doctor Sleep, and there are many upcoming works from the author that are slated for television and movies in 2020 and beyond. However, one of his lesser-known projects was a musical called Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, which never picked up much steam, but was unmistakably on-brand for King.
Stephen King’s Musical With John Mellencamp Explained
Horror musicals are nothing new; though they may seem like an interesting mash-up, they have become increasingly popular in recent years. From original musicals like The Devil’s Carnival and Repo! The Genetic Opera from Saw director Darren Lynn Bousman to cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and even other oddball hits like Brian DePalma’s Phantom of the Paradise, they tend to run the gamut in terms of blending horror with musical elements. However, many of these tend to be made for movies, not the Broadway stage. Even so, King’s own work – and other horror movies – have been adapted for Broadway, including Carrie, American Psycho, and The Evil Dead.
Stephen King’s musical was different, though, and held a personal touch from the author. King wrote the book for Ghost Brothers of Darkland County and John Mellencamp wrote the music and lyrics. Mellencamp’s was open about saying that it wasn’t going to be what audiences expected, and shut down the idea of it being anything like “‘Jack and Diane’ meets Cujo“. Instead, King took inspiration from the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, set it against a Southern Gothic horror background of a small town in Mississippi.
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is a suspenseful ghost story that mixes elements of horror such as urban legends and folklore with familial violence and deep, dark secrets. Mellencamp wanted to bring his brand of Americana, but integrate genres that reflected each character’s age. The soundtrack features some big names, including Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, and Kris Kristofferson. It first opened in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012 and had a short run. Reviews from critics were mixed, and it never really took off, but its existence serves to showcase the true range of horror master Stephen King, and adds another interesting feather in his cap that most fans don’t even know about.
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