written and produced by Viktor Devonne for 2 Night Stay
recorded and performed by Matt Storm
transcription:
Hi, this is Ramona Malone from the Gilman Legacy Foundation. I’m calling in reference to the advance copy I received regarding the passing of Requiem that is set to air tomorrow evening.
I’m afraid I’m going to need Mr. Ludding and the producers of Music Video News Break to give me a call back. Nothing serious, but there are a few items that I’m going to need to address. I believe we sent Mr. Benson the original release that I authorized, and Mr. Ludding certainly took a few liberties. I would hate to bring anyone from our legal department have to get involved.
Specifically we’re going to need you adjust the quotes from the band members to reflect their latest statement that I have already faxed over. And I need you to remove any insinuation the hotel has anything to do with his passing. Oh and if you’re able to remove that comment about the band recording their demo here that would be great. Finally, I see no reason to include Mr. Cobin in this story and we at the foundation don’t appreciate that implication.
I’m afraid I have about a dozen or so other notes and I suggest you give me a call back by 6 tonight. Thank you so much. The number you can reach me at 555-9424 and my extension is 7. You have a wonderful evening, now.
…
Ken Ludding with a Music Video News Break.
Requiem, lead vocalist for the Last Boys, was found dead by authorities at abandoned hotel The Gilman on Monday. While details were not made immediately available to the press, Requiem (born Henry Jane Fullton, 10/2/1960) age 27, was discovered by unidentified witnesses early in the morning of February 15th.
Fullton, who legally changed his name to Requiem in 1985 after a meteoric rise to fame with his industrial-synth rock band, made headlines this past Christmas when the fall tour Tear the Flesh ’89 was cancelled and the singer went into what was described as “hiding,” by his bandmates, who released a separate statement indicating the cancellation came as a surprise to them. This seclusion brought Fullton to multiple cities, ending at the famed and notorious hotel The Gilman, which closed doors due to health code violations in 1986.
Requiem was discovered in an abandoned, unfurnished room on the third floor, with what can be described as stripped bed quarters and unsanitary conditions. It is unclear when Requiem entered the establishment, or precisely how he entered, however documents indicate he may have been there at least a week before his death, and that indeed he was found within hours of his actual death, despite his seclusion for up to that time. It would be the last of several visitations Requiem would make to the once bustling hotel, having been one of his frequent haunts when the Last Boys became successful in 1984. Indeed, it is legend that at least half the album, Rage In Favor, was written there and the demo sent to the label BioLumina was indeed postmarked from Gilman Street. Requiem would later joke that he made a pact with the devil for the album to be a hit while in a hotel room, which would later be revealed as the Gilman.
Alas, in summer of 1986, after a rash of complaints, the hotel was shut down while the Last Boys were on tour in Scandinavia. The hotel, recently famous for it being the final inhabitance of serial murderer Edgar Corbin n 1982, and something of a tourist attraction therefore, shut its doors by autumn 1986.
Requiem’s final years have seem to have culminated in a frenzy of usual-for-him behavior, from proclamations of vampirism in Rolling Stone in 1987, and forward and frank discussions of the occult during what was intended as a relatively light-hearted evening chat show in the UK, leading the host to sit motionless for several minutes while Requiem discussed Satan.
A fan vigil was organized Monday night outside the Gilman Hotel, which shut its doors to the public and provided private entrances and exits to its existing patrons and longterm stays. Fan club president Melora Debbenski organized the event through word of mouth, appearing in a near identical wine-red leather suit and cape ensemble that Requiem wore in the “Virgin Sacrifice” music video, which premiered on music video networks only this past Halloween. Requiem appeared in the same attire for promotional photos declaring the Tear Your Flesh ’89 world tour, which was scheduled to start in Helsinki in May.
Requiem and the Last Boys were riding a wave of six hit 12” singles and their latest, “Drown Your Face,” was set to premiere Tuesday, the 23rd of this month It is anticipated the single will move as expected, although radio stations have been playing on near loop, the now classic first single of the Last Boys, “Die Die Die (Darling)” and its award-winning follow-up, “Spit Dust.”
Last Boys lead guitarist Kurtis Mock called the news of Requiem’s passing, “on time,” and drummer Harvey Goode said “Req never should have gone back there.” Bassist Malcolm Binge commented “He’s not dead; he can’t die.” While the band’s manager, Jervis Capshaw, did not elaborate on any of these statements, he requested privacy for the band and their families at this time. It is not known if Requeim had any living family at the time of his death, considered one of the great loners of his field, and not connected to any romantic relationships during the band’s success.
Requiem, called the atomic accident mutation lovechild of Wendy O. Williams and Alice Cooper, was last noted to declare “I’m going home, ya bleeders.” on the now legendary Height of Hits countdown in December. It would be his last public appearance, as the band struggled three times to get through a fourteen minute version of their hit single “Voice Inside the Wall.”
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