FFWD Weekly
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Street Sounds by Aubrey McInnis The last time that Forbidden Dimension was raised from the crypt, a massive audience of doting devotees were worked into a scare-raisin’ frenzy. In fact, more than a couple crazed fans leaped onstage to hug, kiss and pose for snapshots with lead singer/guitarist, Jackson Phibes, while he growled out witty post-mortem tales and cemetery shakers. It was an unforgettable display of fanaticism. Forbidden Dimension will return to the stage during The Night Gallery’s Garage Horror Rock Burlesque Weekend Extravaganza – the club’s playful ploy to startle curious denim-clad stragglers wandering in from Stampede’s Nashvile North. But instead of a C&W combo, on Friday, folks will be treated to a fun, rambunctious ’n’ rowdy rock fest led by Phibes, Scary Coleman (drums), Ozzy Osmond (bass) and Darth Brooks (keys). By the sounds of their pre-party practice jam, it’ll be cooler than a morgue at midnight as they’re ready to rock the crowd once again. "This is probably the first time with the keyboards, so it sounds more like the records," says Coleman, who has been practicing pounding the skins in heavy chains. "It’s like going to see The Cars – no surprises. That’s what people like." The songs they will be performing come from the popular catalogue of numerous singles and four sinfully delightful long-players, like this year’s A Coffinful of Crows – a fuzzy drum machine memoir culled from six-feet under and six years of FD glory. In FD’s downtime, members have wandered the realms of the living in the delinquent lad outfit the English Teeth (watch for boogie-lovin’ bassist, Osmond, serving double time), the brilliant "prog-rock" project Sweet Cop Sour Cop (Phibes and Coleman) and The Drapes (Coleman and Brooks). Fans of the band will also recognize Phibes as the highly revered artist Tomb (Tom Bagley to his mum), whose work soups up many magazines around town including Calgary (he draws the purdiest cartoon gals around). Additionally, Phibes is highly sought after to create dazzling album covers and curvaceous gig posters with his trademark style. Among his fave inspirations are the macabre Joseph Payne Brennan, the chilling Frederic Brown, Bernie Writeson and pulpy relics from the ’50s and ’70s. The inspirations have made FD what it is today and, according to Phibes, it’s still a mystery to most. "It’s kind of a really minor select few people who kinda get what the idea of the band is... the guys know about horror movies and stuff like that, so they have an idea of where some of the ideas from the songs (come from)," explains Phibes. "A lot of the stuff that I was getting song ideas for are totally out of the mainstream now, but they were in the mainstream 50 years ago. I was reading old Weird Tales and pulps, stuff like the old horror comics and stuff from the ’70s, like, that’s when I was growing up. There’s just nobody out there who gets that, has any idea of that stuff, that’s seen us. A lot of the guys think it’s a weird goth bag or something like that, and the other group think it’s just a rock band with a horror shtick." While other horror rockers are as removable as their make-up in music history, it looks like FD’s legend will continue with the infusion of new blood in the (semi-rotating) roster. Being as they will be all ghouled-up for their performance, it will be a guessing game as to which local hotshot musician is holding which instrument. If I disclosed their real identities, I’d risk being embalmed alive so you’ll just have to show up and see the next spectacle for yourself (remember to bring your cameras and Chapstick).

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