I Was A Teenage Werewolf

Happy Halloween! I don't actually have a whole lot of time to devote to this article, unlike last year's Halloween Spooktacular. As I was looking around for inspiration and scary ideas to write about, I was sent "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" by Chico Fellini (official / myspace).

I was a teenage werewolf, braces on my fangs!

The song is a cover of the classic Cramps (myspace) 1980 song from their album, Songs The Lord Taught Us. As with the original and the cover, they both feature that distinctive guitar riff and, er, campy and moody vocals. I'm not sure what the deal is with the Chico Fellini cover, but there's about 45 seconds of "extra" jewelery box music at the end. I only ask because I had to boost up my volume to catch it.

If you love the Cramps, it might be worth your while to try and track download the bootleg called Songs The Lord Might Have Taught Us, which features an alternate mix of "I Was a Teenage Werewolf". I believe it might actually be the "Original Mix" found as bonus CD tracks on reissues, minus the Lux Interior's blowup at the false start.

Anyway, what the song is ultimately about is "growing pains" of a teenage werewolf, and I'm assuming describes the 50s film (having never seen it myself). The 50s horror film of the same name, starring a young Michael Landon, of Little House on the Prairie fame was so successful that it inspired other films such as "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein", "I was a Teenage Mummy", "I Was a Teenage Serial Killer", and "I Was a Teenage Intellectual", etc.

The Remus Lupins - I Was a Teenage Werewolf

What's not a cover song is "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" by The Remus Lupins (myspace). Fans of Harry Potter should have already known about this Wizard Rock group, and if you've never heard of Wizard Rock, then my friend, you are not a Potter fan. I'm not a fan, but I think I've mentioned before that I've come to the conclusion that the teacher Remus Lupin is a werewolf in the book series. The band's name is taken from the teacher's name.

As a bonus, here's also the most famous Wizard Rock band, Harry and the Potters (official / myspace) with their song "My Teacher is a Werewolf". In fact, here's even more Werewolfy songs from previous year's entries.

Harry and the Potters - My Teacher is a Werewolf 1 comment	The Browns - American Werewolf in Calgary	Cocorosie - Werewolf	Scary Bitches - Werewolf	Southern Culture On The Skids - Werewolf
Michael Shields - Ginger Snaps Theme	Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London 3 comments	Running Wild - Prowling Werewolf 1 comment	London - Werewolves In London	Cat Power - Werewolf 7 comments
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - She Said 2 comments	La Union - Lobo Hombre En Paris 1 comment	the Dillinger Escape Plan - Sunshine the Werewolf	The Born Losers - Werewolves on Wheels	Metallica - Of Wolf and Man