Top Ten Musical Ghosts

By Brent Chittenden

(Best read as Count Floyd from SCTV)

Oooooo Welcome to the first of our spooky Halloween top ten lists. All month we are going to be counting down the best in scary performers, rockin Halloween costumes and other spooktacular lists! Now sometimes when we die, we don’t pass from the plane and the same seems to go for musicians. So here are the Top Ten Musical Ghosts AWOOOOOOOO!

10) The Mansion Ghost

Okay, the ghost isn’t a musician but I have a feeling he’s a music lover. The mansion is located in Laurel Canyon and happens to be owned by Rick Rubin. Rubin has used it as a recording studio for albums from RHCP and Slipknot and many more. A lot of the bands have reported spooky goings on and the appearances of spirits (one even made it on to the Blood Sugar Sex Magik photos, it’s supposedly that football sized smudge). And the ghost isn’t that of Harry Houdini. His house was the one next door. If he keeps appearing to all of these bands, he’s gotta love rock, right?

9) Mama Cass

This one comes from an a Ghostbuster. Dan Aykroyd owned a home previously owned by Mama Cass and claims that the ghost of Cass haunts the residence. Apparently she moves things around, turns the stairmaster on and even tried to climb into bed with Aykroyd.

8) Jim Morrison

Sunset Studios is a legendary recording studio in Hollywood. Everyone from Bing Crosby to Van Halen has recorded in their studios as well as The Doors. But apparently Jim Morrison occasional still roams the halls and makes quick appearances to bands recording there. He also seems to have a thing for flicking on and off the lights. Morrison has also been spotted and possibly photographed by his own grave.

7) John Lennon

The ghost of Lennon has been spotted on a few occasions outside his last residence, The Dakota in New York.

6) Buddy Holly

You would think a ghost of Holly’s stature would have better things to do then stand out in the field where his plane crashed but that’s exactly where he was spotted.

5) Kurt Cobain

Kurt’s ghost gets around. When it was still standing he was spotted int the windows of the place where he committed suicide, various Seattle landmarks. Hard to believe that a guy who struggled with fame would be showing up often and in numerous places.

4) Liberace

Liberace has recently been back in the limelight due to the Michael Douglas bio pic but for years, the pianist has haunted his old restaurant in Vegas.

3) Hank Williams

Country legend Hank Williams still hasn’t gotten over being dismissed from the Grand Ole’ Opry for drunkenness as he’s been seen at the Opry’s former home, the Ryman Auditorium.

2) Gram Parsons

After his drug overdose death and then the wild ride his body went on afterwards, no wonder his ghost still hangs out in room number 8 of the Joshua Tree Inn where he died.

1) Elvis

Elvis has been seen “alive” pretty much everywhere so it’s kind of fitting that his ghost has been seen almost everywhere as well. From Graceland to the former RCA studios to Vegas hotels where he stayed, the King’s spirit has been taking care of business.