EVIL DEAD IN CONCERT Q&A with Joe LoDuca

Kicking off this month is Evil Dead In Concert, a screening of the iconic horror film while a live ensemble performs Joe LoDuca's entire musical score! With the tour starting next week in Buffalo, NY, I caught up with LoDuca to discuss his original experience on the cult classic, revisiting it decades later for the new tour, and more:

You've worked on the Evil Dead franchise for years, from composing the original score to reimagining it recently. What's it been like to return to this iconic score for Evil Dead In Concert?

Joe LoDuca: It grew out of my desire to revisit the inspiration for my very first film score, based around a string quartet. It started as a suite recorded for MONDO Records and grew into an entire live-to-picture concert produced by my agent Richard Kraft and Black Ink Productions.

Do you have a personal favorite moment or memory from your original work on The Evil Dead that still resonates with you today?

Joe LoDuca: Hearing my music on the big screen at the premiere at the Redford Theater in Michigan was life-changing. It was a career I had been preparing for without even knowing it.

The Evil Dead films have such a passionate, dedicated fanbase. Are you excited to experience it in a live setting with an audience?

Joe LoDuca: This time the show is touring with an ensemble. It was the most fun on previous occasions when I was a member of the band, playing keyboards, percussion and guitar and conducting suites before the film.

You've had such a successful career, with many credits across horror films and TV shows. For those looking to compose music, do you have a go-to tip for those looking to create music for a horror movie?

Joe LoDuca: Everyone’s path is different. The one piece of advice I give to aspiring musicians is simply to say yes to every opportunity to collaborate. I had some skills, Sam Raimi gave me an opportunity, and it turned into a career. As far as horror, if you can scare yourself, there is a good chance you can scare an audience.

Outside of Evil Dead In Concert, are there any other upcoming projects you'd like to share with our readers?

Joe LoDuca: I am writing the second season of THE LIBRARIANS for Dean Devlin and TNT.

The reboot of SPARTACUS will be dropping this fall on STARZ. A warm and funny comedy entitled ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY will be in theaters on October 3rd. I just finished Bruce Campbell’s film, ERNIE and EMMA. Look out for that one! And of course CHUCKY always lies in waiting. Stay tuned…

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For more information about Evil Dead In Concert, including the full tour schedule and tickets, visit www.evildeadinconcert.com and follow @evildeadinconcert on Instagram.

From the Press Release: Black Ink Presents, a division of Terrapin Station Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment, today announced its next live-to-film production that resurrects Sam Raimi’s beloved cult classic in a way audiences have never seen before -- in this lifetime. Evil Dead In Concert (www.evildeadinconcert.com) launches September 22 in Buffalo, New York as screams meet strings in nearly 50 cities this fall, including a special three night event in Los Angeles for Halloween. The screening of the legendary cult film in a newly restored format is brought to life on stage while a live ensemble performs the entire original musical score from composer Joe LoDuca. Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 13th.

“The ultimate horror movie concert experience has arrived with a night of cinematic chaos, demonic energy, and killer sounds,” says John Kinsner, CEO of Black Ink Presents, the producer of “Evil Dead In Concert.” Kinsner, a fellow horror enthusiast and fan of the film franchise, adds “It’s not every day you get to watch someone chainsaw a demon while a live ensemble performs.”

Evil Dead follows five college students on vacation in an isolated cabin in the woods, where they unwittingly release absolute evil into the world and have to fight to survive. It is known as one of the most significant cult horror films of all time, and has generated a massive following worldwide since the film’s theatrical release on October 15, 1981. LoDuca's score is orchestral but experimental, blending eerie strings, pounding percussion, and screeching sound effects to emphasize dread and supernatural chaos.

“I am so excited for audiences around the country to join us on an intense, aural descent into hell with this beautiful score and all its madness,” says LoDuca, who began his film career by composing the iconic score for director Raimi. Remarkably, it was his first film score. Following the success of Evil Dead, he became a frequent collaborator with Raimi and went on to win multiple Emmys for his scoring work. Most recently, he released a reimagined version of the original Evil Dead score called “Evil Dead: A Nightmare Reimagined,” where he re-recorded and expanded on the original musical themes of the movie.

Black Ink Presents is known for its extensive history of breathing new life into iconic films with symphonies, orchestras, or bands live on stage, including Labyrinth, Batman, Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Rocketman, La La Land, and more.

The Evil Dead In Concert tour schedule includes: