What could be better than three days of Horror icons combined with neck-breaking Rock? The 12th annual Rock and Shock will take place this year at both the DCU Center and the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts on October 16, 17, and 18, 2015. MassConcerts, New England’s largest Indie concert promoter, is behind this fantasyland of music and movies and were the first ever to combine both of these dark, twisted elements into the third weekend of October. Included in this three day event are dozens of guests from both the Rock -n- Roll world and Horror movie maniacs, along with Comic Book artists and voice actors from some of the genre’s most popular projects. The 9th annual Film Fest will also take place along with a panel room that will feature Horror and music guests all weekend. There are even events set up for kids, so parents, no need to call the sitter!
The entire DCU Center will be at the mercy of Rock and Shock. Downstairs on the main floor, hundreds of vendors will be set up in a maze of tables on one side, while Horror film actors, directors, make-up artists, costume designers, film makers and distributors, tattoo artists, toy and model makers, costume contests, Horror industry professionals and vendors, comic book artists and vendors, CD and DVD vendors, appearances as well as signings with bands playing the Palladium, also models and actors in costume fill in the other side. This year, famed director George A. Romero will be joining the crew, along with Tobin Bell (Saw series), Director Adam Green (Hatchet series), American Horror Story: Freak Show cast members Naomi Grossman, Erika Ervin, and Rose Siggins, The Monster Squad’s (1987) Stephen Macht, Duncan Regehr, and Michael Reid McKay, Derek Mears (Friday the 13th 2009), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser series), Bill Moseley and William Forsythe (The Devil’s Rejects 2005), The Rocking Dead members, Samantha Mathis (The Strain TV series), Felissa Rhodes (Sleepaway Camp 1983), William Sanderson (Blade Runner 1982), P.J. Soles (Halloween 1978), Author Jack Ketchum, WWE wrestler Bushwacker Luke, graphic novel artist Derek Rook, and the guy who played Bub, the most famous Zombie of all time, Howard Sherman, among many others.
- Rock and Shock Convention 2014
At the other end of the building, guest panels will be set up all weekend for American Horror Story, The Monster Squad, Twiztid, Sleepaway Camp, Adam and Derek’s Wicked Boss Panel Thing ,and the ghoul master himself, George A. Romero, along with costume contests and writer’s workshops with Jack Ketchum, Joe Knetter, Jack Haringa, Ken Vaughn, and much more. Go up the escalator and one will find To Be Announced movies at the 2015 Film Fest playing for the entire weekend. Tattoo artists from Nitemare Tattoo, Crown of Thorns Tattoo, Unholy Grail Tattoo, Live Electric Tattooing, and The Black Veil Studio will be on hand for anyone looking for some nightmarish ink.
While the convention itself takes place at the DCU Center, the concerts are held only a block away at the multi-storied, two stage Palladium. On Friday, October 16th, Hardcore Metal band Hatebreed comes back home to New England to celebrate their 20th anniversary in Worcester, along with Soulfly, Sanctuary, Soilwork, Decapitated, Shattered Sun, and Brick By Brick on the main stage while Ana Sapphira, Dead By Wednesday, Disguise The Curse, Oath, Shore City, The Grey Curtain, I Guard The Throne, A Fathom Farewell, Without Warning, and Shore City will be rocking the stage upstairs.
On Saturday, Danzig makes a stop on their Blackest of the Black tour, and they share the stage with photographer Jeremy Saffer’s super group The Rocking Dead. This is The Rocking Dead’s second year at Rock and Shock, and this time they are even bigger than before, with Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (Misfits/Doyle), Wednesday 13 (Murderdolls/Wednesday 13), Ace Von Johnson and Taime Downe (Faster Pussycat), Acey Slade (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts), Alex Story (Cancerslug/Doyle), Kyle Castronovo (Wednesday 13), Ash Costello and Nikki Misery (New Years Day), Mike D’Antonio (Killswitch Engage), Virus (Dope), and Bret Von Dehl (The Relapse Symphony) to round out the crew. Doyle, Wednesday 13, The Release Symphony and New Years Day will also play in their own shows, along with Superjoint Ritual, Veil of Maya, Prong, Witch Mountain, Get Scared, Eyes Set To Kill, Byzantine, Darksiderz, and Hatchet.
Sunday night is Fright Fest with the Demented Duo, Twiztid, who are partying with their partners in crime Blaze, Boondox, Prozak, Wolf Pac, Scum, and Kissing Candice. Upstairs, fans can see Freeze, OLC, Fury, Split Face, Matty C and Ariel, Jeffery Messii and Twitch, Infiniti, Lyrical Deathwish, Super Smash Bros., and Shane Slaughter. Make sure to stick around for Twiztid’s official Fright Fest after-party that takes place after their set upstairs at the Palladium.
Sunday holds double duty as Kids’ Day and Service Sunday, where any active or retired military, police, firefighters, and EMTs can get free admission for up to four people with service ID. Although Kids’ Day is technically Sunday, crafts and costume contests will be going on all weekend for both adults and kids alike. The Creative Lair will feature pumpkin decorating, Horror drawing, Spooky Skwerl stories, and DIY Zombie Defense, along with workshops on paranormal evidence, starting a podcast from scratch, Zombie makeup, and self-publishing. Do not miss Horror Against Humanity, a horrific take on the popular card game with cool prizes!
- Jamie Madrox of Twiztid at Rock and Shock 2014
For a one-of-a-kind weekend full of Horror, music, and creativity, be sure to check out Rock and Shock on October 16, 17, and 18 at the Worcester Palladium and DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Tickets can be purchased at rockandshock.com, ticketmaster.com, and thepalladium.net. This is not one to miss!
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