A Mad Monster Party in Fasano’s Backyard

 

 

 

 

Late one night back in 1998, Fasano showed up at the Roadhouse Pub in Centerach, NY to say good-bye.  The bar was a hole in the wall, the night air was crisp, and my best friend was moving to North Carolina the next day.  We spent a few minutes sharing some memories about our road trips upstate to check out colleges back in high school and the time he walked in me and my first ex-wife coming out of the shower, laughing the whole time we talked.  As Taylor Dayne sings it, saying good-bye is never an easy thing, but I was happy that Fasano was moving toward the life he wanted, even if it meant we wouldn’t be pissing off a bridge anytime soon… which is another Fasano story.

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been to visit Fasano in NC twice since he moved.  The first time I drove down in my Rav-4 over a Memorial Day weekend, just to hang;  the second time was by Greyhound bus, by far the world’s worst way to travel, for his wedding, which provided the epic story of Fasano’s wedding weekend disasters (which I will have to chronicle for the world some day, at  www.Fasanosweddingweekenddisasters.com, a domain I’m sure is not yet taken).  And now it appears I might be making my third trip to Fasano’s backyard for the Mad Monster Party convention… and he may be away for the weekend for his wife’s birthday.  This figures.

 

Mad Monster Party is the most jazzed I’ve been for a convention in a while.  Unlike Chiller, which all week has been proving quantity has very little to do with quality as it fires off bunches of boring guests, MMP has assembled a noteworthy list.

 

 

 

 

The big name is Rutger Hauer.  At four separate times over the years, Hauer has cancelled on conventions that X and I have attended.  Yes, Rutger is shaky, but I would never travel to a show for just one guest, even if he’s a big get for myself, let alone X.  But Rutger’s just the start.

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a CHILD’S PLAY/ FRIGHT NIGHT reunion, which means I might actually finally meet Chris Sarandon, one of my top gets.  He’s joined by Alex Winter, Brad Dourif and Stephen Geoffreys.

 

 

 

 

 

If reunions are your thing, and you like minor horror efforts from Steve Miner, they’ve also got William Katt and the great Richard Moll from HOUSE.  Moll essayed the legendary role of Bull on Night Court, and Katt will always be best known for his titular role in The Greatest American Hero.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking for some offbeat convention guests?  Patty Mullen from X Chris favorite FRANKENHOOKER makes a rare guest appearance.  And the man who always looks like he’s scowling even when he smiles, Craig Sheffer will make his very first convention appearance.  And how about Roger Corman fave Mary Woronov?  She’ll be there too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t get enough of circuit regulars?  MMP’s got them too.  P.J. Soles, Bill Moseley, Doug Bradley and Derek Mears are all on the list.  And Dee Wallace will also make the show, guaranteeing I keep my streak alive and get an autograph from her at every show both she and I attend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if the Force has guided you to the Dark Side, Darth Vader actor David Prowse will grace the con.  BYOLS (Bring Your Own Lightsaber).

 

Mad Monster Party is going to be one Hell of a show to rock uptown Charlotte (that’s the four streets north, as opposed to the four streets south.  Like Indianapolis, it’s a “city” in name only to anyone who lives within spitting distance of NYC).  Check out their site, and try telling me this isn’t an impressive guest list.  I’m doing my best to make arrangements to get there myself… even if Fasano may not actually be in town.

 

And get this.  I actually got Fasano on the phone yesterday, when he confirmed his wife’s birthday could get in the way of a Fasso/ Fasano meet-up.  It seems as I’ve become an old graybeard, my memory isn’t quite what it used to be, as he dropped a shocker on me:  Fasano doesn’t even like THE CAR.  In fact, he spent several minutes making fun of it after I brought up the topic.  Next time I write a review of a flick about a killer Lincoln that I discussed with my best friend over a decade ago, I’ll make sure I nail the details.

 

–Phil Fasso