Unsolved Mysteries - Theme to The Texas Hangmen

Not mine but one can dream. 

It came from the the badlands of Texas in 1989. The Texas Hangmen were said to be the indie promotions answer to the WWF's Demolition (1987-91). The two members of the Hangmen were Killer & Psycho. Or in their non-kayfabe names: Mike Moran and Rick Ganter (later Bull Payne in WCW). The Hangmen were in the AWA in its latter days and moved onto USWA bringing with them this incredible traditional heavy metal song (albeit with late 80's/early 90's VHS noise but think of it like an underground metal demo/rehearsal as this video is also as rare & obscure. Or just imagine it as a Merzbow re-mix). Part of their theme song can heard in the AWA footage below (@ 00:02) along with medicore announcing from future "WCW Nitro Road Reporter", Lee Marshall & head honcho Verne Gagne.

It's seems likely that AWA hired some local musicians to record this tune but the band's identity remains more unknown than these two masked men in the ring. The song has a great shouted, almost death metal-like chorus that could easily have overlapped into their promos. Along with this there's a steady riffs and more commanding vocals that sound quite original and not like one of those royality-free rip-offs we had in the late 90's. The bass is balance and clear and the drumming's on top of things (albeit buried in the mix). Regardless of recording quality and level of popularity this is a damn good & PURE HEAVY METAL song from any decade! Hell, Exciter could've had this out in 1988 and it would've been a lot better than this album. I'm not 100% how correct these lyrics are but follow along anyway.

Intro chorus:

"Who will be next to be hanged? (repeat x8)

Verse 1:

The Texas men are at it again 

The mat's turned to a pool of blood red

you can't win, you can't compete

disqualification - it's your defeat

Verse 2:

Psycho reigns into a frenzy - when he smells the blood on their face (?)

Killer he's a firestream (?) - fills the night with the pain-ful screams (*evil laughs*). 

Chorus: 

Clothesline - we'll break your neck

The match is on and your body's cracked 

Powerslam - will put you out

Havoc & violence is what we're about

DDT - total destruction 

you're unconscious you have a concussion

Whirlwind - pray for the end

Against our attack - you can't stand

(*Riff breaks*)

Verse 3: 

No guns, no knives don't you understand?

All they need is those bare hands

Pull a noose around your head

Pull it tight - 'til you are dead

Psycho and Killer rippin' it up

One slam and we can't be topped

and with you I don't care

we are the best - you will lose 

and we can't be stopped.

(Repeat chorus)

 Now that you've heard it -tell your local metal band to record this song NOW! 

The Texas Hangmen also worked in Japan's W*ING promotion against the methuselahian Gypsy Joe. as well as a fairly long-ish stint in Puerto Rico's WWC promotion. Here's a punishing cage match with where they take on fan favorites TNT (Savio Vega) & Carlos Colón. 

 

Along with AWA, USWA and WWC, The Texas Hangmen also worked in Chicago's Windy City Pro Wrestling and IWA Japan & Big Japan. They've wrestled together in the occasional indy match in Wisconsin (which I saw on some random lady's myspace page from who knows when). The Hangmen held the tag-team championship 3 times in WWC and once in USWA. More details over at Wrestling Data. The same site also has info on the multiple versions of this gimmick that came later. Dunno if they used the same theme song but I kinda hope so. 

Noose gimmicks work in wrestling...

as they do in death metal, just ask early 1990's Obituary

 ...or Dusty Rhodes who was also bringing the brutal to Florida a few years earlier.

Randy "Macho Man" Savage, R.I.P.

Let's give a big "Ohhhh yeaaaahhh!" to the man & his work.

If you've heard the news as of this morning there will be no more be-fringed elbow drops off the top rope and slim jim will only be snapped into by the man who said it first.

Unfortunately, I never got to see Randy "Macho Man" Savage at any of the live matches I've been to. However, he left a hell of a legacy in the wild world of wrestling. Having just finished Chris Jericho's book Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps  I had gone over the very sad chapter that deals with the early deaths of Jerhico's friends namely Eddie Gurrero and Chris Kanyon along with his mixed feelings on the Chris Benoit tragedy. Then reading today news and getting confirmation's from friends just the house lights around the 'ol Squared Circle Pit darker.

Randy Savage aka: Randy Poffo first got into sports with a 3 year stint in minor league baseball in both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinatti Reds farm system. The latter team's farm system also at time had a guy named Steve Duren aka: Blackie Lawless. (Who's uncle Ryne played from 1954-65 in on various big league teams). No truth to the rumor that Fidel Castro was also in the Reds farm system. But, I still want to see a video game where I can play The REAL Red Menace team with Fidel, Blackie and Randy in the starting line up.

Speaking of all things W.A.S.P. & "Macho Man", I often thought it would've been great if Savage came out to the ring in this tune. "Don't tread on me-'cause I'm living to be S-S-Savage!" is perfect for a highlight reel of a top rope forearm smash.

Getting back to specifics, Randy Savage got his in-ring start down in Georgia and Florida and started off going against Paul Christy (who would start the Kentucky-based IWC which we'll get into soon) and teamed with the Anderson Brothers -  Ole and Gene. Up in Kentucky Savage teamed with Rip Rogers and went after the Mexican Angel the latter of who he lays down a very un-PC promo on.

In Memphis, Savage was managed by Angelo Poffo and he immediately made an impact by challenging their champion and fan favorite, Jerry "The King" Lawler.


Going back to the Rock N' Roll connection, here we have some Memphis (and I think IWC) highlights of Savage mixed with a ripper of a Metal tune by The Rods. This is presented by L.A. based-wrestling promoter/b-movie/rockabilly musician, Johnny Legend. Nerd note: I got to meet Mr. Legend at a showing of the Andy Kaufman-"Classy" Freddy Blassie docu, "My Breakfast with Blassie". Totally nice guy who had lots of interesting Andy Kaufman  stories.


As the angle against Lawler continued, Savage teamed with the always crazy, 100% kayfabe David "Dr. D." Schultz who had an Electric Eel/Sex Pistols penchant for using swastikas tees, , and slapping nosey reporters and basically acting like a pro wrestling version of Billy Milano.


The intensity continued with his 1984 feud with another fan fave, "Dirty" Dutch Mantell.


Following his run in Memphis, Savage also did some work in Puerto Rico's WWC going against top foes such as Carlos Colon and Invader #3. Then on July 9th 1985, Savage debuted for the WWF against jobber "Quick Draw" Rick McGraw. Savage was touted as "Pro Wrestling's Number #1 Free Agent" thereby leading to mystery manager angle which led of course to the debut of Miss Elizabeth - who Savage knew from his ICW days. Savage continued continued the flashy color aesthics started by "Superstar" Billy Graham. And pushed it up further with crazy sunglasses and striped patterns. This also helped wrestle-nerds like me finally see grapplers we only read about in the Bill Apter mags.  The WWF era of Savage led to a mutliple championships including 2 runs as World Heavyweight Champion, one King of The Ring, a famous Intercontinental Championship and of course his catch phrase "Oh yeaaah" along with a bevvy of intensely voiced-promos.   

His World Championship Wrestling (WCW) career included him working again with Miss Elizabeth in the heel stable New World Order led by former WWFers Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. He was WCW World Heavyweight Champion four times. He feuded with Sid Vicious, Ric Flair, and Chump Hogan. Eventually he did a short stint in the mostly made-of-ex-WCW-guys, fed called Total Non-Stop Action then retiring in 2004. Unlike Hogan, Savage worked far more of the territory systems alphabet soup of the previously mentioned ICW, WWC, WCW and WWF - he also worked in AWA Southern, GPW, CCW, and USWA However, he never worked in Japan which is untypical of a wrestler of his notierity and skill.

His post-wrestling career included making a hip-hop record in 2003 (yes, really! and probably better than John Cena's), acting in everything from Spider-Man to the Weird Al Show to Walker, Texas Ranger. He even received the Harvard Lampoon's "Man of the Year" award in 1998 for his work on the Slim Jim ads. Additionally, he worked on 8 different animated TV shows including King of the Hill, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Family Guy and Dexter's Labratory.

"Snap in to it!"

Jimmy Hart & The First Family's Shoulda Been Power Pop Smash

In the post about Sputnik Monroe and Memphis, I told you about the early recording career of Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart. Welllll, Hart kept things a-rockin' every so often outside the ring starting with this 1982 power pop rocker, "We Hate School" - done up in the vein of Alice Cooper's "School's Out" and a predecessor to W.A.S.P.'s "School Daze".

Koko B. Ware (who friended me on Myspace 'round 2006) jams on the telecaster. OK, Iranian Assassin's not really playing but the dude sure can keep kayfabe behind the kit. This song appeared on not one but TWO documents of T.T.R.A.W.C. (Thee TRUE Rock and Wrestling Connection, to you humanoid!) starting with 1984's Japanese only release by the great Texan, Terry Funk & his friends from the Far East. "We Hate School" showed up again on 1985's long out of print, Outrageous Conduct album by of course Jimmy Hart. Outrageous Conduct was put out by the illiterative very literal label Rockin' Rasslin' Records. "Eat Your Heart Out Rick Springfield", indeed!

Sputnik Monroe - Unheralded civil rights activist AND early rock n' wrestling connection

The Memphis territory had been not only the background of early Rock N' Roll but also an area that's considered a classic by many wrestling fans. The otherwise loony moonie paper, Washington Times  has a great article (quoted below) on the legendary Sputnik Monroe who not only was connected to early rock 'n rollers and country stars but more importantly he also helped desegregate the city of Memphis. Defintely, an additional chapter to the Civil Rights movement that they SHOULD be teaching in kids.

"This was the time of Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips and Sun Records, and Monroe fit right in. He became close friends with Phillips, the wild genius who brought Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins to fame. Monroe even trained Phillips' 12-year-old son, Jerry, to be part of his act as a "midget" wrestler. 

Monroe became a Beale Street fixture, particularly in the black clubs, and he gained a huge following in the black community. But black fans were limited to a handful of seats in the highest balcony of Ellis Auditorium. Monroe constantly battled the local promoters, who feared retribution if they did not limit the number of blacks attending such a public event along with white fans. But Monroe threatened to leave the promoter if he didn't allow more black fans in.

' There used to be a couple of thousand blacks outside wanting in,' Monroe said. 'So I would tell management I'd be cutting out if they don't let my black friends in. I had the power because I'm selling out the place, the first guy that ever did, and they sure wanted the revenue.' 

'There were so many black fans that the promoter had little choice but to integrate the seating -- something that wasn't done at any other public events in Memphis.'

Monroe said he became so popular that city officials feared his influence and tried to get him to leave town. 'I used to get arrested for vagrancy for hanging out on Beale Street,' he said. 'I got a black lawyer and went to court. I told them this was the United States of America, and I could go wherever I ... pleased. They fined me $25, but after about a half-dozen arrests, they gave up.' 

Later in his career, he had a black tag-team partner, Norvell Austin, and they had an act that started after they defeated an opponent, who usually was white. Monroe would dump a can of black paint on the guy and yell into the ring microphone, 'Black is beautiful.' Austin would yell, 'White is beautiful,' and then the two of them would yell, 'Black and white together is beautiful."

The Smokebox also has some real gems culled from the fantastic book, It Came From Memphis by Robert Gordon:

"Sputnik's one-man campaign had ripple effects all across Memphis, not only in the black community, but also amongst young white kids. Elvis, Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Sam Phillips had already opened the valve, releasing emotions in young white people that caused grave concern for the enforcers of the status quo. And here was this upstart wrestler, not just playing with young kids minds, but messing with the gas that fueled how things ran in Memphis, namely racism. Another fan of that era, Jim Black says 'I went through my whole twelve years at school having never been able to share an experience with a black, and I was starting to resent this, because I was also listening to radio and Dewey Phillips, and hearing all these great black records and realizing that these were some talented artists, this was another culture. Where, at first, we'd gone to the matches hoping to see Sputnik get beat, we started to realize that he was pretty fucking cool. He had his audience, and he never played down to 'em, never talked down to 'em. He became a role model.'

 

 Sputnik says this of his influence on young whites, 'There was a group of wealthy white kids that dug me beause I was a rebel. I'm saying what they wanted to say, only they were just too young or inexperienced or afraid to say it. You have a black maid raising your kids and she's talking about me all of the time, so I may not be in the front living room, but I'm going in the back door of your goddamn house, feeding your kids on Monday morning and sending 'em to school. And meeting the bus when they come home. Pretty powerful thing.'

Sputnik's influence went way beyond the wrestling ring. He interfered righteously with the city fathers' plans for business- as-usual. In one instance, the black leadership in Memphis was involved in a protest against the segregation of an automobile exhibition. Sputnik called up the sponsors and told them that he was planning to open his own car lot in the black community. That night, the change of admission policy was broadcast on the evening news.

 He even went as far as announcing himself as a candidate for sheriff. 'People thought prostitution and incest would flourish, 'motherfucker' would become a household word,' he said. 'I could have run for mayor, and made it. I could have blackmailed the city. I could have done anything I wanted. I was general of a little black army.' Johnny Black recalls, 'If you would have had some kind of election about who was the best-known face in Memphis at that time - Sputnik, Elvis or the mayor - Sputnik would have been real close to Elvis."
 
Additionally, one of the best known wrestling managers, Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart got his start in the Memphis territory. Prior to getting into wrestling, Hart was the vocalist for the "beat band", The Gentrys. The Gentrys had a hit single in 1965 with the song "Keep on Dancing". (This was later a hit for the Bay City Rollers in 1971). At the peak of their career, the Gentrys, "Keep on Dancing" got to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965 and sold a million copies of the single. They went on to play on TV shows such as Shindig!, Hullabaloo, and Where the Action Is. Plus, they toured with Sonny & Cher and the Beach Boys.  In the early 70's Hart got back in contact with his high school classmate Jerry "The King" Lawler to work in the squared circle.