Interview with a zombie: Undead rocker Gov. Mortimer Leech talks murder ballads, pandemics

Oct. 21—Rock stars are notorious for having surly attitudes, trashing hotel rooms and going on week-long benders.

Lifestyles filled with depravity often lead to the demise of these hard-living iconoclasts. But what happens when a macabre frontman — a force of creepy chaos — has time, literally, on his side? Pure pandemonium.

The Widow's Bane is made up of five talented zombies, who have had thousands of years to hone their craft, kick ass and take names. Leading the ravenous pack is Gov. Mortimer Leech, a raspy-voiced lanky chap, who doesn't give a damn what you think of his destructive ways.

The undead posse — who were murdered by their lovers and then resurrected by the Dark Lord — has been invited to play The Shining Ball on Saturday at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, an offer that seems long overdue given that the group is, in fact, Colorado's only zombie ensemble.

Previously, the gig was filled by Leftover Salmon.

This will be the first time since 2019 that Widow's Bane has taken the stage, and the supernatural members are ready to rock the sold-out show, if only for the promising paycheck.

Americana rockers from Lyons, Arthur Lee Land and Friends, will also be taking the stage at this costumed affair.

Tickets went faster than popsicles in hell.

With a pre-party Friday and a jazz brunch Sunday, folks can check into The Stanley — if they dare — and make a whole weekend out of it.

"We played for the survivors of the 1918 pandemic, too, and remember it well," Leech said. "I'm glad there are some paying customers still around to party like it's 1799."

According to the band's Wikipedia page, the "music incorporates elements of roots revival, sea shanties, klezmer, vaudeville, gothic rock and murder ballads while evoking the comedic cabaret styles of Tom Waits and Nick Cave."

The Boulder-based band's 2013 release "Don't be Afraid; It's Only Death," offered audio gems like the accordion-tinged "Flames of Hell" and "Old Bayou" — a total swampy banger about children's bones being turned into marionettes by a mad puppeteer.

Gov. Leech — who, on his better days is local musician Clay Rose, frontman for the Gasoline Lollipops — makes Ozzy Osbourne look more like the "Prince of Softness" than the "Prince of Darkness." Marilyn Manson and the members of Slipknot pale in comparison to this nightmare in a top hat and waistcoat, whose chin is often dripping with fresh crimson blood.

Rob Zombie may have given us "Living Dead Girl," but this flesh-eater and his fellow musical comrades are the real freaking deal.

In between hell-raising and being a salty curmudgeon, Gov. Leech took some time to answer our questions. Find out more about the churlish character, including what he finds truly frightening.

Kalene McCort: As a zombie, do you ever take offense to those posers attempting to portray your kind for one night a year?

Gov. Mortimer Leech: Not at all, the highest form of praise and all that. What bothers me is the mass of addicts on their phones, their Amazon, their porn, etcetera. That's the depressed version of a zombie and it gives the rest of us a bad name.

KM: What are you most looking forward to about performing with Widow's Bane at the legendary Shining Ball?

GML: The debauchery, of course. Or the money. Yeah, it's definitely the money.

KM: What can attendees expect from y'all's "Zombie-Death-Polka" and have you found time to craft any new tunes attendees can expect to hear?

GML: Nothing at all. It's really rather boring... like Barry Manilow juggling six rabid chihuahuas, singing "Camels In The Moonlight" while balancing the entire universe on his face.

KM: You've been undead for thousands of years, right? What are some of your fondest memories throughout the centuries? I imagined you've partied with the best of them.

GML: By far the greatest thing I've ever seen is the accumulation of half the world's wealth into the hands of the most deserving 1%. As you said, I have been undead for thousands of years and it's taken me my whole life to accomplish it, but that is my crowning achievement.

KM: As a kid/teen were there any memorable horror movies that had an impact on you? Any frightful shows recently that you would recommend?

GML: I don't like horror movies, they make me sleepy. I did see a frightful show recently though, it was called "Dora The Explorer."