Nuggets from Occult Invasion—Identifying the Modern “Muse”

Music has had a key role in the occult as far back as history records. The pulse-beat of drums and rattles is vital in voodoo and most shamanism, to which rock music is closely related. “Christian rock groups” mimic the beat that shamans have long used to call up demons. Ray Manzarek, keyboard player for the rock group The Doors, explains the relationship between shamanism and modern rock:

“When the Siberian shaman gets ready to go into his trance, all the villagers got together…and play whatever instruments they have to send him off [into trance and possession]…. It was the same way with The Doors when we played in concert…. I think that our drug experience let us get into it…[the trance] quicker…. It was like Jim [Morrison] was an electric shaman and we were the electric shaman’s band, pounding away behind him…pounding and pounding, and little by little it would take him over…. Sometimes he was just incredible. Just amazing. And the audience felt it, too!”

Many rock stars have been involved in the occult and admit to a mysterious source of inspiration. John Lennon told of mystical experiences as a young teenager: “I used to literally trance out into alpha…seeing these hallucinatory images of my face changing, becoming cosmic and complete.” Of his song-writing Lennon said, “It’s like being possessed: like a psychic or a medium.” Much credit for fomenting rebellion and turning millions of youth against God and the Bible belongs to the many rock stars beginning with Elvis Presley. The Beatles’ own press agent, Derek Taylor, confessed:

“They’re completely anti-Christ. I mean, I am anti-Christ as well, but they’re so anti-Christ they shock me….”

According to Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, “The Stones’ songs came spontaneously like an inspiration at a séance. The tunes arrived ‘en masse’ as if the Stones as songwriters were only a willing and open medium.” Of the Beatles Yoko Ono has said, “They were like mediums. They weren’t conscious of all they were saying, but it was coming through them.” Of the inspiration process Marc Storace, vocalist with the heavy-metal band Krokus, told Circus magazine:

“you can’t describe it except to say it’s like a mysterious energy that comes from the metaphysical plane and into my body. It’s almost like being a medium….”

“Little Richard” said, “I was directed and commanded by another power. The power of darkness…that a lot of people don’t believe exists. The power of the Devil. Satan.” Jim Morrison called the spirits that at times possessed him “The Lords,” and wrote a book of poetry about them. Folk rock artist Joni Mitchell’s creativity came from her spirit guide, “Art.” Nothing could detain her when he “called.”

Contemporary musicians offer the same consistent testimony regarding inspiration by otherworldly entities that we find among the most famous composers from the past. Today’s musicians, however, admit that much of their inspiration comes from an evil source. Why should we doubt their testimony? David Lee Roth, who wrote “Running with the Devil” and called himself “toastmaster for the immoral majority” admitted that the goal in the world of rock was to conjure up evil spirits and surrender to them:

“I’m gonna abandon my spirit to them, which is actually what I attempt to do. You work yourself into that state and you fall in supplication of the demon gods….”

Superstar Jimi Hendrix was not so eager to be possessed but seemed rather to have been a victim. Called “rock’s greatest guitarist” and known as the Voodoo Chile of the Aquarian Age, Hendrix “believed he was possessed by some spirit,” according to Alan Douglas. His former girlfriend, Fayne Pridgon, has said:

“He used to always talk about some devil or something was in him, you know, and he didn’t have any control over it, he didn’t know what made him act the way he acted…and songs…just came out of him…. He was so tormented and just torn apart…and he used to talk about…having…somebody…drive this demon out of him.”

Steven Halpern, one of the best-known New Age composers, testifies, “I started recording what I received in trance or altered states…. I ended up being guided.”

This type of spirit guidance is widespread. In Chapter 1 we referred to the nuclear scientist who was taught advanced concepts by spirit being. We noted that Chester Carlson, inventor of the Xerox photocopying process, received guidance for his invention from the spirit world. Medical scientist Anrija Puharich, holder of more than 50 patents, gave his opinion about these strange inspirations:

“I am personally convinced that superior beings from other spaces and other times have initiated a renewed dialogue with humanity…. While I do not doubt [their existence]…I do not know…what their goals are with respect to humankind.”