Argh.

I really tried to get this up by Halloween, but it took quite a bit of work, i.e. rummaging through old VHS tapes, then some encoding, blah blah. So just pretend it’s 24 hours ago for maximum effect…

For a few years on the early-to-mid ‘80s, each Halloween evening would see MTV break their normal playlist format to spotlight “spooky”, “scary” or “creepy” videos. This would be just about the only time of the year you’d see Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla” (why you’d want to is beyond me) or Edgar Winter Jr.’s “Frankenstein 1984” (seriously).

While I’m not much of a horror fan, I would make it a point to try to record or see some of this marathon each year because I knew they would play one video I’d never get to see otherwise – “Something Inside Me Has Died” by an L.A.-based goth band called Kommunity FK.



Kommunity FK was basically vocalist/guitarist Patrick Mata, drummer Matt Chaikin and a revolving door of support musicians who tended not to stick around very long. Their 1983 debut album “The Vision and the Voice”, besides being nearly impossible to find, is quite good – there’s more going on here than just droning gloom. Lots of Joy Division creeps into the mix and there are hooks aplenty. However, their 1985 album “Close One Sad Eye” is really their jewel – the hooks remain, but the production seems to be more up to the task. Everything is crystal clear and I’ll be damned if that bass isn’t downright funky at times – not quite what you expect from a goth band.

“Something Inside Me Has Died”, woeful title aside, is basically a bouncy little new wave-ish number and quite possibly, next to Bauhaus’ overplayed “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, one of the most fully realized goth rock songs ever. Mata’s voice is fantastic, the synth drones in the background and when the guitar screeches and Mata yelps “DIIIIIIIIEEED!” you’re right there with him.

The video was a combination of truly atmospheric and downright hilarious. There are some well-composed shots in beautiful black and white and some of the sets are quite effective and moody. I know goth is dress up and all, but get ready to see some serious hair violations and lots of “I’m DYING INSIDE” eyerolls to the back of the head. Keep in mind, however, that when you’re 16 years old in 1985, you take this shit seriously. At least I did enough to make sure I kept it on tape for 20 years.

Download “Something Inside Me Has Died”.

Watch the video.

Visit Kommunity FK online (they’re still touring!).

Amazon has the first Kommunity FK CD in print and used copies of "Close One Sad Eye" (but prepare to pay for it).

”Something Inside Me Has Died” did not chart.