Welcome back to the Halloween Countdown! I’m dropping my 20 favorite creepy songs, once a day, on the way to October 31st. We’re on day 8, and we’ve hit a punk tune from 1977. This gem, about seeing through a murderer’s eyes, is a classic creeper, and appropriately belongs at lucky Number 13.
Number 13: The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes
The Adverts were a band out of London, formed in 1976 by T.V. Smith and Gaye Advert. They came of age at The Roxy, opening for Generation X, The Damned, and The Jam, and playing multiple dates in the storied club’s first 100 days. They toured with Iggy Pop and The Damned (the tour poster read: “The Adverts know one chord, the Damned know three. See all four at…”)
In 1977, they released this song, a stomping jam based on Gary Gilmore’s desire to donate his eyes to medical science after his execution. The song was controversial, but sealed their place in the punk pantheon. The album it came from, Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts, is considered one of the best punk albums of all time.
From their performance on Top of The Pops, here are the The Adverts with “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes.” Enjoy!
The Countdown
- 20) Eels – Fresh Blood
- 19) Squirrel Nut Zippers – Hell
- 18) Tom Waits – Whistlin’ Past The Graveyard
- 17) Donovan – Season Of The Witch
- 16) Jeremy Messersmith – Organ Donor
- 15) Neville Brothers – Voodoo
- 14) Siouxsie & The Banshees – Eve White Eve Black
- 13) The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes