Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)

Hey Zoo Freaks, dig this groovy vibe we're spinning right now with Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) from Concrete Blonde – pure midnight magic, man! Johnette Napolitano spilled in interviews that this haunting track came straight from her love affair with New Orleans, that sultry, shadowy city, mixed with her total immersion in Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat – she was hooked on those vampire chronicles while out on the road with Sting, dreaming up riverside drinks and eternal lovers. The whole Bloodletting album poured out from a rough patch – bad luck, a brutal breakup at 29 that left her reeling – turning pain into this gothic rock gem that hit gold Down Under and still gives us chills.

Flash back to how these cosmic wanderers got their start, Zoo Crew style. Johnette, this fierce Italian-American mama from LA, linked up with guitarist James Mankey – he'd rocked with Sparks – after hustling gigs around Leon Russell's Hollywood pad right out of high school. They kicked off in '82 as Dreamers, dropped a track on a DIY comp, then evolved into Dream 6 with a little EP. By '86, signed to I.R.S., Michael Stipe from R.E.M. hooked 'em with the name Concrete Blonde, nailing that hard-edged sound wrapped in her poetic, soul-deep lyrics – roots rock meets post-punk fire from the City of Angels clubs.

Keep the love flowing, freaks – catch Johnette's solo vibes and Concrete Blonde spirit at her spot johnettenapolitano.com, or vibe with the crew on Facebook. For fan fire, slide into the Concrete Blonde -The Band Facebook page where the tribe gathers – over 4K strong, sharing stories and spins. No official Insta or X popping yet, but that's the raw, real connect, man. Crank it up and let the bloodletting begin!