HALLOWEEN ROCK LEGEND JOINS FIGHT TO SAVE 
ROADLESS FOREST AREAS UNDER BUSH ATTACK

Bobby “Boris” Pickett Records New Take on Holiday Hit “Monster Mash”; Bush, Political Appointees “Star” in Flash Movie Urging Public to Speak Out.

WASHINGTON, D.C.//October 20, 2004//The song that defines Halloween – “Monster Mash” – is being brought back to life today with the help of the original recording artist as a new Web-based appeal (http://www.monsterslash.org) from the Campaign to Protect America’s Lands (CPAL) and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund to oppose the Bush Administration’s controversial plan to permit logging, mining and other commercial exploitation of roadless federal forest areas.  The comment period on the Bush administration’s widely criticized bid to repeal forest protections ends November 14, 2004.

The new song – “Monster Slash” – was recorded by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, the co-creator of the 1962 hit “Monster Mash” and also the vocalist on the original recording.  The Flash presentation features well-known Halloween horror characters based on photographs of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as key forest-related Bush political appointees U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann M. Veneman and USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark E. Rey.

Campaign to Protect America’s Lands Director Peter Altman said:  “Our goal here is to make sure that people understand that the scariest thing to happen to our forests in a long time is the Bush Administration’s plan to surrender vast quantities of virgin wilderness areas to the logging, mining and oil industries.  This is a fun way to spread the word about the threat to our forests and remind people just before the deadline that they can protest the Bush plan.”

Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund President Rodger Schlickeisen said: “While the big timber companies get all the treats from President Bush, the American public gets nothing but tricks. ‘Monster Slash’ gives people a chance to laugh, share something fun with their friends, and then get active to protest the Bush plan and restore some balance in our National Forests.”

Explaining his decision to release a new version of the rock hit with which he is most closely identified, entertainer Bobby Pickett said:  “I decided to do this new recording because, like millions of people, I think this president has the worst environmental record in the history of our great nation.”

The Bush Administration's scheme to repeal the federal roadless rule would eliminate existing federal protections for 58.5 million acres of wild national forests, and allow road building that assists clear-cut logging and other commercial uses.  On his first day in office, President Bush suspended the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which was enacted after three years of public and scientific input that included 600 public meetings and record-breaking citizen input.  Of the more than 1.6 million comments submitted, an overwhelming 95 percent favored the strongest possible protection for roadless areas.   

On July 28, 2004, CPAL released a report showing that the Bush Administration's reversal of roadless rule protections for national forests jeopardizes 23 U.S. national parks and monuments in 16 states, raising the specter of serious harm being done to outdoor "crown jewels" that are traveled to each year by more than 40 million Americans - over a third of all visits to U.S. national parks, monuments and parkways.  A separate analysis issued by CPAL on August 31, 2004 concluded that the Bush roadless rule proposal endangers nearly 50 sections of the popular Appalachian Trail, which runs roughly 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine.

Recorded by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Cryptkicker Five, “Monster Mash” still gets a substantial amount of air time every Halloween.  The song has been described as “arguably the most popular novelty song ever.”  Bobby Pickett is believed to be the only active performer who has reached the top 100 music chart three times with the same song.  On October 20, 1962, after eight weeks on the charts, the original release of “Monster Mash” hit Number 1 just in time for Halloween. The song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on August 29, 1970 peaking at Number 91, and then again on May 5, 1972 when it went all the way to Number 10. Over the years, The Monster Mash has sold over four million copies and received three gold records. 

The complete lyrics of the new “Monster Slash” are as follows:

“We were hiking in the forest late one night

When our eyes beheld an eerie sight

Our president appeared and began to frown

Then he and his friends cut the forest down.

(he did the slash)

they did the forest slash

(he did the slash)

it was brutally brash

(he did the slash)

public opinion was mashed

(he did the slash)

they did it for the cash

The lobbyists were having fun,

The horror party had just begun

The guests include big timber, big oil

Mining magnates and their sons.

These visions haunt me and fill me with disgust

If we don’t stop them our environment will be lost

So come on now and join me; I’m glad to show you how;

Tell our president to save our forests now.”  

The Flash presentation was created for CPAL and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund by Free Range Graphics of Washington, D.C.  The entire presentation runs for a total of one minute and 20 seconds.  The featured vocal is that of Bobby “Boris” Pickett, the original “Monster Mash” singer.  Instruments and backup vocals were performed and recorded by Andrea Perry of Austin, Texas.

ABOUT THE GROUPS

The Campaign to Protect America's Lands (http://www.protectamericaslands.org) conserves our natural and historical heritage by exposing policies that permit destruction of our parks and public lands for private profit. CPAL is a project of Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund.

Affiliated with Defenders of Wildlife, the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (http://www.defendersactionfund.org) was created to provide the wildlife conservation community with a voice in the political process.  The Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is currently focusing on stopping anti-wildlife, anti-conservation policies and holding our leaders accountable.  Paid for by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, 1130 17th Street NW, Washington DC, 20036.   Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

CONTACT:   Ailis Aaron, (703) 276-3265 or aaaron@hastingsgroup.com.