Spooky Soundtracks! – Freddy Krueger meets hair-metal contenders Dokken for the theme to A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987)

Just six months after Alice Cooper helped out Jason Voorhees with the theme FRIDAY THE 13th PART VI: JASON LIVES, Los Angeles-based hard rockers Dokken lent a hand (glove?) to none other than Freddy Krueger for his second sequel, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS. Written by the band’s bassist, Jeff Pilson, and guitar whiz, George Lynch, the song is nicely produced by Neil Kernon, hedging echoing drums and plucked guitar strings with Lynch’s heavy metal solos. “Dream Warriors” also served as the closing track on the band’s platinum-selling 1987 album, “Back for the Attack”.  

Though I thought Cooper was a natural pick for the FRIDAY THE 13th series, I have to admit I like “Dream Warriors” even better as a theme. It’s nicely textured and the lyrics build on Freddy Krueger’s filthy, fearsome legacy. It was also a nice touch to have the now-classic slasher character wake at the close of the video, the duration of which was just supposed to be Krueger’s bad dream, exclaiming “What a nightmare!…Who were those guys?” Relive it now over at YouTube. 

#spookysoundtracks #anightmareonelmstreet3dreamwarriors #dokken #dreamwarriors #georgelynch #jeffpilson #neilkernon #backfortheattack #alicecooper #fridaythe13thpartvijasonlives #hardrock #heavymetal #freddykrueger