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Exclusive Interview: Chad Michael Ward

Published

15 years ago

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BD Music has scored an exclusive interview with photographer/director/artist/all around awesome guy Chad Michael Ward. The interview goes over his artistic history, what it was like to work with some of todays hottest bands, and who some of his biggest inspirations are. While you’re checking out the interview, make sure to check out Ward’s Top 10 Horror WTF Moments. WARNING: Images after the jump are NSFW.

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Jason Voorhees actor Derek Mears

1) How did you get into photography/art and directing?
I’ve wanted to be an artist all my life, from the time I was old enough to draw with crayon, really.  I originally started off as a writer.  Eventually, I discovered Photoshop and started doing digital art back around 1996 or so.  It didn’t take long before I was doing album covers for tons of European death metal bands.  After a few years, I moved from San Francisco to Los Angeles and got asked by a client to do some photography work.  That blossomed over a few years to where I was doing more photography than artwork.  That led to some production design gigs for music videos and film, where I realized I really wanted to get into directing.  Several years later I’m doing digital art for dozens of novels a year, photographing tons of bands and commercial clients and directing music videos.  I still do production design here and there, and have started writing again as time permits.  
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2) Your work, while often grotesque and horrifying, is quite beautiful. How do you walk that line?
I don’t know that I have an answer for that.  I don’t intentionally intend to walk any line when creating images.  I just shoot and/or paint what I see in my head.
3) Some of the photographs show your models in pain or in dangerous situations. Have there been any accidents or problems that arose during your shoots?
Shoots can be somewhat brutal or physically demanding on my models, but I’ve never had any real problems or accidents.  I think the only person who ever ends up getting hurt is me because I’m a very physical photographer/director when on set and can be a bit clumsy sometimes.  I always somehow end up with cuts and bruises after a shoot.  
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4) You’ve worked with some of the biggest music artists out there, including Marilyn Manson, Static-X, Combichrist, and more. What have those experiences been like?
Every experience is unique and exhilarating in its own way.  I’m just thrilled that I’ve been able and continue to be able to create art with other amazing artists.  Each has its own set of challenges and rewards that makes it worth getting up in the morning for.

Video directed by Chad Michael Ward
5) Who are some of your inspirations?
Hmm…there’s a wide variety of influences on my work.  Everyone from Joel-Peter Witkin to Dave McKean to David LaChapelle to Ashley Wood.  I’m also heavily influenced by directors such as Takashi Miike, Chris Cunningham, Floria Sigismondi, David Fincher and Mark Romanek. I’m also influenced by people like H.R. Giger, Clive Barker, Cliff Nielsen, Bill Sienkiewicz, Barron Storey, Mark Ryden, Phil Hale, Kent Williams.
6) What do you do to get inspired? Is there some specific kind of music you listen to? Movies you watch? Etc…
Everything inspires me, to be honest.  Movies, music, LIFE.  There’s no one genre the defines who I am.  I am a huge horror fan, obviously, but if you were to look at my DVD collection, you’d see a pretty eclectic collection of work.  Same with music; my ipod can bounce from Marilyn Manson to Coco Rosie to Tom Jones to Eminem to Iron Maiden to Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  It’s all over the place.  I just do my best to absorb anything and everything around me and let that help shape the visions in my head.
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7) Can you tell us of any upcoming projects that you’re excited about?
I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. I’ve got a ton of crazy and exciting projects and tours coming up between now and the end of the year. Keep an eye out on my website at www.digitalapocalypse.com for updates, news and release dates of my upcoming books and videos.
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Music

‘The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live’ Concert Event to Make Streaming Debut Next Month

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5 hours ago

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July 14, 2026

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The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live

AMC has announced that The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE, the standing-room-only performance celebrating AMC’s premiere of its newly-released The Vampire Lestat at New York City’s iconic Beacon Theatre last month, will debut on streaming.

The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE begins streaming on AMC+ on August 23.

Ahead of its streaming premiere, fans can preview the concert event, featuring original songs from series composer Daniel Hart and performed by Sam Reid, in Hall H at Comic Con International on July 24. 

Our own Daniel Kurland attended the special event, highlighting how electric the Immortal Vampire is on stage: “It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.”

Based on Anne Rice‘s The Vampire Chronicles book series, The Vampire Lestat is the rock and roll-centric third season of AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire” created by showrunner Rolin Jones.

The Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by “muses” from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.

Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle star with Reid. Executive producers include Jones, Mark Johnson, Hannah Moscovitch, the late Anne Rice, and her son Christopher Rice.

The series finale airs this Sunday, July 19, on AMC and AMC+.

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