“Teenage Exorcists,” the lead single off of Mogwai’s upcoming EP, Music Industry 3. Fitness Industry 1, is about as close as Mogwai comes to writing a pop song. It also comes with a glorious video. It’s rare that I’d want to see a music video adapted into a full length feature, but this one may be the exemption. The Craig Murray directed clip is full of enough abstract, trippy, cosmic imagery that I’m left wanting more. I’d watch a film based on this video or even a graphic novel – I’m sure Mogwai’s countryman Grant Morrison could come up with something suitably weird to match the video.
Speaking of weird, I’m left wondering if Mogwai’s inspiration for this song was the actual Teenage Exorcists, three young women from Arizona who supposedly perform exorcisms. I thought I’d share with you a few choice quotations from their website:
“I do have a very adventurous life! Between casting out demons, keeping up with demanding schoolwork and traveling all over the world, I have had some crazy experiences!”
Demanding schoolwork? Whoa, that does sound crazy …
“An increasingly popular holiday, Halloween is far from an uplifting and moral holiday. It is an ancient tradition that goes back to the druids, full of evil and Satanic worship. Demons gain power during this time of year as death and terror are sold in stores, theaters and haunted mansions all across the country.”
We may scoff at this, but after seeing that sexy ebola nurse costume, I wonder if there’s something to this idea.
“Not everyone who has a demon is ready to be exorcized. Three factors affect this decision: the willingness of the victim, the spiritual preparedness of the exorcist, and the weakened condition of the demons.”
This totally makes sense. I’m sure many folks want to take the time to get to know their demons first before being too hasty and casting them out. I mean, there’s probably some friendly demons out there, right? Like Hot Stuff from Harvey Comics. He seemed pretty nice, and he enjoyed a Hostess snack cake from time to time too, so you know he wasn’t all bad.
So now you know about the Teenage Exorcists. And knowing is half the battle. Go listen to some Mogwai and eat a Hostess fruit pie.