The Mystery of Q Lazzarus - 373
As stated at numerous points in this episode, a lot of the things discussed here can be found in the documentary Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus. We urge you to go check out that film here: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/qlazzarus as it is a brilliant piece of work.
For long time pod fans, this episode could technically be classed as part of our unsong series. But the reality is that the story of Q Lazzarus is so interesting, that it simply bursts out of the constraints of that format. Q Lazzarus/Diane Luckey, is best known for the song "Goodbye Horses", a track that you've almost certainly heard at some point in your life. It's most notable use was in the Jonathan Demme classic Silence of the Lambs, but it has been used in a bunch of films since then, and covered by an array of artists.
It is, in fact, that only "official" release by Q Lazzarus. She would later go on to appear in Demme's next film, the wonderful Philadelphia, singing a cover of Roxy Music's classic tune "Heaven". After that, though, she would simply vanish from the industry entirely.
So what happened? Why did this seemingly promising up and coming artist, who had two huge brushes with fame, suddenly disappear without trace? Well, it's a rather complicated, and compelling, story that touches on industry discrimination, artist exploitation, and the music business's treatment of unique talents. This week we dive into that story, with the help of a remarkable documentary film called Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus - a film that came about through an almost impossibly serendipitous encounter between filmmaker Eva Aridjis Fuentes and her mysterious subject. The documentary is available on Vimeo and you should absolutely check it out for yourself, alongside the Sacred Bones compilation of her previously unreleased works.
Please note that this story deals with some heavy themes and doesn't have the resolution we might hope for, but it's an important and deeply affecting tale that deserves to be told.
Highlights:
00:32 Discussing Q Lazarus and 'Goodbye Horses'
02:30 The Mystery Behind Q Lazarus
03:19 Q Lazarus's Musical Journey
05:36 The Impact of 'Goodbye Horses'
07:19 The Search for Q Lazarus
12:01 Eva Aridjis Fuentes and the Documentary
17:58 Q Lazarus's Early Life and Career
30:37 The Duality of Q Lazarus and Diane Luckey
31:36 The Role of Luck in Diane's Life
32:52 Career Setbacks and Personal Struggles
34:00 Heartbreak and Disillusionment
34:57 Descent into Darkness
38:10 A Glimmer of Hope: Motherhood and Redemption
39:47 The Unreleased Works and Legacy
42:12 The Battle for Royalties
44:17 The Impact of Goodbye Horses
53:16 The Unfulfilled Potential and Legacy Tours
57:31 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Ireland