The Widow's Bane is an American band from Boulder, Colorado whose music incorporates elements of roots revival, sea shanties, klezmer, vaudeville, gothic rock, and murder ballads while evoking the comedic cabaret styles of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The band defines their genre as Zombie-Death-Polka. Its line-up includes frontman Gov. Mortimer Leech (a.k.a. Clay Rose), Rutherford Belleview, Rictus Corpum, Franklin McKane, and Bat Catacombs. Previous band members were Jimson Crockett, Abracham Lynch, Frank Raven, James Calvin Thompson, and Philip Parker. Their live show is characterized by zombie-style makeup, Great Depression-era costumes, the creepy animatronic movements of lead singer Leech, and dancing by self-styled "snake-charming hussy," Madame Reaper.
In 2018, The Widow's Bane wrote and performed the score, for a production of Wicked Bayou, with Denver based Wonderbound ballet company.[1]
You've never heard 'zombie death polka' quite like the Widow's Bane does it[3]
An interview with Rutherford Belleview [4]
Zombies are just undead gentlemen: An interview with The Widow's Bane[5]
Widow’s Bane: Roots music from the undead[6]
Mortimer Leech Raises Hell for Wonderbound's Wicked Bayou[7]
Widow’s Bane – The Afterlife Is A Never-Ending Party[8]
KCSU Music: Live In-Studio Session with Clay Rose of Gasoline Lollipops and Widow’s Bane[9]
Part 1: Zombie Death Polka[10]
Part 2: Mortimer Leech, Age Unknown[11]
Part 3: The Story Behind The Song[12]
The Widow’s Bane find the sacred in the profane[13]
Mortimer Leech & The Widow’s Bane: A New Lease on Death[14]
Mortimer Leech of The Widow's Bane confronts his eternal past[15]
The Widow’s Bane Brings Music From Wonderbound Collaboration To CPR’s OpenAir[16]
Widow's Bane: The rocking dead[17]
