Happy Hoodoo Halloween!
The Gurus have been known to occasionally delve into the spookier side of life – and death – in their song lyrics so for Halloween we want to share a new recording of Death Ship.
It’s another sneak preview of Silk Purse, the double-album the Gurus recorded live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in January this year.
Silk Purse is due to be released on Fri 4 December.
Death Ship recounts the tale of an accursed ship manned by a pitiful crew of undead sailors who, in their wretchedness, try to lure other unsuspecting seafarers to their doom. The song is a retelling of the Flying Dutchman myth and this new rendition by the Gurus with the MSO includes a brief musical quote from the storm scene in Richard Wagner’s Flying Dutchman opera. This gives the MSO a chance to demonstrate the immense power of a symphony orchestra at full throttle, something The Gurus are well known for themselves.
After that blast of classical bombast the two forces reunite and Death Ship hurtles to its emotional climax; “Who will love me? Who?” asks the song’s protagonist, the cursed captain of this ghostly crew. Redemption is only possible for these sailors via chaste love, freely given, a prospect that seems far beyond the reach of these poor condemned souls.
Happy Halloween, everybody!
HOODOO GURUS SILK PURSE – LIVE WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Album Released: Friday, 4 December 2026
