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May 23, 2025 · COOL HAND FRANK

For starters, getting a message from someone named Living Dead Girl Nicole is one hell of an attention-getter. Second, I’m a sucker for word fusion when it’s done well—and her self-described title of Artrepreneur was both unique and relatable. Third, a David Bowie quote on her LinkedIn profile? Come on. That sealed the deal for a dialogue.

We exchanged messages for a week. Her intelligence was clear, as was her deep passion for all things horror and fantasy—genres I rarely dabble in. What really struck me, though, was how seamlessly she connects those worlds with celebrity-centered pop culture. So I asked to interview her, and she said yes.

Enjoy this brief chat with an exceptional multimedia artist whose reputation in the horror and fantasy convention scene is growing fast. And yes, here’s a shared disclaimer at Living Dead Girl Nicole’s request: “No monsters, cryptids, podlings, goblins, fairies, dragons, gelflings, or unicorns were harmed in the writing and editing of this conversation.”

Can you share the moment when you chose Living Dead Girl Nicole as your artistic pseudonym—and why it felt right?

Many moons ago, before social media became the go-to way to socialize online, I was an active member of Rob Zombie’s message boards for both his music and his films. My username was “livingdeadgirlnicole,” and over time, people in the fan community began to associate me with it, especially when I posted photos of myself actually with Rob and [his wife] Sheri. Eventually, my art became connected to the name too, and it just sort of stuck. In a way, it felt like the name chose me. I've thought about rebranding from time to time, but the balance of “Living” and “Dead” really fits the vibe of my work, so I’ve kept it.

You're based in the Chicagoland area. How has the city and its environment influenced your artwork in the horror and fantasy genres?

JIMMY PAGE & THE BLACK CROWES

Here’s a trend I’ve noticed lately: the music industry's renewed affection for the live concert album is startling. Maybe it's because audiences are fed up with exorbitant ticket prices, and perhaps most modern studio recordings lack genuine spontaneity? That’s my theory. Which brings us to the 25th anniversary reissue of Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes' Live at the Greek. Neither artist was at their commercial peak in 2000, and the album was consequently overlooked. Now? The triple-CD set sounds shockingly fresh—a hot mix of Page’s Zeppelin classics, the Crowes’ restored hits, and Chicago blues boogie. Also included is a five-song soundcheck featuring a closing jam so impressive it’ll fry your brain.

Paramount+

It’s a nasty piece of work. “MobLand” is creator Ronan Bennett’s tense new series (with Guy Ritchie directing a few episodes) about British mob fixer Harry Da Souza, played by the always-incredible Tom Hardy, and the Harrigan crime family he serves. When the son of the rival Stevenson crime family disappears after nightclubbing with the son of Kevin Harrigan (underrated character actor Paddy Considine), Kevin and his parents—none other than the legendary Pierce Brosnan and even more legendary Helen Mirren as Conrad and Maeve Harrigan—call on Da Souza to find him. But when Richie Stevenson (Geoff Bell), head of the Stevenson family, ups the stakes on Da Souza by threatening Da Souza and his family if he fails to bring his son back alive, Da Souza is forced to use all his intelligence, cunning, and muscle to protect the Harrigans, his own family, and prevent a gang war. The title is truth in advertising. The series is a blast.