Sue Quiroz decided to revive the annual Anne Rice Halloween balls this year after a two-year absence. Quiroz, who works at the Anne Rice Collection on Washington and Prytania, was one of the four people who started the original Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club.
According to Quiroz, she and the other founders met Rice at a book signing for “The Queen of the Damned” in 1988. When they asked Rice if she would give consent for them to start a fan club, she replied, “Lestat would love that.”
The fan club lasted for twelve years and in that time, it hosted the annual vampire balls that have become a legend in the city.
The parties were held at various locations including the Columns Hotel and a home owned by Rice on St. Charles Avenue and Amelia Street which was used as the setting for Mona’s home in “The Witching Hour.” Rice was present for most of the parties, but illness prevented her from attending this year.
Quiroz brought back the celebration this year after receiving complaints from former fan club members and Rice fans about there being nowhere to go to wear their costumes and display their fangs.
Last Friday, the fears of having another fang-less pre-Halloween celebration were dissolved. Les Temps Des Vampires, the new incarnation of the balls, was held at the Howlin’ Wolf last Friday and was billed as a coven reunion.
The majority of the so-called vampires weren’t elaborately dressed, and the crowd was pretty thin.
However, the $20 ticket to the ball also included live entertainment, which featured the bands Necro Tonz, Madstone, and Finger Cuff, and added to the ambiance of the night. Necro Tonz, a goth lounge band, was a crowd favorite.
Madstone also stole the show with powerful rock grooves and soulful supporting vocals. The family-like atmosphere added to the night. It really was more of a reunion than a repeat of the more lavish balls. The participants seemed happy to see like-minded individuals sharing in the other-wordly evening.
The festivities also included gothic-styled door prizes and Quiroz mingling with members of the crowd. The participants also seemed to enjoy showing off their vampire apparel and exposing an air of mystery with their blood-sucking persona.
Luckily, most people enjoyed just pretending to fit the role for one night, rather than taking themselves too seriously.
Overall, the night was a success for the revival of the tradition of the vampire balls.
Quiroz said that Howlin’ Wolf was very supportive of the project and she hopes to continue the tradition next year.
Tim Drescher chose not to go in vampire garb, but instead portrayed the character of Eric Draven from, “The Crow.”
Madstone, the second band on the set-list, enthralled the crowd with melodic vocals and hard-hitting guitar riffs.
Gibb Bottello, one of the night crawlers at Les Temps Des Vampires, displays his scary vampire persona for the evening’s festivities. (Lauren Cannon)
