All things pass…into the night. This powerful line features prominently throughout Q Lazzarus‘ mighty “Goodbye Horses,” a haunting synth pop track from 1988 that has developed a massive cult following over the last three decades. Everyone knows it, everyone loves it, and it’s one of the few tracks from the era that truly deserves its continued reverence in the canon. Most are familiar with the song from Jonathan Demme’s 1991 masterpiece Silence of the Lambs, but it was first featured in Married to the Mob, Demme’s previous film, released three years prior. Q, aka Diane Luckey, reportedly was discovered by Demme while she worked as a cab driver in the mid-1980s. Struck by her powerful voice and work with bandmate William Garvey, Demme featured an early demo track in 1986’s Something Wild, while Q herself appeared in Philadelphia, singing a heartbreaking rendition of Talking Heads’ “Heaven.”
However, despite such prominent early support and Luckey’s immense talent, Q Lazzarus’ music career never quite took hold, and the singer mysteriously vanished from the scene in the early 1990s, leaving behind the one 12” single, whose influence (and value) grew exponentially in the years to come. Unauthorized reissues of the record came and went, the notorious Silence of the Lambs scene was parodied in several films, and the track itself was covered countless times by post-punk, synth, and pop bands across the spectrum. The song’s magnetic energy, beauty, and drama were irrefutable, but when all was said and done, just who was Diane Luckey, and where has she been all these years since? Rumors of her return to a quieter life in Staten Island, driving cabs and buses, came and went, with many sightings reported over the years. One of these wild, happenstance sightings, however, resulted in a deep friendship between the singer and filmmaker Eva Aridjis Fuentes, who after connecting randomly with Q during a cab ride, began work on a documentary that lovingly tells Luckey’s heartbreaking tale and fills in the missing pieces over the years.
The film, titled Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus, focuses on Luckey’s life from beginning to end, starting with her humble church choir beginnings, touching firmly on her time in the underground music scenes in London and NYC, which was spent cultivating a unique and powerful sound while simultaneously unpacking rejections and systemic racism in the music scene. The film also chronicles the singer’s internal struggles throughout the mid-1990s, but most importantly, affirms her deep love for her family and her immense passion for music. After her time in exile, rebuilding her life and reconnecting with son James, Luckey’s dreams to return to the stage to reclaim her legacy were cut short, first by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even more so by her untimely death in 2022, a devastating end to an otherwise inspiring story. The film will be released officially in early 2025, but early screenings in LA, London, Mexico and NYC are taking place throughout this holiday season, including a sold-out show in NYC tonight at the Roxy Cinema. More info about this poignant and powerful film can be found online at the film’s official website.
To coincide with the film’s release as well as what would have been Luckey’s 64rd birthday, Sacred Bones Records has just announced the release of the film’s soundtrack, which shares the same name as the film and features many hand-picked tracks from Q Lazzarus’ private archives, recorded between 1985 and 1995. The album, which serves as Q Lazzarus’ first full-length album, will be released on February 21st, 2025. Physical copies of the album feature ten standout tracks, including an alternate version of “Goodbye Horses” and a recording of “Heaven.” Digital editions of the album feature another full album’s worth of tracks from Luckey’s archives, capturing the many styles and sounds she explored throughout her career, including forays into hard rock, soul, and house, all unified by her powerful vocals. While it’s a shame Luckey would not be able to see this dream come to fruition, it’s wonderful that this music can now be discovered and enjoyed by a new generation of fans, who can also expect a standalone 12” reissue of Goodbye Horses in 2025 via Dark Entries.
The soundtrack album (as well as some new merch) can be purchased both via Bandcamp as well as the Sacred Bones website. The LP comes in different color variants, while all editions feature digital-only bonus tracks. Check below for the album cover, track listing, and more details on Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus. Happy birthday Q, and much love to her family!
Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus
1. Goodbye Horses (Single Edit)
2. Heaven
3. I See Your Eyes
4. A Fools Life
5. Summertime
6. My Mistake
7. Hellfire
8. Don’t Let Go
9. Bang Bang
10. Goodbye Horses (New Wave Version)
11. Flesh For Sale*
12. I Don’t Want to Love You Anymore*
13. The Candle Goes Away*
14. Fathers, Mothers, and Children Dying in the Street*
15. Love Lust*
16. Home*
17. Momma Never Said*
18. The Time is Right (Dare)*
19. Only You Can Light The Candle*
20. Love Dance*
21. Take the Time*
22. Be Mine*
23. It Don’t Mean Nothing*
*CD edition bonus tracks
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