The Life and SLIMES of Dukey Flyswatter and Haunted Garage
Scene: the late eighties Hollywood California. Strung out punk rockers, underground S&M, character actors and hair sprayed wannabes. A churning caldron of deranged human soup. And lording over it all - Dukey Flyswatter and his misfit band, Haunted Garage. A Sunset Strip freak show for the pre-digital age - half naked blood splattered ritual in the fashion of the B movies of the time set to an astounding punk metal mash-up! The story of this Hollywood legend has not been told - until now.
Michael Sonye, AKA Dukey, is known for co-staring in b-horror classics such as Surf Nazis Must Die, Nightmare Sisters, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama and writing such films as Blood Diner, Star Slammer (Prison Ship), Frozen Scream (from the infamous video nasties list) and Cold Steel (one of Sharon Stone's first lead roles). His cinematic blood letting fantasies continued on the stages over the world with Haunted Garage.
The documentary will feature interviews with members of Haunted Garage (past and present), GWAR, L7, Green Jelly, The Dwarves, Adolescents, The Radioactive Chickenheads, Penis Flytrap, Pigmy Love Circus, Undead Kennedys, Bulimia Banquet, Fox Twot, horror movie actors and filmmakers such as 80's Scream Queens Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer, Troma's Lloyd Kaufman, Bill Moseley, Fred Olen Ray, Slain Wayne, make-up and effects artists Mike McCartey, Bryan Moore, Johnnie Saiko, Jeff Farley and more.
Hello! My name is Kevin. I am a 38 year old musician and videographer based in the New York City area. When I was very young (too young?), I discovered a love for shock and prop rock bands. In the mid 90s, I started the first Haunted Garage website and have been known since as one of the world's most dedicated fans of the band. I achieved fanboy nirvana during their 2008 reunion show while being chainsawed onstage by Dukey Flyswatter as 45 Grave's Dinah Cancer sang background vocals.
During the pandemic lockdown, in the midst of digitizing my old VHS archive, Dukey was brought back front and center to my consciousness. “Someone must tell this story, but who?” Turns out I am the most qualified person in the world to tell this amazing story. For the past 15 years, I have been filming and editing video professionally with a specialty in live events and documentary style content. As a musician, I've produced music for my band Vonesper, toured with bands such as Green Jelly and The Radioactive Chickenheads, and played with many other local artists. I know and love this particular caldron of human soup.
In 2021, I digitized the archives of band members and collectors and interviewed over 40 people. I have come so far on my own but now I am asking YOU for help. I can bring the talent and expertise but I can't afford to fund this entire venture out of my own pocket. Expenses come from travel, equipment, licensing, lawyers, hiring other artists, etc.
I hope you can join me in bringing the story of Dukey's musical and film career to life. This story deserves to be told - take one look at the trailer and tell me different!
DUKEYDOC.COM
INSTAGRAM: @dukeydoc / TWITTER: @dukeydoc
JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP: The Life and SLIMES of Dukey Flyswatter
Kevin Rankin (@kevinvonesper)
Vonesper Studios (vonesperstudios.com)
Dukey Art by Axis Valhalla
