…And create a southern gothic supernatural musical, based on true events. While this might sound more like a punch line than a new stage play, it’s true! Though the process was much more complicated than three masters of their craft simply meeting and making a musical, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is the result of collaboration between John Mellencamp, T Bone Burnett, and Stephen King. By profession these men are a rock star, a famed producer, and a horror novelist, respectively.

According to a Ghost Brothers press statement, the finishing touches have finally been added to this long-awaited project, which was recently released earlier this month on June 4th in the form of CDs and DVDs. The press release says, “The musical’s superb blues ‘n roots songs, performed by a stellar collection of guest artists, drives this haunting tale of fraternal love, lust, jealousy and revenge, 13 years in the making” which in part explains why the musical is so highly anticipated.

With guest performances by Elvis Costello, Neko Case, Meg Ryan, Sheryl Crow, and many others, it’s no wonder why this star-studded and expertly produced musical is attracting so much attention. It’s been over a decade in the making, but with the combination of lyrics and music composed by Mellencamp, libretto by King, and musical direction from Burnett, Ghost Brothers is finally complete. You can now purchase a three-disc set that features the musical’s songs, the specially printed libretto, and a mini-documentary on the making of the play with interviews from its three main collaborators. The musical will also be performed on a number of stages across the country in autumn, 2013.

Ghost Brothers of Darkland Country

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County

For more information on how Ghost Brothers of Darkland County was created, and the true events that inspired the musical, check out this recent piece from NPR. To see the full song listing and cast, and to find upcoming stage shows near you, visit Ghost Brothers’ official website.