Sue Darroch and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

On the first Weird Wednesday of each month, Chris Laursen reviews exceptional films, television series, visual arts and music that have imaginative paranormal themes. He introduces us this week to an all-girl new wave band who in 1982 did a very catchy tune about hysteria and demonic possession.

Haunting Visions | September 2007
“The Devil Lives In My Husband’s Body” by Pulsallama
by Chris Laursen

In the early 1980s, girl groups rocked New York’s East Village, giving a beat-happy new wave kick that was both artsy and gritty. The bands had names like Shazork, Das Fürlines, Frieda and French Twist – they were glam, they were sassy and, judging by their spectacular costumes, big hair (or wigs) and make-up, they probably inspired many future drag queens. One of these memorable though not well known all-girl bands was called Pulsallama, and they took a clever swing into paranormal satire in 1982 with a little college radio treasure called “The Devil Lives In My Husband’s Body.”

It documents a suburban housewife’s worst nightmare when her husband starts making barking noises. In a post-1950s throwback to seventeeth century New England Puritanism, there can only be one explanation for this behaviour – Beelzebub himself must possess the poor man! What’s a girl to do but call on the witch next door to cure him?

I’m not sure if any members of Pulsallama took courses about the witch hunts in early modern Europe, but their song has several historical truths in it. For one, especially before and during the Reformation, common folk still used cunning men and women who used magic to cure ills and resolve problems, even if the churches preached against such actions. In the song, the suburban housewife does just that, asking the witch next door to lend a helping hand. No doubt there are people who still use magic today in cases that seem to be reminiscent of possession.

The twist at the end of the song in which a medical doctor diagnoses that the husband has Tourette Syndrome also has historical basis. When people were afflicted by mental illness before such things could be diagnosed medically, problems ranging from epilepsy to dementia could be construed as demonic possession. At times, an unpopular neighbour might be accused of cursing the ill person, and a witch trial would be conducted. What could not be explained was determined to be of supernatural origin, and illnesses indicated some form of malicious conjuring was being used to harm the ailing individual.

So keep these facts in mind as you get a rare chance to enjoy this East Village underground classic!

Pulsallama were Jean Caffeine, Kimberly “Princess” Davis, Stace “Timbalina” Elkin, Dany Johnson, Diana Lillig, Ann Eleanor Magnuson, Lori “Bubbles” Montana, Miss April Palmieri, Charlotte Slivka, Min “Bonefinder” Thometz, Ande Whyland and Wendy Wild. “The Devil Lives In My Husband’s Body” was released as a 7” single released on Y Records in 1982. Press play below to listen to the song!