The Man Who Made Thriller Terrifying

The story behind the most iconic voice in pop music history

Here's a trivia question for you: Which horror movie star provided the monologue at the end of Michael Jackson's "Thriller"?

If you said Vincent Price — you're absolutely right. But the story of how he ended up on the best-selling album of all time is even better than the song itself.

A Voice Like No Other

By 1982, Vincent Price was already a legend. He'd spent decades as Hollywood's go-to master of horror — the velvet-voiced villain behind classics like House of Wax, The Fly, and a string of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. His voice — deep, theatrical, and dripping with menace — was one of the most recognisable sounds in cinema.

When songwriter Rod Temperton was writing "Thriller" for Michael Jackson, he knew the song needed something extra. Something that would push it from a great pop song into a genuine horror experience. He envisioned a spoken-word section at the end — but couldn't figure out who could deliver it with the right combination of camp, menace, and theatrical flair.

The answer was obvious: Vincent Price.

The $20,000 Decision

Temperton wrote the rap in a taxi on the way to the recording studio. Price arrived, put on headphones for the first time in his career — and reportedly jumped out of his chair in surprise when he heard the funky music track blasting through them.

He recorded his entire section in just two takes. Producer Quincy Jones called his work "fabulous." The iconic evil laugh at the end? Completely natural — Price simply let it rip, and it was perfect.

Then came the decision that Price would later laugh about for the rest of his life. He was offered a choice: take a percentage of the album's future royalties, or accept a flat fee of $20,000. Price, a well-established star who didn't need the money, took the flat fee.

Thriller went on to sell over 70 million copies — the best-selling album in music history. When Johnny Carson pointed out on The Tonight Show that Price could have earned millions from royalties, Price laughed amiably and said: "How well I know!"

A Legacy That Lives On

Price's contribution to "Thriller" introduced him to an entirely new generation of fans who might never have discovered his classic horror films. His voice — that slow, theatrical build to the final cackle — became one of the most recognisable sounds in pop culture history.

He appeared in over 90 films across his career, from 1938 right through to Edward Scissorhands in 1990 — his final film role, playing the inventor who created Johnny Depp's character. He died in 1993, but his voice lives on every time someone plays "Thriller" at a Halloween party.

Questions like this are what make Halloween trivia nights unforgettable. Our Halloween pack is packed with spooky surprises — from horror literature to monster mythology, celebrity costumes to classic films. Whether you're hosting a venue night or a family evening at home, we've got the perfect Halloween trivia experience for you.

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