‘Stranger Things’ Season 4: Joseph Quinn Listened to Thrash Metal – and 1 Album in Particular
Stranger Things Season 4 actor Joseph Quinn is not a metalhead. But the actor had to embody his character Eddie Munson perfectly. Eddie is the series’s newest addition, the leader of Hellfire Club, and the epitome of a bad boy rocker from the 80s. From the long hair, the leather jacket, skull rings, and more, Quinn got into character by listening to music.
[WARNING: This article contains mild spoilers for Stranger Things 4 Volume I]
Eddie Munson is everyone’s new resident troublemaker who is also a softie
Fans meet Eddie when Dustin and Mike have to tell them the grim truth about Lucas not joining their D&D game. At first, Eddie seems like a bully who Mike and Dustin do not want to anger. But Eddie is a misunderstood soul categorized in the “misfit” group.
In the first episode of Stranger Things Season 4, Quinn embodies the definition of an 80s delinquent. Eddie is even part of a band called Corroded Coffin and is forced to repeat his senior year. Total renegade. Eddie reads a news article in the lunch room about D&D being the Devil’s game. He stands on the table in a passionate speech.
Eddie even calls out the basketball team and Jason Carver, who responds to Eddie by calling him a “freak.” In return, Eddie uses his fingers to make devil horns on his head and sticks his tongue out. Later, when he meets Chrissy, his bad-boy facade hides his kindness.
But when Vecna kills Chrissy, Eddie knows he is in trouble. Everyone automatically calls Eddie the killer. Max’s mom even comments about him being in trouble again. Eddie is a unique metalhead that Quinn had to tap into for Stranger Things Season 4.
Joseph Quinn listened to a lot of Metallica for ‘Strange Things’ Season 4
Music is a running theme in the new season and among the cast. The song “Running Up That Hill” became the season’s anthem and the song that saves Max from Vecna. From the main cast using music to get into character, Quinn also had his own musical journey for Stranger Things Season 4.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Quinn admits he listened to a lot of thrash metal, one band in particular.
“A lot of Metallica. (Laughs.) And I listen to a lot of Black Sabbath, mainly Black Sabbath’s “Master of Reality.” That album was going around in my head for years,” said Quinn.
But the Stranger Things actor does admit he is not the biggest fan of heavy metal music. “I was never really that into thrash metal when I was growing up. I knew about new metal bands coming out during the ‘90s, which I liked, but wasn’t obsessed with that kind of music,” said Quinn.
For Stranger Things Season 4, Quinn had a lot to learn despite being a fan of the series. Not only did he have to get into character by listening to Metallica, but he also had to learn a bit about Dungeons & Dragons.
The series cast reveal what songs would save them from Vecna and how it helped their characters
Much like Quinn, some of the cast of Stranger Things Season 4 turned to music to help get in tune with their characters. Jamie Campbell Bower revealed to Vanity Fair he also listened to heavy metal for his role as Vecna/Henry Creel.
“I would put on music. A lot of the time I was listening to bands like Sunn O))) and Carpathian Forest and Mayhem. A lot of black metal stuff, because there’s a lovely depth and darkness to it,” said Bower.
Bower also recently revealed the song that would save him from Vecna would be “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. Sadie Sink also revealed her song is by Taylor Swift. Quinn has yet to tell what song would save him from Vecna. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor does tease fans that knowing how to play guitar was a big part of his role as Eddie.
