Interview by Jon Burlingame
Recorded July 30, 2014, at Danny Elfman’s studio in Los Angeles
Danny Elfman describes a Los Angeles childhood spent at weekend monster and science-fiction double features, where he first noticed Bernard Herrmann’s name, and a late, self-taught start in music: he picked up his first instrument at 18, toured France on violin with Le Grand Magic Circus, and spent a year traveling in West Africa before leading the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo and then the rock band Oingo Boingo.
He recounts his first orchestral score, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, which began his long collaboration with Tim Burton, and the story of Batman, including composing its theme in his head on a flight home. He discusses Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, writing the songs for The Nightmare Before Christmas before there was a script, and composing The Simpsons theme in the car on the way home from meeting Matt Groening.
He also covers his films with Sam Raimi (Darkman, A Simple Plan, Spider-Man), Gus Van Sant (To Die For, Milk), Errol Morris and David O. Russell; his decades-long partnership with orchestrator Steve Bartek; and concert works including Serenada Schizophrana and the ballet Rabbit and Rogue for Twyla Tharp.
Reflecting on the craft, he says Herrmann taught him that “there are no rules,” and he advises aspiring composers to do what he didn’t: go to music school.