Diane Luckeythe enigmatic musician who recorded and performed as Q Lazzare and whose single “Goodbye Horses” was used in Silence of the Lambs, has died. Via Stereogum, Luckey died on July 19 at age 59.
As Q Lazzarus, Luckey only officially released one single, but it had a long life. “Goodbye Horses” first appeared on the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme’s 1988 film, Married to the Mafiabut that’s when Demme reused the song in his next film, 1991 Thesilenceofthelambs, that he entered into cult status. The haunting club track accompanies the scene where serial killer Buffalo Bob (Ted Levine) dances to the song and tucks his genitals between his legs in his basement lair.
Demme, who first used Q Lazzarus’ song “Candle Goes Away” in 1986 something wildmade it appear in 1993 philadelphia cream in a party scene performing a cover of “Heaven” by Talking Heads, but after that Luckey stopped performing and all but disappeared. Meanwhile, the cult following “Goodbye Horses” grows; Mon Amie Records re-released the single in 2017 and asked Hayden Thorpe of Jon Hopkins and Wild Beasts to cover the song.
Then in 2019, writer Kelsey Chapstick wrote an article for Dazed Digital, “Searching for Q Lazzarus,” where it was revealed that Luckey was alive and well living on Staten Island, and working as a bus driver. But she quickly disappeared into private life.
Here is more about Luckey from the Jackson Funeral Home of NJ obituary:
Following in the footsteps of her parents and sisters, Diane loved music and singing from an early age and was part of the Mount Pisgah Youth Choir. After seeing the Broadway musical, “Bubbling Brown Sugar” in New York on a school outing, she decided she wanted to dedicate her life to singing. She moved to New York when she was eighteen and immediately began working at Sigma Sounds Studio as a backup vocalist and writing jingles for commercials. Soon after, she began writing songs, recording music, and headlining concerts under the name Q Lazzarus. Diane was a multi-talented instrumentalist, writing lyrics and singing, playing guitar and piano, and also producing.
Diane’s song “Goodbye Horses” became an instant hit, which generated a huge following that continues to this day. She appeared in the movie Philadelphia during a party scene with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, singing the Talking Heads song “Heaven.”Diane also spent several years in London where she fronted rock and roll band Q Lazzarus where she wrote dozens of songs and toured the UK. She also performed and hosted many parties at major clubs and arenas in London and collaborated with her friend Danny Z on house music tracks upon her return to the United States.
For fans who have always wanted to know more about Q Lazzarus, the obituary notes: “At the time of her death, Diane was finishing work on a feature-length documentary about her life and music with filmmaker and friend Eva Aridjis. The film will be released in 2023, along with an album of songs spanning his entire musical career.”
Rest in peace, Diana.