In this episode of Hate To Break It To Ya, I sit down with horror legend Bill Moseley, the man behind Chop Top. Bill’s not your average horror icon — he’s a Yale graduate, journalist, and musician who brings intellect and wit to the darkest corners of cinema. We talk about his time with Rob Zombie and Tobe Hooper, what it’s like being a calm mind in a chaotic genre, and the spiritual side of acting, from “the spirits of the theater” to his real-life friendship with Timothy Leary.
We also dive into everything from Repo! The Genetic Opera with Paris Hilton to true-crime influences, philosophy, and why Bill believes even his most twisted characters are “happy in their work.” This one’s eerie, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful — the perfect peek inside the macabre mind of a horror master.
About Bill:
Bill Moseley is an acclaimed actor, writer, and musician known for redefining horror’s most disturbing roles. His credits include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The Devil’s Rejects, 3 from Hell, and Repo! The Genetic Opera. A graduate of Yale and former journalist, he’s also fronted the experimental rock group Cornbugs with guitarist Buckethead.
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Follow Bil:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choptopmoseley
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607820/
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Discussed in This Episode:
00:00 – “Chop Top Kicks Candyman’s Ass”
05:42 – Meeting Bill Moseley at Conventions & Rob Zombie’s Devil’s Rejects Legacy
11:18 – Jamie’s German Convention Story (William Forsythe Saves the Day)
17:04 – Horror Icons & Serial Killers: Gacy, Rooker, Otis, and the Line Between Evil & Art
23:05 – Kids and Horror: When Your Dad Is Chop Top
28:49 – Numerology, Angel Numbers & Bill’s 11/11 Birthday
34:16 – Working with Paris Hilton on Repo! The Genetic Opera
40:02 – Tobe Hooper, Wes Craven & The Calm Genius Behind Chaos
46:35 – The Birth of Chop Top & Writing “Ed Gein (He Ain’t Mean)” with Buckethead
52:11 – Timothy and Charlie: Playing Timothy Leary Opposite Charles Manson
57:57 – “The Spirits of the Theater” & Superstition in Acting
1:03:44 – Jamie’s CIA–Hollywood Theory / Laurel Canyon Connection
1:09:26 – Bill on Christian Science & Growing Up in a House of Belief
1:15:03 – Life in ’70s & ’80s New York: Studio 54, Guardian Angels & Punk Days
1:21:38 – How Bill Sees Evil, Humor & Humanity in Horror
1:26:00 – Closing Reflections / “Happy in Their Work”
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