Following the death of Batman television star Adam West, fans are remembering, mourning and honoring the Bright Night in their own way.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Eric Calderone, a guitarist known on YouTube for performing heavy metal versions of popular songs and pop culture theme songs, did exactly what you’d expect. He recorded a heavy metal version of the catchy theme song from Adam West’s classic Batman TV show, which can listen to in the video above.
“If you are from my decade (early – mid 80s), Adam West was your first Batman,” Calderone wrote in the video post to his 331Erock YouTube accoutn. “Pretty bummed about his passing but I’d say he made his mark, definitely for me. I tried not to stray too far from the original to shoot for a proper tribute. Thank you Batman.”
West died Saturday at the age of 88 after a short battle with Leukemia. He is survived by his wife, Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
“Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero,” his family said in a statement.
West became an icon by playing the Caped Crusader on ABC’s Batman television show, which became a surprise hit when it premiered in 1966. West’s Batman is known for its campy humor and though the character has taken a darker and more serious tone over the decades, the television series remains a fan favorite.
West celebrated the 50th anniversary of Batman with a guest appearance on the 200th episode of The Big Bang Theory. West reprised his role as the Dark Knight by voicing Batman, alongside his co-star Burt Ward as Robin, the 2016 animated movie Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders.
West’s interpretation of Batman also heavily inspired the Batman animated series The Brave and the Bold, which featured a bright and humorous Batman. West had a guest role on the series as Batman’s father, Thomas Wayne, in the episode titled “Chill of the Night!”
The Batman television series’s popularity has fluctuated over the years. The stylized, kitschy take on Batman has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years as Warner Bros. has begun releasing new merchandise based on West’s Batman and a digital Batman ’66 comic book featuring new adventures of television’s Dynamic Duo.
Adam West was born William West Anderson in Walla Walla, Washington in 1928. He took the stage name Adam West when he began his entertainment career in Hawaii in the 1950s, starring in local kids shows.
More Adam West: Adam West, TV’s Batman, Dies At 88 / Burt Ward Comments on Adam West’s Death / The Internet Reacts To Adam West’s Death / Celebrities We’ve Lost In 2017
Photo Credit: Silver Screen Collection / Getty
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