königin der verdammten soundtrack (the German-market title for Queen of the Damned) is the soundtrack for the 2002 horror film directed by Michael Rymer, adapted from Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles novels by screenwriters Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni. The story follows the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Stuart Townsend), who awakens the ancient first vampire Akasha (Aaliyah) after becoming the frontman of a nu-metal band. It is a stand-alone sequel to 1994’s Interview with the Vampire, and its soundtrack — produced by Richard Gibbs and Korn frontman Jonathan Davis — became one of the more distinctive nu-metal movie soundtracks of the early 2000s.
Quick Facts
| Title | Queen of the Damned (German release title: königin der verdammten) |
| Genre | Horror |
| US Release Date | February 22, 2002 |
| Soundtrack Release Date | February 19, 2002 (Warner Music Group) |
| Director | Michael Rymer |
| Writers | Scott Abbott, Michael Petroni |
| Based On | The Queen of the Damned (1988) and The Vampire Lestat (1985) by Anne Rice |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Pictures |
| Score & Song Producers | Richard Gibbs & Jonathan Davis |
Score & Composer
The film score and the specially written songs for Lestat’s in-film band were composed and produced by Richard Gibbs and Jonathan Davis of Korn. Gibbs is an American film composer whose credits include Dr. Dolittle, Big Momma’s House, the Battlestar Galactica TV series, and the first season of The Simpsons.
Davis and Gibbs wrote and recorded ten songs for the film; five were selected for the official soundtrack album. Because of Davis’s recording contract at the time, his own vocals could not appear on the commercial release, so five guest vocalists from other bands re-recorded the songs: Wayne Static of Static-X (“Not Meant for Me”), David Draiman of Disturbed (“Forsaken”), Chester Bennington of Linkin Park (“System”), Marilyn Manson (“Redeemer”), and Jay Gordon of Orgy (“Slept So Long”). Davis’s own versions of these songs later surfaced as DVD/Blu-ray bonus material. Studio musicians on the album included Korn’s Brian “Head” Welch and James “Munky” Shaffer, Limp Bizkit’s Sam Rivers, violinist L. Shankar, and drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Terry Bozzio.
Every Song on the Soundtrack
Track listing and performer credits below are verified against the official 2002 Warner Music Group release.
| # | Song | Performer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not Meant for Me | Wayne Static (Static-X) | 4:09 |
| 2 | Forsaken | David Draiman (Disturbed) | 3:39 |
| 3 | System | Chester Bennington (Linkin Park) | 5:03 |
| 4 | Change (In the House of Flies) | Deftones | 4:18 |
| 5 | Redeemer | Marilyn Manson | 4:59 |
| 6 | Dead Cell | Papa Roach | 3:07 |
| 7 | Penetrate | Godhead | 4:55 |
| 8 | Slept So Long | Jay Gordon (Orgy) | 4:19 |
| 9 | Down with the Sickness | Disturbed | 5:29 |
| 10 | Cold | Static-X | 4:38 |
| 11 | Headstrong | Earshot | 2:58 |
| 12 | Body Crumbles | Dry Cell | 4:36 |
| 13 | Excess | Tricky | 4:43 |
| 14 | Before I’m Dead | kidneythieves | 3:07 |
Where to Stream
The soundtrack album streams on Spotify and Apple Music. The film itself streams free with ads on Tubi and is available to rent or buy digitally through Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube; check our streaming guide for current availability.
Cast
- Stuart Townsend as Lestat de Lioncourt
- Aaliyah as Akasha — her final film role
- Marguerite Moreau as Jesse Reeves
- Paul McGann as David Talbot
- Lena Olin as Maharet
- Vincent Perez as Marius
- Claudia Black as Pandora
- Matthew Newton as Armand
- Bruce Spence as Khayman
- Christian Manon as Mael
Aaliyah completed her scenes as Akasha before her death in a plane crash on August 25, 2001; Queen of the Damned is dedicated to her memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Queen of the Damned soundtrack?
Richard Gibbs and Jonathan Davis of Korn wrote and produced the film’s score and its specially written songs. Gibbs also scored the underlying film music.
Did Jonathan Davis actually sing on the soundtrack album?
No. Davis wrote and recorded the songs, but a contractual restriction with his record label at the time prevented his vocals from appearing on the commercial release. Five guest vocalists — Wayne Static, David Draiman, Chester Bennington, Marilyn Manson, and Jay Gordon — re-recorded the parts instead. Davis’s original versions later appeared as DVD and Blu-ray bonus material.
Was Aaliyah featured on the soundtrack album?
No. Although Aaliyah starred in the film as Akasha, she does not appear on the official soundtrack album. Before her death, she and Jonathan Davis had discussed recording a duet together, but it never materialized.
Is Queen of the Damned based on a book?
Yes. The screenplay draws primarily from Anne Rice’s 1988 novel The Queen of the Damned, the third book in The Vampire Chronicles, while also incorporating plot elements from its 1985 predecessor, The Vampire Lestat.
Was this Aaliyah’s last movie?
Yes. Queen of the Damned was Aaliyah’s final film role, completed shortly before she died in a plane crash on August 25, 2001. The film is dedicated to her.
Where can I watch Queen of the Damned in 2026?
The film streams free with ads on Tubi and is available to rent or purchase digitally on Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube.