Why Vincent Price Never Saw a Dime From the Thriller Rap

Quick one for the music-meets-movies file: the spooky voice on Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' is Vincent Price, and yes, that tiny cameo lives rent-free in pop culture. But the money? That part is a little less fun for him.

So about that 'Thriller' paycheck

'Thriller' is the blockbuster of blockbusters, with an estimated 70 million copies sold worldwide. Price's contribution is short but iconic: the spoken-word 'rap' and that deliciously evil laugh. He came in, did it in two takes, and went home with a flat fee: $20,000. No points, no residuals, no mailbox money.

According to 'Thriller' video director John Landis, Price called him about a year later, frustrated. Landis says Price told him the album had become the biggest thing on Earth while he had made less than $1,000 from it, and that Michael was not returning his calls. That number obviously does not line up with the $20,000 flat fee story, which is where the music-business fine print kicks in: the flat fee was the deal, which meant zero royalties after the fact. Different people remember different numbers; the clean read is that Price got paid up front, and nothing ongoing.

'Michael sent me a wonderful gift. It’s a framed picture of him, life-sized…dressed. And it has a platinum record on it and a gold record…And at the bottom, it says, 'To Vincent Price: Thank you so much for your help with 'Thriller' and in celebration of the 30th millionth album…' Can you believe that? And I got none of it. I’m not bitter, mind you. I’m not bitter. Just hurt.'

The awkward part

Price talked about all this on the British talk show 'Aspel & Company', where he showed off that very extra gift: a life-sized framed photo of MJ (fully clothed, for the record), with a platinum and a gold record attached and a note celebrating the 30 million sales milestone. The vibe was hurt feelings over not sharing in the windfall.

Legally, though, Jackson did nothing wrong. By every account, Price signed a contract for a one-time fee. No one stiffed him; there just were no residuals built in. And for context, Price was doing just fine financially at the time. You can read his comments as a mix of genuine disappointment and that famously dry Vincent Price delivery. I mean, it is a brutal gig to see blow up without you.

How he got the gig in the first place

This cameo exists thanks to Peggy Lipton, who was married to producer Quincy Jones at the time. She suggested Price, and the rest is spooky-season history.

• Price records the 'Thriller' rap in two takes for a $20,000 flat fee, with no residuals.
• 'Thriller' becomes the best-selling album ever, roughly 70 million copies sold.
• Landis recalls Price calling about a year later, upset he had made less than $1,000 and that Michael was not taking his calls. That conflicts with the $20,000 figure, but maps to the 'no royalties' reality.
• On 'Aspel & Company', Price shows a life-sized framed photo of MJ with platinum and gold records and a note celebrating the 30 million mark, and says he got none of the profits, adding: 'I’m not bitter… Just hurt.'
• Bottom line: the deal was the deal. It just turned out to be a great day rate on a once-in-a-lifetime smash.