Several of the songs featured in JOHNNY GRUESOME were created and performed by Giasone Italiano and Dean Italiano. The married couple produced the songs as part of the Gruesome CD in 2007, a spin-off of Gregory Lamberson's novelization of his screenplay. Lamberson approached them about creating an Alice Cooper styled theme song to promote his book, and the trio decided to produce a full album instead. Lamberson directed a short film/music video based on two of the songs; the video starred Erin Brown, aka "Misty Mundae," an actress known for her work in erotic horror films.
JOHNNY GUESOME's special effects makeup was created by Craig Lindberg, known for his work on Boardwalk Empire, Saturday Night Live and Royal Pains. Lamberson first discussed the project with Lindberg in 1990, when Lindberg created the effects for Lamberson's micro-budget vampire film Undying Love.
Gregory Lamberson wrote the screenplay for Johnny Gruesome in 1984. Unable to raise financing, he produced and directed Slime City instead in 1986, for $50,000. In 2006, he wrote a novelization of his Gruesome screenplay which was published by Bad Moon Books as a Limited Edition Hardcover in 2007 and by Medallion Press as a trade paperback in 2008. The novel won the IPPY Gold Medal for Horror. Lamberson finally got to direct his dream project in July, 2016.
Johnny Gruesome cast members Byron Brown II and Jon Cesar first appeared together in The Romans, also filmed in Buffalo.