In 1973, 'The Exorcist' became a horror legend, and its theme, 'Tubular Bells' by Mike Oldfield, became the sound of terror. Tubular bells are large metal pipes that are struck with a mallet, usually used in orchestral settings to mimic church bells. However, Oldfield used them as part of a complex, layered progressive rock piece. Director William Friedkin chose the opening piano and bell motif for the film because of its cold, detached, and relentless quality. The 'ping' of the tubular bells gave the theme a religious, yet unsettling, resonance. The success of the film made the instrument a household name and launched Virgin Records, proving that an instrument's 'innocent' orchestral use can be subverted to create a legend of horror.