WELCOME TO OUR TEMPLE OF LOVE !
WELCOME TO OUR TEMPLE OF LOVE !
"I'm Going Down To The Darklands, Cos I Know Where The Darklands Are ..."
Trad Goth, Industrial, EBM, Darkwave, FuturePop, etc etc If any of these are 'Your Thing' then there will probably be something to interest you here !?!
I like all of the above. One thing generally tends to lead you onto another ... Punk Rock led to the discovery of Iggy & The Velvets. Punk then spewed towards Goth via Siouxsie and the likes of Bauhaus and The Sisters. EBM blasted along and every other sub genre soon followed !!! .............
This type of music holds a massive place in the hearts of many. Both great to listen to AND dance to, many Club Nights continue to fill their Dancefloors by mixing all of the aforementioned styles.
Is it a case of once a 'Goth', always a 'Goth' at heart ?????
Ten Of My Current Most Listened To CD's (In No Particular Order ...)
Nitzer Ebb - Body Of Work
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Juju
The Cure - Pornography
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Front 242 - Front By Front
The Sisters Of Mercy - First And Last And Always
Depeche Mode - Violator
VNV Nation - Empires
The Sisters Of Mercy - Floodland
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
BLACK PLANET GOTH NIGHT,
Black Planet DJ Nites ; 1st Friday of Month.
The Bear Pub, Bedford.
Resident DJ CyberAndy
Playing a Mix of Trad Goth / Industrial / Electro / Dark wave / Cyber / 80's
8.30pm - 1am. Free Entry !!
There is NO Black Planet January '09. We return Fri. 6th Feb. '09.
Click here to go to CYBERANDY'S MySpace Page
Andy is also Resident DJ at each April's Whitby Goth Weekend.
NO MORE HEROES PROMOTIONS.
FORTHCOMING GIGS AT ESQUIRES, BEDFORD.
2009.
Sat. 15th August '09. OBSCURE (The Cure Tribute Band) + Special Guests. £7.
All Gigs 8pm - midnight, then free entry to Alternative Club downstairs until 2am.
No More Heroes Promotions are looking for Bedford - or nearby - based Alternative/Electro/Post-Punk/Goth Bands to play Support slots at Esquires during 2009. Contact us via the MySpace link below.
www.myspace.com/nomoreheroespromotions
W.G.T. 2009.
To the centre of the City .... A Ryan Air flight (with VERY bumpy landing) followed by an hour+ on the coach and you have arrived. Central Leipzig, with 4 days of the fantastic W.G.T. ahead of you. It's a moment to treasure. My surroundings looked vaguely familiar ; was it really a year ago that I was here ??? I was staying in the same hotel as previously, and it was only a 15 minute walk from the Coach Station. I was travelling 'lite' this time. Drastic decisions had been taking prior to leaving home on Tee-Shirts ; for some reason it was The Sisters all the way this time (well, they had been superb when I'd seen them just a few months ago in London).
I checked in and quickly unpacked. It was probably 11pm by then but I didn't feel tired and felt like a beer. I found a nice bar downtown and had a couple of refreshing Pilsners then it was back to bed for some sleep (which you soon realise is at a premium over this packed weekend). Your bedtime generally gets later and later as the days go by ....
I awoke to see the sun shining through my window. A shower then off on the Tram to The Agra to collect my WristBand. Already the 'Black Invasion' was in evidence. I also picked up my Programme which would guide me from Venue to Venue over the next 4 days .... After grabbing something to eat I moved to Werk 2. There was quite a queue already and I got in just as the first Band - Panic Lift - were hitting the Stage. Judging by their accents they'd come over from the U S of A for this Event and I can report it was worth the trip. Plenty were dancing at the front to their brand of EBM ; Werk 2 seems to be just the place for these type of Bands. There was a great finish as they ended with a pretty slow version of Phil Collins 'In The Air Tonight'. SURELY the only Phil Collins song to get an airing at W.G.T. 2009 !!!!!
The variety on offer at Leipzig was immediately there for all to see as next up was Russian Trip Hop/Classical Goth Artist Leandra. She describes her songs as impressions of extreme situations - be that the case or not her voice sounded wonderful. Most of the audience were transfixed by her stunning delivery and style. A perfect contrast to Panic Lift ;W.G.T. is off and running .....
The heat was already being felt deep inside Werk 2, and I needed a refreshing beer. Accents from around the globe can be heard at Treffen, and I soon got chatting to someone from Spain. It's rare not to bump into someone keen to talk about music and their previous Festival experiences. Tempting as it was to remain at Werk 2, I had to now move on. The Agra beckoned .....
The main Venue of W.G.T. - and where the CampSite is based - The Agra always has a very interesting varied Line-Up of Bands. Never more so than tonight !!! 7.20pm and L'Ame Immortelle come onstage (you can rely on W.G.T. to run on time). This Austrian Band have been around for 13 years or so and from fairly near the start have featured the male/female vocal dynamics of Thomas and Sonia. The couple are the focal point of an excellent live show. Thomas blindfolds Sonia, and she appears lost in her own world. I didn't know their material prior to this performance but I was impressed.
The Hall was filling up towards the end of their Set, and was soon rammed to capacity. The reason ?? CombiChrist were on next .....
In the live arena they are a relentless proposition. Pounding beat after pounding beat dragging the audience into submission .... 'This Shit Will Fuck You Up' kicks off things in a style that continues throughout. No ballards for these guys. The crowd are going mad, and I thoroughly enjoy it. "I smell electro" shouts Andi, and it's time for the classic 'ElectroHead'. Are they playing 'live' ?? Does it matter that the Keyboardist knocks over his equipment towards the end - and the beats just keep coming ?? CombiChrist ; I guess you either love 'em or hate 'em !!!!!!
Next up were a Band most of the 'English Contingent' were very keen to see ; The Eden House. This collaboration has come together over a period of time. The core members are Stephen Carey (formerly of This Burning Effigy) and Tony Pettit (Fields Of The Nephilim) and they've just released their Debut Album 'Smoke And Mirrors'. The 'ElectroHeads' may have deserted The Agra but those that do remain are treated to a stunning performance by a Band playing only their 2nd ever Gig. TEH female Vocalists Evi Vine and Amandine Ferrari (unfortunately Julianne Regan wasn't in attendance) add georgeous vocals to the swirling beautiful music. Their haunting sounds drew people in, and it was an inspired show. Unfortunately they had to cut their set short, but already we'd seen enough to realise that this is a Band more than worthy of their reputation. They're playing Whitby Goth Weekend in October ; don't miss them !!!!
A seemingly late - but very welcome - addition to the Line-Up were Project Pitchfork ; the legendary German Outfit formed by Peter Spilles and Dirk Scheuber in 1991 9interestingly they picked the project's name by choosing a word at random from the dictionary !!!). I had seen PP at last years Amphi Fest when they were superb. Again tonight they were at the top of their game. Coming on at around 11.30pm their electronic beats certainly hit the spot with the large crowd that they'd attracted. Mixing tracks from recent Album 'Feel !' with older classics frontman Peter was loving it. The audience were dancing throughout and went into overdrive when 'Timekiller' was played as an encore. It was fairly late - or early in W.G.T. time !!! - when they finished. The Clubs of Leipzig were just getting going ... but you need to pace yourself at an Event such as this. It was time for bed.
I was staying at the Mercure Am Johanniplatz Hotel, which is fairly central. The Tram system makes this whole Festival so easy to get round ; your WristBand gives you free travel on the trams for the whole 4 days. Early afternoon and I visised the massive shopping market at The Agra.All things Goth can be purchased here !!! I managed to resist spending too much ....
The Parkbuhne was my next stop. A lovely Venue in the middle of a large Park, it's a wonderful place to spend a few hours. Zin were the first I saw. Apparently a local Band from Leipzig they were pretty good with a Vocalist who sounded not unlike Briam Molko. These were followed by Mono Inc. (from Hamburg). Again I wasn't familiar with them, but was quickly drawn in. The frontman put on a lively performance and surely 'Get Some Sleep' is a W.G.T. Anthem !!!
From here I moved to the deep and dark Mortizbastei Club - surely one of the very best Venues in Leipzig !!! Greifenkeil aren't just another 'Band Onstage' ; they combine vocals, dance and drama. Marshalled by Lord Athanor their current show centres on the 'Lost Control' Project. They are captivating, with The Lord acting as Master Of Ceremonies. The 3 dancers perfectly complement the music and when they cover 'She's Lost Control' it is without doubt one of the highlights of the whole weekend. For more information on their Goth For Earth Campaign visit www.goth-for-earth.com.
The evenings entertainment continued with Otto Dix - a Russian Darkwave Project. Consisting of a keyboardist and female vocalist they were great to follow Griefenkeil. Again the crowd responded very well.
Headliners were Illuminate - a German outfit who have been around for quite a few years. This was more of a 'traditional' Gig and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Mortizbastei had provided a brilliant line-up !!! We were full of energy by now and made the 10 minute walk across to DarkFlower Club. You go down the stairs and are greeted by pumping Electro sounds and a packed Dancefloor. Drink prices were reasonable - 3 Euros for a large bottle of Becks. A great mix of tunes kept people dancing all night. I left at nearly 5am and things were still going strong .....
Sunday morning (you really do lose track of which day it is at W.G.T.) and I had another late breakfast - this time at Burger King !!!! From there I popped to DarkFlower where there was a VNV Pre-Album Release Party from 3pm. I got there at approx. 3.25pm ... and again the floor was full !!! Ronan and Mark were DJing their own tracks and looking very bright - especially considering they'd headlined at The Agra very late the previous evening. I would have liked to have seen them, but sometimes at this Festival you just have to make choices ; and it's good to get to some different Venues.
I made the fairly short trip to the Parkbuhne to be greeted by PainBastard - who sounded terrible. One guy jumping around 'singing' over a blasting noise. A few 'CyberHeads' were dancing with little enthusiasm. I gave them 20 minutes or so but there was no improvement whatsoever. Truly one of the worst 'Bands' I've ever seen !!!!
The rain was now coming down and I needed sanctuary. A Tram took me to Augusteplatz and the Market area of Moritzbastei. The weather had cleared up now and I spent a very pleasant hour or so listening to German Folk nusic and watching people drink Mead like it was going out of fashion !!!
I went inside the main Venue in time to catch A Spell Inside ; good Electro with a VNV-esque twist. Unbeknown to me the next 'Band' were Modcom, Ronan Harris' Side Project. Ronan and a few Computers ; a sure fire mix for a room full of shiny, happy, dancing people. The Set flew by with a few Guests' joining in from time to time. Excellent. The Beautiful Disease were up next, but I had to get to The Agra for the late show ...
There was a real sense of anticipation in the air ; could Peter Murphy live up to his legend ?? It was around 1.30am that Pete and his crew hit the stage to a heroes reception, and immediately the Band sounded excellent. The master looked good and his voice hit the spot. The new songs were very good then suddenly mid-set there was a hush and he did a fantastic version of 'Hurt'. Those of us present knew this was a special night. 'Too Much 21st Century' (standout track from 'Go Away White') soon followed. The audience were totally into it and after lenghty applause at the end of the Set Peter returned with guitar to give us 'Bella'. 'The Passion Of Lovers' was next and towards the end of that song he said 'She's In Parties'. Wow !!!! Another short break then it was grand finale time ; wearing hat and black boa he treated us to 'Space Oddity'. It must have been around 3.15am by the time he finally departed. Peter Murphy had been brilliant. What an experience for any Bauhaus fan ; the highlight of 2009 W.G.T. !!!!
The last day now beckoned ; it's impossible to say how quickly the time goes by at Leipzig. Another brunch then to the Parkbuhne for Tunes Of Dawn - who amazingly were all wearing White !!!! They had a Trad Goth type sound, with a bit of a Mission feel. That's fine by me, and I thought they were very good. Schock followed, and unlike a lot of German Bands they actually sung in German. I don't speak any German and it was interesting that in the first number it sounded as though the chorus was 'Crusty Bread'. Another sounded like 'Kiss Me, Lick Me, Drug Me' (perhaps that was what it was !!!!). They had quite a 'rock' sound that went down well with the crowd but wasn't quite my thing.
Lahanny had a fair few UK followers present. Sounding a bit like Lacuna Coil to me they were OK without being at all expectional. I moved to the market at Moritzbastei and had a couple of glasses of wine then went to Sixtina. It was around 6pm and things were warming up nicely. Beramid - a German 'Goth' Band - were on the small stage and the atmosphere was very friendly. Sitting watching them chatting and drinking you were totally aware of what an incredible all round Festival W.G.T. is. The vocalist ended the Set wearing a bra and pants that had been thrown at him !!!
A DJ playing bizarre techno followed. I had intended to see a couple of Bands elsewhere but time just flew by then a screen came down and 'Control' (in German) was shown. It is a superb film and the music spellbinding. By now we'd been joined by Leipzigs No. 1 Robert Smith lookalike and a girl whose friend had been in the film !!! The vodka was flowing ; Don't Walk Away In Silence ...
Sixtina was just around the corner from DarkFlower, and this seemed the perfect place to end our 2009 W.G.T. Plenty of dancing took us through to 3.30am ; a particular high was when 'No Time To Cry' was played !!!!
What a trip it had been. I had visited places I hadn't been to the previous year - and still I hadn't managed to get to When We Were Young !!!! W.G.T. is a MUST if you like anything 'Goth'. You can't fail to have just the very best time. Go once and you're hooked. Bring on next years Event !!!!!!
A.W.
GRIFFONVOX presents GOTH FOR EARTH.
Think green, wear black, act creatively - under this motto Griffenvox place their enviromental activity. The performance project doesn't limit it's commitment for environmentalism to it's music, and campaigns as well with spectacular productions far from the limelight. That way street is becoming stage for the destruction-drama 'Control Lost'. The initiative is meant as a starting point for many other actions - by now the potential and creativity of the scene is sought after - activists and supporters wanted !!
Further information about the campaign is available at WWW.GOTH-FOR-EARTH.COM
PROFILE OF ATHANOR - Griffonvox ; formerly Griefenkeil
Where are you based and how would you describe your music ?
We are located in Berlin / Munich Our music is Electronic Wave with some additional spices nightshades from the Bavarian countryside, as well as some other abysmal additions. We are using analogue equipment, wrist watches, sirens and telephones, don't believe it, even light bulbs.... ;-)How long have you been together for ?
Who with whom? I am with myself not so sure, since the Joker to over..... hmm The performance crew is working together already since several years, 5 years or so, and we are still in the process of expansion. So far we are 4 members: Lady A, Lady C and Lady E, the most principle antiaging vitamins, have found their ways to Lord Athanor, and we hope to add soon further vitamins to complete the mix.If you could play a Gig at any Venue in the world, where would you choose and which 3 other Bands (past or present) would be on the bill ?
Locations: Cardiff or Edinburgh / Tokio or Hongkong would be great, but no US please.
Bands: Gary Numan, Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music, Elisabeth Frazer, Laurie Anderson, guess some older 4AD acts.What are your favourite 3 Albums ever ?
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust, Roxy Music - s/t, Eno / Byrne - My Life in the bush of ghostsTop 3 songs of All-Time ?
Neon Judgement - Awful day, Joy Division - Atmosphere, Gary Numan - Down in the parkIf you could get one musician to Guest on your next recording who would you choose ?
Perhaps William Shakespeare ;)
Actually we are still looking for a compatible lady singing & performing with us (seriously)You performed at WGT '09 ; what are your thoughts on your Show & the Event?
Good, really really good! Although there were quite a few issues related to tech and the location, everything worked out fine with our performance. The audience was great but the location too small, since people had to stay outside.
In general, WGT 2009 was more peaceful than last year, quite inspiring.Favourite Drink ?
Pineapple juiceFantasy date for a night out ???????
Alice (from Wonderland), in company of the White Rabbit you know...., or perhaps even Snow-white....(without the dwarfs) with the latter the colour composition would fit better with us :-)For more Information ; WWW.GRIFFONVOX.COM
HUSSEY IN HERTFORD.
Wayne Hussey played a Solo show at the Corn Exchange, Hertford on Thursday 29th January '09.
Myself, The Polar Bear, Rachel and a few other regulars including SlaveToLust were there to enjoy a brilliant evening.
Mr H was highly entertaining and on great form. We await his plans for the next year or so with interest.
WHITBY GOTH WEEKEND - October '08.
It was a pleasure to DJ The Spa on Halloween night !!! Resurex, Christian Death & Specimen played live, and I did Sets between the Bands then afterwards. Evil Stu was my Co-DJ and we had a great night playing to a crowd who kept dancing all night until the 3am curfew.
The whole weekend was superb. The WGW Pool Competition on the Saturday afternoon at The Met had a full turn out, and Neil 'The Polar Bear' Bawden took home the Jaffa Cakes.
Saturday evening at The Spa saw The Beauty Of Gemina and Voltaire turn in highly enjoyable Sets then Wayne Hussey headlined. It was just Mr H, a guitar, keyboard and a bottle of wine. He may not have been to everyone's taste, but for me and the others right at the front who had attended most of The Mission's farewell Gigs earlier in 2008 it was a real treat.
We savoured his versions of classics such as 'Wasteland', 'Tower Of Strenght' and my own favourite 'Like A Hurricane' ... hey, he even played 30 seconds or so of 'Marian' !!!
As per usual the next night Sexy Sunday was very busy, and as hot as a Sauna. ALWAYS a brilliant night.
Monday was a nice day of meeting and chatting with many people, then going to The Res for a Marilyn Manson Tribute Band and some Burlesque Dancers.
This WGW saw many 'Fringe' Events taking place, and these seemed to be very successful. There appeared to be more people in and around the town than at previous WGW's.
Whitby remains one of the very best weekends of the year. Roll on April '09 !!!
ANDY'S DJ SETS AT WGW.
Set 1.
Jessica - All Living Fear
Hunter - Dyonisis
Like An Animal - The Glove
Nobody Likes You When You're Dead - Zombina And The Skeletones
Shadows - Kindred Spirits
Somewhere Girl - The Opposite Sex
State Of Affairs - ManuskriptSet 2.
She's Not America - Devilish Presley
Chameleon - Passion Play
Adrenalin - Bauhaus
She - I Am No One
Follow Me Sister - Inertia
Fucked Up Generation - Death Ride 69
Zix Zix Zix - Velvet Acid ChristSet 3.
Rain - The Cult
Walk Into The Sun - The March Violets
Ribbons - The Sisters Of Mercy
Love Like Blood - Killing Joke
Empty Eyes - History Of Guns
Love Action - The Human League
You Spin Me Round 9Remix) - Dead Or Alive
She's Lost Control - Joy Division
Assimilate - Skinny PuppySet 4.
April Skies - The Jesus And Mary Chain
One Hundred Years - The Cure
Israel - Siouxsie And The Banshees
Cars - Gary Numan
Bedsitter - Soft Cell
Master And Servant - Depeche Mode
Girls On Film - Duran Duran
Electrohead - Combichrist
N.W.O. - Ministry
Hit Me Hard - Noisuf X
AMPHI FEST 2009.
This is a GREAT weekend and well worth going to.
Fields Of The Nephilim have been confirmed to headline this Event.
CyberAndy & SmashedPete WILL be there .........
Amphi was first held in 2005, and has now become firmly established on the Gothic Scene. The first Amphi was held in Gersenkirchen and featured Artists such as Die Krupps, Project Pitchfork and Client. In 2006 it was moved to Tanzbrunnen, Cologne - and this is where it remains. It's a superb Venue. The capacity is approx. 12,000 and in 2008 it sold out.
Held on a Saturday and Sunday - along with plenty of 'Warm Up Parties' !!!! Bands playing over the last couple of years include Apop, VNV, ASP, Suicide Commando and Das Ich. Amphi has a Main Outdoor Stage plus an Indoor Theatre. There are also plenty of stalls selling clothes, CDs, food and drinks. The programme kicks off at lunchtime and runs until the early hours .....
Amphi attracts many visitors from England ; indeed from all over the world. The 2009 line-up stars the likes of Front 242, Fields Of The Nephilim, Liabach, Jesus On Extasy, Leather Strip, The Birthday Massacre and many more ....
Further down this WebZine you will find my Review of Amphi 2008. If this type of music is 'your thing' then you should DEF. put this Event on your list of MUST DO THINGS for 2009 !!!!!!
www.amphi-festival.de
W.G.T. 2009.
From 29th May - 1st June Leipzig is THE place to be for this incredible weekend. If you love all things GOTH then you should DEF. try to get to this Event !!!!!!
www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/englishPROFILE OF DJ PSYCHE
DJ Psyche is playing April '09 Whitby Goth Weekend.
How long have you been DJing ? Since 2000
Where do you currently DJ ? Dead Letter Office, Monthly at The Orwell Bar, London
What are your Favourite 5 Albums of All-Time ?
Jane's Addiction, Nothing's Shocking
Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
The Cure, Disintegration
Apoptygma Berserk, 7Best Gig you have ever been to ? David Bowie at the Electric Ballroom (2500 person venue), Washington, DC, on my 25th birthday. I was *this close* to him. Swoon!
Favourite DJ ? Sexbat
Top 3 Floor Fillers ?
We all know those, don't we?
Sisters of Mercy - Alice
Nine Inch Nails - Sin
Front 242 - HeadhunterFavourite drink ? Diet Coke
Top Band of All-Time ? Oh good grief, I couldn't possibly narrow it down
If you could DJ one Venue anywhere in the world where would it be ?
Have to go with the Agra, Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in LeipzigFantasy date for a night out ? A pumpkin drawn by six mice, a ball, a beautiful gown and slippers made out of glass. No, sod that, my feet would get sore.
CRYOGENICA.
Cryogenica is a London based, Anglo-Swedish electro-rock band comprising of three members: Carina - vocals, Jon - guitar, Chris - bass. They have been described as a myriad of industrial and electro with gothic vibes, influenced by Siouxsie Sioux, Nine Inch Nails, Portishead, Curve and The Birthday Massacre. The live set is technologically advanced, including ‘Ableton Live 7’ sequencing software to control a backing track with triggers, samples, synths and pads. Since their debut show at Madame JoJo’s in March 2007, the band performs regularly and is currently working on their second album.
Profile Of Vocalist Carina.
Carina with Richard from The Ghost Of Lemora.
How would you describe your bands music?
- A bit industrial, a bit electro, a tiny bit goth and I guess to put it simple = Rock! Jon wants to sound like Nine Inch Nails, Chris wants to go heavier and I'm very happy to have been described as Siouxsie-esque.How long has your band been together?
Who are your favourite band of all time?
- I met Jon 2.5 years ago and we found Chris about 1 year after that.
- Depeche Mode!Top 5 albums ever?
- Rammstein - Sehnsucht
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Depeche Mode - can't choose!!
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Through the Looking Glass (the cover album I know, but I love it!)
White Zombie - SuperSexy Swingin SoundsFavourite drink?
-Must be Hot Chocolate!Top 3 songs of all time?
- Photographic - Depeche Mode (makes me feel so happy!)
Nineties - Star Industry (keep hearing it at the momenr and always have to dance when it comes on)
It Takes a Fool To Remain Sane - The Ark (gotta promote Sweden!)Dream gig to play?
Whitby! hint hint... With Siouxsie Sioux headlining, Birthday Massacre, Das Ich and Cryogenica supporting.Guest musician on your next album?
Ron Mael - need some brilliant keyboards on there!Fantasy Date?
www.cryogenica.co.uk
- Vince Noir, think he would be quite amazing to have a night out with in Booshland...
www.myspace.com/cryogenicamusic
BERLIN ;September '08.
I recently visited Berlin for the first time - and had a FANTASTIC trip. Max and I flew at a crazily early time in the morning from Luton Airport. The Dark Angel Of Luton had been kind enough to let us crash at her place prior to the flight. We had intended an early night, but a trip to the Pub lasted longer than planned then a few more drinks at the flat meant we had all of 2 hours sleep before the alarm went off at 4am !!!!! Max was still rock n roll enough to have a Bloody Mary with his breakfast whilst we were waiting to check in. I settled for a coffee ....
We safely landed then caught a train to central Berlin. Our hotel was only a 10 minute walk from the Station. I'd booked the East Side Hotel via the Internet, and what a find it was. Incredibly friendly staff, VERY laid back ('What time do you do breakfast until ?' ; 'Whatever time you want breakfast, we'll do it for you !!!') and in a great location - literally 100 yards from the largest remaining part of the Berlin Wall, which is now an open air Art Gallery.
We saw a bit of Berlin then early eve set off for the Columbia Club for the first night of 2 Killing Joke Gigs. The original Joke line up was back together, and they were superb at both Gigs. The first night was the first 2 Albums. Opening with Requiem, the pace was unrelenting throughout. Jaz was at his manic best, oh the madness in those eyes. Max felt that Youth looked like Pete Waterman, and found his white jacket a bit disturbing ....
The Columbia Club was an excellent small venue and we were able to get right to the front without being totally squashed. The Set flew by and at the end we were totally shattered and ready for a good long SLEEP (I did manage to grab a Set List as a souvenir).
Breakfast was served at around midday by the most georgeous young lady ... Fully refreshed we did a bit of shopping, had a beer, found the Out Of Line Record Shop - where for the first time ever I saw a copy of the 'Unreleased' Sisters Of Mercy Album SSV for sale, tried to get into the Absinthe Bar - but it was SHUT !!!! ... then had tea at a non-Irish Irish Pub (Yes, we were confused too !!!).Outside the Columbia Club we brought beers from a car, got chatting to some Polish people and a West Berliner who HATED the East Berliners - then again got to the front for another fantastic Gig (Pandemonium + Early Singles Set) by the mighty Killing Joke. NB. Youth wore a black shirt !!! Highlights are difficult to pick out as there were so many, but 'Love Like Blood' & 'Eighties' were just sooooo good .... It was around half past midnight as we left the Club, but the night was only just starting. We met the Polish guys again, who took us to a Turkish bar where drinking and singing took place. The owner insisted Max & I knock back a free giant vodka before we left. We then got dropped off at the K17 Club. It was pretty empty but we did some dancing and gave away some History Of Guns CD's for an hour or so.
We then got something to eat before ending up at somewhere called The Lux Club !!! A true Superstar DJ was spinning the tunes. Nobody was dancing so he started dancing, and everyone followed. I requested 'Heroes' by David Bowie, and got some strange cover version !!! Hey, at least I can say I had Heroes played for me in a seedy downtown bar in Berlin at 4 in the morning !!!! Eventually we staggered back to our hotel room at around 5.30am ....
The hotel had no strict check out time. We again had breakfast at around lunchtime - again served by THE lady. Then we checked out, saw a bit of the Berlin Wall, and caught our late afternoon flight back to reality !!!! It had been a totally brilliant trip. Everything went superbly. I want to live at the East Side Hotel in Berlin ............
PROFILE OF RICHARD (Vocalist with The Ghost Of Lemora)
How would you describe your Bands Music ?
- Goth Rock Pop.How long has your Band been together ?
- We played our debut gig 5/9/2001 but Swifty and myself have been together at least 2 years before that.Who are your Favourite Band of All-Time ?
- DelicatessenTop 5 Albums ever ?
(in no particular order)
- Sisters of Mercy - "First and Last and Always"
Delicatessen - "Hustle into Bed"
XTC - "The Big Express"
Super Furry Animals - "Radiator"
the Cure - "Faith"Favourite Drink ?
- Snakebite and Black or Jasmine TeaTop 3 Songs of All-Time ?
An impossible question. These could easily change within the next five minutes. But, for now...
- Depeche Mode - "In Your Room"
Delicatessen - "CF Kane"
Whipping Boy - "When We Were Young"Dream Gig to play ; Where in the world + which 3 other Bands ?
- The classic Sisters line up, Joy Division and Johnny Cash, and with that line up I don't care where we play.If you could have one living Musician to guest on your next Album, who would you choose ?
- David BowieFantasy Date for a night out ? (NB. Not allowee to say wife/husband/partner !!!!!)
- Stephen Fry
PROFILE OF JESUS HOOLIGAN
How long have you been together ?
Been together about 2 monthsHow would you describe your music ?
I call it TRIBAL PUNK, I like noisey things you can hit,drill or cut I also like punk and industrial music and i like songs you can make using your enviroment i.e lumps of wood,hammers and metal.Top 5 Albums Ever ?
1. house of the mole by Ministry.
2.Sehnsucht by Rammstein.
3. Hole by Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel
4. Smell Of Female by The Cramps
5. Its Alive by The RamonesBest Band of All-Time ?
MinistryFavourite Drink ?
Every drink is my favorite drinkTop 3 Tracks ?
Clothes Hoist by Foetus,
Warp City by Ministry
Death And Destruction by MinistryDream Gig to Play ?
Kit kat club in Bayswater circa late eighties with Killing Joke,Ministry and FoetusOne Musician to Guest on your Album ?
Uncle Al from Ministry cos i think he could handle a drink or two and he is a fucking nutter.Fantasy Date ?
Hope its not to boring cheers J.H.
My misses Kate cos i luvs her.AMPHI FEST '08
This was the 4th Amphi, but my first ... I can only say I wish I'd gone to the other three !!!
Amphi takes place on a Saturday and Sunday in mid July ; I flew to Cologne early Friday morning, then found my Hotel without too much trouble. Friday evening we visited a very pleasant Russian Bar then went to a Club where Necessary Response came on at around midnight and played for around 45 minutes. The Club was open until 4am but having had a few Russian Vodkas earlier and with the whole weekend ahead of us, we 'headed for home' at around 1am.
Thus I was up and running (fairly) early on Saturday morning. The Tanzbrunnen Venue was only a 15 minute stroll away, and once there with little fuss we secured our Weekend WristBands. The Festival was Sold Out - around 12,000 people each day - but there were no massive queues to get in, and overall things seemed very well organized. My friends had been the last 2 years, which was helpful for getting around.
The Set-Up is superb - a Main Outdoor Stage and an Indoor Theatre ; both having full programmes running from 12.30 each day. We headed straight to the Theatre. It was 12.15pm, and I expected about 30 or 40 people to be there ... Much to my surprise the Venue was already pretty full, and by the time Noisuf-X arrived onstage the atmosphere was totally full on !!! Their half hour Set was very well received, and I will make a point of seeing them at Infest later this year.
The 2 man noise machine that is Nachtmahr followed, and Amphi '08 was all systems go !!! How the girls at the back of the Stage manage to stand totally still throughout the Set is beyond me - there was certainly plenty of movement in the audience, and I enjoyed them.
My one and only complaint about the whole Festival would be the crazy situation of the toilets in the Theatre. Once you visited, you were then considered to be 'outside' of the Theatre, so had to go and queue up again to get back in !!! It was generally VERY hot in there, so frequent drinks were needed. Surely this situation needs reviewing for '09.
There are plenty of varied food and drink stalls - along with lots of stalls selling CD's, Tee-Shirts, etc. The beers were quite expensive, but I think you just have to accept that at a Festival.
I went over to the Main Stage and caught Zeromancer. They may not have released an Album for 5 years, but their live reputation ensures a healthy sized crowd. Kicking off with 'Need You Like A Drug' they drew me in and I stayed until they finished - which I hadn't planned to do. Highlights were 'Clone Your Lover' and the closing 'Fade To Smack'.
It was only a 2 or 3 minute walk from the Main Stage to the Theatre, and I mainly found the queues not too bad. The scheduling meant only a short break between Bands, and time slots seemed to be kept.
Thus Ashbury Heights were soon doing their stuff inside. The duos version of Synthpop hit the spot for me, even if the vocals were a bit dodgy. Hey - if you look like Yasmine then that's OK by me !!!! I needed a drink now. Backstage with Yas would have been ideal .....
Wandering around a few stalls I caught some of Zeraphine. They sounded OK but nothing special.
Rotersand in the Theatre were superb. They had a very large crowd watching them, and played a storming Set.
I then made my way to pretty near the front just as Covenant came on. I'd seen them earlier this year in The Agra at WGT. They were good but we were a long way back. Here, being very close I thought they were superb. Joakim Montelius was using crutches, having hurt his leg in the Amphi Cup Football Tournament on the Friday !!! After a build-up, vocalist Eskil appeared, and it was straight into 'Monochrome' Keyboardist Daniel had rushed from the Theatre where he'd been playing with his other Band Haujobb ; a busy day for him ... New tracks mixed with old favourites such as 'Stalker' and 'Dead Stars'. A strong performance from an excellent Band.
A cool refreshing Kolsch then to the Headliners in the Theatre ; Combichrist. Andi was a non-stop ball of energy throughout. A packed VERY hot Theatre was moving to the beat. The pace didn't let up at all, and the crowd loved it. 'This Shit Will Fuck You Up' indeed !!! A great way to end a fantastic day.
There were AfterShow DJ's still to come, but I was shattered and needed my bed !!! After all, Amphi was only at the half way stage ....
"Sunday morning - let's the dawn in" as The Velvet Underground once sang ... I don't know about the dawn, but by midday I was ready for battle.
Cinema Strange drew a fair crowd in the Theatre. Their brand of 'Art-Rock', or whatever you want to call it, was a nice variation on the Electro - and they went down well.
New to Amphi this year was the 'Beach Area' ; a chance for black clad Goths to chill in a deckchair by The Rhine. I'd intended to get there for a cocktail today, but after buying a couple of CD's and having a beer I realised Suicide Commando would be soon hitting the Main Stage.
I got into a good position, and there was a real sense of anticipation in the air. There were some showers around, but the large 'upturned mushrooms' covering a fair sized area at the front did the job.
Johan appeared with the S.C. Gang, and it was a real mosh pit as 'Bind, Torture, Kill' kicked in. I'd never seen them live before, and they more than lived up to my expectations. The visuals on the screen tied in well with the music, and Johan was putting plenty of effort in. Pounding beat followed pounding beat. The crowd responded and the Set whizzed by. If memory serves me correctly. 'Hellraiser' brought things to a suitable climax. Suicide Commando - if you get the chance to see them don't miss it !!!!
Now it was straight into the 2nd part of a great 'double-header' ; Project Pitchfork. Many of us in England had been bitterly disappointed earlier this year when a Gig in Birmingham was pulled at late notice. Seeing them in Germany more than made up for that. They seemed really up for it, and were brilliant. 'Timekiller' was a moment !!! Pitchfork played for just over an hour (again'The Mushrooms' came in handy) and all too soon they were gone.
Headliners on the Main Stage were And One. I needed another Kolsch by now, and ended up also buying a couple more CD's ... >From a distance And One sounded OK, but no more than that. It seemed bizarre hearing them play 'Timekiller' just after we'd had the 'real deal' !!!
In the Theatre Diary Of Dreams had been playing. My friends caught them, and really enjoyed it.
I made my way to the Theatre for one last time. The Aftershow was just starting, and at approx. midnight Die Krupps hit the stage. A packed crowd spent the next hour or so using up any spare energy that they had left after such a hectic weekend !!! It was - to quote Robert Smith - 'Hot, Hot, HOT' and Die Krupps kicked up an unrelenting storm. Inevitably highlights have to be 'To The Hilt' and a stunning 'Fatherland' What a song that is. A truly ballistic end to an amazing weekend (although for the totally hardcore / deranged the DJ's would keep going for another couple of hours or so .....).
AND I hadn't even managed to get to The Beach !!!!
To sum up ; if you like your EBM/Electro/Industrial then you get it in spades at Amphi. A really well run Festival at which you can see plenty of excellent Bands, meet loads of people, buy some cheap CD's - all for a weekend price of approx. 55 Euros.
After The Amphi is before The Amphi ; the '09 Event is already confirmed for 18 & 19 July and Front 242, Unheilig and Panzer AG are already on the line-up.
If you've not been before, it should DEF. be on your schedule ... I for one will be there !!!
ANDY WEBSTER.
SYSTEM:FX
System:FX formed in East London one drunken evening. An excuse to put our views and noise across to anyone who'd listen! Steve has been involved in the music industry for over 25 years mostly playing guitar in the Grindcore scene during it's early days in the late 80's/90's, having great success with Axegrinder. Having felt a change of direction he started up an electronic industrial project, joined by Debs on drums and Mike on vocals. The band started rehearsals in early 2007 and spent most of the year writing material in the studio. In Jan 2008 we played our debut gig in Camden. Since then we've been gigging as much as possible all over the country. Supporting such acts as Panzer AG(Combichrist side project), Deviant UK and in Sept playing with 32crash(Front242 front man Jean-Luc de Meyer) at Slimelight, London. We may not set the world alight but we'll certainly being there playing the backing track for it.
PROFILE OF SYSTEM:FX.
MIKE
How would you describe your Bands sound ? Probably get three different descriptions but I like techno-punk :)
How long have you been together ? Long time friends but as a band for just longer than a year
Who are your favourite Band of All-Time ? Atari Teenage Riot, Ministry or NIN
What's the Best Gig you have ever been to ? NIN/PIG '94 Kentish Town Forum
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ?
NIN/Downward Spiral
Ministry/Psalm 69
Atari Teenage Riot/Delete Yourself
Aphex Twin/Richard D James LP
FLA/Tactical Neural ImplantFavourite drink ? Jagermeister
Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ?
Stigmatyr/Ministry
Tanz Mit Laibach/Laibach
Orbital/HalcyonIf you could have any Musician guest on your next Album, who would it be ?
Richard D James or Alec EmpireWhere in the world would your 'Dream Gig' be, and which 3 other Bands would play ?
I'll say Castle Party, Bolkow as the venue is still fresh in my mind...a medieval ruined castle in Poland near the Czech border. I'd have Oribtal, ATR and Skinny Puppy playing with us as they are all fantastic live and that would be a great mix of styles!Who is your 'Fantasy Date' for a night out (NB. You're NOT allowed to say husband / partner !!!!) ?
Belladonna, if you don't know who she is then a Google search should suffice (just not at work....)DEBS
How would you describe your Bands sound ? Cockney Body Music, ha haaa!
How long have you been together ?
As a band, just over a year, though Steve and I have been friends with Mike for ages (and Steve and I have been a couple for 12 years!)Who are your favourite Band of All-Time ?
I’ve liked Depeche Mode since I was a kid, Nine Inch Nails changed my entire musical tastes when I was 16, but Rotersand own me now!What's the Best Gig you have ever been to ?
The Alfa Matrix show in Sint Niklaas, December 2006... Disconnekted, Monolith, Ayria, Implant and 32Crash’s first ever live show! Getting to meet all the bands backstage (including Jean-Luc de Meyer from Front242, wow!) was a big bonus too!Top 5 Albums of All-Time ?
NIN/Pretty Hate Machine
Rotersand/Welcome to Goodbye
Depeche Mode/The Singles (both!)
Nitzer Ebb/That Total Age
System:FX/High Definition Violence (shameless self-promotion, heh heh!)Favourite drink ? Baileys
Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ?
Nitzer Ebb/Murderous
Rotersand/Dare To Live
Theme music to the Littlest Hobo, ha haaaa! Nah, probably Closer by Nine Inch NailsIf you could have any Musician guest on your next Album, who would it be ?
Jennifer Parkin from Ayria... the most awesome female vocalist!Where in the world would your 'Dream Gig' be, and which 3 other Bands would play ?
The Agra Hall in Leipzig on WGT weekend, along with Implant, Rotersand and Grendel (current music tastes showing strongly here!)Who is your 'Fantasy Date' for a night out (NB. You're NOT allowed to say husband / partner !!!!) ?
Uhhhhh... Angelina Jolie probably!STEVE
How would you describe your Bands sound ? Electronic/Industrial with a slight punk edge
How long have you been together ? A little over a year though we’ve all been friends for many years
Who are your favourite Band of All-Time? Depeche Mode, NIN, The Ruts, Kate Bush
What's the Best Gig you have ever been to ? NIN at the Astoria (2 nights in a row)
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ?
NIN/Pretty Hate Machine
The Ruts/The Crack
Ministry/The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste
Ayria/Flicker
Rotersand/Welcome to GoodbyeFavourite drink ? A good German lager
Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ?
The Ruts/SUS
Rotersand/Almost Wasted
Kate Bush/Army DreamersIf you could have any Musician guest on your next Album, who would it be ?
Rascal from Rotersand or Jennifer Parkin from AyriaWhere in the world would your 'Dream Gig' be, and which 3 other Bands would play ?
In Japan, with Rotersand, Implant and AyriaWho is your 'Fantasy Date' for a night out (NB. You're NOT allowed to say husband / partner !!!!) ?
Jennifer Parkin (Ayria)
'ACEDIA' - HISTORY OF GUNS.
History Of Guns terrifying 3rd Studio Album.
Confrontational, angry and bleak lyrically, Acedia also manages to be contrastingly touching and melodic without a hint of the pantomime that often comes with Bands who consider themselves to be 'dark'.
The Album is filled to the brim with a reasoned and intelligent nihilistic hatred that is both moving and darkly fascinating.
A cruel, relentless work of experience, of feeling and of humanity.
A.W.
The Album is available NOW for £10 from www.onlineout.com
HISTORY OF GUNS '09 TOUR.
Sat. 14 Feb. The Dark Room, Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton
Sat. 21 Feb. 'Electro/Punk;1', Esquires, Bedford
Sat. 28 Feb. Portland Arms, HoveIf you would like History Of Guns to play your Club, then make contact via www.myspace.com/cyberandydj
THE SEX PISTOLS.
11 June '08. Birmingham Academy.
I have been to many, many fantastic Gigs over the years and to 'Do A Nick Hornby' and pick your Top 5 EVER is impossible BUT .... this is DEFINATELY in my Top 5 !!!!!
The only time I'd seen The Pistols before was on a brilliant day in '96 - the first time they reformed. It was at a packed Finsbury Park with a Line-Up of The Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers and Iggy amoungst others. The sun shone all day and The Pistols were great.
I never thought I'd get the chance to see them at a Venue such as this. No Support Band, and at about twenty to nine old Punk Classics such as 'London Calling', 'No More Heroes' and 'Teenage Kicks' get a better reception from the already packed crowd than many Headline Bands I've seen have got !!!
The lights dim, and 'There Will Always Be An England' plays through the PA. And then they appear - if England had won the World Cup and were in front of us with the Trophy they wouldn't have got a better response !!
"Remember - We're your friends, not your enemies" states Lydon, and the intro to 'Pretty Vacant' kicks in. BEDLAM !!! The whole of the downstairs of The Academy is packed like sardines, and jumping up and down as one.
Steve Jones looks as though he's just finished The Euro 2008 Pie Eating Competition. Glen & Paul look OK ; Lydon looks superb, and the voice remains THE voice .... The sheer verve and energy John puts in is incredible, and he LOVES IT. Constant banter with the crowd ; "We're not bad for a bunch of old guys are we ??", and he pulls the full range of Albert Steptoe faces !!
The songs STILL sound superb ; 'Liar', 'Did You No Wrong', a reworked 'Belson' which becomes 'Baghdad Was A Blast' !?!
Had everything not fallen apart way back when - would they have had another classic Album in them or not ??? We will never know ....
The heat is seering - you can SEE IT !!!!! Everyone in the crowd knows EVERY word to EVERY song. Johnny even leads a sing-a-long of 'I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside' before uttering the immortal line 'Cheap Holidays In Other Peoples Misery' as 'Holidays In the Sun' explodes.
The atmosphere is amazing throughout. 'No Fun' is fantastic then - if memory serves me correctly - 'Problems' (the problem is YOU) rounds off the Set.
"Give me 5 minutes to put my head in a bucket of ice" is Mr Lydon's parting shot !! On return he jokes about 'being winded' and thanks everyone - then it's 'God Save The Queen' and 'E.M.I.' Still the crowd bounce as one.
The Pistols take their exit, although we all know it's not quite the end just yet ... 'She Was A Girl From Birmingham' and it gets even more frenzied (if that were possible) for 'Bodies' then inevitably 'Anarchy' follows. And the crowd go MAD !!!
The reaction at the end is genuine and sustained. Everyone realised that they'd just been part of something TOTALLY SPECIAL. Not just watching, but a REAL PART OF IT. When old Bands reform you worry it will just be a take the money and go through the motions exercise. THIS WAS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE ....
The ORIGINAL Sex Pistols Line-Up COULD play. John Lydon was, is and probably always will be THE greatest Front Man to a Band. In some ways, he REALLY DID change the world !!!!
... The Academy feels like an over-heated sauna. Some people take their Tee-Shirts off and are wringing them out !!! It's like they've been out in the pouring rain.
Long after 'Anarchy' has ended people are still applauding and calling for more. Ever Get The Feeling You've Been Cheated ? NOBODY who was there last night left with that feeling ...
Andy Webster
8am
12.06.08.WAVE GOTHIK TREFFEN '08.
9-12 May. Leipzig.
Forgive me father for I have sinned ... I have never attended W.G.T. until now !! So many people had told me how good it was, and yet nothing can properly prepare you for the total experience that is this Festival.
We - along with many others - boarded the 9.50am flight from Stanstead on a sunny Friday morning, and a couple of hours later landed at what is surely one of the smallest airports in the world .... It was then a 80 minute coach ride into central Leipzig. The sun was still shining (hey, it didn't stop for all the 4 days). Maybe not very 'Goth, but we didn't care ; those big black coats wouldn't be needed this time.
A taxi then took us to the Hotel where we quickly unpacked and then headed off to try to find a Number 11 Tram. The Number 11 is crucial to your stay in Leipzig !! We found our way to the main Agra area and exchanged our tickets for wristbands without any hassle at all. You also receive a vital very detailed map with the locations of the many venues participating in W.G.T. and on the back timings of which Bands are performing and when. It is at this point the scale of things hit you - already we'd heard accents from all around the world and now we realised there were 25 or 30 venues to choose from !!!
Some 'Pre-Planning' is definately a good idea - there is simply no way you can do or see everything .... A couple of weeks before the festival 9and it truly is a Festival) the excellent W.G.T. WebSite had listed which Bands were playing where. This had enabled us to grade things into definates. maybes and possibles !!
You also need 'a bit of luck' in getting round, and in the main I am glad to say we had this. The first Band we wanted to see were Santa Hates You - Peter Spilles from Project Pitchfork's offshoot. These were on at 6.20pm in the Werk II Hall, and we got there just as they were about to come on. Even at this time the venue was pretty full and there was an excellent atmosphere. The Band were really good. Hey, our W.G.T. was up and running ... Outside the Werk were plenty of food and drink stalls, and it was nice sitting having a cold beer and chatting to lots of new people.
It was then back to the main Agra Hall - a hugh Aircraft type hanger. There was quite a queue to get in ; indeed this proved to be our biggest queue of the 4 days. We had arrived just as the very popular Das Ich were coming on. Once inside it was all a bit disorienting ... just where were the toilets ???
The CampSite area is situated within the Agra grounds. What fantastic value a W.G.T. ticket is. Approx. £50 and this includes entry to all Music, Film & Club events, Camping if you want it AND all your Tram travel around Leipzig.
With typical German efficiency the Bands seemed to keep almost exactly to the timings listed, and there were only fairly short gaps between the Bands.
Incredibly Sigue Sigue Sputnik (!?!) were on next. We caught the last 3 or 4 songs, including a cover of 'Ziggy Stardust'. They got a good reaction, and some German guys we got talking to the next day said seeing Sputnik had been a total high for them - well, there's no accounting for taste I suppose ...
Such is the nature of W.G.T. that 4 people could go seperately, not meet each other once and have entirely different experiences !!! Unheilig followed, and they were superb. I didn't really know their material but was immediately drawn in. They got the crowd going and put on a great show.
The same has to be said of Blutengel who were headlining. Icy cold vocals with great theatricals. My first live encounter with Blutengel most definately won't be my last. Indeed on the Saturday morning we bumped into them at their hotel, and Chris was more than happy to sign autographs and have photos taken. Treffen is just full of meetings such as this - all of which adds to the experience. Trams are so interesting ; one night it was like being in a Club with New Order & Dead Or Alive blasting out from someones Stereo !!
It's interesting exploring the different venues. The outdoor Parkbuhne was brilliant - fairly small in a great setting. You get to it by walking through the Park, and past the Gothic Picnic. It was here that we saw End Of Green, Jesus On Exctasy Tactikal Sekt and Neurotic Fish- who put in a great performance for what was apparently their last ever Gig.
At W.G.T. you are never far from something or other ; the music plays on, the bars stay open and trams rammed full of Goths keep running. You could easily stay out until 6am each morning if you had the energy !!!
Covenent headlined on the Saturday night and were brilliant. It was then off to the Club at Agra 4.2 ; Peter Spilles was doing a DJ slot. It was pretty busy, and a superb time was had dancing to Electro & EBM until around 4.30am !! Things were still going strong when we left ...
Whatever genre of 'Goth' is your thing you will find something to cater to your taste in Leipzig. In the other main Agra Hall there is a massive market which gives you plenty of chance to spend lots of your Euros !!!
On the Sunday morning we managed to get to the Medieval Village. Lots going on there with food and alcohol to keep you going !!!
From the Neurotic Fish gig we got back to the Agra just as London After Midnight were coming onstage. They suffered with 'technical' problems but still got a pretty good reaction. I had expected a bit more from them ; maybe it was that for me they were a mere warm-up for the highlight of the whole thing ....
I was a bit worried ... I'd not been able to get to Fields London Gig in May '07 due to having my tonsils out, and had heard very varied views. All my fears however very quickly disappeared. Fields more than lived up to my hopes (and I'd seen them plenty of times 'back in the day').
Carl's voice was fantastic and the rest of the Band seemed to gell. Perhaps playing a few recent Gigs had helped. The atmosphere at the front was electric as Classics such as 'Dawnrazor' & 'Moonchild' mixed naturally with 'Straight To The Light'. From 1am til they finally finished with fantastic encores of 'Preacher Man' and 'Last Exit For The Lost' at 2.30am the feeling was one of pure elation. Sitting outside at 3am having a beer never felt as good. Fields had been totally awesome !!!! Everyone I spoke to over the rest of the weekend seemed to agree ....
Fields Set List.
Shroud, Straight To The Light, Penetration, Dawnrazor, Moonchild, Trees Come Down. Requiem, Watchman, Zoon, Mourning Sun. Encores ; Preacher Man, Last Exit For The Lost.All too soon it was our last day. We found an Irish Pub for an English Breakfast - then we had our one major travel disaster. We got on the right Tram, but it was going in the wrong direction !! Thus we missed Deviant UK. By default I then came across a most pleasant Market area with a Folk Band, food and cold beers. Such is the beauty of Treffen ; you can stumble across hidden treasures at any turn.
The evening was spent at The Kohlrabizirkus drinking Vodka and dancing to Nachtmahr, Absolute Body Control and the brilliant Die Krupps. Krupps finishing their Set with 'The Fatherland' was another total moment. And so at probably around 2.30am - hey, an early night - we rolled back to our Hotel. It had been a TOTALLY INCREDIBLE 4 days !!!!
All I can say is we merely scratched the surface of W.G.T. If you are into 'Goth' then this is something you should most definately experience at least once in your life. Although if you go once ... Roll on Wave Gothik Treffen 2009 !!!!!!!
ANDY WEBSTER.WGT GOTH FESTIVAL 2008.
- Title: 17th Wave-Gotik-Treffen
- Date: 9th - 12th of May 2008
- Town: Leipzig, Germany (at more than 20 venues, spread all over the city), camping site and main venue at the edge of town at the "agra-fairground" Markkleeberg (a location plan will be published on our internet page within the next weeks); for information on the city you may check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leipzig.
www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/- Confirmed artists: See "Bandselection" at our internet page
- Music styles: All kinds of dark music: Gothic; EBM; Industrial; Ambient; Neofolk; Synthpop, Goth-Metal etc.
- Camping: Possible with "Obsorge" ticket, limited up to 9999 tickets for 21,- Euro (includes advance sale charges), contains the following service-package: · Camping at the Treffen-Campground (agra-fairground) · Silver Disc (Compact Disc) "Artists at the 17th WGT" · "Pfingstbote" ("Whitsun-herald") - the Treffen-program-book Please note: Entrance to and use of the campground is impossible without an "Obsorge" ticket. The "Obsorge" ticket is only valid in connection with the Treffen-Event-Ticket.
- Parking: For car parking at the main venue of the Treffen-area you have to purchase a Parking Vignette for 15,- Euro (includes advance sale charges). Please note: Parking at the Treffen-area (agra-fairground) is definitely impossible without a Parking Vignette.
- Capacity (expected number of visitors): about 20000
- Advance ticket sale: 4-days ticket for all events within the 17th Wave-Gotik-Treffen Whitsun 2008, 58,- Euro in advance ticket sale (including advance sale charges), available via "Ticket Order" at our internet page. The Treffen ticket includes free use of public transportation (tram, city-busses, regional trains, surburban trains) within the zone 110 of MDV ("Mitteldeutscher Verkehrs Verbund") from 2008-05-09 12.00h to 2008-05-13 12.00h (without special routes)
- Infoline: 0049-341-2120862
- Photos: See "Photogallery" at our internet page
- Description: Like every year on Whitsun the next Wave-Gotik-Treffen (the 17th !) will take place in Leipzig / Germany from 9th to 12th of May. Since many years we've been celebrating the Treffen as a big gathering of the "dark family". It is the biggest gathering of its kind worldwide.
All over the city we´ll have more than 150 bands, projects and single artists, performing on about 20 stages. Our events take place for instance in the vaults of the Moritzbastei, in the splendid neo-antique cupola hall of the Volkspalast, in the crypt of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, a famous monument of the battle of 1813, as well as in large concert halls. Once more we´ll cover the whole wide range of Gothic-music: from Electro-Pop to Goth-Metal, from EBM to Neofolk, from medieval music to Industrial. However, traditionally we are at times contrasting the crazy Gothic stuff by including some classical music as well. This year it is twice getting tragic: our guests may visit Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata at the opera or experience pure melancholy with Franz Schubert's Winterreise.
From its beginning the Wave-Gotik-Treffen has been much more than a music festival: Our guests may switch back to the romantic atmosphere of ancient times at the medieval market place and a at pagan village, we will have authors reading, unusual theatre and cinematic performances will take place. One of the big halls on agra-fairground (the wide place of the German agricultural fair) will turn into the biggest Gothic-warehouse of the world for four days. DJs from all over the world will let you celebrate unforgettable special parties until dawn. There will also be a large fetish party where entrance is only possible following a strict voluptuous dress code.
A cheap and entertaining accommodation is the huge Treffen camping ground. To enter, you need a special ticket (we call it "Obsorgekarte") which includes also the extensive WGT-program-book with a CD featuring some of the artists who will perform. The public transport in the city is free for all WGT-guests.
The inhabitants of Leipzig are familiar with the Treffen since 16 years. You will be welcome here. The most fascinating thing during the Wave-Gotik-Treffen is the unique atmosphere that covers the whole city. Gothics from all over the world are celebrating their gathering peacefully and with relish, turning Leipzig into a diverse black. Once a year about twenty thousand Gothics are coming home: to the Wave-Gotik-Treffen.
We would be happy to welcome you in Leipzig too. Visit the Treffen - your friends from all over the world are already there!
See you!
The Treffen-Team
If you subscribe to our newsletter at http://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/english/ you will always get informed quickly about the latest WGT-news.
Andy will be going to the WGT Festival in Leipzig for the first time in 2008 !!
Confirmed Bands include Fields Of The Nephilim, Blutengel and the mighty Deviant UK.
This takes place from 9 - 12 May, and promises to be THE weekend of the year.
If you are going to this Event then send me a Message at www.myspace.com/CyberAndydj
THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA.
The Beauty Of Gemina are a 3 piece Goth/Industrial/Electro Band from Switzerland. They Headlined the Moritzbaster Venue at Wave Gothik Treffen 2008 on the Friday night, and I caught up with Vocalist & Songwriter Michael Sele the next morning ....
Michael confessed that a while before they went on he was a bit worried as the Venue was virtually empty. This situation rapidly changed, and by the time they came on it was completely Sold Out !!
This was their first Gig in Germany, so obviously it was an important moment for them. Everything went well, and Michael was very pleased with the crowd reaction. The German Market is crucial with this genre of music, and they have a German Distribution deal.
Gemina played in London October '07, but the UK Market seems to be forever in decline. There were however quite a few English people at the Moritzbaster, and Michael hopes to do more UK Gigs before the end of '08.
Michael works Part-Time in Computer Programming, but the Band are his pride and passion. Previously he was in New wave Group Nook. The Beauty Of Gemina released their excellent Debut Album 'Diary Of A Lost' in 2007 (available on Monkey.Music) and are currently putting the final touches to New Album 'A Stranger To Deal' - which should be released in August '08.
Michael admits that he gets nervous before a Gig, but once onstage feeds of off the adrenaline rush and is able to enjoy it - despite describing himself as 'A Perfectionist' who after any Gig is always chewing over all of the small things that went wrong !!!
He very much apprechiates those people who come and see the Band live, and likes to mingle with the audience after a Gig to get their feedback.
"I have many Influences" he says "but it was David Bowie who inspired me to get involved in Music. If there was one song I would love to cover it would be 'Ashes To Ashes'."
Unsurprisingly Michael includes a Bowie Album - 'Outside' - amoungst his favourite Albums of All-Time. Others include 'OK Computer' - Radiohead, 'Pornography' - The Cure, and 'Dark Side Of The Moon' - Pink Floyd. He also professes a love of Bjork and The Mission.
As an Artist Michael finds it frustrating how people can illegally download his work for free on the Internet. "It's OK for millionaires like Radiohead to give stuff away, but when you're struggling ..."
Another frustration is the total lack of any Radio play in his native Switzerland. Gemina have a following in Zurich, but no Stations play 'Goth' type music.
The reaction was generally positive to the Debut CD, and Michael has high hopes for 'A Stranger To Deal'.
All too soon it is time to go. Michael Sele is an intelligent person who is obviously totally committed to The Beauty Of Gemina. They are a Band that are well worth investigating both on CD and in the live arena. Let's hope they get back over to England sooner rather than later !!!
ANDY WEBSTER.
May '08.'GOTH'S NOT DEAD - 24th MOMENT ; THE SEQUEL'
Fields Of The Nephilim Convention Weekend,
23/24 May '08.
The DarkRoom, The Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton.
To most people 'Goth' was a short lived Youth Cult in the mid-eighties that quickly died a death .... To others it will Forever Remain.
Dawnrazor is the Internet's biggest Fields Forum, and they organized this event. Why Wolverhampton I hear you cry ?? Well - dotted around the country are quite a few Clubs that hold regular Goth Nights, mainly run by dedicated music loved souls. The DarkRoom is one such place - hosted by the magnificent 'Wild Bill Buttock'.
Thus the black clad hordes gathered for some fun - yes, contrary to popular opinion Goths Do Have Fun !! Lots of it in fact ...
Of all the 80's Goth Bands Fields Of The Nephilim retain their place in the hearts of many. Others such as Andrew Eldritch have openly bitten the hand that feeds ; this has never been the case with The Neph. Interest has been renewed recently by Vocalist Carl McCoy returning as 'Fields Of The Nephilim' - despite no other Original Members featuring.
The Dawnrazor weekend included 3 of the Originals - 2 now with Last Rites and Tony Pettit in NFD. The 2 days were a mix of Bands, Goth Sets from DJ's and on the Saturday afternoon a DVD showing of a few songs from Fields recent Gig in Finland. Amazingly there were wild cheers as the DVD was shown ...
No good Goth Gathering is complete without plenty of Arms In The Air Moments - and this was no exception. The atmospheric DarkRoom was packed to the rafters and the Dance Floor full. Friends both old and new mixed, chatted and danced like it was 1985 all over again ....
The Bands were all very well received, with NFD probably being the pick, and they were all happy to chat at the bar after their Sets. If an alien had zoomed into The Giffard Arms from Outer Space, he/she would certainly have been completely bemused by what was occuring !!!
Just what is it about 'Goth' that inspires such loyalty and devotion ?? For whatever reason there really appears to be a 'belief' and a feeling of 'belonging'. Times may change, but you can always rely on any Goth DJ playing your favourites by The Cult & The Sisters that you danced to way back in your youth. Perhaps it's the ultimate Youth Cult that has become a Middle-Aged Cult !! How long will it be before Goth Clubs have to start offering OPA Diecount Enrty !!??!!
And still The DarkRoom the smoke machine was on over-drive ... and the dance went on. Plenty of alcohol was consumed, but there wasn't even a slight hint of any trouble.
All of the planning and organization had been worth it. To use a Goth phrase, it was hats off to Wild Bill - who was having a ball !!
The Goths kept going strong until the 3am curfew on both nights, and the last 45 minutes on the 24th was a total Nephilim Fest. Towers were built, pictures taken and legends made. There were smiling faces everywhere as 'Dawnrazor' merged into 'Last Exit For The Lost'.
Goths miserable ?? Don't you believe a word of it ....
ANDY WEBSTER.
WILD BILL BUTTOCK.
The Dark Room, The Giffard Arms.
A GREAT weekly Trad Goth Night.
Only £1 entry.
How long have you been DJing ?
I'm on my 3rd go at DJing. The first was in the mid 80's with a kind of 'Pirate Radio Station', Radio Buttock. Mostly just pissing idiots off with a CB Radio, a couple of decks and a home stereo. A massive audience probably into double figures !!My 2nd attempt was a little more serious, teaming up with my mate for 'The Buttock Brothers' managing to blag some Gigs in Walsall/West Bromwich Rock Pubs. We attempted to 'educate' the Metalheads into the delights of Goth/Industrial and Techno (!) with various degrees of success/failure. I don't actually know to this day whether a Hells Angel throwing a chair at us was a compliment or not.
This is my 3rd attempt and I sort of fell into it. I began doing monthly Guest Slots at The Giffard's previous Goth Night 'Hex In The City' and when the regular Hex DJ couldn't do a planned Mission Aftershow event in May '07 I volunteered. The night was a success and people asked me to start a night of my own as they - as I did - missed the old Trad Goth that most DJs in The Midlands were ignoring.
And so ClubDawnrazor came about. It was planned to be 4 times a year and my good lady wife and myself planned to showcase Bands and give people 'A good old fashioned Goth/Alternative Night'. I managed to wrangle NFD to be a first Band last August.
Again the night was an enormous success. So successful in fact that the organizer of Hex In The City became The Dark Room and has been, if not a runaway success, a viable weekly Goth Night. I am one of a Team of 3 DJ's at The Dark Room and can be heard 3 Saturdays a month. I don't pretend to be the World's Greatest DJ and I don't take it too seriously but people keep coming back so I must be doing something right.
What Genre Of Music Do You Play ?
I prefer the term 'Alternative' as opposed to just 'Goth' as it's open to debate as to whether 50% of what I play could be termed Goth or not. My own particular favourite is late 80's / early 90's Gothic Rock (Trad) and I have gained a bit of a reputation for playing Trad Goth where a great many contemporary DJs sneer at the Genre, deriding it as old fashioned nostalgia.There are plenty of people that enjoy nostalgia and I am more than happy to oblige. But my Sets consist of whatever the audience demands - I'm there to entertain, not educate. Basically I play an 'across the board' selection from Punk to Techno, as long as it's not mainstream/black/death metal or Stock, Aitken and Waterman style 80's Pop then I'll play it. I am such a Prostitute !! But between me and you, Gothic Rock Rules !!
Best Gig You Have Ever Been To ?
THE MISSION, Reading Festival, '87. Gothic Rock at it's highest prominence and a Band on top form in front of 30,000 Goths. What more could you ask for ? Apart from a weekend featuring Fields, All About Eve, The Fall and The Bolshoi (and I got all that as well).Favourite Band Of All-Time ?
The original and genuine (accept no substitute) FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM. Closely followed by pre-1990 THE SISTERS OF MERCY. And Hawkwind (sssh).Favourite 5 Albums Ever ?
Oh bugger, can I have 7 being as 4 of them are by 2 Bands ...
Elizium - Fields
Floodland - The Sisters
The Nephilim - Fields
First And Last And Always - The Sisters
The Scream - Siouxsie And The Banshees
Gods Own Medicine - The Mission
Rattus Norvegicus - The StranglersTop 3 DanceFloor Fillers ?
Temple Of Love (original) - The Sisters
Psychonaut - Fields
A Forest - The CureFavourite Drink ?
Guinness (although I am partial to a glass of Absinthe or six ...)Fantasy Date For A Night Out ?
Kate Bush (around 1978 preferably).
BUTTOCK’S RECORD REVIEWS
Being As I’m still doley scum and have nothing better to do than listen to music all day, I thought I’d entertain myself by writing little reviews on the stuff I’m listening to.....
Apologies in advance if I insult your band or your favourite band. Just because I might say things like “Wumpscut should stuff his pro-tools up his arse” or “Nightwish’s sound could well be improved by a ball gag in the singers mouth and a pair of boxing gloves on the guitarist” doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t play their tracks if you ask for them on a Saturday night in The Darkroom. Believe me, a DJ sighing and rolling his eyes is a compliment to your fine musical choice!
THE EDEN HOUSE- SMOKE AND MIRRORS
In August 2007 I put on my first ever gig. I managed, by nagging and begging, to get NFD to play The Giffard. Anyway to cut through the crap I had to show Tony Pettit where thehotel was he was staying at, and asked the question that all star-struck Nephilim fans must have asked him a million times; “Do you think the original Fields of the Nephilim will ever get back together?”, I don’t remember his exact answer (I was too busy kicking myself for being such a naff twat!) but he did mention that he and Steve (Carey) were working on a project that involvedmost of the old Nephs. The project turned out to be THE EDEN HOUSE and I’ve been privileged to be able to hear some of the tracks develop over the past 8 months or so. The band giving me a CD of some demos in May (which have received a severe hammering in The Darkroom) and even getting a preview of the completed, but as then unmastered album, at The Adoration gig at The Giff last December. April sees the album finally released under the title of “Smoke and mirrors” and thanks to Tony and Steve I’ve finally got my sweaty little mitts on one of the first promo copies. I was asked to post a review on the Dawnrazor forum and following is it. Bare in mind it was written for a Fields of the Nephilim discussion forum and therefore contains plenty of FOTN references and some forum “in-jokes” for which I apologise for, being as if you’re not a FOTN fan or a DR forum member you won’t have a clue what I’m on about at times “THE EDEN HOUSE-SMOKE AND MIRRORS, A review of sorts
I probably am not the best qualified to review this album for the following reasons;
1)I’m not a music journalist
2)I’ve only had the album two days and an album of this
much depth deserves serious listening over time.
3)I’m hardly unbiased (nice blokes, got a lot of time for them etc etc…)
I can give you my initial impressions thoughFirst of all, Those who feel the Nefilim’s Zoon is the finest album ever made and those of the “I would use Carl McCoy’s shit for toothpaste” disposition are going to hate it. But those with a more open mind will love it. Secondly, Elizium part 2 it is not. But it possesses Elizium’s qualities of being able to take you over and has that dreamlike/trance inducing feel before storming out into breathtakingly powerful passages. Thirdly it is not Fields of the nephilim, although the input of “The Uvvers” is unmistakable (In particular the bass on “to believe in something” and “The dark half”, the slide guitar passage on the fantastically powerful “Gods pride”, and the whole of the majestic “Fire for you”). No, Smoke and mirrors is something totally new. A whole new slant on dark alternative music, or Goth if you like. But there are no “Goffik” clichés here. Yes it’s dark, possibly the darkest album I’ve ever heard. “Smoke and mirrors” intensity is unrelenting and yet it has moments of stark beauty. The sound is huge, in places as over the top as “Floodland” but at times, especially with Julianne Regan’s “The Beauty of science”, somehow understated. One of the things about “Smoke and mirrors” that will definitely divide opinion is the “dub” feel, in particular the album’s mid-section of “God's Pride”/ “Reach Out”/“Trashed Treasure”/ “Iron In The Soul”. Personally I think it’s a masterstroke, Imagine “Mezzanine” era Massive Attack with Cocteau-esque guitar textures (Trip-Goth anyone?), there’s even a half mumbled Tricky style rap during “Iron in the soul”! The all female vocals is, again, a masterstroke and all four vocalists rise to the challenge. Julianne has never sounded better, Evi Vine’s almost Stevey Nicks-ish drawl, Monica Richards’ subtle power and , the albums revelation, the staggering tonsils of Amandine Ferrari! So my initial impression of “Smoke and Mirrors” is that it is a masterpiece-Goth for the 21st century. It possesses all that made FOTN special- the ability to shift effortlessly from the ethereal into devastating power without the need to resort to heavy metal and takes that other great FOTN quality-Proggression. Whilst large aspects of McCoy’s “Mourning Sun” and NFD’s “dead pool rising” seem to make a decided effort to sound like the Neph of the past, “Smoke and mirrors” moves the sound on into(hopefully) a bright (or should that be dark) future!”....
As a footnote, over the last few days I can’t keep from listening to the album and it just gets better and better on every listen.
DEATHSTARS-NIGHT ELECRIC NIGHT....
The thing that gets me about this industrial metal stuff that now gets bandied about as goth is that it was all done much better in the early to mid 90’s by the likes of Ministry, Revolting cocks, Nine inch nails, White Zombie and Die Krupps.And to be honest it doesn’t seem to have changed that much. 15 years ago the sort of people that were into industrial metal wouldn’t have pissed on either Rammstein and Deathstars if they were on fire. It’s not terrible, in the way Nightwish or Cradle of filth are teeth gnashingly aweful, It’s all just a bit dull and all been done before. It just leaves me cold and unmoved..... At best 69 eyes/Type O neg, at worst as rubbish as Clawfinger. But it’s the vocals and lyrics, there must be a book or school somewhere that trains people to be this naff and clichéd, you can’t be that bad naturally surely?
'THE MISSION ; FAREWELL'
"So, how many did you go to ???..." If you go to any Goth type Gig or Event over the next period wearing your Farewell Tour Tee-Shirt this is a question you are bound to be asked. Hey - it's already happened to me on 2 occasions in the last week !!!
I went to the first 2 nights, then back for the last one. It was a fantastic experience ; brilliant Gigs and great people - many of whom had travelled so far to be there.
The Mission may have made a few 'dodgy' Albums over the years, but live they've always given 100% and more. Kicking things off on the first night with The Sisters Of Murphy as Support was inspired. What a start !!
To pick highlights is so difficult. Throughout it all the crowd and atmosphere were awesome. Wednesday was based around 'First Chapter'. My first Mission Gig was in '86 on the World Crusade jaunt. Amazingly I managed to find my Tee-Shirt (and still fit into it). The dates on the back had totally faded but the front logo was still clear !! Thus I was wearing a shirt that was 22 years old ..........
'Like A Hurricane' has always been one of my favourites and it still sounds great. Wayne was having a ball and Simon Hinkler put in an appearance (as he would do each night). The Set just flew by.
'God's Own Medicine' was Thursday ... and it was my Birthday. Yes, I can remember some of it !!! Again The Mission were on top form.
I went home on the Friday morning, and spent the day feeling a mixture of high and tired. Saturday it was back to London for the grand finale. O'Neills was the Pub for the week and as usual we got chatting to both familiar and new faces - including Brad, who had travelled from Canada for these dates.
The night kicked off with Miles Hunt, then The Mission played a 'Carved In Sand' Set. They reappeared with Miles to play a couple of tunes, then after a short break played for around an hour and three quarters - kicking off with 'Like A Hurricane'.
It was blistering, emotional stuff. There was no great parting speech from Wayne ; towards the end he said how much he would miss all the loyal Mission fans. As you would have expected the atmosphere was incredible. Classic followed classic. Eventually everything came to an almighty climax with '1969', 'Shelter From The Storm' and 'Tower Of Strength'.
Prolonged applause rang around the venue as The Mission logo and 'Keep The Faith' flashed up onto the backdrop.
And so what had begun 22 years ago was now over. From The Sisterhood at Alice In Wonderland to this.
Wayne Hussey lived it and throughout that period maintained an incredibly loyal fanbase - mainly due to the consistently brilliant live shows.
The Mission went out in style. It truly was a week that those of us who were there will remember for a very, very long time to come.
Keep The Faith.
(Cyber) Andy Webster.
KELLY
'The Dark Angel Of Luton'
1. What is your Favourite type of Music ?
Obviously I like goth, industrial, eighties, ebm, dark wave, electro and a lot of stuff inbetween and around the edges. I listen to all kinds of things, and always open to hearing something different. I like a song with a booming repetitive bass line in it :o)
2. What is the Best Gig you have Ever been to ?
The gigs I’ve been to have been good for different reasons so it’s hard to say which is ‘best’. The first time I saw The Cure was special. And seeing All About Eve by candlelight in a Chapel was a moment too. But then seeing TV Smith play a ‘charity’ gig (that the charity didn’t turn up for!) at the edge of Camden Market to about 20 people was fantastic! Also any band that puts on a fun show with a good atmosphere is always good – Xpq21, Cruxshadows, Manuskript, The Last Dance have all been great. Is that too many answers? Sorry!
3. Who are your favourite Band of All-Time ?
The Cure, always, I love them! (Also love Clan of Xymox, Joy Division, DEpeche Mode, The Merry Thoughts, Project Pitchfork & The Last Dance - I'm not very good at one word answers!)
4. Top 5 Albums Ever ?
In no particular order, this is an extremely hard decision to make:
All albums by The Cure? Oh, no there are a few more than 5! Can I just make number one all albums by The Cure? Pleease? Otherwise they’ll take up all 5!
Project Pitchfork – Daimonion
The Sisters of Mercy – Floodland
Clan of Xymox – Farewell
The Last Dance – Whispers In Rage
And right now I’m loving - Rico – Violent Silences (but that’s not ‘of all time’) (maybe one day the best DJ in town will play Psychokiller for me?!!)
5. Your Favourite 3 songs of All-Time?
The Cure – How Beautiful You Are
The Cure – Disintegration
Delerium – Silence
Pete Murphy – Cuts You Up
The Sisters of Mercy – Some Kind of Stranger
Clan of Xymos – A Day
The Fall – Blindness *pokes tongue out at Cyber Andy*
6. Favourite Drink?
Kahlua and milk, but that’s a drink for home. When I’m out I drink Guiness or wine, or a Samuel Smiths pint if I can get one!
7. 'Dream Gig' ; 3 Bands + Venue anywhere in the world ?
The Cure (of course)
The Last Dance
Project Pitchfork
All playing at Ludlow Castle please!
8. Fantasy Date for a Night Out ?
Well, for looks I guess Johnny Depp, but then I’d rather go on a date with someone I have met before because I’m shy! Id be way too nervous! Maybe Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh, I’m sure he’d be fun. Italian meal? In a pretty place with a castle preferably.
SIOUXSIE SIOUX.
Electric Ballroom, Camden.
24 October '07.'Icons Live Forever' as the lady herself once sang ... Well ; not many manage to maintain their 'Iconic' status over a 30+ year period whilst they are still alive !! Siouxsie - a role model for TWO Generations ; both 'Punk Princess' and 'Gothic Ice Queen'.
Her lengthy recent absence had undoubtefly raised anticipation for this event, and there was a real sense of excitement in the air. Siouxsie came onstage looking fantastic, and opened with a majestic 'Dear Prudence'. One of my personal favourite Banshee songs 'Arabian Knights' followed, and the crowd were in the palm of her hand.
Energy exuded from the (umbelievably) fifty year old black haired Gothess, and she really seemed to be enjoying herself. The crowd reaction went into overdrive when she announced they were about to play 'our first Single.' 'Hong Kong Garden' duly had The Electric Ballroom jumping. How many of us present had really thought she would play that one ???
Siouxsie then treated us to a fine selection from her recent Solo Album 'Mantaray', and it is to her credit that this material stood up against the Banshee classics. Highlights were 'Loveless' and a magnificent 'Into A Swan'. Her voice sounded as superb as ever. The Set just whizzed by, with Siouxsie constantly kicking, jumping, and dancing in front of her adoring crowd. A cover of 'Hello I Love You' rounded things off in fine style. Siouxsie proved tonight that she's still got the aura and magic that has inspired so many over such a long period. The girl whose look so many have copied remains a truly unique individual.SetList.
CyberAndy Webster.
Dear Prudence. Arabian Knights. Hong Kong Garden. Follow You. Here Comes That Day. Drone Zone. Sea Of Tranquility. If It Doesn't Kill You. Loveless. One Mile Below. About To Happen. Into A Swan. Cish Cash. Hello I Love You.
Biomekanikal - SCHULTZ.
It's finally happened - News Channels all over the world have told everyone to head for the Nuclear Shelters as the bombs are being dropped. It could be the end of the world as we know it, and down in CyberShelter Two this Album blasts out at top volume. The PERFECT soundtrack for impending war !!
I had never heard of Schultz before listening to this CD, so had no pre-conceived ideas at all. To say it consists of 13 'tracks' is irrelevant. It is one long pounding destructive beat.
Is it any good I hear you cry ?? Well - I've listened to it quite a few times ... and have to say I don't know !!!!
If you are in the right place and mood, then it's fantastic. If you listened to it when you are feeling a bit 'fragile' then the term 'headache music' certainly springs to mind.
Surely the Title of 'track 6' sums it up ; Musik Is Breaking My Head ... or perhaps 'track 5' - Hypnotikal.
The pace is unrelenting. One thing I do know is that for some reason or other it makes me want to listen to it over and over again !! I suggest you too give it a try ....
(Cyber) Andy Webster.
Who are your Favourite Band EVER ?
Coil
Best gig you have ever been to ?
Killing Joke @ The Astoria -
1992.
Favourite Drink ?
Vodka, red wine, beer, whisky, gin
Top 5 Albums of ALL TIME ?
You'd get a different answer every day
to any favourite of all time questions, but right now:
1. '...And The
Ambulance Died In His Arms' - Coil
2. 'The Holy Bible' - Manic Street
Preachers
3. 'Sam's Town' - The Killers
4. 'Soundtracks For The Blind'
- SWANS
5. 'Twin Peaks [Soundtrack] - Angelo Badalamenti
Favourite 3 Songs of ALL TIME ?
1. 'Ich Bin Ein Auslander' -
PWEI
2. 'Head Like A Hole- NIN
3. 'The Great Escape' - Marillion
Favourite 3 Books of ALL TIME ?
1. Vurt
2. Crime &
Punishment
3. The White Hotel
Favourite 5 Films of ALL TIME ?
1. Harvey
2. Memento
3.
Mrs Parker And The Vicious Circle
4. Shine
5. Videodrome
Favourite Song Lyric ?
- 'All tied to their things, they are
netted by their strings... Free to flutter in memory of their wasted wings'
"In The Cage" - Genesis
If you could attend one 'Dream' Gig who would be on the Line Up (3
bands) and where would it be ?
1. Coil
2. Manic Street Preachers (Holy
Bible era)
3. Xykogen
In reality, probably Brixton Academy... In
fantasy, on the side of a volcano.
Who would be your 'Fantasy Date' for a night out ?
Orson
Welles
Andrew Eldritch ; Hero, Villain, Not Bothered ... (Pick one !?!).
Not bothered.
Purple Turtle, Camden. 22nd Nov. '07
The second 'FuturePunk' drew a healthy sized crowd to the middle of Camden, and was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Katscan had been due to Headline, but split up a couple of weeks prior to the event. All the Bands that did play more than made up for this !!
There appear to be few 'major egos' amoungst the Line Out Records stable ... Deathboy had topped the bill in '06, but were first on tonight. Resplendent in a 'Suicide Bomber' Tee-Shirt Scott gives it his all as the Band speed through an excellent Set. Hey - they even had 'proper' Drums !!!
Tarantella Serpentine were pulled in at late notice, but produced the goods and soon had people dancing. I'd never heard anything by them before tonight but would advice you to check them out.
Next up were History Of Guns. Renowned for all of the free CD's they give away ("All Art Should Be Free" - Max Rael) Guns really come into their own onstage. Vocalist Del has great energy and spirit (or should that be 'Spirits' as in the Vodka variety ...) and sings like he totally means it. Guitarist Max tonight unveils his new 'Nicky Wire' look, and gets plenty of approving comments about his legs !! New songs mix with old classics, and Guns are superb.
Xykogen are last on, and more than live up to expectations. The twin vocalists work really well and they have plenty of strong tunes. 'Killing Method' is played 2nd and is outstanding. A great cover of 'Groove Is In The Heart', an appearance by Scott Deathboy on vocals and a climax of 'Mutate And Survive' send the crowd home happy.
Four strong Bands in a good venue for a fiver. You can't beat that !! Just make sure you don't miss FuturePunk '08 .......
History Of Guns SetList. Born Brutalised Bought Then Buried. I Am / You Are. Flashbacks. Powder. Your Obedient Servants. Empty Eyes.
Xykogen SetList. Metallaxis. Killing Method. My Unquiet Mind. No Heaven. An Die Freude. Say No More. Groove Is In The Heart. Mutate And Survive.
ANDY WEBSTER.
An EXCLUSIVE Interview with Max Rael & Del Alien from History Of Guns + their Co-Manager Dawn.
Venue ; The Crown Pub, Hunsdon then Del's Front Room.
Date ; 27th November '07.
Andy. Well, it's the lunchtime after the night of another great Guns
live performance at FuturePunk. How are you feeling ?
Del. Off my face !! -
8 beers already and it's only 2.30pm ... I didn't even get up until midday
!!
Max. Relieved. So much stress beforehand, and now it's all over I have
nothing to worry about.
Andy. How do you think it went last night ?
Max. A MASSIVE success
!!
Del. I can't remember !! All that work and it's all over in 2
minutes.
Max. It was great that people travelled from so far to see us ;
North Yorkshire, Rugby, Oxford and Derby.
Andy. Why do all of Guns have Stage Names ?
Del. Stagger Lee
called me Alien because I used to be into UFO's (it's a complicated story
...).
Max. My Mum used to spit on me whenever I pissed on the carpet in
front of the television.
Andy. Max - Why did you wear a skirt onstage last night ?
Max.
Because I like to inject an air of glamour to proceedings !!
Andy. The new Album ACEDIA is all recorded and ready to be Released in
Jan. or Feb. '08. How would you describe your new direction ? Max. Live drums,
heavy guitars, very little keyboards - really NASTY, dark and horrible
!!
Andy. So obviously you are going for the commercial market ?
Max.
No not really - there's lots of swearing on it which makes it a bit hard to get
Radio play !?!
(Del at this point leaves the room to get more Vodka. Dawn
randomly puts 'Save Barney' by Guns on the Stereo).
Andy. Would you 'Sell Out' if a major label offered you a great deal
of money to record 'Pop Songs' ?
Max. DEFINATELY !!
Del. Of course we
would .... but they would be f**king good Pop Songs !!
Andy. Which contemporary Artists do you respect ?
Max. Deathboy,
Xykogen, Dead Heaven.
Del. I concur !!
Andy. History Of Guns are renowned for giving away free CD's. What is
your view on Radiohead recently 'giving away' their new Album ?
Del. It's
OK for them to do it - they can afford it.
Max. All Art should be free !!
... but we need to drink, and occasionally eat.
Andy. Do you have any 'Promotional Stunts' lined up for the Album's
release ?
Del. OH YES !! I get to kill Max with a Crow Bar.
Max. FULL
FRONTAL NUDITY !!!!
Del. Max has been DESPERATE to do a full frontal nude
shot for 13 years !!!
Andy. Are History Of Guns perfectionists ?
Dawn. Yes, they're so
self critical it's UNREAL.
Max. That's cos we're c**nts !! We're drunken
messers ... but we do like to GET IT RIGHT !!
Andy. Is there a lyrical theme on the new Album ?
Del. Everything
is a journey ...
Max. Acedia means a total absence of Spiritual Light.
Andy. Is there any Spiritual Light in History Of Guns ?
Del. No
... but there are plenty of Spirits (particularly VODKA in Guns !!!!).
Max.
YES, but not on this Album !! The next one is going to be called Half Light -
which will be a gradual drawing away from Spiritual despair into a Half Light
....
Del. Into TOTAL despair ...
Andy. Any plans to tour the new record ?
Max. Hopefully our
Co-Managers are going to fix up some Gigs !! We would love to release Half
Light to coincide with an appearance at Infest '08 !!??!! ...
Del. I just
tip up !!
(Max & Del leave the front room to go to the local shop a few
houses away to get more Vodka ...).
Andy. Dawn - is it POSSIBLE to Manage Guns ?
Dawn. Only if there
were 72 hours in a day as it takes 60 hours to sober them up !!
Andy. What is the BEST thing about being their Co-Manager ?
Dawn.
Getting in for free ... and THE RIDER !!!
Andy. What is the WORST thing ?
Dawn. Putting up with their petty
arguements and the bollocks that they talk !! ... and getting Fester to Shut
The F**k Up !!!
Andy. Can you ever see Guns hitting the big time ?
Dawn. YES ...
now I've taken over half of the Management role. They've been pestering me to
do this for FOUR YEARS !!!
(Max & Del reappear loaded with Vodka &
Fosters ...).
Andy. Could Guns possibly function WITHOUT alcohol ?
Max. NO !!! I
do wonder about these Bands that have been Hellraisers then give it all up and
find Jesus or whatever ... If one of us gave up drinking I just can't imagine
how it would work because we're all about altered states of conciousness
....
Del. That's SUCH A GOOD QUESTION !! I could go on for HOURS about it
....
Andy. Can you think of any questions you would like me to ask you
?
Max. NO !!
Del. I could sit here for hours ... and probably will
!!
Andy. Have you got any collaborations coming up ?
Max. A Guns vs
Xykogen mix ...
Del. We're doing one with Dead Heaven - Max on Keys, double
vocal, Neno on Guitar.
Andy. So things are buzzing for Guns ; how do you see the next 6
months ?
Del. GUN SHAPED !!
Max. Hopefully our new Album - which is our
first one for Line Out Records - will really go places.
Del. Most probably
the bargain bin at Woolies ...
Dawn. Then going from being only just known
to f**king famous !!!
Andy. Max ; you are soon to become a father !! How do you see this
changing your rock n roll lifestyle ?
Del. What rock n roll lifestyle
???
Max. It's a cruel coincidence that the first line on our new CD is
'Welcome To The World Little C**ts' !?! I think I will just carry on doing what
I do ...
Del. Your WHOLE LIFE is going to change !!
Max. Music &
History Of Guns is part of what I am !!
Dawn. Max - I thought it was ALL OF
WHAT YOU ARE !!!
Max. I DO HAVE other interests ....
Del. Stagger Lee
has 4 children, I have Kyle and now Max is 'banging one out'. They are the
future called 'Ministry Of Drunks' ...
Andy. So it sounds as though History Of Guns are gonna be here for a
long time to come !! ... with a FUTURE GENERATION to follow ...
Max.
History Of Guns is a collective. There's me & Del and a collection of
idiots that we collaborate with ... Basically a MISH-MASH OF A SHIM SHAM
!!!
Del. Max - sod off, you've ruined my life ....
This Interview is Copyright of ANDY WEBSTER. Not to be reproduced
without his permission - unless you're the NME then I'll be quite happy to let
you publish it !!!!
HISTORY OF GUNS new Album ACEDIA is currently in the
FINAL stages of being Mastered, and should be released very soon on Line Out
Records.
For more Guns Info go to www.historyofguns.com or to read the MOST
INTERESTING Live Journal out there on the Internet put Max Rael into Google
!!!
They are truly a GREAT LIVE BAND ... make sure you SEE THEM BEFORE THEY DIE !!!!!!!!!!
Andy Webster.
13.01.2008.
PROFILE OF SABBY (Co-Organizer of Plack Planet).
1. What is your favourite type of music ? The sound of the Univers, Anything my Soul & Body can respond to but essetialy New Wave, New Romantic, 80's, Dark Wave, Chopin, Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Etheral and Operatic genres
2. Who are your Favourite Band of All - Time ? DEPECHE MODE, DEPECHE MODE, DEPECHE MODE!
3. Best Gig you have Ever been to ? I would say Indochine (French New Wave band from the 80's) because it was my first ever!
4. Favourite Five Albums of All - Time ? Violator/Depeche Mode, Songs of Faith and Devotion/Depeche Mode, Purple Rain/Prince, Veuillez rendre l' âme à qui elle appartient/Noir Désir, 3éme Sex/Indochine.
5. Top Three Songs ? Enjoy The Silence/Depeche Mode, Marian/The Sisters, Lettre à Elise/Ludwig van Beethoven.
6. Favourite Drink ? Corona with Lime
7. If you could go to a gig anywhere in the world, where would it be and which three bands? In the Catare country which is near where I was born and bread (there are stunning catare castles ruins perched in the mountains) and it would have to be of course Depeche Mode, The Sisters (there always a chance to see Eldritch jump off the cliff after he realised that he is too much of a genius for his own good), The Cure (because it is my fantasy so free of charge and I can't afford £35 to see them in a horrible venue).
8. Fantasy Date for a night out ? Ummmm.. tuff one.........decision, decision............ I suppose a man that come close to Aragorn, Faramir or Eomer in The Lord of The Rings (book not film) and a bonus if he looks like Josh Holloway from Lost (yum yum). But essentialy a date with Jack Sparrow Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
It was so dark all over Bedford on the night of Saturday 15th September 2007 ... Black Planet's first Nite - would anyone turn up ?? OF COURSE THEY WOULD ; and have a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Out of the darkness came the black-clad hordes, and they were served up the treat that is The Tallyman's Dark Omnibus. People were drawn in ever closer as his Set went on - climaxing with the classic 'Fuck 'Em All'.
Headliners The Ghost Of Lemora (from London) were excellent. Twinkle and the boys (+ one girl ...) had the crowd in the palm of their hand with a superb Set. Tracks from the 'Reach For The Ground' Album went down well, as did newer songs (they have an Album released in the very near future on Resurrection Records). Encores followed, before they retreated Swifty-ly to the bar for refreshments !?!
DJ CyberAndy then kicked in, and the Dancefloor was soon full ; plenty of Goth, Electro and old favourites kept people bopping until 3am !! Someone even complained that she'd danced so much her feet hurt .......
As the clock reached three what had begun now had to end. We headed out of The Angel with the Black World in our minds - knowing that it had been a GREAT Nite and that it will all begin again on 20th October !!
TUNE IN, TURN ON, BURN OUT .......
A.W.To come straight to the point, the best weekend of the year !! Infest '07 was everything ... and more.
Bradford may not be renowned for it's culture, but for 3 days at the end of August it's Cyber-A-Go-Go !! As always at these events it's a combination of the music and the people that make it so special. Time to catch up with a few old faces, and meet plenty of new ones. The venue is excellent and really well set up. A not too big main room, VERY cheap bar (!?!) which was well used throughout the weekend, and an 'Escape' area where you could actually sit and chat without having to ruin your vocal chords.
Greyhound are the first Band we see - and what a noise they kick up. Industrial beats and a harsh wall of sound. Some people later were complaining they'd been too loud !!! ... but I thought they were excellent. A great way to kick things off.
Headliners Portion Control have been around for years and have undoubtedly been a major influence on the scene. They split for a while but are now back - and as good as ever. Anyone wanting a nice pressie to put on their Christmas List need look no further than the mega 'Archive' ; a 5 CD Box Collection !! Portion Control hit the spot and had Pete and I dancing !?!
Anyone worrying that Infest is TOTAL 'Bleep Bleep' need worry no longer ... after the bands there is a 2nd Dancefloor that aims directly at the more Goth / 80's end of things. The DJ's played a brilliant mix each evening, and the Dancefloor was packed throughout the 3 days with people thinking that they looked good on the ............
Saturday and Sunday gave many (too many !!) opportunties to spend your cash at the stalls selling clothes and CD's. We were staying at Arkwright Halls, which both had superb rooms and facilities - and was ideally placed ; literally a 5 minute walk to the venue. Very handy when you are ataggering back at 3.30 in the morning .....
Pete had somehow managed to lose his CashCard on the trip up to Bradford, so Saturday morning was spent finding a branch of Barclays. Luckily we managed this ... then had a late breakfast.
As we were making our way to the venue early afternoon someone shouted out "I recognise that voice" and a guy giving away MOMT Flyers said he remembered me from the FLA Gig in London a couple of months ago !! I have to say I had a brilliant night then (Portion Control were headlining ...) but my memories of it are a bit hazy !!??!! David turned out to be a great guy and a real enthusiast who co runs the Mindphaser WebSite.
We had a good chat, then got inside to see Synnack. Described as a 'Experimental Electronic Band' in the programme, they soon had a fair sized crowd bopping away. I thought they were really good.
With The Halls being so close, we retired for a shower and change ... then got back in time for the Dope Satrs Inc !!! Undoubtedly the most 'rock n roll' band of the weekend The Dope Stars brought a Punk attitude and some bone shaking beats to Infest 2007. Rock tunes were never far from the surface and they showed their roots with a last song cover of 'Ace Of Spades'. A real hit !!
We were on a roll now, and this continued with the mighty 13th Monkey - just where did they get that name ?? Pounding beat follows pounding beat as the Monkey Machine takes no prisoners. By now both Pete and I were totally into the groove !?!
Headliners Apoptygma Berzerk - or Apop to their friends - were brilliant. Formed way back in '91 by Stephen Groth, they have always been dependable for danceable electro music. Mixing EBM, Industrial and Techno - and using Guitars !! - they bring great energy to the live arena. The crowd responded well and Apop's Set flew by. A real high of Infest was them ending with 'Love Will Never Die'.
After more drinking, chatting and dancing - plenty of dancing ... - it was back to bed !!!
A good lie in on Sunday morning - and we were ready for it again !!!!!! The outside Patio area of the venue was a great place to have a Pint, and chat to people (the lovely weather all weekend helped as well ...). We met a girl from Leicester who we'd seen on the Friday - Sunday pm she was limping and having to use a stick. Apparently she had injured herself dancing to Dope Stars - and had ended up having to go to A & E. Warning ; dancing to Dope Stars Inc can be SERIOUSLY bad for your health !!
We caught Rupesh Cartel - and were very glad that we did. This duo had a superb Electro Depeche type sound. Pete liked them so much he brought the T-Shirt !!! I too loved them and will try to investigate 'The Disco And The What Not' soon.
I can honestly say we really enjoyed each band that we saw at Infest '07. If I had to pick one however it would have to be Sunday's Headliners VNV Nation. The main hall was packed as they bounced onstage - and Ronan was on great form ! Lots of chat and jokes and rushing around the Stage. The music blasted along and the whole crowd danced as one. Many Glow Sticks were raised in the air ....... A truly brilliant finale to Infest - but it wasn't quite over yet. The DJ's kept going until nearly 3am, again with the DanceFloor packed.
What an end to an utterly fantastic weekend. As we wearily headed back to Northamptonshire on the Monday lunchtime one thing we knew for sure was that we'd be back at the same time next year !!!!!!!
A.W.
I have been to many, many gigs over the years ... lots of which have been superb - but it's only very rarely that an evening such as this comes along. Marc's 50th birthday, a couple of years after the motorcycle crash that nearly killed him.
The term 'special relationship' between an Artist and their fans is a frequently over-used statement. With Marc Almond it only starts to explain things. He has one of the most loyal audiences out there. We have been through the highs and the lows with him, wondered if we would ever see him perform again ... and come out the other side !!
As he walks onstage you can feel the emotion flowing both ways. Never, ever someone who just 'goes through the motions' tonights set is a Career spanning epic of truly legendary proportions. A totally 'I was there' one for years to come. We really are - as Marc says - 'Sharing a moment', and you can't ask for more than that.
Material from all eras is played ; The Mambas, Solo and, of course, Soft Cell. Prolonged applause follows every song. Marc tells us how 35 years ago he saw Lou Reed, and the affect it had on him ... he then sings 'Caroline Says' as though it's the last song he'll ever sing.
Taking us back to The Mambas, 'Your Aura' and the still magnificent 'Torment' are show stoppers ... except this is a gig where nearly every song is a show stopper !!!
As the crowd sing 'Happy Birthday' it is just all too much for Marc. He disappears for a while to compose himself before 'Tainted Love' and 'What' are mere preludes to the incredible climax that is a mass sing-a-long of 'Say Hello Wave Goodbye'.
Around two and a half hours after coming on, Marc finally leaves us. He looked great and his voice was superb throughout. At some stage during the evening he had been joking about how now he's 50 perhaps he should slow down a bit ... 'Not a chance' he told us !! Let's hope not.
I don't believe that anyone at Shepherds Bush Empire for this show left with any feeling other than one of having been part of a totally epic evening that was really, really something special. Marc Almond is an absolute star and 100% for real. Here's to the next 50 years !!
ANDY WEBSTER.
THE COVEN GOTH NIGHT, LUTON.
PROFILE OF NEPHILIMBABE
1. How long have you been DJing for ? Five years.
2. What Genre of Music do you play ? Goth / Industrial / New Wave / Punk / Darkwave / 80's
3. Who are your Favourite Band of All - Time ? Garden Of Delight / Sisters / Fields / The Jam
4. Best Gig you have Ever been to ? The Cult, Brixton. '86.
5. Favourite Five Albums of All - Time ? First And Last And Always - The Sisters Of Mercy Elisium - Fields Of The Nephilim Dreamtime - The Cult Necromanteion - Garden Of Delight The Clash - The Clash
6. Top Three DanceFloor Fillers ? I can't possibly answer that.
7. Favourite Drink ? Cider
8. 'Dream Nite' to DJ ? My tastes change from day to day ....
9. Fantasy Date for a night out ? Not answering that on moral grounds !!
This event has been running for 5 years now, and is DJ'd by NEPHILIMBABE.
Click here to go to The Coven's MySpace Page
Gothic Industrial Noise Terrorists History Of Guns have been around for a while now. They usually have a 'flexible' Line-Up - depending on which new Guitarist Del has just recruited from the local Pub ....
The core of the band are Max Rael and Del Alien. They give away more than their fair share of free CD's, and never say no to the offer of an alcoholic drink in return !!! They also have a fine selection of T-Shirts available for purchase.
An excellent live band, Guns have played Whitby Goth Weekend and FuturePunk. They hope to headline Wembley before they die, and are currently practising hard for a Career-Defining performance on Saturday 15th March '08 at Black Planet, The Angel, Bedford (who needs Wembley when you can headline Black Planet ?!?).
Visit their Website at www.historyofguns.com
Andy and Del at The Met, Whitby.
1. How would you describe your Bands sound ? I would like to say the sound is unique, at least I've heard nothing like it !! If there is then I want to know about it !!
2. How long have you been together ? I didn't know the answer to that one !?! I phoned my old mucker Stagger Lee ; it's eleven and a half years - damn, you get less for murder !!!
3. Favourite Band Of All-Time ? This is well ard to answer, but under pressure I would say Bauhaus. Ni I mean, oh damn ...
4. Best Gig you have ever been to ? Alien Sex Fiend because I had fallen out with an old mate of mine Tony Keppler (RIP). All of a sudden Tony jumps onstage, grabs hold of Nick and screams into the mic 'Tell Del I'm Sorry !!' With that a load of bouncers grab Tony and I have never seen a human body projected so far into the audience !! I have never laughed so hard. Bless him.
5. Top 5 Albums Of All-Time ? No, no, no ... I can't answer that - it's a mood thing.
6. Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ? Here's another mood thing - it changes all the time ! At the mo I would say ; Scary Monsters - David Bowie, Martin - Soft Cell and Alive And Kicking - Club Country (what a voice, RIP).
7. Favourite Drink ? No, no ... this is wrong !! Don't make me do it. According to the DVD it's Lager, Vodka and Wine.
8. If you could have one Musician guest on your next Album who would it be ? Would have to be Daniel Ash (Bauhaus). What a Guitarist. The other would be Dead Heaven 9this one is going to happen !!). I'm working on this so listen out ...
9. If you could play one 'Dream Gig' where would it be, and who else would be on the bill ? Brixton Academy, and I'm not answering the rest !! It'll make me out the git of the band. I'm more of a wind em up and watch it go sort of bloke !!!
10. Whjo would be your 'Fantasy Date' for a night out ? The woman out of Final Fantasy ... Yes, I know she's computer generated. I have a screwed mind !!
So there you have it - an insight into the mind of History Of Guns vocalist Del !! we can only presume he doesn't drink his Lager, Vodka and Wine all mixed together as some sort of 'Guns Cocktail' ... and we are disappointed that Max Rael wasn't Del's 'Dream Date' !!??!!
Lineout Records have a number of excellent bands on their books ; Deathboy, Earth Loop Recall, Xykogen, Trauma Pet, Katscan and the soon-to-be-massive History Of Guns.
Check out their Website for more Info - plus they often give away free Sampler CD's !!!
UNSCENE MAGAZINE.
Unscene Magazine is published approx. twice a year, and is VERY worth buying. Covering the Gothic Scene it features Interviews, Album and Live reviews ... and usually comes with a free CD !!
Click here to go to UNSCENE's MySpace Page
MARTIN OLDGOTH
Martin OldGoth co-runs thirteen13 and DJs a monthly Nite at InsanitoriuM in Colchester. He PARTICULARLY doesn't like Cyber and Glowsticks .........
PROFILE OF MARTIN
1. How long have you been DJing ? 22 years. I started because the DJ at the Club I went to quit and the Club would have closed if someone didn't take over. Three of us did and the rest is a blur.
2. What genre of Music do you play ? Goth. Post Punk. Deathrock. A tiny bit of Guitar based Industrial. I love stirring choruses and tribal drums, proper ones ...
3. What is the Best Gig you have ever been to ? I'd have to cheat and say Fields Of The Nephilim 'Electrostatic' tour in '87. Following the band around the country for a week or so was such a great experience. People don't do that anymore. They just moan if a band doesn't play within a mile of their house.
4. Top three All-Time guaranteed Dancefloor fillers ? It varies, but for now ... Israel - Siouxsie And The Banshees Nightmares - The Last Dance Kick In The Eye - Bauhaus
5. Favourite Band of All-Time ? The Clash, without a doubt. Joe Strummer changed my life and affected so many other peoples whether they realise it or not. The man is/was a fucking lefgend. There should be statues in town centres. His lyrics should be studied in schools. The Clash gave me my attitude and Politics.
6. Favourite Drink ? Captain Morgan spiced, Absolut Vodka or a Pint of Mild please !
7. If you could DJ a 'Dream Nite' where would it be and which Bands would play ? Whitby Goth Weekend with Miguel and the Living Dead, The Last Days Of Jesus and Scarlets Remains - just to show people there is life in Goth and we don't all have to listen to Techno and Metal ! There is a whole world of Goth out there beyojnd our little island, and the Company I co-run (thirteen13) is determined to bring it here to wake this place up a bit.
8. Top 5 Albums Of All-Time ? Peepshow - Siouxsie And The Banshees Whispers In Rage - The Last Dance 101 Damnations - Carter USM Dawnrazor - Fields Of The Nephilim London Calling - The Clash
9. Who Is Your Favourite DJ ? Apart from me ? Tricky one ... Depends on the mood. Probably someone who's a combination of Sexbat, Cavey Nik and Dave Exile.
10. Who would be your Fabtasy Date for a Nite out ? Monica Richards (Faith and the Muse) or if she's busy washing her hair I'll take Patricia Morrison (before Dave and the baby came along ; I don't want to upset him !).
The May Bank Holiday Weekend saw Edinburgh turn into CyberCentral, with everyone out for a good time - and for the vast majority that was what happened. A late change of venues meant that things kicked off at around 8pm on the Friday evening at Studio 24.
DIMP (Dark Improvised Music Project) had the 'task' of being first on - never the easiest slot - and only a hardened few gathered anywhere near the stage. I wasn't really taken with them, feeling too many of their songs just went nowhere ... and went on for far too long.
We didn't have to wait long however for the Festival to get moving. Siva Six - from Greece and featuring ex-members of Septic Flesh and Rotting Christ - were excellent. Vocalist Z has great stage presence and prowls menacingly around - his dark vocals fitting perfectly with the heavy EBM/ Industrial beats. With 2 Albums (Rise New Flesh & Black Will) behind them they soon had the crowd dancing. More people investigated them as the set progressed - always a good sign - and for me they were one of the real highs of Dark City '07.
XP8 continued in the right direction. From Italy this was only their 2nd UK performance, and they were lively with lots of catchy, dancy tunes. 'Lies' was superb and there was plenty of interaction with the crowd.
Headliners were Germany's Solitary Experiments. Their VNV-esque Electropop went down very well and they provided a fine end to the first part of the evening. With Studio 24 having to be emptied at 11pm sharp (for some reason or other ...) there was then the highly unusual sifght of the Gothic 'masses' making their way to the Aftershow venue !!
Any moaning about the walk (hey, at least it wasn't raining) was surely offset by the highly atmospheric Nicol Edwards. Lots of VERY small intimate rooms with a fine DJ set taking place in one of them that kept plenty of people dancing until 3am.
Saturday kicked off at around 5.30pm (although Saturday and Sunday both ended up running a bit late due to 'technical' problems) at The Caves. The name says it all and it was most suitable for this sort of bash.
Cybercide make no claims to be revolutionary pioneers, but they are a band who are certainly on the rise. Originally formed in '99 the present line up only released their superb debut Album 'Adrenaline' in '06. They aim to make accessible dancefloor Electronic music - and they achieve this with style. The trance-ish sound was well received, and everyone that I spoke to about them later in the evening agreed that Cybercide had really hit the spot.
The one man event that is Dyspraxia came next. Mr PineappleHead indeed !?! Jumping around and punching the air continually, this guy was having great fun - as were the audience. How many of the vocals were actually 'live' is probably debateable, but the techno style had plenty of punters bopping up and down. Highly entertaining.
One of the real plusses of the entire weekend was how friendly everyone was - both the locals and those that had come from afar.
Plenty of stamina (or vodka and red bull ...) is needed to complete the course, and things continued apace with Modulate. They've recently been supporting VNV, and you could see why. Another hit with the crowd at the front.
The stars of Saturday for me were probably 32 Crash. From Belgium and making their British debut this duo of Front 242 vocalist Jean-Luc De Mayer and Implants Len Lemaire went down a storm. They certainly lived up to their reputations, had the crowd buzzing AND had the best slogan Tee-Shirt of the weekend for sale at the desk ; 'Humanity Is A Disease'.
A difficult act to follow, but Absolute Body Control managed it. Dirk Ivens has been around forever, years ago being part of the highly influencial Klinik outfit. Here with his partner in crime Eric Van Wonterghem they show great enthusiasm and deliver a fine headline set.
It was back to The Caves early Sunday evening for the hardened Rivetheads !! I thought I had wandered into the wrong venue when I was met by the sight of a band onstage with ... guitars !! Rumour had it that there might have been one such instrument played over the previous 48 hours, but I certainly didn't remember seeing it. The band in question turned out to be Head Trauma, and they weren't my cup of tea - sounding more like they should be at Download.
They were followed by - shock, horror - ANOTHER group with guitars. Tin Omen were much better. A more Trad Goth type sound and an excellent female vocalist. They soon had a few people dancing and their set included a great cover (I am partial to a cover or two - you have a job to beat Libitina's 'Gothic Pepole') of 'Confide In Me'. I would like to see these again in the near future.
'Normality' was restored by the excellent Pre Emptive Strike 0.1. Formed in 2002 the main Strike duo of Jim 'The Blaster' on vocals and Cryon (Synths) were joined by a girl wearing a gas mask. Their brand of EBM had plenty of meaty songs and on tonights performance I would say it's well worth checking out their 2006 debut Long Player 'Lethal Defence Systems' (which is on Infected Recordings).
More old school Goth followed with Voices Of Masada. Making no secret of their influences (Sisters, Fields, Mission) Voices were right up my street. They've been around for a while now, but appear to have lost none of their enthusiasm. Their set just flew by.
Dirk Ivens and Erik V.W. reappear in the guise of Sonar. A real mishmash of Industrial, Techno and Noise the 2 protaganists stand face to face on stage - sending out an almighty sound towards the audience ! Again they get a positive reaction.
If you have survived this far then there is no way headliners Grendel will let you down !! These boys certainly know how to get the adrenaline flowing ... Coming on at around 1.30am the diehards near the stage are soon using up any remaining energy they have left. Pounding beat follows pounding beat with the frenzied vocals adding a great edge. 'Prescription ; Medicide' was a Classic but surely the 3 year wait for 'Harsh Generation' will be worth it. On tonights showing I can't wait for it's release. As Grendel brought Dark City '07 to a brutal end surely not many people could have gone home unhappy !!
A total blast from start to finish, if EBM / Industrial is your thing you could do a lot worse than head to Edinburgh next May for Dark City '08.
ANDY WEBSTER.
How would you describe your bands sound ? HORROR BEAT
How long have you been together ? LATE 90'S IS WHEN WE GOT INTO THAT SOUND..IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR US BACK THEN SO IT TOOK US LONG UNTIL TO COME UP WITH WHAT SIVA SIX SOUNDS LIKE TODAY
Who are your biggest Influences ? ALEISTER CROWLEY- HORROR B MOVIES-SCI FI-DRYGS-PORNO-DOOMED LOVE STORIES
What are your Top 5 Albums Of All-Time ? ONLY THEATER OF PAIN-CHRISTIAN DEATH,FRONT 242- TYRANNY FOR YOU,EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN -1/2 MENSCH,SHEEP ON DRUGS-GREATEST HITS,MINISTRY-KEFALI
What are your Favourite 3 songs of All-Time ? DAF-DER SHERIF,CRAMPS -HYMAN FLY,GUTRUN GUT -BUTTERFLY
If you could play one 'dream gig' anywhere in the world where would you choose ? THE CITY OF ANGELS ...WITH CHRISTIAN DEATH ...GOD..COMBICHRIST...AND CELTIC FROST
If you could pick one musician to guest on your next Album who would it be ?APHEX TWIN...ALL THE WAY...
Who would be your 'fantasy date' for a night out ? ALEISTER CROWLEY+ALIEN JOURGENSEN IN A RED FAST CAR WITH 10 GRAMS FROM THE GOOD WHITE SHIT...
Click on the link below to go to Siva Six Official Website.
Amazingly SmashedPete wasn't TOO late picking me up, and we were off and running fairly early on the Friday morning. "We're On The Road To Whitby ..."
It's a great feeling ; the whole weekend ahead of you at one of my very favourite places. A great selection of tracks (both on tape & MP3 Player !?!) - The Damned, The Mission, The Sisters etc. - raised the spirits even higher and somewhere on the journey we were caught by The P[olar Bear and Rachel. As Whitby neared 'Dominion' gave way to 'This Corrosion' ... and we knew that the fun was about to start !!
After unpacking it was straight down tp The Shambles for the Unscene Magazine Meet-Up. As we walked into the bar I heard a voice call my name - no I wasn't hallucinating !! It was Del sitting at a table by the window. The Guns crew had arrived on Wednesday. There was no sign of Max however ... He arrived around 20 minutes later looking - it has to be said - very rough indeed !! Was it a good idea for someone who obviously has no idea at all about 'pacing himself' to arrive as early as Wednesday ??
For the past couple of years myself and Dr Skubbins had somehow managed to avoid meeting each other. This was rectified today - and I met Mrs Skubbins too ! Mark, the editor of Unscene, was there and managed to sell me a couple of back issues of his excellent mag. After a very pleasant hour and a half Pete & I wandered down to the Spa to get our Wristbands, and have a quick look around. I was tempted by a Front 242 CD that I'd been after for a while !!
We got back to the Spa early evening in time for the first band. Craig was chatting away to a healthy sized crowd that had gathered. He asked if anyone was here for the first time - and one brave soul put their hand up. WGW is so good that everyone just comes back time after time after time ....
Razorblade Kisses were up first and for me were the only band that I wasn't impressed by of the 7 that we saw at this Whitby. Two girl vocalists - never a bad thing - but their songs just didn't really go anywhere for me. Dust followed and were pretty impressive but things really kicked off with the next lot. The Soho Dolls were very 80's Electro-ish with plenty of catchy songs. Not 'Goth' as such, but they got the audience moving and went down very well (After all, most Goths are partial to The Human League / Soft Cell / Duran etc). The final song 'Stripper' saw the attractive singer left wearing ... not a lot. I'm surprised Smashed didn't try to get onstage with her !?!
Headliners were The Last Dance from the U S of A !! We'd seen them before at WGW a few years back and enjoyed them Tonight they were superb ! Full of energy and verve, there were lots of danceable songs and plenty of banter with the crowd. They jokingly (presumably) slagged the Cyber Scene ... and their Guitarist had the most Cyber hairstyle of the whole weekend ! For the final encore their was a mass stage invasion and sing-a-long. Great value.
Saturday morning was spent looking around the stalls ... and buying another CD - well, where else apart from Camden would you find the new Angelspit Album with a CD of remixes thrown in ??Via the WGW Forum I had arranged the first Goth Pool Tournament for 3pm at The Met bar. despite lots of cynical 'nobody will turn up' comments from Smashed & THe Bear there were 8 competitors who started.
The Final saw CyberAndy take on Gothdadin a best-of-three shootout. There was a certain inevitability that - with it being Goth Pool - it would all be on the final black ... and so it proved to be the case. One frame all, and just one ball left on the table. Andy cooly rolled the crucial ball into the middle pocket to claim the Title !?! Generously he gave the prize of a box of Jaffa Cakes to Gothdad ! This will DEF. become a regular event at WGW .....
After a shower and something to eat, by the time we reached the Spa we had unfortunately missed Rome Burns. Pete & I had seen them a couple of years back supporting NFD and had thought they were pretty impressive.
Machine Gun Symphony and Bella Morte were both very good, but the stars for me were Cruxshadows. I was near the front and bouncing to them - plenty of bleeps and beats !! I thought they were great. Interestingly some people later thought they hadn't been very good. It just goes to show how any one gig can be so different for two people. Lots of it depends on how you feel, your mood, thoughts, level of vodka intake, etc rather than if it's actually a good 'performance' by the band. Plenty of punters were dancing away to The Cruxshadows set and seemed to be really into them. I would go and see them again if I get the chance.
Lots of late night dancing followed. Max seemed to have brought along most of his family, and Del's wife-to-be was on fine form.
Sunday morning was a bit cold and windy - especially up at The Abbey !! Pete and I then revisited The Met for a few more frames of Pool before going to the Football. October '06 had been a tight match - 1/0 to The Gazette so the large away following were hopeful of a victory today ! Hopes were soon dashed however as a couple of early Goals put Athletico Gazette in control. The Goths were unlucky to twice hit the bar, but were outclassed and ended up getting thumped 7 - 1.
Rupert - whom we had met at the Pool Competition - had an exhibition of Photos on at the Art Gallery in the park, and this was well worth a look. The pictures were excellent, but really came to life when viewed through the special 3D glasses.
Food isn't a major priority over the weekend, but Andy was starving by now. A trip to the Seafront found a cafe and a hearty tea of fish and chips hit the spot. Just the job before a nights bopping at Sexy Sunday !!
We warmed up with some banging Cyber, then popped into The Elsinor for a quick couple. You could feel the heat as you entered The Met - as ever at Sexy Sunday the dancefloor was pretty full all night !?! Industrial mixes with classic Goth and EBM - with the occasional pop classic (Kaisers, Killers) thrown in. The 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' remix (? by Cyber Axis) is always a favourite.
The time just whizzes by, and before you know it it's 1.45am and time to make that last walk back up the hill ....
This had been a top, top WGW - for me as good as any I've been to. Great bands, superb music, brilliant people ; and Whitby being just the best place to be. You just can't beat it !!!!!!!!!!!
A.W.PROFILE OF AMON ZERO OF XYKOGEN
How would you describe your sound ?? Dancefloor electronica, with an experimental edge. Techno-industrial. People sometimes refer to our sound as futurepunk or EBM.
How long have you been together ?? I formed Xykogen in 2004, and got together the live lineup in early 2006. Before that, I'd been in (Wasp Factory Recordings artists) Arkam Asylum since 1999.
Favourite Band Of All-Time ?? Nine Inch Nails, I'd say. Runners-up would include David Bowie, Devo, Dead Kennedys, Throbbing Gristle, and Skinny Puppy.
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ?? The downward spiral - Nine Inch Nails Are we not men? We are devo! - Devo Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables - Dead Kennedys Too dark park - Skinny Puppy Compulsion - Earth Loop Recall
Fav. 3 songs of All-Time ?? Life on mars - David Bowie Zero-sum - Nine Inch Nails Gut feeling/slap your mammy - Devo
If u could play a dream gig anywhere in the world where would u play, and which 3 other bands would play ?? Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Combichrist and Xykogen at the Whisky a go go in LA ;)
Favourite drink ?? Single malt or Jack Daniel's.
Which musician would u choose to guest on your next Album ?? Genesis P Orridge.
Who would be your Fantasy date for a Nite out ?? Aleister Crowley.
PROFILE OF MARK FROM XKYOGEN
How would you describe your sound ?? A natural yet innovative progression from the Deep Ipswich Ambient Spoon Sounds scene of the mid to late 90s.
How long have you been together ?? I don`t think I`ve ever been together. But thank you for suggesting that I can still fake the appearance thereof.
Favourite Band Of All-Time ?? Public Enemy pre 1992.
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ?? Chill Out by The KLF. 45 minute trip across the US with hallucinogens. Whats not to love? It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back by Public Enemy - the finest hip hop album ever and quite close to being one of the finest industrial albums ever also. We can argue that last bit if you have a few days spare. Disintegration by The Cure. because it`s lovely. The Downward Spiral by NIN. Because it went grr arrgh at me in all the right ways when I was a young lad not getting enough head and that seemed to make things better. Screamadelica by Primal Scream. Anyone who says an Acid House version of the Rolling Stones (when they were good) isn`t a great thing should have their ears cut off because they clearly don`t need them. This list may change tommorow. As it should.
Fav. 3 songs of All-Time ?? Never really thought about that sort of thing before. Off the top of my head, Hurt by NIN, Until She Comes by the Psychedelic Furs and the Theme from Fraggle Rock.
If u could play a dream gig anywhere in the world where would u play, and which 3 other bands would play ?? I`d do a music concrete piece at The White House composed to be performed on JCB Diggers. Einsturzende Neubaten could support doing a reprise of their London ICA performance, The KLF could turn up and play whatever they liked on using whatever plant hire equipment they`d got their hands on and Chris De Burgh because there might be beautiful ladies who needed saving.
Favourite drink ?? The one before the one that makes me get bolshy.
Who would be your Fantasy date for a Nite out ?? ( Audrey Hollander. We`d probably stay in though.
This review of Fields is by Andrew Collins.
From the very moment the first bars of 'The 24th Moment' sounded out there was no doubt that this was really happening. After a few years away Fields Of The Nephilim were back and ready to deliver one of the most blistering yet moving sets of their 24 year career.
One of the most anticipated gigs in a very long time had been announced exactly two months earlier, and from every part of the globe Nephilim fans old and new descended on London for something that many prayed they might one day be witness to. I say this for Fields Of The Nephilim concerts aren't just random events, but highly anticipated ritual acts that call out to everyone, everywhere.
Following the ambience of 'The 24th Moment' came the intro for 'Shroud'. As the opening track from the acclaimed 'Mourning Sun' Album it set the pace for the rest of the evening - building from a magnanimous beginning to a blistering finish, making way immediately for 'Straight To The Light'. This was the first time any of these tracks had been played live.
Enter Carl McCoy, all in black, wearing his talismatic drifter-style hat ceremoniously dusted down for the occasion. He emerged from the dry ice to rapturous applause, like an old friend returning from a desert wilderness. This was something that Carl and the band had been waiting for - and here we all were ; 3,000 strong experiencing it live where The Nephilim last played exactly 11 years to the day.
Next up was 'Penetration', a stark reminder of just how hard they can be when they choose. Coming from the dark headscape that was 1996 Album 'Zoon' it was a statement that this event wasn't going to be treated with an air of calm comfort.
Then an early surprise, a beautiful rendition of 'Dawnrazor', which actually sounds so fresh today - yet familiar enough for the first round of crowd surfing and pyramid building to go into effect - telling us that yes this really was a time to rejoice and enjoy.
Stepping forward one Album the audience were treated to 'Moonchild'. expecting a return back to 'Mourning Sun' The Astoria got 'The watchman' instead. Not played live for over 16 years, the crowd suddenly knew that it was going to be a night to remember.
After this we got Zoon Part Three - wakeworld, which flowed seamlessly into the Set. Then it was onto 'Requiem' - a truly beautiful track. Building nicely, carried aloft by a soul-raising rhthym guitar, and for me this track flies you to far away places.
From the rousing tones of 'Requiem' it was straight into 'Xiberia' - a powerful almost Industrial slice of madness. Then the first few bars of 'Last Exit For The Lost' raised the greatest cheer of the night. A Nephilim anthem par excellence, it is almost impossible to think of it not being played. Here it was - cementing still further the fact that this was a classic Fields gig.
Hands raised in the air for the chorus ... and then it was over - the return to darkness meaning the band had left the stage. It was time enough away for Carl to change into a white shirt. For encores we got 'Xodus', a Single from the 'Zoon' Album which was quickly followed by another sweet excess in the form of 'Love Under Will'.
After this epic we felt we had been blessed enough for one night, yet there was no way Carl and company were not going to give us 'Mourning Sun', which climaxes the most recent Album. Even after Carl vanished for the last time, the band remained to make sure nothing was lost from the powerful studio version of the song.
The fact that Fields Of The Nephilim can just waltz back on stage after a time away, and have the audience eating out of their hands from start to finish says something very important. Some thought, or wondered, whether they could still do it - but this was a spine tingling reminder that they can. It was a performance that showed the world that The Nephilim have never been away - they have merely been pondering their next move.
It is safe to assume that we can expect more from Fields Of The Nephilim sooner rather than later - allowing the whole ritual to begin all over again and taking the band places that only the imagination can comprehend.
I look forward eagerly to that time.
Click on the link below for another Fields review + Pictures.
I'd been briefly into The Nephilim many years ago. I had the 2nd Album and live one on cassette and used to play them in the car when I first passed my test - but for whatever reason I'd lost interest and never got them on CD
I wasn't sure what to expect, and I'd heard a rumour that it was just one original member (Carl) and a load of disinterested session musicians and maybe a drum machine. I'm pleased to report they sounded excellent. Dynamic, punchy, loud, and I surprised myself my recognising some of the songs from all those years ago.
The Astoria was dangerously hot, and we were mostly drinking cans of Strongbow. As always capacirt gigs at The Astoria seem more packed than at other venues. Towards the end of the gig I had a wander and found that they had a couple of massive fans (of the blowing air variety !) upstairs. It was like heaven.
PROFILE OF STAR INDUSTRY (Belgian Goth Band)
1. How would you describe your sound ? Anthemic rock with a touch of Electronica, leant towards the dark staples of Goth Music.
2. How long have you been together ? We saw the light of day sometime in '96. The year after that they entered the Studio and came out with the first CD 'Iron Dust Crush'. Immediately they gained a lot of positive response in the Press all over Europe. This resulted in their first Festival Gigs in Germany, Belgium and the UK. The song 'Nineties' topped the Alternative Charts in Israel and is still a Dancefloor filler in Clubs.
During the Summer of '99 the 'New Millenium E.P.' was released at that years EuroRock Festival in Belgium. This was followed in '01 by the full CD 'Velvet'. During this period Star Industry played a lot of Festivals.
Now our new Album 'Last Crusades' has been released in April '07.
3. What are your 5 Favourite Albums of All-Time ? There are many ... Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie Seventeen Seconds - The Cure First And Last And Always - The Sisters Of Mercy Once Upon A Time - Siouxsie And the Banshees Electric Shades - March Violets
4. What are your Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ? Again so many ... Alice - The Sisters Of Mercy Israel - Siouxsie And The Banshees Sanctuary - The Cult
5. Favourite Drink ? Lots of Belgian beer and Whisky !
6. If you could play a 'Dream Gig' where would it be, and with whom ? Red Square, Moscow with NiN, Marilyn Manson and David Bowie.
7, Which Musician would you get to Guest on your next Album ? Mike Garson, the pianist with David Bowie. A duet with Susan Janet Ballion (aka Siouxsie). And of course the one and only David Bowie.
8. Who would be your Fantasy Date for a Nite out ? Maybe Angelina Jolie and another 3000 ... chicks whose names I forget !!!
We came to worship at the Temple Of Trent Reznor, and surely nobody could have left the Academy disappointed. The intensity of the performance was unbelievable ; there was no 'going through the motions' tonight !!
'Somewhat Damaged' kicked things off in fine style, and it was just onwards and upwards from there. The crowd were jumping from the start, and full of an energy that fed back to the band. 'Help Me I Am In Hell' may be a title that sums up some of Trent's well documented personal problems, but the audience were in heaven.
Surely it is one of musics great ironies that an Artists torment can spawn songs that are celebrated so esctatically. The pace is unrelenting. Time after time hundreds of arms are raised in the air as one. New Single 'Survivalism' sounds great, and whets the appetite for the forthcoming 'Year Zero' Album.
As the Set nears a climax 'The Day The World Went Away' is a mere prelude to an unmatchable finish. After being Sonically Assulted, suddenly there is total quiet for the religious experience that is 'Hurt'. It's certainly a moment .... 'The Hand That Feeds' then crashes in, and of course it's 'Head Like A Hole' that winds up the whole thing ; "I'd Rather DIE Than Give You Control ..."
The light show had been superb, the band excellent and Trent Reznor amazing. Nine Inch Nails are the kings of Industrial Nihilistic Rock. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE NITE !!!!
Setlist. Somewhat Damaged. Lost. Heresy. March Of The Pigs. Piggy. Ruiner. Closer. Burn. Gave Up. Help Me I Am In Hell. Eraser. Wish. The Big Come Down. Survivalism. Only. Suck. The Day the World went Away. Hurt. The Hand That feeds. Head Like A Hole.
A.W.'Her name is Rio ...' was blasting out over the stereo as we spotted The Abbey through the rain - hey, Goths have always been fans of Simon and co. !! As ever it's a great moment when you see Whitby in the distance.
If anyone wants to know why Goth Refuses To Die then they should just attend WGW (or watch the bit on The Culture Show !?!). It truly is an event, and one where everyone is so friendly ; old, young. very young ...... all descend on Whitby to eat, shop, drink, dance, pose, remember their youth, relive their youth, consume half pints of cider and black (through a straw of course so that it doesn't spoil your lipstick) and generally have a GREAT time.
First surprise was the return of SmashedPete !! We walk into The Resolution and he's standing at the bar. Excellent ! Smashed had actually managed to get organized and buy a ticket ; well, miracles do happen occasionally ....
At The Spa we caught most of Trauma Pet, who sounded very good - then it was The Vampire Beach Babes. I have to say the girls didn't look as good 'in the flesh' as on google images but I really enjoyed them. WGW Legend Geoff The Neff was already doing his own totally unique Whitby Dance through the crowds !?!
By now we'd bumped into Max & Del (who was wearing a very cool hat - did he take it off all weekend ???). As ever Max had new History Of Guns Promo CD's to give away, and I got a namecheck on this one !!!! I've made it at Whitby at last ..........
Headliners were The Damned, and they were great. The Captain was sporting a new 'heavy' hairstyle (we'd spotted him in the town earlier with his 'normal' hair) and Dave Vanian looked the same as ever - these people that dye their hair black, I don't know !?!
The set fizzed from the opening 'New Rose'. 'Elouise' was greeted like the WGW classic it is and one of my long time personal favs 'I Just Can't Be Happy Today' was brilliant. The Captain gave us a choice of final encore and 'Smash It Up' was chosen. Smashed and Cyber were jumping with glee to that one !!
As is the way at The Spa after the bands there is a good hour+ of top DJ action - mucho dancing into the small hours.
After some Saturday shopping (I went mad and brought a shirt) Sarah a & I attended a very interesting book launch in The Rifle Club (complete with free sarnies).
We met up for tea with a friend at The Resolution, drank quite a bit of wine then it was off to The Spa for another superb evening. Inertia were excellent but the real treat of the whole weekend proved to be main band XPQ-21. Loud, Hard and Dancy ... the vocalist also had the sideburns of WGW !!
It's a bit of a tradition for bands to do covers, and these guys did a storming 'Bela Lugosi'. The crowd loved them, and I'll DEF. be checking out XPQ-21's stuff in the future.
Smashed & I danced the night away until the bitter end to the sounds of The Mission, Killing Joke, New Model Army and many more.
Sunday afternoon saw a bitter battle in The Goths v The Gazette football match. The Goths put in a sterling performance - and deserved a draw at least. It all kicked off at one stage, with a mass brawl in the centre circle. The April rematch should be a tense affair ......
There's only one way to end a WGW ... it has to be Sexy Sunday !! The Met was heaving and the dancefloor packed all night. DJ's Glenn Psychosis and Axy spend as much time dancing onstage as DJ-ing. They play an unbeatable mix of classics and 80's stormers. A true highlight of the weekend was dancing and singing aong to 'Stand And Deliver' !!??!!
We lasted until nearly 1am ... not bad for oldies. Sarah declined one last walk up the hill - so we had a taxi (not quite the same as walking ...).
Another TREMENDOUS WGW was over. It is my favourite weekend of the year - and it's TWICE a year. HORRAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roll on April '07 ...........
CYBER A.W.PROFILE OF SKINJOB.
What sort of Music do you play ? Heavily EBM influenced Electronica.
How long have you been together ? Skinjob was formed in '91 but I quickly realised that the technology needed to get the sound we wanted simply wasn't attainable at the time. We wrote some songs in the early 90's (including 'Insects & Metaphors' and 'Move') but never recorded them properly (however it's strange how the lyrics are still appropiate). I decided to push forward with the project after upgrading my Studio just over 2 years ago and did a few Remixes for people like KiEw and XPQ-21 which got me known.
Favourite Band of All-Time ? Difficult to single one out - I grew up listening to Depeche Mode. Nitzer Ebb and FLA who I still like, but I'm also a fan of Covenant, VNV, and CombiChrist.
Best Gig you have ever been to ? Nitzer Ebb at Agra Halle, Leipzig 2006. The first third of the 8000+ crowd turned into a pit which was INSANE.
Favourite Drink ? Typically anything with alcohol in it, but I have an affinity for good German beer. actually any German beer is better than what we get over here.
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ? Violator - Depeche Mode. Absolutely perfect. Wonderful Life - Black. He spent 10 years trying to get somewhere, finally got a deal and recorded this. Unfortunately the 2nd Album wasn't great. Pretty Hate Machine - NiN. Very influential in shaping modern Electronic music. Rendezvous - Jean Michelle Jarre. One of the pieces of music 'Ron's Piece' was going to be the first piece of music recorded from Spaceas Jarre's friend Ron McNair was an Astronaught on the Challenger Shuttle which unfortunately was destroyed. Artificial Soldier - Front Line Assembly. FLA back on form with a superb Album.
Favourite 3 Songs of All-Time ? World In My Eyes - Depeche Mode. The first track on the seminal Album Violator - still a fav today. Godhead - Nitzer Ebb. Remember hearing this back in the day and thinking 'whoah !' Like Tears In Rain - Covenant. I really like Eskil Simmonson's work and a great use of the Nord Lead on this Blade Runner influenced track.
Which Musician would you have Guest on your next Album ? Probably Jay Smith from Deviant UK - he has an amazing voice plus he's said he'd do it.
Where would you play your Dream Gig, and which 3 Bands would play ? Probably Agra Halle in Leipzig for WGT or the Main Stage at M'era Luna (but I'd settle for a Hangar). As for other Bands ..., not that you would probably ever see them on the same stage for the same show but the Bands I'd be honoured to Support would be Nitzer Ebb, Covenant and VNV - all have inspired and shaped me musically.
Who would be your Fantasy Date for a Nite Out ? Probably Bettie Page. Well - when she was younger obviously.
The debut NiN Album was written, arranged and performed by Trent Reznor. Combining catchy melodies with dark introspective lyrics Reznor spoke of this Album being "A sincere statement of what was in his head at the time." It was a release that set a benchmark for certain types of 'Alternative' Music.
As track one - the fantastic 'Head Like A Hole' - kicks in the power is there for all to hear. Anger, frustration, angst .... As with all truly great Albums each song totally stands up on it's own, yet also they all complement each other 'Something I Can Never Have' follows 'Sanctified' and you just don't want the CD to reach it's end !!
Incredibly Pretty Hate Machine spent 2 years in the Charts in America, and became one of the first Independently released records to go Platinum. All the instruments were played by Reznor ; maybe he'd rather die than give anyone else control ...
Over the past 18 - yes, eighteen ... - years this release has just grown and grown on me, and influenced my musical taste. I love it more now than I did in the mid-90's !?!
Still sounding vibrant, powerful and fresh Pretty Hate Machine is probably my number one thing for putting on if I am feeling angry / frustrated / pissed off !!
Trent Reznor - we salute you .....
A.W.
'All washed up and drugged out in Hamberg ...'
Those were the rumours surrounding Andrew Eldritch following the break up of The Sisters Of Mercy in 1985 and the battle over band names with a certain Mr Hussey. Surely The Sisters were over ....
A period of relative calm followed, before an announcement that Mr E had recruited the goddess that was Patricia Morrison to be at his side - and there would be a new Album to follow (in those days that didn't mean a 16+ year wait ....).
And so it came to pass ... in 1987 the epic that is 'Floodland' was released to the world. Magnificent in EVERY way, from the superb cover right through to the closing track.
'This Corrosion' had been released as a Single. On first hearing it sounded incredible. It still does today. Layer after layer of building climaxing with Eldritch's call to arms ; "Floodland And Driven Apart !!"
Worries over this record damaging The Sisters history were immediately banished. It was a total classic. Everything and more than the die hard fans could have possibly hoped for.
'Dominion/Mother Russia' is an opening track to die for. Seven minutes of gothic splendour. 'Flood 1' follows then 'Lucretia' andd so on and so on ... The vocals are perfect. The sound of a man stating his case with a certainty bordering on arrogance.
From the driven dancefloor fillers such as 'Lucretia' through to the beautiful '1959' this is an Album from heaven.
What happened after this has been debated (and still is !?!) endlessly. Maybe it was just IMPOSSIBLE to follow this.
As the GREAT man himself sang "I've Got Nothing To Say I Haven't Said Before."
Undoubtedly one of my top 10 Albums of All-Time !!!!
A.W.
"They said go to Infest, I said NO, NO, NO !!"
If you like your EBM/Cybergoth then it doesn't come much harder than this !?!
Infest is an annual three day music Festival held at Bradford University featuring Alternative Electronic music acts from various genres ; Industrial, EBM, Futurepop, Synthpop and PowerNoise.
Infest was born in early 1998 through the efforts of 3 students at the Uni. The concept was a one day event for local Goth bands. Even before it started however, it spiraled into an altogether bigger beast when the Students Union agreed that funds could be found to book some much bigger acts - notably Gothic/Deathrock-ers Alien Sex Fiend.
The student organisers were already fans of the Whitby Gothic Weekend and took the idea of Infest to the WGW Festival goers and traders to gauge how popular the show might be. The response was positive and the first Infest was confirmed as 14 & 15 August '98.
The following year the Festival paid more attention towards the electronic side of the Goth / Industrial scene by booking Apoptygma Berserk for their first UK show.
By 2000 the Students Union felt that they were unable to carry the costs of the Festival any longer. In addition the original students who had promoted the show had all moved on. Fortunately an independent Goth / Industrial Promoter and DJ stepped in to fill the void. As a result of the heavy involvement with Terminal Productions, another twist to the shows music style took place. This defined Infest in it's current form with it's theme moving from Goth / Industrial to Alternative Electronic.
Since 2000 Infest has gained an International reputation, with festival goers travelling from as far as Canada and acts flying from as far as Australia to play. The show continues to provide a market for traders, which helps to bring the music and the lifestyle of the fans together.
There is also a full Festival programme where Nightclubs, DJ's, Bands and Businesses can make their voices heard. Infest is supported by a number of Electronic Record Labels, notably Ant-Zen and Hands Productions. It has also been sponsored by the online music store Music Non Stop, the drink Jagermeister and the software publisher Ableton. The Festival was originally known as 'InFest', however in 2003 it's name was altered to 'Infest' which is how it remains.
Infest is about music, dressing up, and having a good time by dancing for hours to Alternative Electronic Music. It's the 10th Anniversary in August '07. Smashed and Cyber WILL BE THERE !!??!!
INFEST LINE-UPS.
'98. Alien Sex Fiend, Dust To Dust, Horatii, Leechwoman, Man(i)kin, Nekromantik, Passion Play, Sneaky Bat Machine, Squid, Ultraviolence.
'99. Fri. DJ Wars ; Bratcave Vs Deathstar Disco. Sat. Apoptygma Berserk, Faithful Dawn, Killing Miranda, Sneaky Bat Machine, Man(i)kin. Sun. Spahn Ranch, Inertia, Narcissus Pool.
'00. Fri. Ultraviolence, Synapscape. Sat. VNV Nation, Manuskript, MS Genteer, Intra Venus, Project X, Void Construct. Sun. In Strict Confidence, Dream Disciples, Imminent, Man(i)kin, Libitina
'01. Fri. Inertia, The Nine, Swarf. Sat. Suicide Commando, Beborn Betron, P.A.L. Leechwoman, Katscan, Illumina. Sun. Covenant, Dive, Icon Of Coil, Monolith, Goteki.
'02. Fri. XPQ-21, Psyche, Revolution By Night. Sat. Funker Vogt, Sonar, S.P.O.C.K. Winterkalte, Greenhaus, Synthetic. Sun. Mesh, Noisex, Welle : Erdball, Asche, Aslan Faction.
'03. Fri. Cut.Rate.Box, Scrap, Edx, Tarantella Serpentine. Sat. God Module, Needle Sharing, Seabound, Tarmurred, Culture Kulyur, Jesus Loves America. Sun. VNV Nation, Hypnoskull, (SITD), Resurrection Eve, Arkam Asylum.
'04. Fri. Lights Of Euphoria, Ah Cama-Sotz, Action Directe. Sat. Suicide Commando, Proyects Mirage, Plastic, Combichrist, Angel Theory, Skinflick. Sun. Assemblage 23, Converter, Spetsnaz, Mono No Aware, Silence Is Sexy.
'05. Fri. Fixmer/McCarthy, Powderpussy, Univaque. Sat. Covenant, Punch Inc. Decoded Feedback, HIV+, The Azoic, Tin Omen. Sun. Blutengel, KiEw, Iris, Final Selection, Deviant UK.
'06. Fri. Lab 4, Destroid, Schmoof. Sat. Rotersand Architect, Unter Null, Reaper, S.K.E.T. O.V.N.I. Sun. Front Line Assembly, Wai Pi Wai, Stromkern, Frozen Plasma, Autoclav 1.1
PROFILE OF JAY (DEVIANT UK).
How would you describe your sound ? Dark Electronic pop aimed at the Dancefloor ... with something Gothic going on in the mix. Deviant UK has been described recently as 'VNV Nation with Gary Numan providing vocals' ; I can live with that description.
How long have you been together ? I started writing songs for the first Album 'Barbed Wire Star' in Summer '04. I'm nearly done writing the 2nd one 'Very Bad Things'.
Who are your favourite Band of All-Time ? Gary Numan, Project Pitchfork, Rotersand, and Rammstein are all big favourites.
Favourite Drink ? Personally I don't drink (rest assured, I make up for it with far too many other vices) but my keyboard player BJ makes up for it with his intake of vodka - which is truly frightening.
Best Gig you have ever been to ? So many great ones but I don't think anyone can touch Rammstein for live shows. Outrageously good.
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ? Gary Numan 'The Pleasure Principle' or 'Telekon', Rammstein 'Mutter', Project Pitchfork 'Daimonian', VNV Nation 'Empires' and - if only to fit in with my image - Deviant UK 'Barbed Wire Star'.
Favourite 3 songs of All-Time ? That's a tough one ... Right now 'Are Friends Electric', 'Timekiller' and 'Space Oddity' spring to mind - but there are thousands.
Where would be your Dream Gig and who else would play ? Somewhere in Germany - maybe WGT - and any of the aforementioned Bands would be welcome.
Which Musician would you have to guest on your next Album ? Richard Kruspe or Matt Bellamy on Guitar. Krischan from rotersand would be the perfect Producer though. He is incredible.
Fantasy Date for a night out ? Believe me, you don't want to know anything about my Fantasy Date.
Was it really 6 months ago ... sometimes it goes quickly, sometimes slowly ; WGW is ALWAYS an eagerly anticipated weekend !! This was my 5th whitby, and it was onn the way there in April '04 that Max Rael stuck a CD through our Car window ....
6am Friday morning and Max is landing in London from his honeymoon in Thailand. 14 hours later and Guns are opening WGW in fine style ! As Craig said in his introduction, they deserved to be on the Stage in view of the number of free CD's they've given away over the past couple of years or so. A healthy sized crowd gathered down the front for a superb set whose highlights included 'Empty Eyes' and 'Obedient Servants'. Over the weekend lots of people were very positive about History Of Guns performance.
Next up were Swarf, who were also very good. Sounding a bit All About Eve ish (nothing wrong with that !!) vocalist Liz was particularly impressive. I was apparently down the front dancing with Gerbil, but I have to say I don't remember that ! ... too much Vodka !?! Although the Vodka probably helped me to enjoy the next band ; Misty. A trio with Dave Ball on one synth and an ex Psychic TV member on the other, the frontwoman certainly LOVED herself !! They were OK, and ended with a version of 'Sex Dwarf' - unfortunately Marc didn't appear ....
Headliners were Manuskript. They are WGW regulars, last playing in October '04. The vocalist has plenty of energy and their bouncy numbers go down well. 'It's A Sin' is a great encore !
The weather was amazingly good all weekend - incredible considering how it had been earlier in the week .... As usual it was GREAT to meet lots of (vaguely) familiar faces, and also a few new ones. I even discovered OtherWorld (from the Forum) was staying at the same B & B as us !! Saturday tea-time in The Resolution ; a woman (probably in her 50's) leans across and says "Excuse me, but just what is it you lot believe in ??" Well - I told her that this was a very good question, and started my reply ... an hour or so later Sarah had to get me to stop !?!
Saturday evening History Of Guns were playing the 'Overspill' event at the Met ... some of us were on the Guestlist. There wasn't a massive turnout, but again Del and the boys turned in a superb gig. Guns really are a top live band.
Max was then keen to get over to The Spa as they had a Rider over there -Lager, Guinness, Wine & Vodka apparently (but not any young, nubile Whitby Virgins ...). As we arrived Frankenstein were on ; they got a good reception but weren't my cup of tea. Sarah told me that the singer had a bin liner over his head !!! A few more drinks and Breath Of Life headlined. I found them pretty dreary, and thought they went on far too long.
The last hour at The Spa was Classic music ; 'Sanctuary' and 'Body Electric' got an airing ... and we finished off Guns rider !! It was another 2am walk up Prospect Hill ...
Once again The Goths lost in the highly entertaining Sunday afternoon Foolball match - 7-2 I think to the Gazette. Faith appeared to be still under the influence from her Party that had ended at 7am Sunday morning .....
Sexy Sunday at The Met was packed out and sSUPERB. The atmosphere is great and the dancefloor ALWAYS full. 'Love Like Blood' is of course played, along with The Sisters, The Damned and many, many more. It's probably the best Nite of WGW !! The drink flowed - wine & vodka - and the time just whizzed by. Before you know it it's 1am and time to go home.
Yet again another INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT Whitby Goth Weekend. The comedown starts when u get home ....
(Cyber) A.W.
A statement from sources friendly to Mr E in 1997 (note the year !!!).
'During 1997 The Sisters performed a series of blistering live performances at shows in Europe and in the UK, not to mention a vicious commando raid on American Rock sensibilities. Since then it has become apparent that the drought of new material may be coming to an end, that Eldritch's political manoeuvres against the awesome corporate inanity of eastWest will finally - and soon - see band and label parting company.
These are interesting and promising times for a band which has refysed to be swept under the carpet, despite being effectively 'on strike'. The public resurgance of The Sisters is promised next year with a "stonking" new Single and Album to follow.'
WELL, TEN YEARS LATER ..............
A.W.Goth in 2004 ; what's it all about ???
For both the young and the not so young Goth continues to mean something, whatever that may be ....
In many ways it is retro as - without wishing to sound TOO old (!?!) - the classic bands have been & gone, and the spine-tingling records have been made. Surely nobody can ever match The Sisters at their very peak. Around '83/'84 they had EVERYTHING. The songs, the live gigs, the image, the following. the best Goth records remain TRULY exhilirating. 'Temple Of Love' can be played at 1am at Whitby and the floor will be bouncing.
Siouxsie is still an icon, looking and sounding remarkably good after all these years. For me 'Juju' was a PIVOTAL Album ; "We are entranced, SPELLBOUND". Sure The Cult went bad ... but 'Sanctuary' still rocks as much as ever.
I can't see any of the current bands making records to match those. Remembering the first time I heard 'This Corrosion' on the radio ; what a comeback by Eldritch. The perennial 'Great Goth Debate' !! Last 'new' Album ; Vision Thing in 1990. THAT'S 14 YEARS AGO !!! INCREDIBLE ... I'd love to know what this man does in his day to day existance. Does anyone out there have any idea at all ?? If so please let me know.
The first time I saw The Sisters was on 24 May '84 at The Electric Ballroom, London (with Flesh For Lulu supporting). It cost me £3.50 to get in, I still have the ticket on which it's spelt The Sisters Of Mercey !! They were BLINDING.
I've seen them many times, the last being on 3rd Sept. 2000, at Rock City Nottingham. It cost me £20. It's the only time I've seen them when I haven't enjoyed it. I thought it was awful. I thought "What am I doing here ??"
In many ways I lost interest in things 'Gothic' after that for a while. It got me thinking back to what would I rate as my favourite Sisters gig, and I think I'd have to go for when I saw them at Aylesbury Friars on 2nd Nov. '84. If memory serves me correctly it was the Black October tour. They were absolutely blinding. I will now not see them again until they release a new Album - if they (he) ever do (does). Eldritch continually puts down the 'Goth' audience. Talk about biting the hand that feeds ....
The Mission remain a very good live band. It was them headlining that took me to the Whitby Goth Weekend in April '04. It's difficult to say how thoroughly enjoyable this weekend is. If you have any interest whatsoever in 'Goth', go to the next one and you will have a ball !! It truly isn't just about the bands (thank god as 2 of Oct. '04 headliners - Zodiac Mindwarp & Alien Sex Fiend - were DIRE). It's about the place, the people, the classic tracks they play between & after the bands ; just EVERYTHING.
It's not long until Whitby April '05. As Eldritch once sang ; "It's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away ..."
(Cyber) Andy W.
Birmingham Academy, 2.2.6.
We came to worship at the alter of Pete, Daniel, David and Kevin ... we had both hopes and fears ... Old Goths remain Old Goths because our memories of 'the great days' are so firmly etched on our hearts !! Not for no reason did Bauhaus become legends to us.
Would one evening over 20 years later ruin things forever ?? ... the hell it would !! Bauhaus were absolutely incredible. I couldn't have even faintly hoped that they would be this good !!!
There was no going through the motions ; they all looked like they were loving it. Classics such as 'Kick In The Eye', 'Dark Entries', and 'She's In Parties' had the crowd eating out of their hands. No one hour and we're gone job either ; no support, onstage at 8.35pm ... and finally finishing at around 10.25pm.
It was stunning. Daniel Ash - even with new 'Sputnik' style hairdo - remains the coolest of the cool. Pete was running round with the energy of someone half his age - only his 'bald patch' gave it away !! Shock horror headlines ; 'Goth Legend Is Losing His Hair ...'
With barely anyone under 30 in The Academy (an excellent venue) thoughts of all those years ago came flooding back ... now, just what did become of The Batcave ???
If the set was superb, the encores were even better. Storming back on with a cover of Joy Division's 'Transmission', then onto T Rex's 'Telegram Sam' and finally 'Ziggy'. As Pete put it "Daniel Ash played Guitar !!!" Returning yet again, of course it had to be 'Bela Lugosis Dead' - a true Goth Epic if ever there were one (and there are a few ....).
Oh my Goth I don't believe it, Bauhaus have never been this good before. Truly a magnificent evening.
9.5/10 ... well, they could have invited us backstage !?!
A.W.Burning From The Inside. In The Flat Field. God In An Alcove. In Fear Of Fear. Terror Couple Kill Colonel. Swing The Heartache. She's In Parties. Passion Of Lovers. Kick In The Eye. Hollow Hills. Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores. Stigmartyr Martyr. Hair Of The Dog. Dark Entries. All We Ever Wanted Was Everything. Severance. Transmission. Telegram Sam. Ziggy Stardust. Bela Lugosi's Dead.
Good weather, some decent bands, lots of nice people and a Very Sexy Sunday ! The October '05 WGW was a superb 3 days. The first surprise of the weekend was in The Resolution with the appearance of SmashedPete !! The Polar Bear had pulled in a favour (probably involving dodgy DVD's ...) and somehow found 'The Only Goth In Desborough' a ticket. Sales of John Smiths in Whitby wouldn't suffer after all .........
We arrived at The Spa on the Friday evening just as The Modern were coming on. Most certainly not a 'G' band, more influenced by 80's electropop, and all the better for that !! A bit Depechy in sound ; Sarah & I really enjoyed them as did most of the reasonably sized crowd in the hall.
It was noticeable this time that the foyer was nowhere near as packed as previously. Following the ticket fiasco of April '05 (when too many tickets were sold !) less were available this time, and they sold out very quickly.
Katscan and Mechanical Cabaret followed - both sounding pretty good. Much debate on the WGW Website Forum had followed the announcement that Dr & The Medics would be headlining ...
As it turned out they stormed it !! The Doctor is a great frontman, and the band soon had the large crowd jumping. Their set was almost entirely covers - they did play their own song 'Burn' !! - and what covers they were. 'White Wedding', 'Teenage Kicks', and 'Black Night' to name but a few. Of course 'Spirit In The Sky' got an airing !! 'Born To Be Wild' was great and they finished with 'Paranoid'. Everyone that I spoke to over the weekend had really enjoyed them.
Saturday lunchtime and some light refreshment was taken in The Pier Pub. We got chatting to a few ladies from Barnsley who were in Whitby for the day. Their coach was leaving at midnight - it was now 2pm and the woman I was talking to appeared to be well under the influence already !! I wonder what she was like 10 hours later ??
After food and wine in The Resolution we saw Deathboy (no, not SmashedPete, but a band at the Spa !!). I liked them - quite E.B.M.ish. Rico also entertained.
Top of the bill tonite were N.F.D. Apparently they'd played London the previous evening, and Bob had fallen into the audience !?! Compere Craig introduced them as 'No Falling Down' tonight Bob ....
You have to say that they sound like Fields ! Plenty of big riffs, atmospherics and growling vocals. I thought they were excellent ; Sarah hated them !?! They have a new Album out soon (their 2nd). The first is called 'No Love Lost'. 'Break The Silence' was epic. Can any Goth song possibly go on too long ?? .. Of course not !!!
At the end of the set Bob informed us in his own unique way that they wouldn't bother going off and returning again. They'd just stay where they were ! Perhaps he was struggling to move at this stage !?! 'Psychonaut' (awesome) and 'Moonchild' (classic) were performed to great acclaim. N.F.D. are as 'Goth' as they come.
Sarah was still hoping that Jayne Loves Jezebel would put in an appearance, but by 1am it was time to go home.
Sunday morning saw a quick trip to Boggle Hole. No, not the toilet Pete was using but a place a few miles from Whitby. It rained a bit, but soon the sun was out again. Overall the weather was fantastic, more like the summer than end of October.
The football match kicked off at 2pm. Well, The Goths ("Who's The Goth In The BLACK ??") were hammered 10 - 0 by Whitby Gazette. The Ref (NOT wearing black ...) even awarded a dodgy Penalty in the last minute, which a Goth hit against the bar !! The 'away' support was excellent, and lots of humerous comments abounded ("The Goths will play better when it gets dark !!). Best moment ; an American Gothette jumping the barrier at the end, her heel sticks in the mud and she went straight down. A 'Goth Lies In The Flat Field' incident if ever there was one !?!
It has been said that Sexy Sunday is the best night in Whitby. Well, I wouldn't disagree. I arrived at 8.30pm and it was already pretty full in The Met. A few Smirnoff Ices later and it was heaving. There were plenty of great outfits, and it was Tranny City !?! The DJ's played a great mix of Goth, EBM and 'others'. Thus 'Girls On Film' sat next to 'Temple Of Love', 'Personal Jesus' and 'Strict Machine'. The Dancefloor was full all evening. They even played 'Love Like Blood' twice !! Well, you just can't beat that .....
1am came round amazingly quickly, and The Goths left in a state of contented happiness ! Yes, Goths aren't always miserable. Shock, horror .....
It had been a tremendous Weekend, and it all happens again in just under 6 months !
A.W.
HISTORY OF GUNS. The Doctors Tonic, Welwyn Garden City. 4 June '05.
On a dark night in the middle of WGC ; from the road to Whitby to the road to nowhere. Promises of light at the end of a very dark tunnel - History Of Guns 2005 World Tour finishes in fine style. 45 minutes of post gothic industrial noise terrorism fly by in a flash (of light). Vocalist Del, when not demanding more beer, growls away ; those deep vocals reaching for both excess and escape at the same time.
The excitement is obviously getting to Max Rael - he goes topless at one stage. Perhaps not such a good idea ! Standout tracks are 'Secret Garden' (very Sisters/Fields/Bauhaus-ish) and the closing 'Your Obedient Servants'. Guns believe all art should be free, and back this up by giving away plenty of CD's - although they're more than happy to receive cheques made payable to ........
Over 20 years of Gothic Evolution have led to this noise that is before us now, in our heads, hearts and ears. If Jesus ever did truly love The Sisters, then surely God will punish these boys ! History Of Guns ; They're Gonna Blow Your Brains Out !?!
Cyber(Mad)Andy. For More Info go to www.historyofguns.com.
NFD.
Man On The Moon, Cambridge. (10.11.04.)
Is it possible to write about NFD without mentioning you-know-who ?? No - of course it isn't ...
The axis of NFD (Noise For Destruction) is Peter 'Bob' White, Simon Rippin and Tony Pettit. Bob used to sing with Sensorium, Simon drummed with The Nephilim. Thier debut release was Break THe Silence EP in Sept. '03. Since then they've been recording an Album (which has just been released) and playing some gigs, including Zillo & Dark City.
Quite why they're playing a venue as small as Man On The Moon is a mystery ; it's the first time myself & Smashedpete have been there. Great place to see a band ; you can sit down with a Pint of IPA (or was it Speckled Hen ??) and feel as though you are up onstage !! To get into the venue - a pub backroom - you go through a door marked Ladies Toilets ....
First up were local trio Rome Burns. Technical problems dogged their set ("Where's the bass gone ??") but they battled on and seemed very reasonable. No deep vocals for this lot !!
Whilst Rome Burned NFD vocalist Bob wandered around, walking into tables and generally appearing very unsteady on his feet (he has said that "NFD are a band that like to party hard .."). Not a man to argue with, incredibly Smashedpete managed to get involved in some sort of 'debate' with Bob in the Gents !!
The room isn't packed, but a fair few are present as the headliners take to the 'stage'. Augmented by 2 Guitarists, there's hardly room for the band to move. Immediately Bob's vocal growl reminds you of Carl. Those deep vocals around a great guitar sound.
The crowd soon get into it, and NFD are very impressive. If you like 'Goth' then it's highly likely you will like these boys. The set flies by ; much sounding Neph-ish, but with their own distinct style. A positive sign was that the crowd are drawn in, rather than wandering to the bar. A couple of Fields classics are thrown in at the end, and much dancing ensues.
This appears to be a band that's more than capable of standing on it's own feet ; I look forward to hearing the Album and seeing them live again ... Whitby '05 maybe ??
CyberAndy W.
WHITBY GOTH WEEKEND
April '05.
As Aha once sang "The Sun Always Shines On Whit-bee ..." Having spent the Thursday night with a couple of Urban Goths Sarah & I awoke in the place that is North Dalton to find ... that we couldn't find the car keys !! Was this the start of the downward spiral ?? 10 minutes of panic ended when the keys turned up !
Mid morning Friday and we were on our way. A short stop at Boggle Hole (yes ... Boggle Hole) and by lunchtime we had Whitby in our sights. Having checked in, picked up our wristbands and tag from the Pavilion the first pint tasted very nice.
There was no sign of SmashedPete or The Polar Bear anywhere ...
Our 2nd 'Psychiatric Nurses And Similar Nutters' Meet-Up was set for 4pm. Well, it was a great turn out but unfortunately Sarah & I were around an hour late (well, you know how long it takes the ladies to get ready ...). Apparently I already had an impersonator in Whitby ; Del from History Of Guns was pretending to be me at the Meet-Up !! It had turned into a 'Mini Forum Meeting', and obviously the excitement had taken it's toll on Faithais - she looked ready for bed. It was good to put faces to many of the names of Forum users.
Had the big game hunters got The Polar Bear ?? ... apparently he was still stuck in the traffic.
A lovely curry, then off to the Spa. Screaming Banshee Aircrew were already under way, and Neil had arrived & was enjoying them. As I've said before (is there anything I have left to say that I haven't said before ??) Whitby isn't just about the bands. This weekend totally illustrated this point. I thought the bands that played were incredibly average.
After The Aircrew it was Psychophile, Voltaire then Gene Loves Jezebel. I was hoping GLJ would be good, but found them totally uninspiring. They reminded me of a pub band !!
Lots of good music was played (as always) between bands, and despite her boots Sarah managed to hold her own on the dancefloor until the Cyber-beats kicked in at around 1.15am. 'Those boots weren't made for walking' ... but Sarah somehow managed to get up the hill back to the b & b !!
Saturday was again bright and sunny. A few items were purchased during the shopping, then a reviving pint in the Met was just right. The Forum Meet-Up was at 2pm in the tea-rooms, but by 1.55pm it was jam (sic) packed and we gave it a miss (was anyone brave enough to put some of The Polar Bears legendary double clotted cream on their scones ??).
Neon Zoo were doing a free gig in The Resolution at 3pm. It was again very full. I managed to find Gerbil and exchange a tenner for 'Names Are For Tombstones Baby' (a book on The Mission that I'd been after for years).
A quick trip to get changed, then back to The Resolution for a superb chicken & chips with a bottle of wine. Plenty of familiar faces were around the Spa foyer, and Neil & I did a whistle stop photo session (how Neil loved having his picture taken with the Goth Babes ...).
A few JD's went down rather well - much better than Queen Adreena or In The Nursery. Sarah & I had great fun trying to spot the men dressed as women ... and there were plenty !
As soon as The Nursery finished it was time to once more hit the floor for an hour and a half of Goth Classics. sarah's boots were better tonite, and we danced away to the likes of 'Love Cats', 'Sanctuary' & 'Dominion'. Great stuff !!
1.30am soon came round, the time speeds by. It's so easy to lose your mates at Whitby ; on the way back to base we bumped into someone looking for Billy !!
Sunday morning saw a trip up the 199 steps to the Abbey, a few photos and chats with people ... then time to hit the road. Once again CyberAndy had had a cracking WGW, as had Sarah (who was experiencing the 'full' event for the first time). In October the 80's night at Sexy Sunday beckons !!
A.W.
P.S. This week Sarah's arms have been aching ... that's what approx. 2 hours+ of Goth dancing does to you !!
WHITBY GOTH WEEKEND ; OCT. '04.
Whitby has to be one of my very favourite places, and it's a great feeling as the town comes into view from a few miles away. Suddenly after weeks of anticipation The Goth Weekender is here ; time to crank up the car stereo a bit more and make sure The Sisters are blasting out ...
'And the world, the world drags me down' as Ian Astbury once sang. Here you can escape everything and it really doesn't matter what day it is. Whitby for these 2 or 3 days is about the whole experience - the people, the music, the bands, the pubs.
The Pavilion is the ideal setting. A large foyer area where you can talk without getting a sore throat, and the hall for dancing the nite away. This time it was 3 nights ... and we (or some of us) made it until the 1.30am finish every time. "Old(er) Goths Keep Going Until The Bitter End !"
Thursday we saw Corrosion, who sounded quite good then The Last Dance ; very impressive. James Rays Gangwar were due to headline but for some reason couldn't make it (was James too busy stroking Andrew Eldritch's ego ???). Manuskript stepped in at the last minute ... and played a belter ! Full of energy and verve, they were probably my favourites of the whole weekend.
It was 3am (eternal) before we got our heads down on the very comfy pillows, although Smashedpete did say he'd once rested his head on more comfortable ones ...
Friday was big boots day. Andy was a good 5 inches taller in his Uberboots, and Pete weighed at least a stone more in his !?! Via the superb WGW Website we had arranged a Psychiatric Nurses Meet-Up for Friday 3pm (Question Of The Day ; "This may sound a strange thing to say, but Are You A Psychiatric Nurse ??"). A good time was had by all who attended at The Resolution, and some non Psych. Nurses joined in also ; one of whom had played golf with Nick Faldo (very impressive ...). Pete spent most of his time saying "I'm sure that's Tonipot over there !". We had a good chat with Faithais, who seemed to be greatly enjoying herself (that's a bit of an understatement !).
Stars of the evening were The Claytown Troupe. They were playing their first gig for 12 years, and received an excellent reception. The singer gave plenty of chat, telling tales of hiding in Joe Strummers dressing room for hours many years ago. Zodiac Mindwarp headlined, and were very average. The opening 'High Priest Of Love' (apparently written about 'Our Neil') was OK, as was the closing 'Prime Mover' (rumour has it this one was about 'Cornish Trev' going to the Kebab Shop). The rest was much of a muchness. Somehow they got a reprise ; well, it has to be the worst encore I have EVER seen !! An 'epic' neverending guitar solo ... then someone on stage uttered the immortal words "Now for the drum solo ..."
Incredibly (how much had she had to drink ?!?) Helen, one of the girls we met at The Meet-Up, thought this was all brilliant !! I thought I must have been hallucinating the whole thing ...
As ever the music between & after the bands was superb. Friday ranged from The Sisters to Bauhaus to Fields. Hey (now, hey now now), you can't argue with that ! At some stage there was a minutes silence in the hall for John Peel, and the evening was brought to a rousing climax with lots of jumping around to 'Teenage Kicks'. 'Those Teenage Dreams, So Hard To Beat !!"
All that 'dancing' had made Pete hungry, so he managed a large Pizza on the way home. We passed a passed out Goth lying on the path looking very much the worse for wear - either that or he was examining the pavement closely looking for traces of Neil's legendary Whitby Clotted Cream !
Was Smashedpete's age catching up with him ?? The Goth Incontinence Pads had sorted one problem, now his back was starting to hurt. Did those weighty boots have anything to do with it ...
Whatever ; he didn't make it for his Saturday fry-up .... (Cyber) Andy did, only to be told how awful he looked !! Where's the sympathy when you need it most ?
On a few occasions already we'd bumped into our old friend Robert from Manchester. I had visited that City in the summer of '04 to see the magnificent, the mighty, The Cure. They were SUPERB (etc. blah blah blah Robert Smith is GOD etc etc).
Well Robert had an amazing tale to tell of queueing up at Ticketmaster a couple of days before the gig to get his ticket .... only for Robert Smith to be standing behind him in the queue !!??!! Le God was picking up 40 or so tickets for his friends. What a moment ...
A nice Chicken Jalfrezi in The Resolution (nice meals at nice prices !!) and a couple of Stellas started the evening off in fine style. First up at The Spa for us were Glass, who sounded reasonable. A bit of chat & a few JD's then it was ASF (Alien Sex Fiend).
Nik Fiend looked like Smashedpete the morning after the nite before ! His wife (Nik's, not Pete's l Pete has no wife ..) was on Synthisizers and some very fat chap in a mask (obviously for his cred he didn't want to be recognised later !) was on guitar.
The Fiends were DESPERATE ; desperately in need of a good tune or two !?! On many, many occasions I've been told that I can't sing ... and I have enough insight to know that I can't sing ! BUT I could sing as well as Mr Fiend.
Some hardcore ASFers at the front lapped it up. I made a heroic effort to get my hands on Nik's giant banana, but failed dismally. Finding myself near to the front I stayed there for 'Ignore The Machine' which was at least recognisable.
E.S.T. ;Extra Singing Tuition required !!!!
No sooner had The Fiends gone back to their coffins than the classic opening bars of 'Sanctuary' were beating out. The floor was full, arms were in the air and we were treated to 75 minutes of Goth Heaven. 'Love Cats', 'Tower Of Strength', 'Temple Of Love' to name but a few, all ending magnificently with Bauhaus and 'Ziggy Stardust'.
It was all over. We's not only survived, but had a GREAT time. Whitby Goth weekend ; the people, the places, the alcohol, the music ........
IN GOTH WE TRUST ; WHITBY we will be back in April 2005.
(Cyber) Andy W.
'TWO WORLDS AND INBETWEEN'
Whitby Goth Weekend April '04.
Weekend of the year ? ; of the Decade more like .... Just where to start ?? Too many moments, too many pints, too many Jack Daniels ... but no fake tan to be seen anywhere !! The time just zoomed by through the sodium haze.
From having a CD given to us through the sunroof whilst stuck on the A1 (House Of Guns - 'Goth Trance'), to Pete 'The Desborough Goth' Wilford stating "It's back to reality now" as we arrived back in Northants on the Sunday evening.
If you've never been to this event then you just don't know what you're missing !?!
"I thought Goths didn't know how to have fun" as Dave Vanian said at the end of a riotous Damned set on the Friday eve. It was at about this time that Pete decided to join the good Captain Sensible - and some rather dubiously dressed Nuns - onstage for the encore of 'Smash It Up' (surely a song written about Desborough). Yes, you did read that correctly ; Pete was having it large and jumping around like a CRAZY MAN.
The bands were excellent - Zombina & The Skeletones and Earth Loop Recall supported The Damned - but this event is about the whole shebang !! Lots of Gothing during the day (apparently somewhere in Whitby there was Gothic Line Dancing going on - all hands in the air !), and then raving until 2am.
Our (dark) entry into the metropolis that is Whitby was accompanied by the sound of 'This Corrosion' blasting from the car stereo. Neil insisted on a quick trip around the town. It soon became obvious that plenty of Goths had landed already ; more black than in a Coal Mine ...
We docked at our Hotel ; Neil and Rachel popped off for a quick chat, and Pete & I found a nice pub. The locals were incredibly friendly, as was Neil. He regularly insisted that Rachel should accept his clotted cream ....
The John Smiths was going down a treat for Pete. On at least one occasion later in the eve he went to the bar - and by the time he reached me again had not only drunk his drink, but MINE AS WELL !! I managed to get into a heated debate with a couple of people over Mr E and the fact that 14 years was far too long to leave it between Albums (even The Stoned Roses didn't take that long !). Amazingly at 2.30am Pete & I managed to sniff out a kebab shop that was open. Just the job ....
All of the excitement had obviously taken it's toll on Pete (or was it seeing Neil in that Mesh top ??). 8.40am Saturday morning - and he misses the toothbrush with the toothpaste. Time for a nice full fried breakfast. Well ... Rachel, Neil & I all finished ours !!
A couple of 'swift ones' at lunchtime settled things down, then it was off to The Elsinor to try and spot that rarest of species ; no, not a ginger Goth, but The Urban Goth !! Mr Wilford got excited when he spotted Gail Porter standing outside, but this turned out to be Zelda Warrior Princess.
After a few Pints (or cokes in Graham 'D.V.' Rogersons case - no Double Vodkas for Graham today ...) we went to a lovely Restayrant for fish, chips & MUSHY PEAS - with a pot of tea !! Whilst enjoying this (although Pete had presumed it would be John Smiths in the pot) our Mobile went. It was Neil. He was outside of The Spa ... with Rachel and Wayne Hussey !! Apparently Neil was desperate to offload some of his clotted cream on Mr Huss - but Rachel persuaded him a photo would suffice !!
The 'Urban Goths' had to depart for home ; apparently U.G's never go out after dark. Once again we headed for the sanctuary of Whitby Pavilion ...
Libitina were first on - although people were already dancing in the hall at 7.45pm before they came on !! The Libs rocked like real Goths - all Sisters-ish riffs. They finished with a great cover of the Pulp classic 'Common People', changing the lyrics round to 'I want To Live Like Gothic People.' Inspired !!
The Dream Disciples are playing their last ever gig, and go down a storm.
The disco (DJ Scary Lady Sarah) is superb. Varying from Cyber to Uber to Trad & back again !! A bassed up version of 'Bedsitter' mixes with newer stuff, and when 'Rain' by The Cult kicks in suddenly it's 1985 (or 1969) all over again !
For The Mission it's a home banker ; Arsenal v Wolves !! They can't go wrong ... all the classics are aired. We even get a minute or so of 'Like A Hurricane' during 'Wasteland' (surely another tune about Desborough ...).
Mr H remains a star. This is the last nite of their tour. After thanking the crew etc. he simply says "I Just Love This Band !" They finish off with the mighty 'Tower Of Strength'. The Goths are still going strong, and there is much dancefloor activity until the lights eventually come on at around 2am.
Somehow most peoples nail varnish & eyeliner stayed intact for the duration ...
Sunday was again glorious weather. We took in the town and the Abbey (Pete refused to cut himself on a Gravestone, even though this would have made a great photo !). We all had a SUPERB time - including Robert, a guy we met at the Hotel who was over from Manchester for the weekend.
WHITBY - WE WILL BE BACK !! ... let's hope it's Suicide Commando playing in '05.
A.W.
PS. We strongly recommend that if u go to this event you stay in a Cottage or Hotel - not In The Flat Field !!
THE CURE.
It's sometimes easy to take things for granted. Your favourite shirt or pair of boots. They are always there ready to put on. A bit like The Cure really ; they've been around for so long you can forget just how good they are.
How many times has Robert Smith said "This will be our last Album" ; thankfully he then does a tour, then gets on with the next Album ... He continues to come up with great stuff time after time. On of my most treasured records is the signed copy of 'Disintegration' I have tucked away upstairs ...
Their 2004 offering, called simply 'The Cure' is undoubtedly a classic. "If you don't like this record then you don't like The Cure" as Mr Smith said in an interview. A true English eccentric, Fat Bob looks much the same now as 15 years ago. Hair all over the place with style and dressed in black - even if he has put on a few more pounds as time has gone by !
At last The Cure are getting the artistic recognition that they deserve. A whole generation of new bands such as The Rapture are acknowledging & saluting them. As with all of the really great bands, The Cure work on many levels. They're like life ; we all get down at times ... what better soundtrack than 'Pornography' ? Feeling bright and breezy ; 'Love Cats' or 'Friday I'm In Love' are hard to beat !
I saw The Cure in the summer of '04 headlining Move Festival in Manchester. They were superb. In many ways it wasn't a 'stadium' set they played - not just a run through of greatest hits. It was a set for hardcore Cure fans. Tracks from all eras were played. Standouts for me were 'A Hundred Years', 'Inbetween Days' & 'Boys Don't Cry'.
The Cure won't be around forever, but let's hope it's a while yet before Bob settles into his Retirement Home !!
Cyber A.W.THE SISTERS OF MERCY + FLESH FOR LULU.
Camden Electric Ballroom.
24 May '84.The Sisters are back !
After a break from the scene they're as powerful as ever - if not more so. Their first London gig for over 6 months drew a healthy crowd. Lots of black velvet and leather. Expectation was high ... and we weren't let down.
Flesh For Lulu are a four piece with a completely over the top guitarist. He is like a cross between Keith Richards, Marc Almond and Joey Ramone !?! Most of his time is spent bounding around the stage, flicking cigarettes into the crowd, trying to keep his hair out of his eyes and generally preening himself ! They played a fairly long set. Despite a few sound problems Lulu were impressive - especially on a couple where they slowed the pace down. Definately a group to listen out for in the future.
And so the long wait began ...
At approx. 11pm The Sisters at last emerged through the sodium haze and launched into a ferocious racket. The dancefloor was immediately abuzz with flailing arms !! The sound was excellent, as was the light show. Resplendent in black, the beat was totally relentless.
A mixture of old and new material was played. A frenzy was reached with 'Floorshow' and 'Alice'. Smoke filled the stage, Eldritch cutting a shadowy figure in the gloom. They played for around an hour, then did 2 encores. Stunning stuff indeed.
Watch out world, The Sisters are back on form ....
A.W.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
London Forum.
18 April '03.Another year ... another tour. 13 years since the last new Album, almost 10 years since the last Single. Yet HE can still pack a fair sized London venue two nights running.
As much smoke (very purple) as you could wish for. Eldritch in black T-Shirt and leather jacket ; by the end he was wearing a 'People's Republic Of West Yorkshire' shirt ! 'Temple Of Love' opens proceedings and still - as Tony James once said - "rocks like a motherfucker."
Unreleased stuff accounts for around a third of the set ; at least over the years we've come to know the songs. 'Will I Dream ?' was in there, along with new song 'Slept' ("Turn me on, turn me in - I have slept with all the girls in Berlin.").
'Alice' was superb as was 'Lucretia'. 'Flood 1' desperately beautiful, and 'Giving Ground' transformed into a throbbing industrial stormer. Eldritch appears to be enjoying himself. Encores follow - 'Top Nite Out' indeed ! The last song of the night is that old rock classic 'Vision Thing'.
A few blown kisses, a low bow - and Von is gone into the murky blackness. All in all a fine performance. The band have clearly benefited from being together for 4 years (a lifetime in terms of The Sisters) ; now when is that new Album being released ......
Setlist. Temple Of Love. Crash And Burn. Ribbons. When You Don't See Me. Summer. Alice. Flood 1. We Are The Same Suzanne. Dominion/Mother Russia. Will I Dream ? Anaconda. Slept. Giving Ground. First And Last And Always. Romeo Down. Flood 2. I Was Wrong. Neverland. Lucretia. Top Nite Out. Vision Thing.
"THE SISTERS - THE START OF IT ALL..."
I had moved to Leeds to learn Chinese and I was living above the chemist
with Claire and Spiggy the cat. One day I dared to set up the drum kit which
someone had stored in the cellar.
I still can't play the drums but at least I was the only drummer in town who
could be relied upon to avoid anything complicated.Gary Marx and I knew each other from the F Club. He was a big fan of The
Fall, I was a big fan of Pere Ubu, and we both loved The Stooges.
Gary had no money and no equipment, but wanted to hear himself on the
radio. We pressed a few thousand copies, and sold a few. Even at the time it
was hard to get hold of - and even harder to listen to. That should have been
the end of it, but ...We hooked up with Craig Adams, probably because he too lived over the
chemists. He was a big fan of Hawkwind and Motorhead, and he had this
bass sound that suddenly defined The Sisters - along with the drum machine
that we brought because we all loved Suicide.
Everybody loved Suicide. The drum machine became Doktor Avalanche. Gary
became a guitar player and I became the singer almost by default.I think we spent the next few years in the back of a van. When it wasn't
parked above the chemist we were making the loudest noise possible in some
of england's most disgusting clubs. we still had no money and no equipment
- almost everything went on making the next gig louder than the last.I like to think that it was the songs that made this band. I know it wasn't !
We used a lot of smoke, very few lights, stepped right back and just made a
space where you could lose yourself (but more probably find yourself) in a tide
of colour and noise.It sounds simple, but no-one that wanted to be a rock n roll star could have
done it. Apart from anything else, it took a long time and burned more than a
few people out.The records were never supposed to reflect that experience - it's a different
medium and one we're still learning. Maybe some of it comes through.Anyway, in those first 4 years, when we had the money (and often when we
didn't) we would drop in on Kenny Giles in Bridlington. He had an eight track
and he was the only person who would help us make records the way we
wanted. Thanks ken.They may not sound like anybody else's, they may not even sound like
records - but we loved them !
For what it's worth.ANDREW ELDRITCH.
1992.
'THE CORPORATE WARS - NO GIVING GROUND'. Events following The Sisters gig at The Royal Albert Hall on June 18 1985 have passed into folklore....
It seems that Wayne Hussey joined Eldritch in Hamburg, where the singerhad set up home to recuperate from his breakdown and keep himself from temptation. The pair began writing songs for the next Sisters LP. Hussey says that Eldritch rejected all of his ideas and had turned into some sort of unreasonable megalomaniac (surely not ...).
Matters came to a head during rehearsals when Eldritch apparently asked the band to play something fancy that Craig Adams took exception to. He walked out and Eldritch is reported to have exclaimed "Ha! We've got rid of the driftwood !" This annoyed Hussey and a couple of days later he too walked out, leaving Eldritch alone with the ever faithful Doktor. "He was listening to things like Fleetwood Mac and Foreigner and there was us listening to Motorhead" says Hussey of their musical differences. Hussey and Adams quickly recruited Mick Brown and Simon Hinkler and, after trying to play as The Sisters Of Mercy and realising that there could be a legal problem, changed their name to The Sisterhood.
They played a 'secret' gig at Alice In Wonderland in January '86 and recorded a BBC session. Within 3 weeks they were on tour, supporting The Cult around Europe, playing a set comprising of the songs that Hussey had written for the sisters' LP. They hadn't, however, figured on Eldritch's acrimony !
He was bitter and angry because he claimed that The Sisterhood was already the name of The Sisters Of Mercy's semi-official fan club - and he set about stopping Hussey in his tracks.
He issued many statements, one of which read "It saddens us that former associates should feel compelled to seek refuge behind the very identity for which they are no longer prepared to accept responsibility and from which they claim to have distanced themselves. Out respect for what ex-group members are capable of achieving in their own right in the future demands that we act to stop this pitiful masquerade."
He went about it simply by releasing his own record as The Sisterhood. 'Giving Ground' comprised of 'The musical bile of Andrew Eldritch and the colossal talents of James Ray And The Performance'. On February 27 1986, onstage at the Electric Ballroom, Hussey was forced to admit defeat. He announced that "Thanks to Andrew Eldritch, we are no longer called The Sisterhood" - whereupon a backdrop lit up with the band's new name ; The Mission.
Eldritch replied "It is apparent that Wayne and Craig have concluded that bands issue records, not disclaimers and appear in concert halls, not court rooms. Their logic is unassailable. We assume that their choice of name is entirely unconnected with the forthcoming Andrew Eldritch album which for some months has had the working title 'Left On Mission And Revenge'."
Legally there were still wrangles over past Sisters material, the rights to which Eldritch eventually won. Eldritch rubbed salt into the wounds by releasing a 6 track Sisterhood LP, 'The Gift' - a brutal, psychopathic bitter work featuring Suicide's Alan Vega, the ex-Motorhead drummer Lucas Fox and Patricia Morrison (lately of The Gun Club). The first words on the record were 'Two Five Zero Zero Zero', apparently the ammount of money that Eldritch made out of The Mission trying to be The Sisterhood !
A.W.
Is this really what happened ?? If you know different - or would like to express an opinion, then let us know at andy147dj@ntlworld.com.
SISTERS OF MERCY.
Rock City, Nottingham.
2nd September '00.SETLIST.
Intro.
Anaconda.
Train.
Detonation Boulevard.
Ribbons.
On The Wire/Teachers/On The Wire.
Dominion.
Summer
Giving Ground.
Crash And Burn.
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen.
Will I Dream ?
We Are The Same, Suzanne.
Romeo Down.
Flood I.
War On Drugs.
Alice.
Temple Of Love.
------------------------Something Fast.
Flood II
------------------------Snub Nose.
Vision Thing.
THE SISTERS OF MERCY.
Bonn, Germany.
23 June '01.
The chance to see The Sisters in Germany !
Who could resist ?!?
At around 8.20 local time Andy & the boys appeared, and it was
straight into
'Vision Thing'. 'Ribbons' (Marx and Engels, God and Angels)
soon
followed and Eldritch's voice was sounding in fine fettle.
He appeared to be in good mood (at one stage saying "You are nice" to
the
audience). Even the T-Shirt was colourful - not goth, or wot !!
The set continued apace ... 'Summer' was blinding, 'Giving Ground' as
dark as
ever and 'War On Drugs' was like a pneumatic drill in your
head
. Things were brought to a suitable climax with the one and only 'This
Corrosion' ; Hey Now, Hey Now Now ...
Encores followed, with 'Something Fast' and a mighty 'Temple Of
Love'
showcasing Adam Pearson and Chris Sheehan to the full.
2 'new'
cover versions ('Sugar Baby Love' and The Ramones 'I Wanna Be
Sedated')
rounded things off superbly.
The Sisters are back once again - surely a new album MUST follow soon !
SONGS PLAYED INCLUDED ;
Vision Thing, Ribbons, Crash and Burn,
Amphetamine Logic, Will I Dream, On The Wire/Teachers/On the Wire,
Summer, Flood 1, Anaconda, Dominion, We Are The Same Suzanne, Giving
Ground, War On Drugs, Romeo Down, Flood 2, This Corrosion,
Something Fast,
Temple Of Love, Snub Nose, Sugar Baby Love, I
Wanna Be Sedated.
Andy 'Von' Webster.
'RESURRECTION'
THE MISSION.
Roadmenders, Northampton.
4 December '00.
AWESOME !! ... well, that's that then ...
"They don't write songs like that anymore" Wayne Hussey once said. At
Northampton his most used phrase was "Do you want another oldie
then ?"
Was he, however, refering to the tunes or the audience's age ?!?
After all these years it's great to be able to report that The Mission
remain
(forever) 'up there' as one of the great live bands.
I first saw them a mind-crunching 14+ years ago (to be exact it was
on the
24th November '86 at the Civic Centre, Aylesbury with the wonderous
Rose Of Avalanche supporting - and have seen them 7 times since).
This was as good as ever, if not better ! Nearly every song played
was a
highlight - standouts had to be 'Butterfly On A Wheel', 'Beyond The
Pale', 'Severina' and 'Tower Of Strength'.
The healthy sized crowd (including a fair number of under 30's !!)
loved it. Mr
Hussey is still pretty sprightly, and wore a fetching velvet
shirt. This
was especially appreciated by the female members of the
audience.
The encores were almost a set in themselves - incredible !
'Wasteland' was followed by 'Serpent's Kiss' and 'Over The Hills And Far
Away'. A storming 'Blood Brother' rattled along, and you'd think that
was
probably it ... but no !!
Next up was a Depeche Mode (??) cover, only to lead into the opening
chords
of the Neil Young classic 'Like A Hurricane' (always my favourite
Mission
cover) ... Goth Heaven !! Surely it must be all over, only for a
belting version of The Stooges '1969' to
top things off.
The Mission are well and truly back (were they ever away ??). Don't
miss
them next time round ...
A.W.
Related Website.
www.themissionuk.com
This review has been sent to us from America (? author & ? date of gig !).
THE SISTERS OF MERCY,
Electric Factory, Philadelphia.I've seen Andrew Eldritch as a blond wearing a Motorhead T-shirt and
covering Pink Floyd.
I can die now !The 3600 capacity venue was sold out for The Sisters first show in the U.S.
since '91.
Appartenly Eldritch had prevented 2 of the support bands from playing as they
looked "too goth" and claimed that from now on he wants to be referred to as
an "Industrial Alternative" act.The Sisters had a long intro before launching into 'Vision Thing'. With his hair,
round and purple shades and jacket, Andrew appeared very reminiscent of
David Bowie.His voice was extremely gravely as he sang "25 whores in the room next
door". Then he cleared his throat !
The thrill hit. When hearing that all-too familiar voice merged with seeing this
man on stage, the rush came.For many of us, this was the holy grail of gigs - and we knew it.
The lights were stunning. A wall of dozens of individual sweeping lights
towered behind the band, programmed specifically for each song. "One
thousand points of light" Andrew sang, and thin white beams flashed around
wildly. "One blinding flash of sense" and bright white light lit up the whole
crowd.'Ribbons' was next, and the lights were red, like flowers on a razor wire. The
audience consisted of row after row of bodies swathed in black, white faces
bathed in blood red light !The voice was the voice of Andrew Eldritch - the impossibly deep bass with a
hint of tears that has inspired so many imitators. He emoted dramatically and
passionately, crouching about the stage at times. He still sang about black
winds calling his name no more. Smoke was everywhere.Some new songs were performed - but they could have appeared on the
'Vision Thing' album. Any desire to be known as 'Industrial Alternative' has
clearly not changed the music."We are The Sisters Of Mercy" he said, "and we are a rock and roll band."
Whatever he wants to call himself, we are still his children. He can hate us if
he wants, but he shares our blood !The set included 'Temple Of Love', 'The Giving Ground', 'Under The Gun',
'Flood', 'Detonation Boulevard', and 'Alice'.
There were 2 encores - 'Comfortably Numb' seguing into 'Some Kind Of
Stranger' then 'Something Fast' and ending with 'This Corrosion'.We had come all the way from Detroit - some from even further.
It's hard to keep from loving the man who raised you, even when you've been
disowned !?!
'OVERBOMBING'
THE SISTERS OF MERCY Brixton Academy, 20.12.93.
The Sisters took to the stage to the perfect choice of opener ; a bombastic, smouldering Comfortably Numb/Some Kind Of Stranger - with Eldritch immediately finding his full gravel throated magnificence. Thankfully he wasn't wearing his Cowardesque yellow dressing gown !!
The pension book wrinklies in the crowd (or those with 'Some Girls Wander'...) were thrilled to hear Body Electric, Alice, Burn, Temple Of Love and Anaconda - the latter with a new improved chorus.
Other songs similarily updated in a pitifully doomed attempt to disguise the lack of new material from Europe's most prolific songwriter were Train and Detonation Boulevard (strange bedfellows indeed for a new segue). There was also a radical reworking of one of The Sisters finest moments, On The Wire. Eldritch intoned the Some Girls... section of Leonard Cohen's Teachers for the first time on stage in 12 years.
The pace of the set, and judicious selection from the band's slowly burgeoning oeuvre continued with crowd pleasers such as Flood II, This Corrosion and More. By the time things came to an end with a ferocious Vision Thing even hardened cynics would have to concede that they'd witnessed an Artist at the peak of his form.
There was even a brace of new songs - Under The Gun (better live than the Single) and another future classic, Come Together.
At £15 for one and a half hours it was an absolute bargain !!
J.F.Marsh.
'UTTERLY BASTARD GROOVY.'
The Sisters Of Mercy, N.E.C. Birmingham. 27.6.92.
It's half past seven on a boring night in Birmingham - and the church is open. All day the town has played host to the black clad hordes. Most of them half asleep in Cathedral Park, watching a pub band murder old Doors classics. In black leather, in the boiling sunshine ! Some people will do anything for their heroes ...
Inside a massive aircraft hanger the lights go down. Somewhere in the stalls high above me a distant voice shouts "ELDRITCH IS GOD." The air becomes charged. Wherever they went to, the goths reappear. Out of the woodwork, all across Europe - they have come to see one Man. All they can hear is the massive, earth-swallowing Doktor Avalanche. All we can see is flashing, coloured smoke with lasers piercing the NEC's black hole of an arena. Everyone stands ; shocked and immobile.
"Hello, Is Anybody In There ?" the shadow booms like the voice from hell. Half of the people are like "Oh my god, it's HIM." The others are saying "What the hell is this ?!?" As entrances go, it's almost perfect ! The song is 'Comfortably Numb' and it becomes transformed into a crystal clear injection of common sense.
Eldritch - clad in a long, dark overcoat - (like some ancient God transformed from an age of chivalry) is a king amongst his disciples. The absurd self-pity of the song makes sense in The Sisters World. Halfway through, and Tim Brechino becomes visible through the smoke ; clad in a glittersuit like Marc Bolan and shamelessly sporting a Sisters shirt underneath. Glamour and squalor look beautiful together. One without the other is meaningless !
Suddenly the song swithes into 'Some Kind Of Stranger'. Watching Eldritch scream like a man possessed, I know that the old (black) magic is back. That unearthly wail, not a person but of some primal hurt animal, emerges from nowhere. The moment Doktor Avalanche crashes into 'First And Last And Always' everyone enters the familiar. Eldy is in his element, a commandant of the dispossessed.
By 'Ribbons' someone has already fainted. 'Alice' follows and even though it's only 16 drumbeats as an intro, it sounds collossal. Like the calm in the eye of the storm, you know something big is about to happen. Somewhere in the middle of 'Logic' the primal scream emerges again and somehow he conveys that he's been closer to dark things than most people care to imagine. There's only one thing left between sanity and insanity - and it sounds like it's been taken away !
Encores are only a matter of time ; a solo version of 'Stop Dragging My Heart Around' sounds like Elvis on Hells Cabaret Circuit. As the rest of the band reappear, Mr E narrates ;'Like The Driven Snow'. From nowhere the muscular strains of 'More' fill the air, bringing the nights biggest cheer. A masterstroke ! It sounds like the only song that's ever been a song, like a song alone forever in a void.
When Eldo returns, he recites 'Fix' like God preaching the Ten Commandments - with a whisper more powerful than a scream. 'Visio Thing' sounds like the moment of truth, when everything is revealed. As he crouches down near to the crowd, their arms reach out to him like people who know damn well they can never touch the moon- but you might as well try !
For the 3rd and final encore, the strains of '1959' dissolve into the end of the world sound that is '1969'. The last song ever sung, the soundtrack to the coming Armageddon. Endless nights, meaningless lives, striving desperately to fill the emptiness of the heart with Something. Anything. Over the PA the soundtrack to 'Apoclypse Now' plays. A softly spoken man speaks over the sound of war and madness. Explosions. Helicopters. "Ecery time I wake up the walls move a little closer." Eldritch has left the building.
The Gentle Anarchist.
'MR PROZAC'S DARK CORNER'
This is the place where our new contributor Geoff will place his Reviews / thoughts / Ramblings !!??!!
PROFILE OF MR PROZAC
Who are your favourite band of All-Time? The Prodigy (along with the Chemical Brothers and The beatles i was brought up with them when i was in nappies!!)
Best Gig you have ever been to? Inkubus sukkubus and N.F.D: Ink...sukk...'s singer wont stop hopping about! Favourite Drink? soft drink: Mango juice. alcoholic: Strega
Top 5 Albums of All - Time? First and last and always - Sisters Of Mercy. Pretty hate machine - Nine Inch Nails. Past present, future - Rob Zombie. Bloody kisses - Type O Negative. Fallen - Fields Of The Nephilim.
Favourite Musician? Jhonny Cash (he puts all his soul in his music and never goes [or went] wrong!)
Favourite 3 songs Ever? Sleeping with ghosts - Placebo. Black No. 1 - Type O Negative. Dead of night - Depeche Mode
If you could go to a 'Dream Gig' anywhere, where would it be and which 3 Bands would play? On the hills of the peaked district near to Stoke (ver beatuiful walk) or in Nottingham as ive heard its a massive venue, playing would be: The Mission, The Glove and Hawkwind.
Fantasy Date for a Nite out? Brian Molko.
The Rapture, at The Wedgewood Pub, Northampton.
An amazing club almost like a weekly party, this used to be in the Racehourse pub but now located at the top of Abington street. Ran by what must have been 4 people DJ-ing of all sorts of genres, a mix of EMB, industrial, goth and darkwave with as many requests as you want!
There is something of not just a friendly and inviting atmosphere but it draws you in and you feel a part of everybody. you can dance alone but this does not last long before one of the DJ's off having a pint comes and joins you! Some of the friendliest people you could think of!
You could go alone and nobody would know it because you stand there and chat to who you like not worrying about making a twat of yourself! definelly worth going to again and there should be a Myspace home page from the main DJ 'Bod' with updates from 'abolution' 'the rapture' and many other clubs to come!
The only let down of the night would be the bar, i have never been to a pub with so many people behind the bar and only one of them knowing what hey are doing. glasses not being washed, ages to take an order and nobody knows how much the drinks are!!!! but i must say, The Wedgewood is now the place to go!!
RANT ABOUT MILTON KEYNES !!!
Okay so who of you have been to Milton Keynes? Well if you hav'nt then here is a pre-warning... DON'T!!! I'm sorry if i have offneded anybody who lives in the Milton Keynes area but whoever designed the road system must have been a relative to a blind mole! Before i entered MK i don't belive i have seen that many roundabouts in my life... Once again they all look the damn same!
I guess some places have a good side: The bus service must be one of the best in the country that i know of (if they were there on-time!) but the problem with that is the amount of bus bays surounding the main shopping centres, you never know were you are and tyring to get to them is enough of a pain! you don't have to walk through swamps of vacant apes and market stalls throwing clothing that time warped from the 70's in a discount bin in your face.
I please beg anybody reading this that if they see me in Milton Keynes either not heading towards the bus bays or towards a toilet (not that i can find any public ones within 3 miles) to please shoot me! or send me to a mental ward! you will be doing me a favour! Again i apolagise if i have offended anybody but you must be mad to live there!
CRADLE OF FILTH
As we walk in to the Wulfrun stadium, Wolverhampton after eventually finding the true entrance and not a dark dinggy door around the side on the main road; we find one of the first en-mentioned black metal suport bands playing. the stereotypical white powdered face and over blackened eyes with the three members hrowing there hair around the place. Eventually they finish without a word of who they were, were they are from or anything and there is a brake for the already drunk to top up their evening.
The lights reden and everything seems to become more bloody, slowlly two shdows appear from the back of the stage, a red haired cybver woman and a man looking like a gothed up, neo-nazi captain sensible on mahic mushrooms... Why not? with grinding riffs and electronic Hitler recordings playing in the background they carry on onstage obviouslly after having drank far to much, the male guitarist/backing singer/Captain sensible gone wacko constantlly trys to hand out a free beer to the begging fans yet every time failling and leaving it to fall being wasted. after the two last dramatic songs with a high energy left behind them the waiting fans wait a little longer for the people they spent their money and came to see.
After what must have been one hour and maybe one hour and a half of sound check with a skinny bald man calling down the main microphone 'one two, onw two, tits... and... arse... one... two...'. I must say i have never heard a sound check quite like it!
Finally the stars of the evening walk apon the stage with the guitarist wearing the usual long leather skirt, dani with his famous 'mummy' style purple jumper, everything seems to be the same and in place, there are no signs of a band soon to fall apart but to carry on with what they do best. At the same time they make every single soul in the room explode. Dani Filth introduces him and his band through the microphone and off they go. Non stop all the way apart from one ten minute brake for the band to regain their energy. From the newest 'Nymphetamine' and 'Temptation' and then the oldest 'The principle of evil made flesh' and 'Her ghost in the fog'. With a quick glance around the croud you notice all the types of people that 'Cradle of filth' appeal to.
With a wide variety of people, hippies, children, the elderlly and of course the typical teenagers with the extreme over the top make up who spend most of their time dreaming of joinging a band alike as 'Cadle...' They finally finish it off with still the extatic fans cheering on for the last fifteen minutes of 'Cradle...' being ofstage, only the hope drives the fans from passing out. As the venue floods with a long dark shadow apparentlly being humans, you only notice how much energy you have lost when the cold sharp air hits you and you notice how you may not have seen a staging such as that.
Still to the day i wish about being back in that room. The only let down of the evening being the fact that the bar closed at the stupid time of ten o'clock! a band i would deffinetlly recogmend to anybody into black metal, death metal or even heavy goth. Or even if you like to hear something new.
DJ ROBOCOP SECTION.
What is your favourite sort of music ? EBM, Industrial, Darkwave, SynthPop.
Who are your All-Time favourite Band ? VNV Nation, for what they have done for the scene.
Best Gig you have EVER been to ? First time I saw VNV Nation which was at Dark Jubilee, London, 2002, I got right down the front for that one!
Which is the best Festival you have ever been to ? Amphi Festival, Cologne - Beautiful city and great location venue on the banks of the Rhine, I went there in 2006 and 2007.
Favourite Drink ? German Pilseners!
Top 5 Albums of All-Time ? In no particular order - VNV Nation - Empires, Assemblage 23 - Failure, Depeche Mode - Violator, IAMX - The Alternative, Retrosic - God Of Hell.
Fav 3 Songs of All-Time ? This is always subject to change, ask me for three different ones next week! - Depeche Mode "Home", IAMX "Missile", VNV Nation "Beloved".
If you could go to one Dream Gig, where would it be and which 3 Bands would play ? Last Cathedral, Berlin - great venue though too small for a gig or Dusseldorf Stahlwerk - another excllent venue and playing would be Lola Angst, Depeche Mode (with Alan Wilder) and The Retrosic.
Who is your Favourite DJ ? Rob Lee, (Heresy, Coventry), he, in my opinion seems to have his finger on the pulse when it comes to knowing what to play.
Who would be your Fantasy Date for a night out ??? Sonja Kraushofer (L'ame Immortelle).
BLACKFIELD FESTIVAL '08.
DAY ONE
I'd first heard of Blackfield Festival late last year and over the course of a few months as more acts were announced, Angela & I decided that we would attend and go with our friends Gary, Jo, Terry and Jane. As this was the first Blackfield Festival and at a location none of us had been to before, we felt that it would serve as a good warm-up to Amphi Festival in Cologne, a couple of weeks later. "Von der szene…fur die szene" (from the scene for the scene) is the motto of Blackfield Festival, organized by Neuwerk Management, whose roster includes an impressive line-up of some of the best acts in the Gothic and Dark Electronic scene. Originally announced as a two-day festival, this was then extended to three days, due to popular ticket sales and this meant that 25 bands played over the three days on a single stage and they represented the many elements of the scene from gothic metal to hard electro to Mittelalter.
The Amphitheatre in Gelsenkirchen is a venue that is built into the embankment of the Rhein Canal and provides a superb backdrop for the stage which is built into the water and from time to time along the canal were passing giant fuel tankers. This was also the venue used for the very first Amphi Festival in 2005, before it moved to its current larger site at Cologne Tanzbrunnen in 2006. From wherever you were in the Ampitheatre, you could see the stage quite clearly and credit goes to the engineers for providing excellent sound over the whole weekend. When we arrived, we exchanged our tickets for wristbands and also received a sticker and booklet, which gave biographies of each performing band and running times as well as a map of the venue and a questionnaire for your opinions. Several thousand people were there over the duration of the festival and at 5.30pm on the Friday, the first band Pink Turns Blue started, we arrived well into their set and so being overwhelmed with the venue, we took to wandering around the various stalls, which included Zillo and Out Of Line, so I didn't see them perform. I also noticed that the "Crazy Clip TV" crew were filming the entire festival, probably for future inclusion on the excellent "Into The Darkness" DVD series that they produce. We had found a spot to sit down, just left of the stage and just yards from the VIP entrance area, which meant a lot of going up to the VIPs for a chat and to have photos and autographs with members of VNV Nation and Icon of Coil, all of which were very obliging to us and other fans.
Next up were American band, Stromkern, a band that I felt I didn't give enough attention to when I saw them at Infest in 2006. Overall, I was most impressed with their set, which consisted of favourites, Heretic, Stand Up and Armageddon and Ned Kirby's rap-style vocals were on excellent form and judging by the reaction, the crowd were pleased too. Up next and perhaps the most anticipated band of the weekend, Icon Of Coil, playing their first European show in years. Andy, Seb & Christian were all there and played an energetic 40 minute set, with a guest appearance from Ronan & Mark from VNV Nation, to serve drinks to the band, between songs. Floorkiller, Thrill Capsule, Dead Enough For Life, Shelter, Regret were all played, which had all of the crowd moving their feet and for some of us, it was certainly worth coming over just to see them. Dreadful Shadows followed and their singer, Sven Freidrich was making his first of two appearances over the weekend. He is a difficult person to photograph, due to his constant pacing across the stage and although I am not familiar with their material, I recall hearing a well-executed cover of New Order's True Faith and he drew a good crowd, eager to see this band in action again after a many year's silence. Headliners for this evening are Blutengel, who seem to divide opinion amongst the scene, either you love them or loathe them (personally, I love them) and as usual, they all make a grand entrance, leading into "Singing Dead Men". The recent CD, Labyrinth was released last year to positive reviews and many of the tracks from it were played tonight, as well as older material such as Die With You, Bloody Pleasures, Lovekiller and The Oxidising Angel, amongst others. The female singers, Constance and Ulli sang well and each performed solo, Constance singing "Sunrise" and Ulli with "Seelenschmerz". The theatrical aspect of the show was in abundance as the various flashes and bangs of the pyrotechnics went off and they finished after a 70 minute set, which the crowd loved. After this, we left the venue for the short walk to the bus stop for the bus back into Gelsenkirchen, as an early night was in order as we'd all had little sleep the night before, with catching very early morning flights to get here. This meant that we were well refreshed for the following day…
DAY TWO
Our hotel was just 50 yards from the bus station and with a regular service which went past the Ampitheater, 5 kilometres away, it was no problem getting there and back, in fact the majority of the bus was filled with Goths going there and I heard one person refer to it as the "Schwarze Bus". We arrived before Midday to see Colony 5, a Swedish synth-pop duo, who played a confident set for an opener as there were not many there yet and they played their latest release, Knives as well as old favourite, Plastic World, amongst others. After these, were Iris, who I missed most of their set, due to having a beer and wandering around the markets, however, I did hear that they were plagued by technical problems and when I saw them perform their final song, "Sorrow Expert" and they had built up quite a crowd during their set. Solar Fake, the newest project of Zeraphine's and Dreadful Shadow's Sven Freidrich, were next and this unlike his other bands is purely electronic and sounding not unlike some of the club mixes that he has previously produced with Zeraphine. I was most impressed with his performance and again, he was pacing up and down the stage and supported by one synth player. A recent favourite of mine, The Shield was played as well as a cover of Radiohead's Creep and another stand-out track Hero & Conqueror.
Diorama were next, who I had previously seen at Amphi last year and they opened up with perhaps their most well known track, Advance and played to quite a large following and they also played other well known numbers, Synthesize Me and The Girls in a good 40 minute set, which received rapturous approval from the crowd. The two following bands, Northern Lite and Catastrophe Ballet, I did not see was I went to get something to eat and drink and try to find some shade from the sun, which was almost unbearable (for me anyway) due to the heat. Naturally, the amphitheatre does not offer any shade from the sun except for the canopy above the stage, which extends into crowd area, before its steps. After these, was Modcom, which is Ronan Harris' analogue solo project and wheeled onto the stage were a bank of synthesizers, which resembled an old telephone exchange and he launched into "OneZero", a recently released track, which appears on the excellent "Advanced Electronics 6" compliation. There were many in the crowd wearing VNV Nation shirts (myself included!) and Modcom T-Shirts and these seemed to form the hardcore of his fans. I was totally overwhelmed by this, after seeing VNV Nation so many times before and this was great to see him making such a rare appearance with Modcom, which sound-wise is a lot harder than VNV Nation. Needless to say, my feet couldn't stop moving! Other highlights of his set were the Modcom remix of VNV's Chrome and the final track, EMP. Samsas Traum were next and an odd choice for the festival really as they didn't really fit into any of the categories of the other bands playing, as their style is more in a black-metal style, though I was disappointed that they did not play "Endstation Eden", one of their more popular songs. They certainly drew many of their fans there and served as a good warm-up for Subway To Sally. During Samsas Traum's set, a distraction in the form of a hot air balloon, which nearly ditched into the canal, diverted many of the fan's attentions!
Subway To Sally are hugely popular within the scene and their style of "folk-metal-rock" draws a devoted following. Their stage shows are very impressive with singer Eric Fish repeatedly getting his audience to chant the band's name. Several members performing fire-eating, blowing flames into the air during their songs and for me, a highlight was seeing them perform the powerful track, "Sieben", though with the songs being all in German, I am not sure of the subject matter of their lyrics. I have heard it said that often in Germany, the penultimate act of the day, is for very many the real headliner and this was perhaps evident with the sheer number of fans who left after Subway To sally, who did not want to see the headliner, England's Nitzer Ebb. I watched these for about half an hour and they certainly were energetic and as can be expected at their shows, a moshpit opened up in the crowd, with many throwing themselves at each other! By this time, the aftershow party had already opened in a large tent on the grounds and guest DJ was Mark Jackson from VNV Nation, who naturally started his set with Reaper's Twisted Trophy Hunter (after all it is him singing on it). The aftershow went on until 5am, but not having that much stamina after a long day, we left around midnight for the bus…
DAY THREE
For me, it's always a bit sad when you arrive at the last day of the festival knowing that it won't happen again for another year and today it was announced that the festival would take place again in 2009, with VNV Nation and ASP already announced. This was excellent news for me and also for Gary, who being a huge ASP fan has hosted them at his venue, Sheffield Corporation. We arrived just before Midday, to hear that Solitary Experiments had already started, so we made our way down to near the front of the stage. An excellent show by them, playing Delight, Watching Over You, Odyssey of Mind and Seele Bricht, their collaboration with Felix from Feindflug, who I was hoping would appear for that track. They were all wearing red shirts and black ties and afterwards, I spoke to them and we had photos taken with them and they said their new image was in theme with their forthcoming CD. Gary also spoke to them and commented how they were the first ever band on the scene to play at Sheffield Corporation as part of his clubnight and upon release of the new CD, we may hope to see them in Sheffield again. Schelmish, a Mittelalter band we missed, but we returned to watch Reaper, the band of the talented Vasi Vallis. He was supported by two synth players and tore through an excellent show playing Execution of Your Mind, Twisted Trophy Hunter (without Mark Jackson unfortunately), She's a Devil and a Whore and my personal favourite, Robuste Maschine. For this show, the PA seemed to be really loud, not that I was complaining and it certainly moved my feet!
Next were Heimataerde, a hard electro band with Mittelalter influences, think Feindflug with bagpipes and flutes, as I say! They came onto the stage in full chain-mail armour carrying shields and long spiked staffs and by the time opening track Deus Lo Volt had finished, they had set up the stage with spiked defences. A great show with plenty of visual elements, which was certainly popular with the crowd. Assemblage 23 were next and performed a good set, with showcased tracks from all of their albums and Tom's commanding voice was in great from. Highlights included Drive, You Haven't Earned it and Naked, amongst others. We were very surprised to see backstage in the VIP area, that Adrian Hates of Diary of Dreams unexpectedly turned up, so Gary and Jo went into the VIP area for a chat and photos! I think that was the highlight of Jo's weekend! For me, the next band is one I'd been looking most forward to seeing, Spetsnaz, with their brand of catchy old-school EBM and for this, I managed to get down the front, thankfully, outside of the circle that is the moshpit, as there was a fair bit of slamming going .. the opening track, Allegiance, Pontus had got all hot, so off came his tracksuit top to reveal a Spanish football shirt, which drew boos from the crowd as Germany had lost to them in last week's Euro Championship final. What was Pontus' response? – FUCK YOU !! An excellent 40 minute set with plenty of songs – well rarely does one of their tracks go over 4 minutes and the band were in humorous form, especially before That Perfect Body, which drummer Stefan said was about him, before revealing his rather rotund stomach!
Local favourites SITD were next and they performed a great set, especially brutal versions of Stammheim and Snuff Machinery along with the futurepop styled, Rose Coloured Skies. Their singer Tom must have been hot wearing a beanie hat in that weather and it was clear to see that they were a good choice for the festival. There was also an autograph tent there and I took the opportunity to get all my SITD CD's signed and Jo went to Vasi of Reaper and he kindly autographed her arm in permanent marker, which would probably take some washing to remove! The Cruxshadows were next and after initial sound problems, which meant they had to re-start, Rogue soon fell into the swing of things and it wasn't too long before he was in the crowd and scaling the stage. The band have now expanded to a seven piece including two violinists and they played some of their best songs, Birthday, Marilyn My Bitterness, Winterborn and Dragonfly.
Next were Schandmaul, another mittelalter band, who have a huge following with many of their releases entering high in the German Media Control Charts. It took some time before they started as a series of rack-mounted lighting had to be installed, which formed a backdrop behind them. They opened with "Herren Der Winde" and played a 60 minute set, much to the delight of the crowd. When the crowd had vacated the area in front of the stage, we took this as an opportunity to get right near the front for the final act of the festival, Lacrimosa. The Lacrimosa Theme began before leading into the powerful "Komet". Tilo was using a walking cane to move around as he had hurt his leg, so this meant that he was not able to throw his arms around as he usually does during the orchestral parts of their songs. Other highlights included Kelch Der Leibe, Letzte Ausfahrt Leben and Lichtgestalt. For the encore, which due to a strict 11pm consisted of only Copycat, saw Anni taking centre stage for her vocal parts, all of which were performed to a video backdrop with great visuals. Afterwards, we hung around and after about 20 minutes, Tilo and Anni appeared and the fans were rewarded with autographs and hugs, especially Angela, who had her photos signed by both of them. Also, at Blackfield we met bumped into an Australian girl, Sarah, who is a huge Lacrimosa fan and we had previously met her at Woodstage last year and also met some other people who had travelled to it from the UK. Afterwards, we all went back to the hotel bar for drinks and discussed how at these festivals, the Germans are way ahead of the game in terms of organisation and line-ups and that getting to these festivals can work out cheaper than you think, if booked well in advance. With this, I will be recommending this festival to people back here in the UK and we already looking forward to it again next year!
http://blackfield-festival.de/
http://www.myspace.com/blackfieldfestival
NOCTURNAL CULTURE NIGHT '07 REVIEW.
The small town of Deutzen, 30km south of Leipzig played host to the second "Nocturnal Culture Night" festival held at the scenic Kulturpark. Over the weekend, about 700 fans were treated to an intimate three day line-up featuring 22 bands including Dairy of Dreams, Zeraphine, Solitary Experiments, Garden of Delight amongst others and which included the European live debut of Deviant UK and for a weekend ticket price of 23 Euros, it certainly represented value for money. It also provided a chance to discover new bands that would not otherwise get to perform at a festival of this size.
Angela, Jo and I went to Stansted for the Ryanair flight to Altenburg, (my suitcase was lost and it went to Spain instead!) and we stayed in a hotel in Altenburg and commuted by a 15 minute train journey to reach Deutzen, as there were no hotels or guesthouses in Deutzen.
Things didn't go as we'd planned and Friday was spent shopping for essentials for me as I'd only got what I'd travelled in, so when Friday evening came around, we went off to Altenburg station to travel to Deutzen and then a ten minute walk to the festival site, down a never-ending dirt track, it seems somebody had given us wrong directions! With grey clouds looming overhead, we thought we'd get a soaking, but fortunately it didn't turn to rain and once there we did some shopping in the market stalls, and waited for the first band on the small stage, Steinkind, who recently caused a stir at WGT by playing an unannounced gig on a petrol station forecourt! – see YouTube, for the footage!Musically, these were Nitzer Ebb style minimal shouty EBM completely sung in German and they played a set of the best tracks from their recommended CD, "Vom Hier im Jetzt". The singer, appeared in shorts and white vest and during the performance, his vest came off and the shorts slipped further down from his waist and the two keyboarders removed their hooded tops to reveal pink girlie vests underneath! They drew a good crowd and their hit "Deutschland Brennt" was the highlight for many.
Afterwards, we bumped into Deviant UK who had just arrived after driving non-stop for the last 24 hours from the UK and we all retired to a table near the small stage and chatted whilst listening to the other bands playing, such as Golden Apes, who we didn't pay much attention to as Jo took a dislike to their name!
Menticide, were another old-school EBM band and kept the rivetheads happy with their set, which ended with a blistering version of Ministry's "Just One Fix", the first of many covers heard that weekend.
Headliners, were Stendal Blast, but as the temperature was dropping, we left early to catch the train back to Altenburg.
Saturday morning brought the good news my suitcase had been found, so once I'd got it, I could change my outfit at last and once done, off again by train to Deutzen, for the main day of the festival, though those clouds were still grey!
First was Mono Inc, who played what I would describe as "melodic dark rock", which was certainly well received for first band of the day and so with a place down at the front, camera in hand, on came Deviant UK!
As always, Jay & BJ played a flawless set of tracks from "Barbed Wire Star" and Jay threw many demonic poses and they even played their cover of Project Pitchfork's "Timekiller", which was warmly received and they'd won many new fans at the end of their set, eager to buy their CD and have it signed!
Afterwards, we missed some of the other bands on the small stage to go into the larger stage, which was now open with more stalls and we awaited the first band FAQ, a band I was not familiar with but I was impressed with their performance and visually their singer looks like Brian Molko and their music reminded me of Placebo and the current Apoptygma Berzerk sound and they were warmly received by the growing audience there.
Out came the umbrellas, as the rain came down, just as Absurd Minds took to the stage, these are a band I had wanted to see for sometime and they did not disappoint with their hits including "The Cycle", "Herzlos", "Deception" and a great cover of Nine Inch Nails, "Hurt".
Next up were Frozen Plasma and singer Felix was in fine mood, once slipping on stage and then to make it look like part of his act, proceeded to skid across the now very wet stage! They played their usual set, with "Warmongers" drawing a large cheer from the crowd, as well as live favourites, "Irony" and "Crossroads".
No pause in the rain and Solitary Experiments played what seemed like an over-long set, which to me wasn't as good as their performance at Dark City, Edinburgh, earlier this year. Most annoying was someone right in front of us in the photo-pit filming the whole show on his camcorder and he didn't move once, so some of my photos ended up with his head on them! Surprise of their show was the introduction of Supreme Court who came on stage for a brutal version of "Things that we forgot", their recent collaboration.
By now the rain was coming down heavy and it was time to shelter in the market stalls, as Sono were taking the stage. An odd choice of band for this festival, especially being so high on the billing too, their music, to my ears sounded like it was more suited to mainstream dance clubs, which was clearly evident in the medley of their hit, "2000 Guns", which blended into a cover of Adamski & Seal's "Killer".
Finally after a forty minute delay in setting up the stage for Diary of Dreams, by now, the rain had stopped, they appeared, with Adrian wearing his trademark trenchcoat (the weather certainly called for it), supported by his guitarist, Gaun:A and Diorama vocalist, Torben Wendt on keyboards. They played a well received set for about 75 minutes and we were treated to the new single "The Plague", which certainly impressed me on first listen. Other highlights were "The Curse", and "Traumtanzer" which had the crowd singing the chorus back to Adrian and the piano version of "Amok", which ended the show.
As we arrived Sunday, we walked through the "Mittelmarkt", a medieval village set up with people dressed in furs and drinking from horns, not to mention a wooden bathtub being filled with water if you wanted a bath!
We noticed that there were noticeably less people than for Saturday, so beer in hand, we sat at our usual table near the small stage to hear the bands. One band that caught our attention, were Gothika from Tokyo, their singer Andro, he wore a red floral kimono, which certainly added to the Visual Kei element of their show. They played fast SynthPop/Darkwave and drew a fair sized crowd for a band on so early. Afterwards, their keyboard player kept shoving one of their CD's under Angela's nose, I think he was hoping that she would buy one!
Next, were No Name Desire, a band whose CD I bought when on holiday in Prague last year. They played a fast aggressive set, with their sound reminiscent of Hocico or Suicide Commando. Afterwards, I spoke to their label manager, who told me about the emerging scene in Prague.
By this time, the main stage had opened, so we missed the remainder of the bands on the small stage and the first band, Portash, played an uninspired set of mid-paced synthpop, which didn't capture our attention.
Afterwards, the stage, was dressed in red armchairs and red shop mannequins for the next act, The Songs of Lemuria, which was a covers act, which should have been named as "Songs of Depeche Mode and everybody else", as they played, I think 4 DM covers, which were sung in a "lounge" style with female and male vocals with accompanying pianist and cellist, but nevertheless, it went down well with some elements of the crowd, though not my thing, personally.
Next, the smoke machine was bellowing out smoke before Garden of Delight had even took to the stage and as it was just getting dark, this added to their performance, which I most enjoyed as their ploughed through their back catalogue, playing tracks such as "Venus Rising", "Black Mass" and "Levitiation", though they didn't play what I was hoping for, "Stigmata".
Finally, Zeraphine closed the festival, with a great set which comprised of their hits, "Be My Rain", "Die Macht In Dir" and "Still", the band wished that they had played longer for the crowd, but only one encore was allowed due to a strict 10pm curfew, which left some fans disappointed and this drew the festival to an abrupt close.
Overall, getting to a festival in Germany works out cheaper than you would think, if booked far enough in advance and the range of bands far surpasses that of any other festivals in other countries and with this one making a return in 2008, it might be something for you to consider for next year.
INTERESTING SISTERS BITS / LINKS.
www.thesistersofmercy.com Official Band Site. Lists forthcoming Gigs / news on Album releases (that's a joke ...) + lots of other stuff.
Glasperlenspiel Magazine/Fanzine. Very interesting mag - last issue was mid '02. Seems to come out at irregular intervals. Well worth checking if you're a Sisters fan. Website ; www.gps.tsom.org E-Mail ; glasperlenspiel@yahoo.com Post ; GPS, PO Box 129, Aldershot, Hants, GU12 4FZ.
There is a Sisters Of Mercy Internet Webring - 'Dominion'. Brings you bang on as it happens info !! Contactable at ; dominion@toybox.twisted.org.uk
The Sisters Of Murphy are the premier Sisters Tribute band. See their Website at www.thesistersofmurphy.com
