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  • Christian Death 

    Location: USA – Los Angeles, CA

    Active: 1979-1985

    Christian Death formed in 1979 in the Los Angeles area. Along with 45 Grave and related projects, they were instrumental in forming what would become known as ‘deathrock’, a genre most often associated with bands of the southern California scene, but more broadly applies to bands the world over. Rozz Williams formed the original lineup with George Belanger and James McGearty. Rikk Agnew of the Adolescents (also Social Distortion, D.I., many other LA punk bands, an accomplished solo artist, and a later era 45 Grave) joined on guitar, and their debut recording appeared in 1981 on the essential ‘Hell Comes To Your House’ compilation, and released their first LP in 1982, ‘Only Theatre of Pain’ on Frontier Records. Keith Walsh (Der Stab) played keyboards in this era of Christian Death.

    By their second album, ‘Catastrophe Ballet’ in 1984, the lineup had changed significantly, with Rozz Williams the only remaining original member, and Valor Kand (guitar), Gitane Demone (backing vocals) and David Glass (drums), all of whom were previously the band Pompeii 99. This lineup lasted til 1985’s ‘Ashes’. During a European tour, Rozz Williams left the band, however Kand continued using Christian Death against Williams’ wishes, resulting in a severe division amongst fans. Despite Valor’s talent as a musician, which continued to shine over the next few albums, most fans familiar with the distinction between Rozz Williams era and Valor era Christian Death refer to the later as Valor era or Valor’s Christian Death. Valor’s nonconsensual appropriation of the name continues to be bone of contention.  

    Rozz Williams continued with other musical projects including noise / performance art collaborations like Premature Ejaculation, several solo projects and a collaborative album with Gitane Demone. The most relevant progressions from his Christian Death work were Shadow Project, and Daucus Karota which emerged from it. Shadow Project was a collaboration with Eva O of the Super Heroines, as well as Johann Schumann and Barry Galvin of Mephisto Walz, who had also played with and departed post-Rozz Christian Death) David Glass also returned to work with Shadow Project.

    Williams also performed and released further Christian Death material, despite the existence of Valor’s continued use of the name. Legal disputes failed any significant conclusions. In 1990, the original Christian Death reformed with Rozz Williams, Rikk Agnew and Eva O for a rare live performance at the Mason Jar in Phoenix, Arizona supported by Bootbeast. The performance was recorded for an audio and video release entitled Sleepless Nights, one of a very few efforts made by Rozz Williams to perform original Christian Death material during the band’s late era. The Path of Shadows, Rage of Angels, and Skeleton Kiss EP were all released by Christian Death under Rozz’s direction during this time.

    Rozz Williams died in his home in Los Angeles of suicide on April 1, 1998.

    Related: Shadow Project, Der Stab, Adolescents, Social Distortion, D.I., Pompeii 99, Super Heroines, Mephisto Walz, Daucus Karota

    Links


    Official: http://www.rozznet.com/

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/94647-Christian-Death

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Death

    Bandcamp: https://frontierrecords-christiandeath.bandcamp.com/


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  • 45 Grave

    Location: USA – Los Angeles, CA
    Active: 1979 – current

    Hailing from Los Angeles California in 1979, founding members Rob “Graves” Ritter, Don Bolles, and Paul Cutler relocated from Phoenix, AZ (Cutler played in The Consumers, Ritter and Bolles in The Exterminators) added Dinah Cancer (formerly of Los Angeles’ Castration Squad) and emerged as one of that city’s first punk bands with a the dark, tongue in cheek aesthetic that is synonymous with what would become ‘deathrock’. After arriving in LA, Bolles initially played as drummer in LA’s keystone punk band The Germs and also participated in Nervous Gender, while Ritter played with The Bags and The Gun Club. 45 Grave eventually drew Paul Roeseller (formerly of The Screamers) into the fold. 45 Grave was a sort of nexus and galvanization point for those with a taste for more eclectic tastes than strictly hardcore punk, not to mention black dress and gothic humor. Bolles project Vox Pop was formed towards the end of his Germs career; Dinah Cancer would also be involved in Vox Pop which remained active during 45 Grave’s 1980s existence.

    45 Grave’s full length album ‘Sleep In Safety’ is one of the earliest bricks in deathrock’s foundations. Along with their singles, they appeared on the Hell Comes To Your House compilation, firmly cemented next to it in the very same foundation (along with Christian Death) and the equally regarded Return of the Living Dead soundtrack (alongside legends like The Cramps and The Damned, with TSOL, The Flesheaters, Jet Black Berries and Roky Erickson – all of whom have been talked about on this site over the years). In 2004, Dinah Cancer reformed a new 45 Grave after fronting the heavy punk band Penis Flytrap (1997-2001), releasing ‘Pick Your Poison’ in 2012, and as of 2024 are still active.

    Links:
    https://45gravemusic.bandcamp.com/music
    https://www.discogs.com/artist/232625
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/45_Grave

    Related: The Consumers, The Exterminators, Castration Squad, The Cramps, The Damned, The Gun Club, The Bags, TSOL, The Screamers, Nervous Gender, The Germs, Penis Flytrap, Return of the Living Dead, Dinah Cancer, Vox Pop

    This profile is in development. Contributions?