Deathrock.com - The Home of creepy rock and roll. Gothic Punk Dark Alternative Horror Rock, music reviews, interviews, features, photos and news.

  • Shadow Project

    Rozz Williams band post Christian Death. The Daucus Karota project emerged from a renamed incarnation of Shadow Project. Though the lineup changed several times over the years, Rozz Williams and Eva O (Super Heroines) remained it’s core members. Jill Emery (Super Heroines), Paris, William Faith (Wreckage, Mephisto Walz, Faith & The Muse, Bellwether Syndicate and notable producer) and others played in the band at various times.

    Links:

    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/94646-Shadow-Project

    Related: Christian Death, Super Heroines, Rozz Williams, Daucus Karota, Eva O, Jill Emery, Paris, William Faith, Wreckage, Mephisto Walz, Faith & The Muse, Bellwether Syndicate

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Castration Squad

    Location: Los Angeles

    Early Los Angeles punk band, with members like Alice Bag (The Bags), Dinah Cancer (45 Grave), Phranc (Nervous Gender), Shannon Wilhelm, Tracy Lea (of Redd Kross and appeared in  Desperate Teenage Lovedolls), Elissa Bello (Go-Go’s) and Tiffany Kennedy (Cambridge Apostles). They never had any official releases but appeared on New Wave Theatre television show.

    Related: The Bags, 45 Grave, Nervous Gender, Red Kross, Cambridge Apostles, Alice Bag, Phranc, Dinah Cancer, Los Angeles, New Wave Theatre

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1718599-Castration-Squad

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Christian Death – Gigs 

    1978-1980

    xx.xx.1978 – The Asexuals – Private Party, ?, California

    xx.xx.1980 – Christian Death – Toxic Shock, Pomona, California

    xx.xx.1980 – Christian Death – Arts Building, Pomona, California

    13.12.1980 – Christian Death – Hong Kong Cafe, Chinatown, Los Angeles, California

    1981

    04.01.1981 – Christian Death – Arts Building, Pomona, California

    20.01.1981 – Christian Death – P.A.L. Boxing Gym, Pomona, California

    14.02.1981 – Christian Death – P.A.L. Boxing Gym, Pomona, California

    19.02.1981 – Christian Death – Vex Club, Los Angeles, California

    18.08.1981 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    08.09.1981 – Christian Death – Little Theatre, Upland, California

    19.09.1981 – Christian Death – Bard’s Apollo, Los Angeles, California

    22.10.1981 – Christian Death – Cuckoo’s Nest, Costa Mesa, California

    23.10.1981 – Christian Death – Atlantic Theatre, Long Beach, California

    30.10.1981 – Christian Death – Al’s Bar, Los Angeles, California

    31.10.1981 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    13.11.1981 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    14.11.1981 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    20.11.1981 – Christian Death – Fairmount Hall, San Diego, California

    22.12.1981 – Christian Death – The Gallery, Ontario, California

    26.12.1981 – Christian Death – Al’s Bar, Los Angeles, California

    xx.xx.1981 – Christian Death – Brave Dog, Los Angeles, California

    xx.xx.1981 – Christian Death – Cuckoo’s Nest, Costa Mesa, California

    1982

    19.01.1982 – Christian Death – Cathay de Grande, Los Angeles, California

    12.02.1982 – Christian Death – Cathay de Grande, Los Angeles, California

    12.02.1982 – Christian Death – Godzillas, Los Angeles, California

    25.02.1982 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    10.04.1982 – Christian Death – Vinyl Fetish, Los Angeles, California (OTOP Release Party)

    xx.04.1982 – Christian Death – Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles, California

    23.04.1982 – Christian Death – Adams Avenue Theatre, San Diego, California

    29.04.1982 – Christian Death – On Broadway, San Francisco, California

    21.05.1982 – Christian Death – Al’s Bar, Los Angeles, California

    24.07.1982 – Christian Death – Al’s Bar, Los Angeles, California

    14.08.1982 – Christian Death – King’s Road Cafe, San Diego, California

    26.08.1982 – Christian Death – Anticlub, Los Angeles, California

    03.09.1982 – Christian Death – Mr. Bufu’s, Fullerton, California

    24.10.1982 – Christian Death – Al’s Bar, Los Angeles, California

    30.10.1982 – Christian Death – S.I.R., Los Angeles, California

    13.11.1982 – Christian Death – Anticlub, Los Angeles, California

    03.12.1982 – Christian Death – Cove Theatres of Music, Hermosa Beach, California

    1983-1984

    18.12.1983 – Christian Death – KPFK, Studio Zzzz, Los Angeles, California

    22.12.1983 – Christian Death – Alexandria Hotel, Los Angeles, California

    xx.01.1984 – Christian Death – Media Blitz, Anaheim, California

    20.01.1984 – Christian Death – Lhasa Club, Los Angeles, California

    03.02.1984 – Christian Death – Ruthie’s Inn, Berkeley, California

    04.02.1984 – Christian Death – On Broadway, San Francisco, California

    06.02.1984 – Christian Death – Club Lingerie, Los Angeles, California

    16.02.1984 – Christian Death – Rathskeller, Boston, Massachussetts

    17.02.1984 – Christian Death – Danceteria, New York City, New York

    21.02.1984 – Christian Death – Les Bains-Douches, Paris, France

    23.02.1984 – Christian Death – La Sabale l’Opera, Paris, France

    28.03.1984 – Christian Death – The Batcave, London, England

    04.04.1984 – Christian Death – The Batcave, London, England

    14.05.1984 – Christian Death – Theatre du Forum Des Halles, Paris, France

    15.05.1984 – Christian Death – Exo 7, Rouen, France

    17.05.1984 – Christian Death – West Side Club, Lyon, France

    07.06.1984 – Christian Death – ?, Berlin, West Germany

    08.06.1984 – Christian Death – Le Bouffon, Geneva, Switzerland

    13.06.1984 – Christian Death – Le Bikini, Ramonville-Saint-Agne, France

    xx.06.1984 – Christian Death – ?, Freiburg, West Germany

    22.06.1984 – Christian Death – LVC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    23.06.1984 – Christian Death – Melkweg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    30.06.1984 – Christian Death – Okie Dokie, Neuss, West Germany

    01.07.1984 – Christian Death – Kir, Hamburg, West Germany

    xx.xx.1984 – Christian Death – Haus Der Jugend, Dusseldorf, West Germany

    20.10.1984 – Christian Death – Berwin Entertainment Center, Hollywood, California

    25.10.1984 – Premature Ejaculation – Lhasa Club, Los Angeles, California

    09.11.1984 – Christian Death – Fender’s International Ballroom, Long Beach, California

    10.11.1984 – Christian Death – Whiteslug Records, Los Angeles, California (Catastrophe Ballet Release Party)

    xx.xx.1984 – Christian Death – Cathay De Grande, Los Angeles, California

    1985

    30.03.1985 – Christian Death – The Farm, San Francisco, California

    01.04.1985 – Christian Death – Club Graffiti, San Francisco, California

    05.04.1985 – Christian Death – Fender’s International Ballroom, Long Beach, California (Ashes Release Party)

    06.04.1985 – Christian Death – Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, California (Ashes Release Party)

    1986-1988

    15.02.1986 – Christian Death / Daucus Karota – Fender’s International Ballroom, Long Beach, California

    09.05.1986 – Christian Death / Daucus Karota – Big Johns, Anaheim, California

    01.08.1986 – Christian Death / Daucus Karota – The Farm, San Francisco, California

    10.06.1988 – Christ Death – Variety Arts Center, Los Angeles, California

    11.06.1988 – Christ Death – Zombie Zoo, Los Angeles, California

    1989

    29.10.1989 – Christian Death – Hollywood Live, Los Angeles, California

    15.12.1989 – Christian Death – Helter Skelter, Los Angeles, California

    22.12.1989 – Christian Death – Dreamerz, Chicago, Illinois

    23.12.1989 – Christian Death – Unicorn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    xx.12.1989 – Christian Death – Apocalypse Club, Toronto, Canada

    27.12.1989 – Christian Death – Foufoun Electrique, Montreal, Canada

    30.12.1989 – Christian Death – CBGBs, New York City, New York

    1990

    xx.01.1990 – Christian Death – Masquerade, Atlanta, Georgia

    03.01.1990 – Christian Death – 4808 Club, Charlotte, North Carolina

    04.01.1990 – Christian Death – Beacham Theatre, Orlando, Florida

    05.01.1990 – Christian Death – Ritz Theatre, Ybor City, Florida

    09.01.1990 – Christian Death – The Axiom, Houston, Texas

    11.01.1990 – Christian Death – The Venue, Dallas, Texas

    13.01.1990 – Christian Death – Atomic Theatre, Albuquerque, New Mexico

    14.01.1990 – Christian Death – Mason Jar, Phoenix, Arizona

    16.02.1990 – Christian Death – Meadowlark Country Club, Huntington Beach, California

    13.07.1990 – Christian Death – Helter Skelter, Los Angeles, California

    20.12.1990 – Christian Death – Helter Skelter, Los Angeles, California

    1991

    10.01.1991 – Christian Death – Helter Skelter, Los Angeles, California

    18.01.1991 – Christian Death – Spanky’s, Riverside, California

    19.01.1991 – Christian Death – Spanky’s, Riverside, California

    12.06.1993 – Christian Death – Patriotic Hall, Los Angeles, California

  • 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. They performed at many of the original Los Angeles punk venues like Anti-Club.

    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/


    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • 45 Grave

    Location: Los Angeles
    Active: 1979 – current

    Hailing from Los Angeles California in 1979, founding members Rob “Graves” Ritter, Don Bolles, and Paul Cutler relocated from Phoenix, Arizona(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. They were featured in the television program New Wave Theater. 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 Flesheaters, The Cramps, The Damned, The Gun Club, The Bags, TSOL, The Screamers, Nervous Gender, The Germs, Penis Flytrap, Hell Comes To Your House, Return of the Living Dead, Dinah Cancer, Vox Pop

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Kommunity FK

    Location: Los Angeles, CA
    Active: 1978-present

    Kommunity FK emerged from the Los Angeles punk scene as one of the more experimental and avant grade acts, incorporating a dark element that would associate them with what became known as the emerging deathrock scene. The bleak and aggressive tones of their 1983 debut LP ‘Vision and the Voice’ peers them with bands like Savage Republic (whose label, Independent Projects, released the album) and Nervous Gender.

    Kommunity FK emerged from the Los Angeles punk scene as one of the more experimental and avant garde acts, incorporating a dark element that would associate them with what became known as the emerging deathrock scene. The bleak and aggressive tones of their 1983 debut LP ‘Vision and the Voice’ peers them with bands like Savage Republic (whose label, Independent Projects, released the album) and Nervous Gender. 

    Singer Patrick Mata designed many of the flyers and the dada-esque collage of the original LP cover, often using cut and paste techniques. They were residents at the more laid back atmosphere of the Lhasa Club, often at the infamous Anti-Club and later Scream Club. They were support for acts like Killing Joke on their first US tour in 1981.

    Their second album ‘Close One Sad Eye’ incorporated more melodic structures, resulting in one of the most definitive American gothic albums of all time. This would be their final album until founder and core member Patrick Mata reformed the band in 2008, although several compilation appearances would follow such as ‘Radio Tokyo Tapes Vol. Two’ (“Poisoning”) ‘Viva Los Angeles’ with ‘(Is It Your Face’). Kommunity FK performed throughout the late 80s, 90s and early 2000s with noteworthy musicians like Cam Campbell and Dave Roberts (Sex Gang Children), Eddie Branch (UK Decay), Shane Talada and Dave Skott (STG, Element) and others.

    Patrick Mata recorded solo material, 1979’s ‘Queen of Beverly Hills’ single and for the 1985 punk/thrash/deathrock compilation ‘Let’s Die’, and a 2000 full solo album ‘Hydrocarbons From A Meteorite (Green)’. He also fronted Sativa Luvbox in the 1990s and performed under the name Texylvania on multiple occasions. in 2020s he paired up with Dave Roberts once more for a project entitled Kult Children of The Damned

    Related: Patrick Mata, Nervous Gender, Uk Decay, Killing Joke, Sex Gang Children, Texylvania, Kult Children of The Damned, STG, Element, Los Angeles, Lhasa Club, Anti-Club, Scream Club, Independent Projects Records

    Links:

    Official: http://www.kommunityfk.com/

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/285076-Kommunity-FK

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

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kommunity.fk/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kommunityfk/

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • The Gun Club

    Location: Los Angeles
    Active: 1979-1996

    Fusing elements of punk, blues, voodoo, horror comics and a western atmosphere, Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Kid Congo Powers co-founded The Gun Club in Los Angeles in 1979 as Creeping Ritual until adopting the new name by early 1980. Their membership fluctuated on a regular basis around Pierce’s wild behavior, with Kid Congo joining The Cramps later that year. Their early lineups saw Terry Graham, Rob Ritter (45 Grave), both formerly of The Bags and Ward Dotson (Der Stab). Patricia Morrison, also a former Bag, would join in 1982.   

    After touring as support with Siouxsie and the Banshees and another headline tour with support band Sisters of Mercy, The Gun Club split up in 1985, leading Morrisson and Desi Desperate to form the band Fur Bible, while Pierce went on a solo career. They would reform in 1986 with Kid Congo Powers (then with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) back on guitar. Lineup changes continued to occur during their next few albums. Jeffrey Lee Pierce died March 31, 1996 of a brain hemorrhage, leaving behind a legacy that his peers and new generations of musicians continue to revere.

    Related: 45 Grave, The Cramps, Tex & The Horseheads, The Bags, Patricia Morrison

    Links:

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gun_Club
    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/270779-The-Gun-Club

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • The Cramps

    Formed in Akron Ohio in the middle 1970s, Lux Interior and Poison Ivy bonded over their mutual love of music and movie culture. They would relocate to New York City in the early days of the punk movement alongside fellow Ohioans The Dead Boys. Other members would include drummers Bryan Gregory (Beast) during their New York era, followed by Kid Congo Powers (The Gun Club, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Divine Horsemen, Angels of Light, Die Haut) who would join them when they settled in Los Angeles. Nick Knox served on the drums after Congo’s departure.

    Lux Interior passed away February 4, 2009.

    Links:

    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cramps
    Discogs.com: https://www.discogs.com/artist/39779-The-Cramps

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Stiv Bators

    Stiv Bators of The Dead Boys, Lords of the New Church

    Iconic frontman of both The Dead Boys and The Lords of the New Church, Stiv Bators grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, born Steven John Bator (*October 22, 1949 – †June 4, 1990). His first forays into the world of music was in proto punk bands like Rocket From The Tombs and Frankenstein, along with future members of what would evolve into The Dead Boys, who would move on to the New York punk movement forming around bands like Television, The Ramones and fellow Ohioans, The Cramps.

    After the Dead boys came to an end in 1979 during the recording of their second album, Stiv Bator recorded as a solo artist in Los Angeles for Bomp! Records. Eventually he would relocate to London to work with David Tregunna of Sham 69 as The Wanderers, but meanwhile forming a musical relationship with Brian James of The Damned, a project which would come to be known as The Lords of the New Church.

    He appeared in the films Polyester (directed by John Waters, 1981) and Tapeheads (1988) and is the subject of a documentary film Stiv: No Compromise, No Regrets (2019). He is portrayed in the movie CBGB (2013) by Justin Bartha, about the rise of the iconic New York venue and centers largely around the antics of The Dead Boys.
    In 1990, Stiv Bators died in his home in Paris after sustaining an injury being struck by a car. Not believing he was seriously injured, he died in his sleep. He was 40 years old. His ashes were scattered over the grave of Jim Morrison, as well as according to some statements, snorted by a select group of friends.

    Links:

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

    This profile is in development. Contributions?