- Well, Dominic LaVey, I would like to start asking you to go over your career in Nosferatu, from the 'Prince of Darkness' album 'til nowadays...
DLV: I joined Nosferatu around the beginning of 1995. I had known Damien DeVille for a few years, so eventually, it seemed natural for us to begin working together as Nosferatu. The first recording we made was “The Haunting” single, followed shortly after by “The Prince of Darkness”. The last album released by Nosferatu was “Reflections Through A Darker Glass”, a collection of live recordings. But currently we are working hard on the follow up to “Lord Of The Flies”, which has the working title of “Lucifer Rising”. It’s shaping up to be our best release yet.
- You decided to include the lyrics of your songs only in the remix album 'ReVamped', while the others are only available on "The Witching Hour" Website. Why this choice? And it is a long time that the website is not up dated; doesn't the Internet as form of communication with fans interest you anymore?
DLV:The reason we decided to put the lyrics on the Website was due to quite a number of letters we’d received from people over the years asking for the lyrics to particular songs. In the end, once we had a website (thanks go to Jim Raredon at this point!) we decided to put all the lyrics up. The site is updated as and when we have things to inform our fan base of. But it is currently being revamped, as we speak, and will be more interactive, with chat forums, and giving fans more access to myself and the other members of Nosferatu, and with each other.
- Nosferatu are old-style Goth, the true Goth!! I was wondering what is your opinion on EBM (sometimes just 'techno' to me!).. According to me, relating some Electro Bands to Goth is a blasphemy, what about you?
DLV: I couldn’t agree more! More and more frequently, I’m amazed at the music they play at goth clubs. Goth is a fairly loose description these days – some people regard Marilyn Manson as goth, others would regard Cradle of Filth as goth. Personally I don’t consider either bands as being particularly gothic, but I can understand why some people do, as goth has evolved over the past 20 years or so. But I fail to see how anyone could consider a lot of the current techno bands as being even remotely gothic. I know goth clubs don’t have to play 100% gothic music (I can’t imagine anything worse than a club playing purely The Sisters Of Mercy of Fields Of The Nephilim all night), but I think they should at least stay within the gothic/alternative/industrial genre most of the time, not a few token goth songs at the end of the night after 4 hours of EBM. I think techno music gets enough exposure as it is, so whenever I go to a “gothic” club, I don’t want to hear it there too! I guess some people do, but I fail to see what relevance it has to the gothic scene. But, that said, I would rather they play techno than death metal! Death metal makes me want to cut my ears off!
- If someone would ask me which are my favourite songs of Nosferatu, I would indeed answer "Crysania" and "The Haunting", what about you? Which are, to you, the songs (of the "two periods" of Nosferatu: with the other vocalists and with you) that best express the essence of Nosferatu ?
DLV: Without doubt, my favourite Nosferatu songs are “Darkness Brings” and “Dark Angel”. I feel that they encapsulate Nosferatu perfectly – they are both romantic, haunting, and they kick ass! These are my ultimate favourites, but currently I like “The Night Is Young” (a song we recorded for the Vampire: The Masquerade game companion CD) and “Lucifer Rising”, the title track of the new album. If I had to nominate a favourite album, it’s “Lord of the Flies”.
- Nosferatu appeared on a tribute to David Bowie. How was it for you celebrate 'the last dandy' of the last century?
DLV: For a long time, David Bowie has been a hero of mine. When we were asked to appear on the “Goth Oddity” album, it was an honour to be able to pay tribute to such a brilliant talent, but I felt unable to try and emulate Bowie. So in the end, I just played keyboards on “Starman”. Our bass player Stefan sings on it.
- Your lyrics often speak of 'the other dimension' but in the way of vampirism I guess so I was wondering what is your vision about ‘eternity’?
DLV: Vampyres are a fairly consistent theme in Nosferatu songs, obviously. I love the romance and dark sexuality of the vampyre books and films, from Polidori’s “The Vampyre” to Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Lestat” (my personal favourite). Apart from the obvious meanings associated, I also find appealing the symbolism and metaphors within vampyrism, of the search for love and redemption, which is relevant to most of us. Our lyrics also deal with the idea of Angels and Heaven, which I find an attractive notion. But, ultimately, no – I don’t believe in Heaven or eternal life. I think that this is life is all that there is. I’d love to be wrong, but I don’t think that I am. I think that there is too much injustice in the world for a divine being not to intervene. I do however believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits, and of aliens etc, but I don’t attempt to explain them, or understand them.
- And your lyrics also tell of a "she", "she" as a symbol of eternal love or eternal damnation?
DLV: Usually, when a “she” is mentioned in our songs, it’s in reference to the character that the song is dealing with, not necessarily someone that I actually know. So, in that sense, the “she” is neither love nor damnation. But in my personal life I have yet to find true love… but I’m waiting! And I’m open to offers!
- Ok, Prince of Darkness we are at the end, night is coming, last thoughts before flying away...
DLV: Thank you for your time, and actually asking interesting questions. “Lucifer Rising” will hopefully see the light of day in early 2001. We will definitely be on a large tour to promote it. Our main area of activity will be the USA, but we will certainly be taking in most of Europe too. So, if you haven’t seen us live yet, you will soon! Adieu.
Dominic LaVey.