David J
 |
The Estranged
World of David J
by David Chiu
Any fan of modern rock, especially Goth,
for the last 25 years will certainly know who David J is. The
artist first made a name for himself as the founding member of
the legendary, influential band Bauhaus of the early '80s, and
then later as one third of Love and Rockets. The former band
achieved cult status while the latter netted a huge commercial
pop hit (1989's "So Alive").
The British bassist and vocalist has also
forged his own solo career throughout the '80s and '90s (Songs
from Another Season, On Glass, Etiquette of Violence).
Now David J has returned with his latest solo record called Estranged.
Inspired by the breakup with his partner, Estranged might
sound somewhat surprising to those expecting something abrasive
or Goth emblematic of his past. Estranged is an atmospheric,
intimate spare album with David J singing in a deadpan manner.
Combining both elements of folk and country (reflected on tracks
like "Mess Up," Time in the Sun"), J's album evokes
a sense of beauty even during moments of melancholy and darkness
(some things never change). J even covers an old '70s standby
Bread's "The Guitar Man" with some soaring guitar lines
by Dave Navarro and American Music Club's Bruce Kaphin.
Born David J. Haskins, the artist made
his mark in music back in 1978 when he, drummer Kevin Haskins,
guitarist Daniel Ash, and vocalist Peter Murphy formed Bahaus.
Their sound inaugurated the Goth post-punk movement, which would
prove influential and imitated for years to come. Their most
famous single was "Bela Lugosi's Dead" followed by
a hit remake of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. After the group
broke up, David J, Kevin Haskins, and Daniel Ash formed Love
and Rockets. Streamlining their sound without the doomy trappings,
Love and Rockets scored a huge hit "So Alive" in the
late '80s and recorded several subsequent albums.
Things recently have come full circle for
David J. In 1998, Bauhaus reformed and toured to much acclaim,
proving their legend is still alive. J was also making his own
music-Estranged was recorded three years ago but was temporarily
shelved for release due to the usual label and legal matters.
To finance the record, J sold his old Bauhaus memoribillia on
eBay. It eventually turned out to be a good deal for both J and
the fans.
Now with this latest solo album, David
J is taking his act on the road. Here, he talks about the new
album, his past, and future plans.
You sold items from you Bauhaus days
to finance your latest album. Was it difficult to part with them?
Not really, because I had the spirit of
out with the old and in with the new. Let's make some new music.
It was kind of cathartic in a way.
The most prized item that you sold was
the handwritten lyrics to "Bela Lugosi is Dead."
I didn't even know I had it. It was the
last thing found in a box. That went for four grand.
Would it be correct to say that Estranged
has a sort of country folk sound? And feel is very spiritual,
dark, and psychedelic?
The subject matter is pretty dark, and
it's cold and alienated. And that's how I was. I was outside
of the house and I wanted to get back in. But I always liked
country music. Before punk, I was into old country like Johnny
Cash, Lefty Frizzell, and Merle Haggard. I was thinking about
getting a country band together. But punk came along and that
was it.
How did you come across covering Bread's
"The Guitar Man"?
It was one of my earliest musical memories.
My dad had that on an 8-track and used to play it in the car.
I always liked that song. That's an example of something that
sounds light, but if you listen to it, the subject matter is
very dark. I like the idea of bringing that melancholy out of
it even more. It was descripitive of me being itinerant. I was
in LA and I was estranged from my wife and going through an awkward,
mixed up time in my head.
And you got Dave Navarro to play guitar
on the track.
There's an interplay there between Dave
on electric guitar and Bruce Kaphin on pedal steel guitar. It's
really nice how those two mesh.
Do you have a particular favorite track
on the record and why?
Probably "The Great Blue Whatever.
It was really wrenched from my guts, heart, and soul. It was
very raw and real, and I wrote it in the head of that. I wrote
and recorded it the next day. It was a chance thing. I was staying
at a friend's. There was a guitar in the room. It was a beat
up old guitar. I wrote the song very quickly on the guitar.
Aside from Dave Navarro and Stephen
Perkins of Jane's Addiction appearing on the album, you co-wrote
the title track of their latest album Strays. What has
been the relationship with that group?
It goes back to '86 when our agent at the
time sent us a tape of them because he think they would be a
good support band on our U.S. tour. Danny and I played it and
thought it was really great. We just got along really well with
them and we stayed in touch ever since.
I read that you were went through a
breakup with a soulmate at the time of the record. Was recording
Estranged a form of therapy for you?
Oh yeah. It was exactly that. It was finished
three years ago. It's taken this time because I held on to the
publishing. I didn't want to give my publishing away. That was
really heard because I wanted to get it out quick.
How would you describe your songwriting
process? What inspires you to write?
I never try to write something unless I'm
seized by it. Once I embark on it and surrender to that muse,
I love the process. I feel much alive when I'm writing it. Those
things usually come really quick.
Who were your musical inspirations growing
up?
The Beatles, Bob Dylan, David Bowie., T.
Rex, Roxy Music,.
I read in your bio that your father
sighed when you told him and your career officer that you wanted
to play in music and decided you should be sent to art school
? Has he been supportive since then of your decision?
He never gets wildly enthusiastic though.
He was very dismissive when I was just starting to learn to play
guitar. You are gonna come to your senses, laddie. Get a real
job. My mum was more encouraging.
You and Bauhaus appered in the film
The Hunger that starred David Bowie? What was your recollection
of that moment and have you ever met Bowie.
Incredibly charismatic and charming. He
was real nice because he made a decision to hang out with the
band. He was indentifying with us because he was in a young band
once. There was a jukebox outside his dressing room. He came
out, put on a record, and he would be dancing in front of us.
There was one disappointment. We had this
great day and then he left with his little entourage, and he
never said goodbye. We were all looking crestfallen. Then the
doors crash open and it's him and says Guys I'm sorry, I meant
to say goodbye and I wanna come and see you play live."
And then he went. And that made it.
It's funny, Peter avoided him. He was so
overcome. So it was me, Danny, and kevin with Bowie. Peter's
funny and complicated. Sometimes he's full of bravura. That's
a mask-he's masking his shyness. So he hid away.
And you also had an encounter with Iggy
Pop back in the day.
The first time we met Iggy Pop, the bravura
came out and then some. The first time we were in New York, we
were sitting in this bar at the Iroquois Hotel. This guy comes
in and we recognize him as Iggy Pop. He was like 'Hi fellas.
Are you guys in a band? We got drinking withhim. Peter was like
very nervous but Mr. Fresh came out, ribbing Iggy and asking
him if he can have his hotel key so he can come up later and
We could get into bed together." And Peter left. Iggy Pop
was saying, That;s some fresh kid, man! I don't think he ever
made it up to his roof.
You were part of two influential bands
in modern rock. Do you sometimes think about the legacy you left
for many alterantive and Goth bands of today? Are there any bands
today that remind you of Bauhaus or Love and Rockets?
We weren't really aware of the extent of
it until we did the Resurrection tour in '98. We had a
sold out world tour. And the crowd was mainly young and fanatical.
We had no concept that it was influential.
Do you rule out the possibility of playing
again with your former bandmates?
We never ruled it out but it's very unlikely
because there's so much friction in the band. It make it very
exciting and creative, but there in lies the seed of its own
self destruction.
You are going to tour behind the new
record next year. What can we expect?
What I am doing is cabaret obscuro. It's
a set I've been working on a year now. It is very visual and
theatrical. I'm just singing and prancing about.
What are your next projects?
I already got enough songs for another
new album as well. I'm also writing music for a film on the 'Black
Dahlia' murder. And I got an art gallery show this weekend. And
I've been writing a lot of prose stuff now.
You have been a resident of California
now for six years. What are your thoughts about the recent recall
election.
I think I would have been more happy if
the porn star got in.
http://www.davidjonline.com
|
