London After Midnight (band)
Encyclopedia
London After Midnight is a project formed in the 1990s by songwriter and instrumentalist Sean Brennan. It is active to the present day.
The project is considered by many as a prominent act of the second generation gothic rock
movement, some critics have credited the band with reviving the gothic music scene in the early 90s.
London After Midnight has a following worldwide, with a large fanbase in the goth subculture
. However, in interviews Sean Brennan has shunned the use of this label and others to describe his music, calling it "artistically limiting".
, pro-environmental
and human rights
issues, anti-corporate control of media, and progressive and liberal politics
. He voices this support through London After Midnight Internet
outlets, such as their official website and music. Some people think some of the music released by London After Midnight follows personal and emotional themes which are often romantic
. However, this is often a misconception — may of these songs reference a subject that is anything but romantic. The lyrics demonstrate a morbid wit, with songs like "Your Best Nightmare" being akin to an Edward Gorey
-esque tale.
Since the 1990s, London After Midnight has had a political focus, while early albums show hints of political leanings; for example, the 1991 track "Revenge" featured political elements, along with an Adolf Hitler
introduction sound clip. (Politically, the track was not geared toward or sympathetic of Nazism
.)Recent London After Midnight material (such asnew CD release "Violent Acts of Beauty"), which has been performed in concert, is highly political with songs like "Feeling Fascist?," "The Pain Looks Good on You," "America's a Fucking Disease," and others.
during 1988, and played at several clubs in the area, debuting live at premier Los Angeles Gothic rock club, Helter Skelter. In the early days London After Midnight had various temporary members who joined Brennan when performing live, but did not perform on the albums. However, former live keyboardist Tamlyn contributed an instrumental called "Ice" for the 1998 release of Oddities at Brennan's request, and an instrumental entitled "Perversion" on the 93' Ruins demo tape released as a preview of what was to become their second album, Psycho Magnet.
After garnering a fanbase aided by the release of a self-titled demo, the project released their début album Selected Scenes from the End of the World
in 1991. In 1992 bassist Michael Areklett joined the line-up after the resignation of live bassist Rob Podzunas. Like Tamlyn, Michael Areklett appeared live as a recurring member, rather than a guest. Around this period, Douglas Avery also joined, replacing drummer Ian Haas. Eddie Hawkins was part of the original live line up, but was replaced in 1990.
. Following the release of the self titled debut, LAM gradually expanded their Californian fanbase, eventually traveling to Mexico
in 1994 (something few alternative acts were doing at the time and progressing to tour the United Kingdom
, France
, Germany
, Italy
, South America
and further in the United States
.
Sean then expanded on the original demo release and recorded more songs for "Selected Scenes from the End of the World" released in late 1992.
Coinciding with the release of the follow-up album Psycho Magnet
in 1996, London After Midnight headlined the Whitby Gothic Weekend
in England
, amongst other concerts in the UK, Europe, Mexico and the US. At this time, Sean Brennan had begun to expand musically. The project continued on with a third album titled Oddities released in 1998, featuring a cover of a track named "Sally's Song" from the film The Nightmare Before Christmas
. This CD was vastly different from other releases in that it featured acoustic and ethereal alternative mixes of songs, along with a few brand new tracks.
Around this time London After Midnight was garnering international press and was featured on the covers of many magazines, while co-headlining major concert festivals like the Zillo summer festival, with The Cure
and Green Day. LAM has since toured the world extensively playing alongside other popular bands such as Green Day
, HIM (who have cited LAM as an influence), Rammstein
, Soft Cell
, and others, headlining and co-headlining to crowds of over 30,000 in Latin America
, the US and Europe.
) adding previously unreleased bonus tracks.
In 2006 a new London After Midnight song was released on the Saw II motion picture soundtrack, it featured bands such as Queens of the Stone Age
, Skinny Puppy
, Lore and others, it reached number one on the Deutsche Alternative Charts
.
In February 2007 a teaser trailer for London After Midnight's fourth long-awaited studio album Violent Acts of Beauty
was released on the band's official website and LAM's YouTube page. The trailer stated that the album was due for a Spring/Summer 2007 release. The album itself was released in Fall 2007 (North America). Brennan made critical remarks about today's music scene and the current Myspace generation, he said, "All the [music] counter-cultures that existed have been corrupted; especially Goth and Punk, they're gone, they don't exist anymore. The kids [of today] care more about their MySpace pages, their image...and bullshit vanity."
The project is considered by many as a prominent act of the second generation gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
movement, some critics have credited the band with reviving the gothic music scene in the early 90s.
London After Midnight has a following worldwide, with a large fanbase in the goth subculture
Goth subculture
The goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify...
. However, in interviews Sean Brennan has shunned the use of this label and others to describe his music, calling it "artistically limiting".
Ideology and themes
Brennan is known for his support of animal rightsAnimal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, pro-environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
issues, anti-corporate control of media, and progressive and liberal politics
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. He voices this support through London After Midnight Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
outlets, such as their official website and music. Some people think some of the music released by London After Midnight follows personal and emotional themes which are often romantic
Romantic love
Romance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
. However, this is often a misconception — may of these songs reference a subject that is anything but romantic. The lyrics demonstrate a morbid wit, with songs like "Your Best Nightmare" being akin to an Edward Gorey
Edward Gorey
Edward St. John Gorey was an American writer and artist noted for his macabre illustrated books.-Early life:...
-esque tale.
Since the 1990s, London After Midnight has had a political focus, while early albums show hints of political leanings; for example, the 1991 track "Revenge" featured political elements, along with an Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
introduction sound clip. (Politically, the track was not geared toward or sympathetic of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
.)Recent London After Midnight material (such asnew CD release "Violent Acts of Beauty"), which has been performed in concert, is highly political with songs like "Feeling Fascist?," "The Pain Looks Good on You," "America's a Fucking Disease," and others.
History
London After Midnight formed in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
during 1988, and played at several clubs in the area, debuting live at premier Los Angeles Gothic rock club, Helter Skelter. In the early days London After Midnight had various temporary members who joined Brennan when performing live, but did not perform on the albums. However, former live keyboardist Tamlyn contributed an instrumental called "Ice" for the 1998 release of Oddities at Brennan's request, and an instrumental entitled "Perversion" on the 93' Ruins demo tape released as a preview of what was to become their second album, Psycho Magnet.
After garnering a fanbase aided by the release of a self-titled demo, the project released their début album Selected Scenes from the End of the World
Selected Scenes from the End of the World
Selected Scenes from the End of the World is the first studio album by American gothic rock band London After Midnight. It was self-released in 1992 on cassette. Trisol Records released the album in 1995 in Europe. Opción Sónica Records released the album in 1996 in Latin America. Metropolis...
in 1991. In 1992 bassist Michael Areklett joined the line-up after the resignation of live bassist Rob Podzunas. Like Tamlyn, Michael Areklett appeared live as a recurring member, rather than a guest. Around this period, Douglas Avery also joined, replacing drummer Ian Haas. Eddie Hawkins was part of the original live line up, but was replaced in 1990.
Touring and releases
In the earliest days the live band played mainly on the West Coast of the United StatesWest Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. Following the release of the self titled debut, LAM gradually expanded their Californian fanbase, eventually traveling to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1994 (something few alternative acts were doing at the time and progressing to tour the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and further in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Sean then expanded on the original demo release and recorded more songs for "Selected Scenes from the End of the World" released in late 1992.
Coinciding with the release of the follow-up album Psycho Magnet
Psycho Magnet
Psycho Magnet is the second studio album by American Gothic rock band London After Midnight. It was released in 1996 by Apocalyptic Vision.-Original:#"Psycho Magnet" – 4:17#"Where Good Girls Go to Die" – 4:19#"Innocence Lost " – 0:27...
in 1996, London After Midnight headlined the Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend, often abbreviated to WGW or simply referred to by attendees as Whitby, is a twice-yearly festival for goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.-Event history:...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, amongst other concerts in the UK, Europe, Mexico and the US. At this time, Sean Brennan had begun to expand musically. The project continued on with a third album titled Oddities released in 1998, featuring a cover of a track named "Sally's Song" from the film The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Nightmare Before Christmas, often promoted as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a 1993 stop motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to...
. This CD was vastly different from other releases in that it featured acoustic and ethereal alternative mixes of songs, along with a few brand new tracks.
Around this time London After Midnight was garnering international press and was featured on the covers of many magazines, while co-headlining major concert festivals like the Zillo summer festival, with The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
and Green Day. LAM has since toured the world extensively playing alongside other popular bands such as Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, HIM (who have cited LAM as an influence), Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
, Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
, and others, headlining and co-headlining to crowds of over 30,000 in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the US and Europe.
Recent times
The last London After Midnight album, Violent Acts of Beauty, was released in 2007. LAM has, however, re-released (in 2003) two of the past three releases in Europe and the Russian Federation, (which charted on the Deutsche Alternative ChartsDeutsche Alternative Charts
The Deutsche Alternative Charts is the primary record chart for Germany's alternative music scene. The charts cover genres ranging nu metal to Britpop, from rock music to alternative electronic...
) adding previously unreleased bonus tracks.
In 2006 a new London After Midnight song was released on the Saw II motion picture soundtrack, it featured bands such as Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
, Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial musical group, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1982. The group is widely considered to be the founders of the electro-industrial genre....
, Lore and others, it reached number one on the Deutsche Alternative Charts
Deutsche Alternative Charts
The Deutsche Alternative Charts is the primary record chart for Germany's alternative music scene. The charts cover genres ranging nu metal to Britpop, from rock music to alternative electronic...
.
In February 2007 a teaser trailer for London After Midnight's fourth long-awaited studio album Violent Acts of Beauty
Violent Acts of Beauty
Violent Acts of Beauty is the long-awaited fourth studio album by American band London After Midnight, released in Europe on October 26, 2007, and subsequently in the United States on November 6, 2007; a Russia release through Iron D Records was released in December 2007...
was released on the band's official website and LAM's YouTube page. The trailer stated that the album was due for a Spring/Summer 2007 release. The album itself was released in Fall 2007 (North America). Brennan made critical remarks about today's music scene and the current Myspace generation, he said, "All the [music] counter-cultures that existed have been corrupted; especially Goth and Punk, they're gone, they don't exist anymore. The kids [of today] care more about their MySpace pages, their image...and bullshit vanity."
Wave Gotik Treffen 2008
Current live band members
- Sean Brennan – founder, songwriting, musician on all CDs, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass, cello, violin, keyboards, programming, drums (1989–) - Peter Pace – live drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2008–) - Matthew SetzerMatthew SetzerMatthew Setzer is a musician, composer, and music technologist living in Los Angeles California. He is the guitarist for the gothic industrial band London After Midnight. In 2008 LAM played sold out shows in the US, Europe, and Mexico for the Un-American tour....
– live guitar (2008–) - Randy Mathias – live bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–)
Former Live Members
- Tamlyn – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, sounds, samplersSampler (musical instrument)A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
(1988–2003) - Joe S. - drums (live and recorded for Violent Acts of Beauty & Saw II Soundtrack) (2001–2008)
- Trouble Valli – live guitar (one concert only) (2008)
- Eddie Hawkins – live guitar (1988–1990, 2001–2008)
- John Koviak – live bass/guitar (1989–1992)
- Ian Haas –Original drummer and recordings(1988–1992)
- Douglas Avery – live drums (1992–1999)
- Rob Podzunas – live bass (1992–1992)
- Michael Areklett – live bass (1992–2005)
- Stacy – live guitar (one concert only) (1993)
- William Skye – live guitar (1994–1999)
Albums
- Selected Scenes from the End of the WorldSelected Scenes from the End of the WorldSelected Scenes from the End of the World is the first studio album by American gothic rock band London After Midnight. It was self-released in 1992 on cassette. Trisol Records released the album in 1995 in Europe. Opción Sónica Records released the album in 1996 in Latin America. Metropolis...
(1992) (re-release with bonus tracks 2003 and 2008) - Psycho MagnetPsycho MagnetPsycho Magnet is the second studio album by American Gothic rock band London After Midnight. It was released in 1996 by Apocalyptic Vision.-Original:#"Psycho Magnet" – 4:17#"Where Good Girls Go to Die" – 4:19#"Innocence Lost " – 0:27...
(1996) (re-release with bonus tracks 2003 and 2008) - Oddities (1998) (re-release 2008)
- Violent Acts of BeautyViolent Acts of BeautyViolent Acts of Beauty is the long-awaited fourth studio album by American band London After Midnight, released in Europe on October 26, 2007, and subsequently in the United States on November 6, 2007; a Russia release through Iron D Records was released in December 2007...
(2007)
Demos
- London After Midnight (1990)
- Ruins (1993)
Videography
- Innocence Lost... (1993), then re-released in 1998 with 2 new songs and extra footage.