Nosferatu (band)

Nosferatu are an English second wave gothic rock band. As of 2023, the members are Damien DeVille (lead guitar) and Tim Vic (vocals and guitar).

History
Nosferatu were formed in March 1988 by guitarist Damien DeVille, bassist Vlad Janicek, and vocalist Sapphire Aurora. In 1990, they debuted with the track "Bloodlust" on a compilation album. Ex Grenadier Guard Gary Clarke (The Cureheads) took over from Sapphire & fronted the band on their first Uk tour, opening for Every New Dead Ghost. Clarke left in late 1990 to start The Cureheads. In 1991, they recorded The Hellhound EP with vocalist Louis DeWray replacing Clarke. In 1992, Dave Roberts of the gothic rock group Sex Gang Children wanted Nosferatu to release a compilation of their singles so far under the Cleopatra Records label, but the band agreed to record new songs towards their debut album Rise in 1993. Afterwards, Niall Murphy replaced DeWray on vocals for their Halloween shows.

In 1994, Nosferatu released a compilation of early recordings called Legend and their second studio album The Prophecy. Afterwards, Murphy was replaced by Dominic LaVey, and Janicek left the band, with Dante Savarelle replacing. The group signed with Hades Records, and released Prince of Darkness in 1996. In 1998, the group released Lord of the Flies with bassist Doc Milton replacing Savarelle, and featured guest drummer Rat Scabies formerly of The Damned.

Bassist Stefan Diablo replaced Milton and the band worked on the album Re Vamped, released in 1999. Re Vamped had remixes and some new tracks. In 2000, they released the live album Reflections Through a Darker Glass. They released another compilation album The Best of Nosferatu, Vol. 1 Louis DeWray officially rejoined the band in 2005, and in 2011, they released the album Wonderland under Dark Fortune Records.

In 2015, vocalist Louis DeWray left the band and Tim Vic replaced him.

<!-- NEED SOURCES previous writeup Janicek played bass guitar/keys until November 1994, and designed the first Nosferatu Logo and stage sets. Aurora provided vocals until April 1990, after which Gary Ash (Gary Clarke) sang briefly with the band until October of that year. In 1991 vocals were provided by Louis DeWray, who remained until April 1993. Chris Clark joined the band briefly in 1994 on drums. Niall Murphy then sang with the band until November 1994, and Dominic LaVey provided vocals from March 1995 to February 2002.

Louis DeWray returned as a vocalist in 2003, having performed in the meantime with Fashionable Living Death and his own band Ditzy Micro. He also played guitar, bass, keyboard and percussion in the band at various times until December 2014. He also contributed to the songwriting and instrumentation of the 2011 Wonderland album, which was developed over a seven year period.

The band has performed over 300 concerts in 14 countries since 1988, including the Wave Gothic Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany in 2015, 2011, 2009, 2006, 1999 & 1994; the NCN Festival in Deutzen, Germany in 2012; the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2007 & 2002; the Castle Party Festival in Poland in 2011; the DV8 Festival in York in 2011 & 2010, England; the Judgement Day Festival Dornbirn in 2006, Austria; the Existence Festival in Valencia, Spain in 2006; the Vampiricon Festival in Duisburg, Germany in 2003; Sacrosanct Festival London in 1995 and Reading in 2014; the Waregem Gothic Festival in Waregem, Belgium in 2010 and the Lumous Festival in Tampere, Finland in 2011.

Damien DeVille is the only original member still with the band, and has written a book about Nosferatu entitled Vampyres Cry – The History of A Gothic Rock Band.

Vlad Janicek was the majority songwriter until 1994 and designed all the early releases and the distinctive band logo.

From the start Nosferatu were unashamedly gothic, touring using a hearse owned by DeVille. They drew on Victorian gothic and vampiric imagery and championed the stylistic excesses that many of their contemporaries disdained.

Sapphire Aurora provided vocals until April 1990, and Gary Clarke sang briefly with the band from April to October of 1990. From 1991 to April 1993 lyrics and vocals were provided by Louis DeWray. Niall Murphy then sang with the band until November 1994, and Chris Clark joined the band briefly in 1994 on drums.

The band split in acrimonious circumstances during the tour to promote The Prophecy in November 1994, at the height of their popularity. Deville formed a new band in 1995 and decided to continue using the Nosferatu name without authorisation. Although this was contested by Janicek at the time, legal action was halted as the cost of litigation far outweighed any potential future income.

Dominic LaVey provided vocals from March 1995 to February 2002. Louis DeWray returned as vocalist and songwriter in 2003, having performed in the meantime with Fashionable Living Death and his own band, Ditzy Micro. DeWray played guitar, bass, keyboard and percussion in the band at various times until December 2014. Tim Vic replaced Louis DeWray as lead vocalist in 2014. DeWray contributed the majority of songwriting and instrumentation for the 2011 Wonderland album, which was developed over a seven-year period.

The band has performed over 320 concerts in 14 countries since 1988, including Amphi Fest in Cologne, Germany in 2016, the Wave Gothic Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany in 2015, 2011, 2009, 2006, 1999 & 1994; the NCN Festival in Deutzen, Germany in 2012; the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2007 & 2002; the Castle Party Festival in Poland in 2011; the DV8 Festival in York in 2011 & 2010, England; the Judgement Day Festival Dornbirn in 2006, Austria; the Existence Festival in Valencia, Spain in 2006; the Vampiricon Festival in Duisburg, Germany in 2003; Sacrosanct Festival London in 1995 and Reading in 2014; the Waregem Gothic Festival in Waregem, Belgium in 2010 and the Lumous Festival in Tampere, Finland in 2011.

As of 2019 Vlad Janicek and Louis DeWray, original members, formed their own version of the band, The Nosferatu. Although legally entitled to use the name Nosferatu, they decided to alter the name to avoid confusion for fans.

Nosferatu's albums, singles and DVD have sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. During recording sessions the band sometimes included guest musicians: Rat Scabies of The Damned played drums on Lord of the Flies, ReVamped, The Best of Nosferatu Volume 1: The Hades Years, and "Visionary Vampyres" DVD Ltd Edition Boxed Set. Joby Talbot;s saxophone can be heard on The Prophecy album. Simon Doc Octopus Milton played bass guitar on The Lord Of The Flies album.

Milton also engineered and co-produced NOSFERATU's Rise, The Prophecy, Prince of Darkness and Lord Of The Flies albums as well as their singles Inside The Devil, Savage Kiss and The Haunting. DeWray rejoins Nosferatu for.

Louis DeWray also participated in the band's studio work. He recorded, mixed and mastered the 2011 album Wonderland at his Earth Terminal studio in Hampshire, UK.

Nosferatu received both national and independent chart success in the UK and Germany. The band independently released 11 albums (including a studio album 'Wonderland' in 2011), 8 singles, 1 DVD and various songs featured on 54 compilation albums. --->

Studio albums

 * Rise (1993)
 * The Prophecy (1994)
 * Prince of Darkness (1996)
 * Lord of the Flies (1998)
 * Wonderland (2011)

Compilation albums

 * Legend (1994)
 * Re Vamped (1999)
 * The Best of Nosferatu: Volume 1: The Hades Years

Live albums

 * Reflections Through A Darker Glass (2000)

Singles
Some of these singles were also released as EPs, 12", CD and cassette
 * "The Hellhound" (1991)
 * "Vampyres Cry" (1992)
 * "Diva" (1992)
 * "Inside The Devil" (1993)
 * "Savage Kiss" (1993)

Members
Current members
 * Damien DeVille (1988–present) – guitars
 * Tim Vic (2015–present) – vocals

Former members
 * Sapphire Aurora (1988–1990) – vocals
 * Vlad Janicek (1988–1994) – bass, keyboards
 * Gary Clarke (Jan 1990–Dec 1990)
 * Louis DeWray (1991–1993, 2005–2015) – vocals
 * Belle Star (2007–2023) – drums
 * Niall Murphy (1993–1994) – vocals
 * Dante Savarelle (1994–1998) – bass
 * Dominic LaVey (1995–2002) – vocals
 * Chrys Columbine (2006–2010) - piano and keyboards
 * Doc Milton (1998–2011) – bass
 * Stefan Diablo (2011–2016) – bass
 * Thom (2016–2023) – bass

The Nosferatu
In 2019, Vlad Janicek and Louis DeWray formed The Nosferatu. In an interview with Absolution, Janicek said it was after The Prophecy tour when DeVille "left the band" and "What followed was 1-2 years of legal stupidity during which Damien decided to form a completely new band and call it Nosferatu. After taking very expensive legal counseling l was told that l could not stop him as technically we both owned the name 50/50 and could both use it." They brought in Chris Clark who had also played briefly with Nosferatu.

The Nosferatu played their first show at The Underworld in Camden, London in November 2019 and their first overseas show in February 2020 at Temple Rock Club in Athens, Greece. In 2023, the band embarked on an extensive European and American tour, playing headline concerts in Mexico, Czech Republic, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy, and at Whitby Gothic Festival U.K supporting New Model Army, and at the prestigious NCN Festival in Germany. The Mexican shows the band headlined are notable as debut performances of songs from the Rise album and the first time any version of the band has performed in North America.

The band are currently writing and recording songs for their debut album under The Nosferatu name, and have upcoming 2024 shows at Castle Party Festival in Poland, and in Athens, Greece.