David J

Not to be confused with David Jay.
David J

David J in 2014, photo by Mila Reynaud
Background information
Birth name David John Haskins
Born (1957-04-24) 24 April 1957
Northampton, England
Genres Alternative rock, gothic rock, post-punk, psychedelic rock, indie folk
Instruments Vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, harmonica
Years active 1979–present
Labels MCA, Beggars Banquet, Glass, Plain Recordings, Heyday, Situation Two
Associated acts Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, The Sinister Ducks, The Jazz Butcher, Three, Cabaret Oscuro, The Gentleman Thieves
Website Official website

David John Haskins (born 24 April 1957, Northampton, England), better known as David J, is a British alternative rock musician, producer, and writer. He was the bassist for the gothic rock band Bauhaus and Love and Rockets.

He has composed the scores for a number of plays and films, and also wrote and directed his own play, Silver for Gold (The Odyssey of Edie Sedgwick), in 2008, which was restaged at REDCAT in Los Angeles in 2011,[1] and The Chanteuse and The Devil's Muse, 2011. His artwork has been shown in galleries internationally, and he has been a resident DJ at venues such as the Knitting Factory.

David J has released a number of singles and solo albums, and in 1990 he released one of the first No. 1 hits on the newly created Modern Rock Tracks charts, with "I'll Be Your Chauffeur." He released the single "Tidal Wave of Blood" in 2010 with Shok, and an album, An Eclipse of Ships, in April 2014.[2] He is currently touring with his new band, The Gentleman Thieves.

Early life

David John Haskins was born on 24 April 1957 in Northampton, England. He is the older brother of Kevin Haskins, also a musician and member of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets.

Music career

Bauhaus, early years

Main article: Bauhaus (band)

J was a founding member of the highly influential English post-punk band Bauhaus in 1978, playing bass. David J wrote the lyrics of several Bauhaus songs (including their first single, "Bela Lugosi's Dead"). He sang backing vocals on many songs, and sang lead on "Who Killed Mr. Moonlight?" Bauhaus first broke up in 1983, reforming periodically at later times.

His first venture outside of Bauhaus was a collaborative single, "Armour" / "Nothing", with artist and poet René Halkett, of the original Weimar Bauhaus school of art and design.

He began writing music for a solo career while still in the band, and continued after the band's break-up, releasing the dark Etiquette of Violence and Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh, and played bass on two Jazz Butcher albums (A Scandal in Bohemia and Sex and Travel), both of which he also produced. J was also a part of the very short-lived band The Sinister Ducks, which included saxophonist Alex Green and comics writer Alan Moore. J also released an EP that was intended as a soundtrack to Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta. In 1996 he once again collaborated with Moore alongside musician Tim Perkins when the trio recorded two spoken word with music CD's, The Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels and The Birth Caul.

Founding Love and Rockets

In 1985, J, his brother Kevin Haskins, and Daniel Ash, all former members of Bauhaus, formed Love and Rockets; J once again played bass guitar and also shared songwriting and vocal duties with guitarist Daniel Ash. His most notable lead vocal from this period was the minor hit "No New Tale to Tell". J maintained his solo career during breaks from Love and Rockets, releasing Songs from Another Season and Urban Urbane after his band's success with the single "So Alive". He also released one of the first No. 1 hits from the newly created Modern Rock Tracks charts, with "I'll Be Your Chauffeur." J participated in a Bauhaus reunion in 1998. Love and Rockets broke up in 1999, after seven albums. Following what was billed as a one-off performance of Bauhaus at the 2005 Coachella concert festival, Bauhaus reformed for a successful tour of the Americas in late 2005 and Europe in early 2006 as well as a final album, Go Away White.

2003–2010

David J performing on bass in 2006

J has also appeared on releases by Porno for Pyros and Jane's Addiction, and co-wrote the latter's 2003 album title track, "Strays." In 2005, J joined with cellist Joyce Rooks and electronica musician Don Tyler to make up the instrumental ensemble Three, who released their first album Evocations later that year. He played bass guitar for several tracks on the electro musician Mount Sims' 2005 release Wild Light.[3]

In 2003, J started work on the song cycle score for an independent film about Elizabeth Short directed by Ramzi Abed, entitled The Devil's Muse. The soundtrack included guest artists and singers such as Ego Plum, Johnny Dowd, Jill Tracy, Abby Travis and Nora Keyes.[4] He has also regularly shown his art in galleries across the globe, as well as being a resident DJ at various Hollywood hot-spots including The Standard Hotel, Kung Pao Kitty, and Knitting Factory.

In 2004, his first play Anarchy in the Gold Street Wimpy was staged in Atlanta by the Dad's Garage' Theatre Company. In 2005, he composed the original music for a stage production of Samuel Beckett's Cascando. In 2008, J wrote and directed a play, Silver for Gold (The Odyssey of Edie Sedgwick),[1] which was restaged at REDCAT in Los Angeles in 2011. In 2008 J also released Go Away White with his Bauhaus bandmates and reformed Love and Rockets, who played at Coachella Music & Arts Festival as well as Lollapalooza that same year.

2008 also saw David J contributing lyrics and vocals on a track entitled "Sleaze" for the Dutch band, Strange Attractor. It appeared on their album, Mettle (2011). He worked with the band again when he supplied lyrics and vocals on "The Corridor" for the album, Anatomy of a Tear. (2011) In a similar vein, J wrote the lyrics and sang the lead vocal on the track "Spalding Grey Can't Swim," which appeared on George Sarah's 2012 release, Who Sleeps The Sleep of Peace.

Recent years

In 2011, J released a new solo album that was dark cabaret-oriented, Not Long for This World, and provided bass for Voltaire's album Riding a Black Unicorn Down the Side of an Erupting Volcano While Drinking from a Chalice Filled with the Laughter of Small Children!. In 2012, he recorded bass for the song "Melody Dean" on the album Theatre Is Evil by Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra. He co-wrote the track "The Autumn Carnival" with Courtney Taylor-Taylor for The Dandy Warhols' album, This Machine, 2012. Also in 2012, he toured using his opening act Adrian H and the Wounds as a backing band.[5]

David J produced and played bass, organ and sang on Starfishing (2012) the debut album by Darwin. He also co-produced, played bass and appeared on the Darwin's follow up EP Souvenir (2014).[6] featured David, Victor DeLorenzo (Violent Femmes) and Emily Jane White.[7]

In 2013 he collaborated with producer Dub Gabriel, playing bass, bells and Farfisa organ alongside U Roy and Juakali. He also played bass on the Dub Gabriel produced Jajouka Sound System track "Salahadeen," which featured Bashir Attar, leader of The Master Musicians of Jajouka on gaita.

On Halloween 2013, David J in collaboration with Jill Tracy, released "Bela Lugosi's Dead (Undead is Forever)."[8][9] This was a dramatic cinematic reworking of the original Bauhaus song.[10][11]

In 2014 David produced and played bass on a cover of the Blondie hit, "Heart of Glass" by Stellarum, which was met with very positive response from the songs' originators, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. He played bass on the band's debut album which he also produced and which was released in August of this year.

His latest album, "An Eclipse of Ships", was released in April 2014.[2]

His memoir, Who Killed Mister Moonlight? (Bauhaus, Black Magick and Benediction) was published by Jawbone Press in the winter of 2014, to critical acclaim.[12]

In 2015 David performed with Ego Plum on the theme to the Nickelodean TV show Harvey Beaks.[13]

Writing credits

Theatre

Books

Bauhaus

Main article: Bauhaus discography

Love and Rockets

The Bubblemen

Solo

Studio albums

List of full-length albums by David J
Year Album title Release details
1983 Etiquette of Violence
  • Released: Nov. 1983, 1990, Nov. 2013
  • Label: Situation Two, Cherry Red
  • Format: Vinyl, CD
1985 Crocodile Tears
and the Velvet Cosh
  • Released: March 1985, 2006
  • Label: Glass, Plain Recordings
  • Format: CD, digital
1986 On Glass
(singles compilation)
  • Released: March 1986, 1998, 2006
  • Label: Glass, Cleopatra, Plain
  • Format: LP, cass, CD
1990 Songs from Another Season
  • Released: June 1990, 1999
  • Label: Beggars Banquet
  • Format: LP, cass, CD, digital
1992 Urban Urbane
  • Released: 1992 (non-UK)
  • Label: MCA
  • Format: Cass, CD
1996 The Birth Caul
by David J/Alan Moore/Tim Perkins
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Charmm Records
  • Format: CD
The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theater of Marvels
by David J/Alan Moore/Tim Perkins
2003 Estranged
  • Released: 2003 (non-UK)
  • Label: Heyday
  • Format: CD, digital
Embrace Your Dysfunction
(singles compilation)
  • Released: 2003 (non-UK)
  • Label: Heyday
  • Format: CD
2005 Evocations (Three)
2011 Not Long For This World
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Starry/Saint Rose
  • Format: CD/LP, digital
2014 An Eclipse of Ships
  • Released: April 2014

EPs

List of studio and live EPs by David J
Year Album title Release details
1983 The Promised Land
by David J and The J-Walkers
  • Released: November 1983
  • Label: Glass Records
  • Format: 7"/12" vinyl
1984 V for Vendetta
by David J
  • Released: April 1984, 2006
  • Label: Glass/Plain Recordings (reissue)
  • Format: 12" vinyl, CD
1985 Blue Moods Turning Tail
by David J
  • Released: July 1985
  • Label: Glass
  • Format: 12" vinyl
2002 The Guitar Man
by David J
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Heyday (non-UK)
  • Format: CD
2003 Mess Up
by David J
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Heyday (HEY056-2)
  • Format: CD
2003 The Devils Muse
by David J + Ego Plum
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Urbane Music
  • Format: CD ltd.

Singles

Incomplete list of singles by David J
Yr Single Artist(s) Label Notes
1981 "Nothing/Armour" David Jay + René Halkett 4AD, Urbane Music 7" vinyl, CD reissue 2001
1983 "March of the Sinister Ducks" The Sinister Ducks (David J, Alex Green, Alan Moore) Situation Two 7" in August 1983
1983 "Joe Orton's Wedding" David J Situation Two 7"/12" vinyl
1984 "I Can't Shake This Shadow of Fear" David J Glass Records 7"/12" vinyl
1985 "Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh" David J Glass Records 7"/12" vinyl
1990 "I'll Be Your Chauffeur" David J Beggars Banquet, RCA (US) 7"/12" vinyl. One of the first No. 1 hits on Modern Rock Tracks
1990 "Fingers in the Grease" David J RCA (non-UK release) CD
1992 "Candy on the Cross" David J MCA (non-UK release) CD, 12" vinyl
1992 "Some Big City" David J MCA (non-UK release) CD, cassette
1992 "Space Cowboy" David J MCA (non-UK release) CD
2007 "The Bottle, The Book or the Dollar Bill" David J & The Glossines Andromeda Records 7" vinyl ltd. with DVD
2010 "Hank Williams to the Angel of Death" David J iTunes exclusive Digital
2010 "Tidal Wave of Blood" / "Blood Sucker Blues" David J + Shok (with Jill Tracy) Saint Rose 7", Ltd
2012 "In The Temple of the Id" David J + Ego Plum Custom Made Music Vinyl, 7", Ltd
2013 "Bela Lugosi's Dead (undead is forever)" David J + Jill Tracy Digital

Film and theatre scores

Contributing musician

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
As a musician
As a songwriter
  • 2003: Strays by Jane's Addiction – cowrote track "Strays"
  • 2005: "Splinters of The Cross" by Basic – cowrote track "Splinters of The Cross"
  • 2005: "The Men Album' by Jarboe – cowrote track "Angel"
  • 2008: Mettle" by Strange Attractor – cowrote track "Sleaze"
  • 2011: "Anatomy of a Tear" by Strange Attractor – cowrote track "The Corridor"
  • 2012: "Who Sleeps The Sleep of Peace" by George Sarah – cowrote track "Spalding Grey Can't Swin"
  • 2013: 'Take You Deep", "Blood Bound", "Voyage of The Damned" by Tres Vampires – cowrote tracks
  • 2014: "This Machine" by The Dandy Warhols – cowrote track "The Autumn Carnival"

See also

Further reading

Interviews, articles
Resources

References

  1. 1 2 "David J of Bauhaus by Erin_broadley". SuicideGirls. 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  2. 1 2 "Stream: David J premieres ‘You Suit a Rainy Day’ — first single off ‘An Eclipse of Ships’". Slicingupeyeballs.com. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  3. 1 2 "Metroactive Music | Porno for Pyros". Metroactive.com. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  4. ↑ Moore, Debi (2008-09-18). "The Devil's Muse Double-Disc Details". Dread Central. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  5. ↑ "Adrian H interview on Outsight Radio Hours". Archive.org. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  6. ↑ Darwin Meiners. "'Meaningless' - Darwin". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  7. ↑ "Home". DarwinMeiners.com. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  8. ↑ David J (30 October 2013). "Bela Lugosi's Dead (Undead is Forever)". YouTube. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  9. ↑ David J (31 October 2013). "Bela Lugosi's Dead (Undead is Forever) : David J (official)". BandCamp. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "David J to release 'new cinematic interpretation' of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" on Halloween". SlicingUpEyeballs.com. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  11. ↑ Last.FM/user/ElDingo (15 September 2013). "David J + Silent Pictures + The Sky Parade at The Blank Club (San Jose) on 9 Sep 2013". Last.FM. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  12. ↑ "David in Valhalla: "An Eclipse of Ships" at SXSW Today March 12th". Gia On The Move. 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  13. ↑ "EGO PLUM — Harvey Beaks | Opening Theme [Extended] (Q: What". Egoplum.tumblr.com. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-07-31.

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