`99 Interview with Eyajo Joseph
Everybody seems to have the same questions these days. Where did you go and what have you been up to since Astro Vamps broke up?
Well, let's just say I went through a lot of shit, but the extensive travelling of all the states, poetry readings in cities from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, New York, and all the one horse towns in between has strengthened many things about my life. I guess there comes a time when you need to re-invent yourself. I never intended to disappear for good. In this time, I've been writing and working on 3 manuscripts. "Oktober" (poems), "Nocfayland - Tales from the Darkland of Faery" (short story collection), and "Gothick - A Memoir" (memoir of Babydolls, Astro Vamps, Hollywood, gothic poetry, life, God, hell, witchcraft, relationships, etc.).
These last three years I felt like I've been doing time, but I've been writing literature and songs and plan to come back no matter what the cost. I'm an artist of the Dark Arts and there's no other place for me to be whether the scene is called "gothic" this year as opposed to the years to come.
What are some of your top musical influences?
Bauahus, Gene Loves Jezebel (old), The Cure, Duran Duran (old), Sisters of Mercy, Skinny Puppy, Astro Vamps, The Damned, Depeche Mode, Velvet Underground, and Lou Reed are some of my top musical influences.
Was Babydolls the first band that you were in prior to forming Astro Vamps?
The first band I was in had three members and it was called Auventura. We recorded four singles and they were released on flexi disc inside of a comic book. My first attempts on writing were not bad and they were published by Pyramid Comics, but I wouldn't go and re-release them. They remain in my closet.
I put another techno band together in Chicago and we did three gigs with all Depeche Mode covers. We played loft parties, but didn't have a name for the band. Then I strongly urged we play original material and the other guys were uncomfortable because they could play, but no one could write anything interesting, so I came up with a song and they loved it. We played it and received great responses from the crowd. It was similar to "Everyday Is Halloween" by Ministry, but the singer told everyone he wrote it. When I confronted him, he said "You've been playing keyboards for only seven months, so how could you have written it, when I've been playing piano since I was eight?". Why he did this, I don't know, but he threw a glass of water on my Casio 101 keyboard and I kicked him in the face instantly and regrettably broke his jaw. I spent the weekend in jail, then moved to Hollywood, California and Babydolls was formed.
What prompted you and Dan to start Astro Vamps after the disbanding of the Babydolls?
Well, there were many things really. Dan and I had a lot more things in common (music, gothic scene, lyrics, etc.) and after the last Babydoll line-up we talked about doing a side project, but put it on hold. The simple fact was I liked Dan's voice better and he would often sing the songs in rehearsal because the Babydolls lead singers had a reputation for showing up late or not at all. Since we were paying for rehearsal space, we started rehearsal without them. The final straw was when Dan and I wrote "Death" about the death of my father and the death of one of Dan's brothers. It was a beautiful song and I told Dan he had to do the vocals. Kelly (second lead singer of the Babydolls) and Stacey (bass guitar of Babydolls) liked the song, but didn't want Dan to sing. They also didn't like us writing what they called "death shit" so we called a meeting and we all went our separate ways. I knew Dan and I could accomplish anything now. Half of the album had already been written (for Babydolls).
Dan and I had been thinking about a new name for the band, but didn't want to say anything to each other. A few days before the album was pressed, Dan called me up and said "We have to change the name" and I agreed since I had been thinking about the same thing. After a few names thrown around, Daniel called me up and said "I got it! Astro Vamps!!" I wasn't sure at first, but within five minutes I agreed. It was a great name that really didn't mean anything other than our own personalities and music. We wrote some new songs and revised the rest of the album and released "Savage Garden" Astro Vamps.
Where did the name "Astro Vamps" come from?
The name came from a song Daniel had written titled "Astro Vamp". We just added an "s" to the name and bagan our gothic campaign to promote our album.
What's the story behind the names "Eyajo Gypsy" and "Surfer Dan"?
The names "Eyajo Gypsy" and "Surfer Dan" were just the monikers we used in Babydolls. I guess we thought they were cute or something and the LP was printed and pressed before we decided to go back to our original names.
Was it just coincidence that the song "Zombie Dance" was on both of your full-length releases as well as the Babydolls EP or did you pick it as sort of a "trademark song"?
Yes, "Zombie Dance" can definitely be considered one of the trademark songs of the Astro Vamps. Although, in a way, "Zombie Dance" came before it's time. By that I mean we recorded it on the Babydolls EP with Sean. It was also recorded as a single with Kelly (which never got distributed) and it was being performed live.
The song basically sums up what the Astro Vamps were all about, so it was recorded again and again, but people must remember Daniel and I were the song writers for the Babydolls as well, so bringing over "Zombie Dance" was totally within our power.
What would you say is your favorite Astro Vamps song and why?
I would have to say that my favorite song would have to be the title track off our second LP "Blood and Flowers". The song "Blood and Flowers" showed what awesome song writing work Daniel and I were capable of. Daniel's vocal work on the song was incredible and I played that song over and over on repeat all night after we recorded it. Also I would like to mention that "Ghost Train", "Zombie Dance", "Dollmaker", "Vampira", "Apparition Love", and "Funeral Children" are favorites of mine as well.
What brought about the end of Astro Vamps?
We had a record deal with an English company and with our correspondence back and forth it didn't end up happening. Dan was making a move to Seattle, WA (to relocate the Astro Vamps), so I decided to stay in L.A. since Vincent was still in San Francisco. I figured our via point would be San Francisco where we would record and rehearse.
This was not the primary reason the Astro Vamps broke up, but instead just part of the cake. There was a falling out between the singer and myself. There was an uncalled for exchange of words which later I regretted. I tried to apologize a few times and I hold no hard feelings against Daniel because he was always a good friend and to me will always be. I wish him luck in all his endeavors and I hope there will be a day where we can speak again.
The Astro Vamps line-up was constantly changing. Did this have anything to do with the band's split?
It had nothing at all to do with the band's split.
Any idea what the other guys are up to these days?
I heard Daniel had released a demo called "Radio Ghost" and Vincent's doing very well in a computer oriented career. I'm still in contact with Vince and he has agreed to help me out in future projects. Tony extraordinaire is still going with Willow Wisp.
Any way out stories about Dan? It seems like every time I'm online, I meet someone that knows Dan and has some way out story to tell.
There are many way out stories and I was glad to be a part of some of them. Some day they'll find their way to pen and paper in one of my future projects of memoir. One of my favorite times with Dan was during the Babydolls and when we were on the Sunset Strip and some long-haired called Dan 'Girl George' and called me 'Boy George' and Dan gave him the vampire evil look. The guy was offended by the look and came back up to Dan and Dan didn't give him a chance to mumble a word, punched him straight in the nose, sending this guy airborne. Blood went all over this guy's face and it was only Dan and I and it was like our own fight club. It was beautiful.
Tell us more about your new musical project "This November's Eve"?
My new musical project is going through some formation stages off and on. The original name "this November's Eve" won't be used for the musical project. That name has found it's way as a title of one of my literary works that is in progress, but briefly I will sum up my musical project as being experimental and always gothic. Almost like a performance piece where the lead vocals are more like spoken poetry.
Will your unique "Gypsy Goth" style of music continue with "This November's Eve" or was that strictly part of the Astro Vamps image?
I would say that was strictly part of the Astro Vamps image because Daniel took on the larger musical writing as far as that particular sound.
When can we expect to hear something from "This November's Eve"?
I'm hoping to bring in the new millennium.
Had you wanted to be a writer previous to your career as a musician?
Always been a writer. Always have been, always will be and music is a seduction and always comes back to you.
What issues does your literary work deal with?
Most of my earlier stuff dealt with the occult, love, romance, and the musical gothic scene. My work seems to always deal with romance, tragedy, and the darker side of life, both natural and not so natural. I write about the freaks of the world. I put my voices in other characters. I scream, plead, and search through the voices of immortals.
Tell us about your book "Oktober" that will be coming out soon.
The book "Oktober" has some revisions of the out of print book "Where Elfin Children Play". I t talks through many voices. Through angels, shape shifters, and through the bleeding heart of a romantic wearing all black. There are many new works as well.
What kind of feedback have you gotten from your first book?
The feedback has been very well received. I was surprised. I thought that maybe this poetry had no place in the literary realm. I thought that maybe some was too experimental or outrageous, but overall, I was pleased with the response.
When can we expect "Oktober" to be released?
By the millennium.
How can persons interested in obtaining your literary work purchase what you currently have available?
In the future I will be putting together a website. As soon as it is completed I will let everyone know.
What is your opinion of the Goth scene these days?
I've always liked the glamour, the nobility of it, but the attitude needs to be put in check. This gothic scene has always been my musical, literary, and artistic muse.
What would you say is the biggest influence in your song writing as well as your literary work?
Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, Old Gene loves Jezebel, Edgar Allen Poe, Andi Sexton, Lord Byron, and Virginia Wolf just to name some of the darker walks of life. These are both my inspiration and sometimes a guidepost.
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment as a musician as well as a writer?
I've accomplished a lot, but I do not feel I've accomplished my greatest works yet.
Who would you say is your favorite author and why?
Edgar Allen Poe because he can talk about screwing the dead and it was still beautiful and hauntingly romantic. He took darkness and said it was ok to realize it was beautiful.
Are you stil into the club scene? If so, what clubs do you frequent?
I've found my ways into coffee shops lately becase I'm doing more poetry readings.
Of the Astro Vamps performances, which would you say is the most memorable and why?
When we opened for the original Christian Death with Rozz in Los Angeles and they were recording a live album. The write-up the next day said how the Astro Vamps outdid Christian Death and we felt that was our ultimate compliment. They were an influence of ours.
Eyajo: Ending Notes...
Anything can happen, bands break up and rejoin all the time, never say never. I'm not making any promises, but as long as the Astro Vamp's souls roam the earth, there's always a chance for more Astro Vamps someday.
(I would like to thank Rick Shaddix for his patience and honest interest in this interview.)
Sincerely, Eyajo Joseph
New Orleans, LA
11/3/99
Interview ©1999 by Eyajo Joseph
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