I would say there is a difference between an “ Edgelord” and an Artist who is genuinely interested in the subjects that Rozz was into . An Edgelord is somebody who just does things for attention in what has already been explored . Having met the man I can honestly tell you he was the real deal - he didn’t have to try he simply just was .
I concur, edgelords generally hide behind computer screens. I also met Rozz a few times in the final year of his life and he was very much out there, walking around with that Hitler stash and cross tattoo on his forehead which quickly morphed into a swazi just before he went full on into that final darkness. I was lucky to see his final performance. I also concur with Brandon here, despite his appearance, he was actually really nice and highly engaging to talk to. A true artist.
I met Rikk Agnew in LA at a signing event 1 year ago. He was the kindest person ever. Truly appreciates anyone who is a fan of his work. Rozz’s brother was there and he brought the ashes of Rozz Williams himself to the event. Turns out his ashes are not actually at the hollywood forever cemetery.
Un po' di ceneri sono, (o sono state) conservate dalle persone che volevano beve a Rozz.. altre sono effettivamente nell'urna in Holliwood Mulholland Drive.
I was the bassist in Christian Death in 1984 when they toured Catastrophe Ballet in Europe. I was in Sex Gang Children, and left to join Christian Death. Now you say Rozz did not give the name to Valor Kand. I never liked Valor but I was there at a cafe in Amsterdam, June 1984, when Rozz sold the band name to Valor Kand on a piece of paper for $500. David Glass was there, Valor, me (Dave Roberts)...Gitane was not. I begged Rozz not to do it. But he needed whatever he needed and the rest is history. Now, that is what happened and you can argue the legality of it forever, but it was done. Otherwise a good video.
Loved your work in SGC & Carcrash Int. The Whip is a legendary compilation. Heard you were teaching guitar in Victoria somewhere now. Much respect & best wishes with however your life turned out...
@@reidgelding7909 Thanks a lot for the compliments. By the way I just joined Wikipedia and do copy editing for the principal reason that WIkipedia has decimated my life with the BS about me teaching guitar in Australia. They have changed it, so now you can tell people you know 'he lives in Los Angeles, and plays bass in Kult Children, and just released an album too!!! Better than being in Australia!!!
@@reidgelding7909 Me two...haha My new group has Patrik Mata from Kommunity FK on vocals, Terry Sex Gang Guitar, Raymondo from Death Cult on drums and I play anything that I can count to four on....hands, feet, bass... look for Kult Children Ov The Damned, and thanks for not thinking I might be dead already!!1
Wow, thank you for your insider story! I never knew that Rozz had sold the band name. Was it for financial problems? Maybe coupled with the need to step away from the Valor influence?
The one thing that I have to say about early Christian Death and Only Theatre of Pain is that it's more of a dark romantic surrealist peice of work rather than something intended to be specifically offensive or blasphemous. Rozz was very much interested in the surrealist and Dada art movements which had a lot of influence on the album. A lot of the lyrics are more of a product of stream of conscious thought rather than having a precise overall message. It's a great album and piece of art! Also, I get why people trash talk Valor, but I think both camps have good things to offer between Rozz and Valor. I met Valor once and he was a pretty nice guy from the brief interaction. Thanks for putting this documentary together. It's a great band that deserves attention.
I've never really viewed this music as Satanic. I've thought it as very investigative, introspective and deeply spiritual. If viewed from an esoteric perspective, a lot of it sounds like levels of initiation or spiritual metaphors. To me anyways. Yup, I'm "a Christian" if there must be a category. Great documentary ❤
Really? Woe to Esau and Edomites! 🔥 Have you ever participated in that? Maybe what Rozz is singing about could possibly be you or someone in your family/bloodline/nation from the past, or even in these times. Yeah, and I'm a black fan from the mid 80's. 🧕🏾👩🏾 Surprise mf! @@glueball9511
Celtic Frost also cited Christian Death as a massive influence. Look no further than Mesmerized, Tristesses De La Lune, Sorrows of the Moon, Drown in Ashes and Obscured.
Must say as not a metal guy coming from a deathrock/punk/goth background after your comment it led me down a Celtic Frost journey. I ended up buying Into the Pandemonium vinyl LP this week ..I blame you Mr. @l2jnichol1986
Thanks for the video. As much as I love Only Theatre Of Pain, the songs I keep going back to are on Catastrophe Ballet. The Drowning, The Blue Hour, Electra Descending are what comes to mind with Rozz for me. 'I've come to lie beside you, I've come to know the dark for light'.
Such an amazing way to project contrasting imagery metaphorically in that lyricism. I'm also very appreciative of the somber direction that Christian Death took in its later albums; but especially on Catastrophe Ballet.
The first cassette I got was Decomposition of Violets (which most of those songs were studio recorded in Catastrophe). Still my favorite set of songs, hands down. I see them as a special set of what they made. To the point I can't ever skip one of those tracks when they come up.
Interesting piece, especially Romeo's Distress. Let me explain. I am a black musician who played guitar and bass in a number of Post-Punk/"Gothic" bands (I hate the dumbed-down 4 letter word "Goth"). I formed my 1st "Gothic" band, Garten Kirkhof, in the 80's. I met my vocalist through an ad looking for musicians influenced by the likes of Bauhaus, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Cocteau Twins, Tones On Tail, and of course Christian Death, among others like David Bowie, Roxy Music, Iggy Pop...you get the picture. My vocalist's favorite band at the time was Christian Death, so we had some things in common (not that Christian Death was my favorite band, but they were up there). I got into Christian Death at the time that Only Theatre Of Pain came out, and, though I loved the song Romeo's Distress, I always had a problem with the obvious use of the 'N' word, but I got a feeling of what the song was really saying. Having said that, for years it left me uneasy, in the same way that Patti Smith's use of it did. But after some years I learned to embrace the song to the point that I would purposely request it of dj's at, here's that word again, "Goth" clubs...just to see the reaction of the crowd when I would dance wildly to it, at times forming my middle fingers into an upside down cross. I'm no fool, I know from experience that there are racists in this sub-culture, and part of me was flipping them off.
Genuinely love you took the taboo, yet secretly loved by everyone goth/death rock song, understood the lyrics, and deliberately asked for it to be played at events fully knowing it would drop jaws. You're the perfect audience it was written for! Love this post!
@@anactualking They suck ass if it isn't exclusively what you're looking for. That's like having a Straight man go to ladies night at the local strip joint. It's not the intended audience and if it's not remotely something you're interested in, you're not gonna have a good experience.
As a person from that time and scene some context younger people have no way of knowing.... Rozz like many of us had been abused with religion among other things. He wrote what he knew, highly dramatized but still. He wrote about racism because racism was extremely violent and present in the lager scene, society at that time. There were literal skinhead wars going on and spilling over onto other scenes. Rozz was bullied. He was not supported. He lost his life to depression. He was a human being. And I miss him and the future that could have been.
Good to see people still discovering this band and giving it its attention. Been a huge fan for years and still listen to the classic records and the recent ones, love it!
Saw Christian Death in 1983. Brilliant show. I noticed in this video he didn't mention that if you played the record backwards at the very end you can hear the lords prayer.
Great video! But, the Satanism in Christian Death wasn't ironic. Rozz was serious (and not in the LaVeyan way). This is solely due to Eva O's influence as they were really close (and were married at one time). They even used to call her "Evil O" back in the day. In an interview she told a story about the time she fell in love with Richard Ramirez and even began writing him and visiting him in jail. Eva said that she had fallen in love with death and loved Ramirez because he was the cause of it. Yikes. Eva O is a great musician but, boy, did she ever out 'edge lord' Rozz. Near the end of his life, Rozz spoke in an interview that he began to feel like he had gotten stuck in the very thing he was fighting to escape. I believe he wasn't just talking about religion but also the "Rozz Williams" persona he created. When Eva O became a Christian, Rozz even started going to church with her. The photos of him in the last years of his life show him without makeup and dresses. He grew a beard and wore dapper clothing that were somewhat 1950s reminiscent. I can tell that he was struggling to overcome a lot of things that hounded him. :(
I would highly suggest listening to the track "Flowers" by Rozz & Gitane. As someone who has gone down this path, I think it gives much of the answer to what he was fighting and what he wanted to stop.
Eva wasn’t much of a church person, and she never mentioned going to church at all to any of us. She wasn’t even talking to Rozz that much at that time. 🤔
Agreed. I actually haven't heard much of the Valor Kand era and I was actually surprised at how nice I thought some of it was. Valor could've easily just created his own band and found some success within the scene while not using the Christian Death name.
@@selmooliveirarocha2635 Oh here we go once AGAIN with people whining and beating a dead horse. Once again... ROZZ LEFT. Valor carried on having legally obtaining the name. Fking get over it.
@@williamzimmerman7678 Rozz Williams, having split with the second incarnation of Christian Death (with Gitane Demone and Valor (2)) in 1985, decided to revive the name when Valor's band collapsed in 1989. They recorded a number of albums, but were forced to change their name to "Christian Death featuring Rozz Williams" when Valor took them to court over the rights to the name. Although Rozz, who had created the original version of the band in 1979, had always claimed ownership of the name, Valor won and continues to release material as Christian Death. Rozz and two of the original members of Christian Death (Rikk Agnew and George Belanger) eventually reformed on-stage, but any further plans for the reunion were cut short when Rozz Williams took his own life on April 1, 1998 In the end, who created Cheristian Death?
@@Dixie_Normiz All the goth artist of the 80's were, but I think this is just cringe nowadays if a artist that clearly play goth start saying that his music is totally not goth
@@PetersSecreti only agree with sioux because even though she influenced the goth look the banshees themselves did not have the sound and goths usually ignore anything before 1981 or after 1987 when she stopped the big 80s hair. They focus on aesthetic more on sound because the banshees were a neo psychedelic alt rock/alt pop group
Thank you for making this!! It’s been a fun watch. Looking forward to you exceeding Rozz’s age eventually and revisiting the subject matter in a while.
This was really interesting!! I listen to Christian Death quite regularly and have a book on Rozz Williams laying around somewhere but I never really had a good chance to actually look into the band but this video has really struck my interest!
Moi aussi i prefer of all this album !! Ambiance special full of intimité of Christian's visions a great album and i love the photo of the couverture !!! Good day hope you are happy sometimes from France ! Fredrick Dettloff fan since 1985 !
i love "Only Theatre Of Pain" and in a lot of ways "Catastrophe Ballet" is often my favorite, i also love the too short "Ashes". but that "Deathwish" EP is everything to me, it has "Dogs" from the comp which is so good, and the song Deathwish is what got me into them in the first place. but "Desperate Hell" is everything to me, it is like an actual piece of me.
The whole Rozz vs Valor was never a thing in the 1980s. Me and my friends loved Only Theater of Pain, Ashes, Past Present and Forever and the bleak and beautiful Atrocities album. We loved Rozzs and Valors Christian Death. Gitane Demone was a goth icon and I think it was natural for the band to change sounds with each album. Each album with its own outlook and its own persona. But Christian Death sold old to rock/metal by the late 1980s and we lost interst with the band by then. The Shadow Project were great, especially the 1st album.
Was really looking forward to this one, fantastic video!!! Christian death has been an all time favourite for a while now so this was really nice to watch :)
I listen to goodbye in its entirety and never teared up so hard before, for it is just so beautiful yet somber knowing the context behind the finale song
We used to watch them back in the early 80’s. One of their best shows was at The Alexandria Hotel in 83. They opened for Specimen if I remember correctly.
I was not expecting a band like this to be covered by your channel so this was an awesome surprise. I can't act like I was ever a huge Christian Death fan, I like a few of their songs but ultimately there were other Deathrock bands like Blood Dead and Sexy, 45 Grave, and Cinema Strange that I preferred slightly more. But I have mad appreciation and likeness for what they did for the genre with "Only Theatre of Pain" and as gender nonconforming man, Rozz Williams was/is an inspiration to me as he owned his sense of self which was awesome to see. But yeah, "Romeo's Distress" is just iconic and while I was initially taken aback by the lyrics when I first heard it, when I read up the intent behind the song and how it was mocking Southern Baptist hypocrisy, it helped me understand the POV to where I wasn't bothered by the song. That said, it's not surprising how it has stood the test of time as a Deathrock defining favorite, the instrumentation was wild in the best way. Anyway as edgy as Rozz was, he was one of a kind no question and his image lives on within the scene 😊
"Black Train" by the Gun Club 1981 had this quality. Same scene, same time period though a bit earlier. I always wondered if Rozz's lyrics were inspired by this.
@@stephenmachado6400 You can't deny that the Third Reich had a great aesthetic. Propaganda Magazine used Third Reich imagery as well. Goth was a provocative scene, Rozz William was a provocateur as well, I know he hated the label but initially he definitely had a huge influence in the scene as a whole.
As I was a teenager during what I would consider the high points of these times, it makes me smile to see you give ode to CD. You should do a bit on Shadow Projekt if you like CD. I love all of Rozz Williams work. I just got finished watching your Dir En Grey video. Thanks for that one too, I was a goth chick way before it was cool or trendy. I was made fun of in high school for wearing corsets and fishnet to school and to see it given tribute is an amazing piece of history for me. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 ty!
Grew up listening to Rozz and was 20 on 4-1-98. Wondered a long time why he did it but once I listened to "Flowers" a song he did with Gitane, I can understand the struggle he was going through on top of everything else. My guess, is that chasing the demons away with addiction left it as the biggest of them all. And he just wanted it to stop. One note on the chronology. Decomposition of Violets was in '85 and had most of Catastrophe's songs ('88). Between the two was Iron Mask in '86 which had some of the songs shared with future albums as well such as Skeleton Kiss and Ashes. The renditions of songs on Ashes done prior more resonate with the OTOP sound that you keep referring to.
probably one of my favorite bands! i understood the point of romeo's distress using that word, but it's still oof. i always sing it as "neighbour's" lmao
No mention of James McGearty or George Belanger from Only Theatre of Pain...Shame, like to know what they are up to and what they thought of the original material.
Great video, but I think you could have given a more in-depth analysis of the music in OTOP, talking of how Rikk's guitar lines shift from dramatically melodic to absolutely abrasive, how the funky bass lines contribute to the twisted mocking tone of the songs, and the sense of impending doom given by the monotonous, tribalistic drum beats.
My favorite song by Christian Death is "Spiritual Cramp". I can't which compilation it was I found once upon a time ago, but ti had a different version than what was on the record. I wish I still had that CD. Lots of great unknowns and up-comers. As for the changing sound, I liked them up until around 98 or 99. I liked the song "Mirage" featured on Cleopatra's compilation set The Black Bible. Found some great bands and artists through it as well.
My best friend stole The Black Bible from a place he worked at and gave it to me. There was some great music in that. Maybe it was the Goths Undead compilation (another stolen gift lol). Good times!
I was lucky enough to see them . When they got back together and played in 1994 and recorded the live video. Such a great show and time. The saw Shadow Project !! Rozz Is the king of Goth
My friend Emmett is in your video, the punk from MCAT television in Missoula Montana. You're blowing my mind right now. Are you from Missoula? How did you get footage of Emmett from MCAT?????
LoL, nah, we all know the word, that gave me the biggest laugh when he said demonetized. Nice little doc btw. Def a suitable present at Xmastime.
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totally unexpected. thank you very much for the review they are an unforgettable band. i listen them since i was kid untill today...i`m still kid on my 46y....
In addition to the albums you covered, there were also 3 other Rozz Christian Death albums in a lineup with Eva O, who also sang on Only Theatre of Pain. The Iron Mask, Path of Sorrows and Rage of Angels are definitely worth checking out and were done during the late 80s early 90s Shadow Project era. ua-cam.com/video/CxRrqkSfuFo/v-deo.html
Only Theatre of Pain is not "One" of the most important piece of the death rock genre it is the "bible" of the death rock genre! Very happy to have been lucky enough to watch Rozz perform with his band in France in the mid nineties in the Noumatrouf in Mulhouse a city 1 hour away from were i live.. I witnessed what greatness is all about at that time..
I was there too! Red haired Rozz was amazing. And the fact that they played songs like Dogs/Deathwish/Spiritual Cramp was the fulfillment of my early teenage dreams. OTOP was one of my first albums ever in 1984.
@@graymads Oh, I didn't see that anywhere. Just the way you were showing this version and speaking as if it was definitive or representative of their artistic direction "toned down" etc when that art was from a 1999 release, well after the band had run its course, was a bit misleading. Most fans of the Rozz era (in the U.S. anyway) probably know the Gustav Dore art or the German alternative, both of which were very much aesthetically 'on brand'. I get that they wanted to immortalize Rozz by putting him in that painting from the og art on the L'Invitation Au Suicide version but I'm not sure that's something the band would have chose.
This is good channel for this genre of videos. Ideal video lenght Obviously knowledge of the topic, not just listing facts, but also not just talking your ass off with personalized opinions Good video/image slideshow, editing Voice that is not annoying or hard to understand. Keep making the videos like that
This video reminds me, I haven't seen a video done on Alien Sex Fiend. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the artist but I thought that would be another great video topic! She's a Killer and Evolution are my favorite tracks!
The irony of me being a sincere christian but a fan of Rozz Williams even boggles my mind but I guess cause I'm a Born again Goth it just came naturally 😎
I was really into this band in my early 20's, about 25 years ago. I went through probably the worst breakup of my life up until that point, then Only Theater of Pain made perfect sense to me. My feelings were so black and vile at the time and that record was the only thing that could match it. It was a bit of a revelation and a communion. That winter was the coldest I can ever remember being, absolutely frozen with those songs playing again and again.
I still remember the first time I saw Christian Death Live, it was at the Ritz in Riverside California. Lucifer was there just standing around. And only theater of pain is the only true Christian death album in my words.
From my perspective there is a lot more to talk about and discover in Electra Descending. I understand who/what Electra and the Electra complex is, but how that ties into what sounds like inquisition torture I do not know. Are they just torturing both parents, or am I way off base with the whole Electra thing? It also sounds like her brother is in the song which also makes it sound like the original Electra story. All I know is that it sounds like a demented song about demented Greek story/stories, and I love it. Hoping you could enlighten me or help me figure it out. Thanks for this video.
Siouxie and the Banshees are the 1st Post-Punk band and pioneers of the the Alt Death Rock, Goth movement. I think they're the best, definitely my favorite. JUJU is a masterful album.
finally getting around to this video but: romeo's distress is one of my absolute favorite songs ever, easily one of the ten best punk tracks of the 80s. thank u for covering them.
It's weird running into this video, especially not being subbed (I am now) because topic wise Christian Death isn't something that comes up. I literally could ask everyone outside of those I grew up with and they'd say "who?" That's not entirely why it's weird. I mean, I woke up today I guess feeling a little nostalgic and listened to my own Christian Death mix featuring of course Romeo's Distress, When I was Bed, Tales of Innocence (a song that went unmentioned) and a single song off of Shadow Project called Lord of the Flies. There's some other stuff too, Skinny Puppy, Sisters of Mercy (their song Fix), Bauhaus and Cranes. Anyway. This was really fun to watch. Valor's singing is 🤮 even though I kinda dig Sick of Love and The Loving Face.
As a fan of the band since the 80s, I've got to say that though I enjoyed watching this, the investigation into their history was lazy. It got a few obvious things wrong, and lacked any real knowledge of the band. And Edgelord..? Really?
MannnI didn't know too much about Christian Death despite making some goth music meself but this video's been really insightful! It's so cool that they not only had meaningful lyrics and cool aesthetics but performed shocking stage acts too!! It'd be hard for acts like that to even get a bar gig in mosy places these days but I can imagine it would be absolutely epic to see live! Shame they lost their charm with their change in sounds; it's always a bit of a risk but other bands like the Cure and the Horrors managed to do it really well! I suppose it depends on how well you express it which CD clearly did better in their Theatre era
To me Rozz was a genius. I think some of his best work is the spoken word tracks. Flowers for instance is Rozz showing how tortured he really was. R.I.P. Rozz
I can’t say much, but there is a work in progress to re release this song as Rozz intended, as a death rock song, with guitars, drums, and everything. The family has approved and Rozz’s vocals have been isolated. My good friend was given the honors of working on this cause he had played guitar for Rozz on his last tours. It all depends on if it sounds good and if the Nico B approves. Rozz gave my friend the 4 track demo during their tour, so he’s going to use that as a guide. Like I said, it’s not a sure thing, but it’s in the works. I’ll be promoting it once it’s done and before it’s released (if it’s released).
Hello, here again, sorry I guess I'm going through your channel because you're covering stuff that interests me. This time I just wanna thank you for this video because I don't know anything about this band and saw them last year with the new vocalist last year at Prague Gothic Treffen which turned out to be a terrible experience. I actually have no idea who that guy is but he straight up got into an argument with the crowd in the middle of the performance and it caused half of the people to leave. He spouted a lot of conspiracy theories about covid19 and refused to accept anyone having any other opinions. We saw him continuing to argue with people even after the show. What a shame since musically it was quite interesting at the beginning.
I would say there is a difference between an “ Edgelord” and an Artist who is genuinely interested in the subjects that Rozz was into . An Edgelord is somebody who just does things for attention in what has already been explored . Having met the man I can honestly tell you he was the real deal - he didn’t have to try he simply just was .
Øne of the nicest human beings I ever had the pleasure to meet_
I concur, edgelords generally hide behind computer screens. I also met Rozz a few times in the final year of his life and he was very much out there, walking around with that Hitler stash and cross tattoo on his forehead which quickly morphed into a swazi just before he went full on into that final darkness. I was lucky to see his final performance. I also concur with Brandon here, despite his appearance, he was actually really nice and highly engaging to talk to. A true artist.
exactly, this video was mid. Every interview ive seen of him he was so modest and endearing
All the stuff Marilyn Manson was rumored to have done, Rozz actually did.
He he seemed real deal holyfield. Minis the holy.
I met Rikk Agnew in LA at a signing event 1 year ago. He was the kindest person ever. Truly appreciates anyone who is a fan of his work. Rozz’s brother was there and he brought the ashes of Rozz Williams himself to the event. Turns out his ashes are not actually at the hollywood forever cemetery.
Un po' di ceneri sono, (o sono state) conservate dalle persone che volevano beve a Rozz.. altre sono effettivamente nell'urna in Holliwood Mulholland Drive.
His ashes are at the cemetery, but were also given to a few friends. You can also find some of his ashes at the Hollywood Museum of Death.
I saw a little bottle of Rozz Williams’ ashes in the Museum of Death in Hollywood
@@gmann36 Edward Colver & Rozz’s brother have both stated that the Hollywood Forever Cemetery only have his urn on display. There are no ashes inside.
I was the bassist in Christian Death in 1984 when they toured Catastrophe Ballet in Europe. I was in Sex Gang Children, and left to join Christian Death. Now you say Rozz did not give the name to Valor Kand. I never liked Valor but I was there at a cafe in Amsterdam, June 1984, when Rozz sold the band name to Valor Kand on a piece of paper for $500. David Glass was there, Valor, me (Dave Roberts)...Gitane was not. I begged Rozz not to do it. But he needed whatever he needed and the rest is history. Now, that is what happened and you can argue the legality of it forever, but it was done. Otherwise a good video.
Loved your work in SGC & Carcrash Int. The Whip is a legendary compilation. Heard you were teaching guitar in Victoria somewhere now. Much respect & best wishes with however your life turned out...
@@reidgelding7909 Thanks a lot for the compliments. By the way I just joined Wikipedia and do copy editing for the principal reason that WIkipedia has decimated my life with the BS about me teaching guitar in Australia. They have changed it, so now you can tell people you know 'he lives in Los Angeles, and plays bass in Kult Children, and just released an album too!!! Better than being in Australia!!!
@@KultChildren Glad you are still around & doing music...
@@reidgelding7909 Me two...haha My new group has Patrik Mata from Kommunity FK on vocals, Terry Sex Gang Guitar, Raymondo from Death Cult on drums and I play anything that I can count to four on....hands, feet, bass... look for Kult Children Ov The Damned, and thanks for not thinking I might be dead already!!1
Wow, thank you for your insider story!
I never knew that Rozz had sold the band name.
Was it for financial problems? Maybe coupled with the need to step away from the Valor influence?
The one thing that I have to say about early Christian Death and Only Theatre of Pain is that it's more of a dark romantic surrealist peice of work rather than something intended to be specifically offensive or blasphemous. Rozz was very much interested in the surrealist and Dada art movements which had a lot of influence on the album. A lot of the lyrics are more of a product of stream of conscious thought rather than having a precise overall message. It's a great album and piece of art! Also, I get why people trash talk Valor, but I think both camps have good things to offer between Rozz and Valor. I met Valor once and he was a pretty nice guy from the brief interaction.
Thanks for putting this documentary together. It's a great band that deserves attention.
I've never really viewed this music as Satanic. I've thought it as very investigative, introspective and deeply spiritual. If viewed from an esoteric perspective, a lot of it sounds like levels of initiation or spiritual metaphors. To me anyways. Yup, I'm "a Christian" if there must be a category.
Great documentary ❤
Romeo's distress was always blaring in my earbuds in highschool and I only have my best friend to blame for that
Not a bad song to be obsessed with.
@@graymads not a bad first line
That. And death wish. Lol
@@glueball9511 maybe if you're an edge lord
Really? Woe to Esau and Edomites! 🔥 Have you ever participated in that? Maybe what Rozz is singing about could possibly be you or someone in your family/bloodline/nation from the past, or even in these times. Yeah, and I'm a black fan from the mid 80's. 🧕🏾👩🏾 Surprise mf! @@glueball9511
Celtic Frost also cited Christian Death as a massive influence. Look no further than Mesmerized, Tristesses De La Lune, Sorrows of the Moon, Drown in Ashes and Obscured.
You are totally right! And the way how vocals are on Celtic Frost’s Into The Pandemonium are very similar. A very great album .
oh wow i never knew that, both bands are great though
Rozz Williams, only theatre of pain has a bit of a following by people in the black metal scene too
Yeah I know wrest from leviathan is a big fan of Christian death, as someone who is primarily a metalhead, early C.D goes insanely hard
Must say as not a metal guy coming from a deathrock/punk/goth background after your comment it led me down a Celtic Frost journey. I ended up buying Into the Pandemonium vinyl LP this week ..I blame you Mr. @l2jnichol1986
Thanks for the video. As much as I love Only Theatre Of Pain, the songs I keep going back to are on Catastrophe Ballet. The Drowning, The Blue Hour, Electra Descending are what comes to mind with Rozz for me. 'I've come to lie beside you, I've come to know the dark for light'.
Such an amazing way to project contrasting imagery metaphorically in that lyricism. I'm also very appreciative of the somber direction that Christian Death took in its later albums; but especially on Catastrophe Ballet.
The first cassette I got was Decomposition of Violets (which most of those songs were studio recorded in Catastrophe). Still my favorite set of songs, hands down. I see them as a special set of what they made. To the point I can't ever skip one of those tracks when they come up.
Aggiungerei Atrocities, benché Catastrophe ballet (with rhapsody UNSEEN) L ho consumato come te
The downfall of Christian Death was Rozz' passing
Interesting piece, especially Romeo's Distress. Let me explain. I am a black musician who played guitar and bass in a number of Post-Punk/"Gothic" bands (I hate the dumbed-down 4 letter word "Goth"). I formed my 1st "Gothic" band, Garten Kirkhof, in the 80's. I met my vocalist through an ad looking for musicians influenced by the likes of Bauhaus, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Cocteau Twins, Tones On Tail, and of course Christian Death, among others like David Bowie, Roxy Music, Iggy Pop...you get the picture. My vocalist's favorite band at the time was Christian Death, so we had some things in common (not that Christian Death was my favorite band, but they were up there). I got into Christian Death at the time that Only Theatre Of Pain came out, and, though I loved the song Romeo's Distress, I always had a problem with the obvious use of the 'N' word, but I got a feeling of what the song was really saying. Having said that, for years it left me uneasy, in the same way that Patti Smith's use of it did. But after some years I learned to embrace the song to the point that I would purposely request it of dj's at, here's that word again, "Goth" clubs...just to see the reaction of the crowd when I would dance wildly to it, at times forming my middle fingers into an upside down cross. I'm no fool, I know from experience that there are racists in this sub-culture, and part of me was flipping them off.
great story
Goth clubs sound like a horrible idea. They probably sucked. Seeing Christian Death with Rozz live would’ve been great though.
@@anactualkingthey aren’t and they are still a round and are fun actually. You should get out more 😬.
Genuinely love you took the taboo, yet secretly loved by everyone goth/death rock song, understood the lyrics, and deliberately asked for it to be played at events fully knowing it would drop jaws. You're the perfect audience it was written for! Love this post!
@@anactualking They suck ass if it isn't exclusively what you're looking for. That's like having a Straight man go to ladies night at the local strip joint. It's not the intended audience and if it's not remotely something you're interested in, you're not gonna have a good experience.
As a person from that time and scene some context younger people have no way of knowing.... Rozz like many of us had been abused with religion among other things. He wrote what he knew, highly dramatized but still. He wrote about racism because racism was extremely violent and present in the lager scene, society at that time. There were literal skinhead wars going on and spilling over onto other scenes. Rozz was bullied. He was not supported. He lost his life to depression. He was a human being. And I miss him and the future that could have been.
Good to see people still discovering this band and giving it its attention. Been a huge fan for years and still listen to the classic records and the recent ones, love it!
The rhythm section on OTOP is phenomenal and severely underrated. So many subtly nuanced moments.
Absolutely! Funky, threatening and mocking, pretty much always at the same time.
Saw Christian Death in 1983. Brilliant show. I noticed in this video he didn't mention that if you played the record backwards at the very end you can hear the lords prayer.
Great video! But, the Satanism in Christian Death wasn't ironic. Rozz was serious (and not in the LaVeyan way). This is solely due to Eva O's influence as they were really close (and were married at one time). They even used to call her "Evil O" back in the day. In an interview she told a story about the time she fell in love with Richard Ramirez and even began writing him and visiting him in jail. Eva said that she had fallen in love with death and loved Ramirez because he was the cause of it. Yikes. Eva O is a great musician but, boy, did she ever out 'edge lord' Rozz.
Near the end of his life, Rozz spoke in an interview that he began to feel like he had gotten stuck in the very thing he was fighting to escape. I believe he wasn't just talking about religion but also the "Rozz Williams" persona he created. When Eva O became a Christian, Rozz even started going to church with her. The photos of him in the last years of his life show him without makeup and dresses. He grew a beard and wore dapper clothing that were somewhat 1950s reminiscent. I can tell that he was struggling to overcome a lot of things that hounded him. :(
I would highly suggest listening to the track "Flowers" by Rozz & Gitane. As someone who has gone down this path, I think it gives much of the answer to what he was fighting and what he wanted to stop.
Oh wow
Eva wasn’t much of a church person, and she never mentioned going to church at all to any of us. She wasn’t even talking to Rozz that much at that time. 🤔
Valor was an absolute twat for stealing the band name and there's no two ways about it. He'd probably be far more respected if he hadn't have done it.
He isnt even a bad musician, but being known as a snake is a label you can never escape.
Agreed. I actually haven't heard much of the Valor Kand era and I was actually surprised at how nice I thought some of it was. Valor could've easily just created his own band and found some success within the scene while not using the Christian Death name.
He not only stole the NAME!!! He thinks he is the creator of the CD!!!!
@@selmooliveirarocha2635 Oh here we go once AGAIN with people whining and beating a dead horse. Once again... ROZZ LEFT. Valor carried on having legally obtaining the name. Fking get over it.
@@williamzimmerman7678 Rozz Williams, having split with the second incarnation of Christian Death (with Gitane Demone and Valor (2)) in 1985, decided to revive the name when Valor's band collapsed in 1989. They recorded a number of albums, but were forced to change their name to "Christian Death featuring Rozz Williams" when Valor took them to court over the rights to the name. Although Rozz, who had created the original version of the band in 1979, had always claimed ownership of the name, Valor won and continues to release material as Christian Death. Rozz and two of the original members of Christian Death (Rikk Agnew and George Belanger) eventually reformed on-stage, but any further plans for the reunion were cut short when Rozz Williams took his own life on April 1, 1998
In the end, who created Cheristian Death?
"I don't think anybody with any self-respect would admit to being Goth" - Rozz Willams
NICE! andrew eldritch, souxsie sioux, robert smith and daniel ash were against the "goth" label. 😎👍
@@Dixie_Normiz All the goth artist of the 80's were, but I think this is just cringe nowadays if a artist that clearly play goth start saying that his music is totally not goth
@@PetersSecreti only agree with sioux because even though she influenced the goth look the banshees themselves did not have the sound and goths usually ignore anything before 1981 or after 1987 when she stopped the big 80s hair. They focus on aesthetic more on sound because the banshees were a neo psychedelic alt rock/alt pop group
His choice of words "admit to" is funny. It makes the statement implicitly an admission.
As I get older I start to agree with that more and more despite my love for the music and aesthetic
Thank you for making this!! It’s been a fun watch. Looking forward to you exceeding Rozz’s age eventually and revisiting the subject matter in a while.
This was really interesting!! I listen to Christian Death quite regularly and have a book on Rozz Williams laying around somewhere but I never really had a good chance to actually look into the band but this video has really struck my interest!
Its legit wild to see a deep dive on Rozz's work. Good work.
I was listening to CD all day during the 90s, as a teenager. Catastrophe ballet was my fav album by far- Those were the days🖤
Moi aussi i prefer of all this album !! Ambiance special full of intimité of Christian's visions a great album and i love the photo of the couverture !!! Good day hope you are happy sometimes from France ! Fredrick Dettloff fan since 1985 !
i love "Only Theatre Of Pain" and in a lot of ways "Catastrophe Ballet" is often my favorite, i also love the too short "Ashes". but that "Deathwish" EP is everything to me, it has "Dogs" from the comp which is so good, and the song Deathwish is what got me into them in the first place. but "Desperate Hell" is everything to me, it is like an actual piece of me.
The whole Rozz vs Valor was never a thing in the 1980s. Me and my friends loved Only Theater of Pain, Ashes, Past Present and Forever and the bleak and beautiful Atrocities album. We loved Rozzs and Valors Christian Death. Gitane Demone was a goth icon and I think it was natural for the band to change sounds with each album. Each album with its own outlook and its own persona. But Christian Death sold old to rock/metal by the late 1980s and we lost interst with the band by then. The Shadow Project were great, especially the 1st album.
Thanks for the documentary! The material performed live, The Decomposition of Violets, is one of my favorite live albums. 🥀🌺
Deathwish was my most played song in 2020
"When I Was Bed" has such a nice riff.
Was really looking forward to this one, fantastic video!!! Christian death has been an all time favourite for a while now so this was really nice to watch :)
Glad you liked it! Wanted to show off the band during their prime.
I listen to goodbye in its entirety and never teared up so hard before, for it is just so beautiful yet somber knowing the context behind the finale song
My sister got me into Christian death when I was about 12 (1992) I got to see the band play a few times. One of my favorite groups. I really miss em.
They are still around. The new album came out last year.
@@MoonCoilMedia imo most of the ablums and songs after Attrocites are utter trash
Christian death without rozz is trash sorry valor fans but he sucks
this video is awesome, only theater of pain was on of those albums that blew my mind in the day. I remember hearing when rozz died in 98.
Never in my life would I have imagined you making a Christian Death video. Makes me happy
only theater of pain is an incredible album.
Love them, dope to see you giving flowers!
Phase 1: ... There was a rise?
Phase 2: Is this a joke? Who is this band?
Phase 3: Oh, it appears *I AM* the asshole.
lul
No just someone who is not musically aware and narrow minded and pretty much mainstream yes there was a rise and fall and it rose quickly and sickly
6:05 What synth? In the snippet of Desperate Hell, all I'm hearing is the singing, the guitar, the prominent bass and the drums.
11:35 "Pallitations"?
Ty for covering cd and especially rozz, it is good to see them get attention they deserve.
We used to watch them back in the early 80’s. One of their best shows was at The Alexandria Hotel in 83. They opened for Specimen if I remember correctly.
I was not expecting a band like this to be covered by your channel so this was an awesome surprise. I can't act like I was ever a huge Christian Death fan, I like a few of their songs but ultimately there were other Deathrock bands like Blood Dead and Sexy, 45 Grave, and Cinema Strange that I preferred slightly more. But I have mad appreciation and likeness for what they did for the genre with "Only Theatre of Pain" and as gender nonconforming man, Rozz Williams was/is an inspiration to me as he owned his sense of self which was awesome to see. But yeah, "Romeo's Distress" is just iconic and while I was initially taken aback by the lyrics when I first heard it, when I read up the intent behind the song and how it was mocking Southern Baptist hypocrisy, it helped me understand the POV to where I wasn't bothered by the song. That said, it's not surprising how it has stood the test of time as a Deathrock defining favorite, the instrumentation was wild in the best way.
Anyway as edgy as Rozz was, he was one of a kind no question and his image lives on within the scene 😊
agree
"Black Train" by the Gun Club 1981 had this quality. Same scene, same time period though a bit earlier. I always wondered if Rozz's lyrics were inspired by this.
@@Alphastare23 Possibly
Dude was actually into Nazi stuff so idk why he would use southern hypocrisy as a focal point for that song when he’s just as hypocritical
@@stephenmachado6400 You can't deny that the Third Reich had a great aesthetic. Propaganda Magazine used Third Reich imagery as well. Goth was a provocative scene, Rozz William was a provocateur as well, I know he hated the label but initially he definitely had a huge influence in the scene as a whole.
As I was a teenager during what I would consider the high points of these times, it makes me smile to see you give ode to CD. You should do a bit on Shadow Projekt if you like CD. I love all of Rozz Williams work. I just got finished watching your Dir En Grey video. Thanks for that one too, I was a goth chick way before it was cool or trendy. I was made fun of in high school for wearing corsets and fishnet to school and to see it given tribute is an amazing piece of history for me. 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 ty!
Subscribed just for the Yu Yu Hakisho shout out 😂😂 my favorite anime of all time
Love this video, there are hardly any good quality videos on Christian Death that focuses on a detailed analysis of their development as a band.
Grew up listening to Rozz and was 20 on 4-1-98. Wondered a long time why he did it but once I listened to "Flowers" a song he did with Gitane, I can understand the struggle he was going through on top of everything else. My guess, is that chasing the demons away with addiction left it as the biggest of them all. And he just wanted it to stop.
One note on the chronology. Decomposition of Violets was in '85 and had most of Catastrophe's songs ('88). Between the two was Iron Mask in '86 which had some of the songs shared with future albums as well such as Skeleton Kiss and Ashes. The renditions of songs on Ashes done prior more resonate with the OTOP sound that you keep referring to.
Catastrophe 84, Ashes 85, Decomposition of violets 85
probably one of my favorite bands! i understood the point of romeo's distress using that word, but it's still oof. i always sing it as "neighbour's" lmao
We love and miss you, Rozz! 11/06/1963 - 04/01/1998
Good choices on best songs. Spiritual Cramp is easily the best.
No mention of James McGearty or George Belanger from Only Theatre of Pain...Shame, like to know what they are up to and what they thought of the original material.
Right!?
Great video, but I think you could have given a more in-depth analysis of the music in OTOP, talking of how Rikk's guitar lines shift from dramatically melodic to absolutely abrasive, how the funky bass lines contribute to the twisted mocking tone of the songs, and the sense of impending doom given by the monotonous, tribalistic drum beats.
"Self sunset" is a *very* poetic phrase for such a grim dark choice many make daily.
My favorite song by Christian Death is "Spiritual Cramp". I can't which compilation it was I found once upon a time ago, but ti had a different version than what was on the record. I wish I still had that CD. Lots of great unknowns and up-comers. As for the changing sound, I liked them up until around 98 or 99. I liked the song "Mirage" featured on Cleopatra's compilation set The Black Bible. Found some great bands and artists through it as well.
My best friend stole The Black Bible from a place he worked at and gave it to me. There was some great music in that.
Maybe it was the Goths Undead compilation (another stolen gift lol).
Good times!
I was lucky enough to see them . When they got back together and played in 1994 and recorded the live video. Such a great show and time. The saw Shadow Project !! Rozz Is the king of Goth
The video was great! Can you make a video on Joy Division or the Velvet Underground?
My Death rock Cousins. I grew up in the 1990s Goth scene, Alternative, Waxtrax artist, Coldwave, Industrial Darkwave synthpop, and future pop.
BURNING CROSSES ON A NEIGHBORS LAWN
Rozz was depicting the atrocities of christian hypocrisy. How “God’s” love is full of racist hateful evil people.
😂
My friend Emmett is in your video, the punk from MCAT television in Missoula Montana. You're blowing my mind right now. Are you from Missoula? How did you get footage of Emmett from MCAT?????
omg please write me back I'm literally blown away by your video
Argh.
"The Luxury of Tears" is the strongest work from Rozz+Valor.
"Oops, my anarchy symbol"
"Burning crosses on a D E M O N E T I Z E D lawn" Say the word Madison...Say the word.
Oops my D E M O N E T I Z E D symbol.
LoL, nah, we all know the word, that gave me the biggest laugh when he said demonetized. Nice little doc btw. Def a suitable present at Xmastime.
totally unexpected. thank you very much for the review
they are an unforgettable band. i listen them since i was kid untill today...i`m still kid on my 46y....
In addition to the albums you covered, there were also 3 other Rozz Christian Death albums in a lineup with Eva O, who also sang on Only Theatre of Pain. The Iron Mask, Path of Sorrows and Rage of Angels are definitely worth checking out and were done during the late 80s early 90s Shadow Project era. ua-cam.com/video/CxRrqkSfuFo/v-deo.html
Fantastic look into a legendary band. Fantastic video as always too!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
Only Theatre of Pain is not "One" of the most important piece of the death rock genre it is the "bible" of the death rock genre! Very happy to have been lucky enough to watch Rozz perform with his band in France in the mid nineties in the Noumatrouf in Mulhouse a city 1 hour away from were i live.. I witnessed what greatness is all about at that time..
I was there too! Red haired Rozz was amazing.
And the fact that they played songs like Dogs/Deathwish/Spiritual Cramp was the fulfillment of my early teenage dreams.
OTOP was one of my first albums ever in 1984.
That cover art for Ashes was some weird later version for a reissue, not the original
I know, I showed the other art earlier in the video. I just actually like the reissue art. lol
@@graymads Oh, I didn't see that anywhere. Just the way you were showing this version and speaking as if it was definitive or representative of their artistic direction "toned down" etc when that art was from a 1999 release, well after the band had run its course, was a bit misleading. Most fans of the Rozz era (in the U.S. anyway) probably know the Gustav Dore art or the German alternative, both of which were very much aesthetically 'on brand'. I get that they wanted to immortalize Rozz by putting him in that painting from the og art on the L'Invitation Au Suicide version but I'm not sure that's something the band would have chose.
This is good channel for this genre of videos.
Ideal video lenght
Obviously knowledge of the topic, not just listing facts, but also not just talking your ass off with personalized opinions
Good video/image slideshow, editing
Voice that is not annoying or hard to understand.
Keep making the videos like that
The best part of CB and Ashes is Gitane. She is an icon.
This video reminds me, I haven't seen a video done on Alien Sex Fiend. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the artist but I thought that would be another great video topic! She's a Killer and Evolution are my favorite tracks!
Great band, great review / tribute 🖤
CD Is still alive and well with Valor. I love Rozz and Valor's versions
Same here. It wasn’t always true for me tho. I saw valor perform at WGT in 2019 and I liked it more than I thought I would.
6:18 isnt a synth tho
The irony of me being a sincere christian but a fan of Rozz Williams even boggles my mind but I guess cause I'm a Born again Goth it just came naturally 😎
Great documentary bra
I was really into this band in my early 20's, about 25 years ago. I went through probably the worst breakup of my life up until that point, then Only Theater of Pain made perfect sense to me. My feelings were so black and vile at the time and that record was the only thing that could match it. It was a bit of a revelation and a communion. That winter was the coldest I can ever remember being, absolutely frozen with those songs playing again and again.
love your music videos, keep up the great work !
Thank you! Will do!
premature ejaculation was formed earlier in 1981 Rozz reformed it later but the First PE tape was before CD album
I wonder if the OP ever realized Williams made a comeback CD album called the IRON MASK. Total masterpiece
I still remember the first time I saw Christian Death Live, it was at the Ritz in Riverside California. Lucifer was there just standing around. And only theater of pain is the only true Christian death album in my words.
From my perspective there is a lot more to talk about and discover in Electra Descending. I understand who/what Electra and the Electra complex is, but how that ties into what sounds like inquisition torture I do not know. Are they just torturing both parents, or am I way off base with the whole Electra thing?
It also sounds like her brother is in the song which also makes it sound like the original Electra story.
All I know is that it sounds like a demented song about demented Greek story/stories, and I love it.
Hoping you could enlighten me or help me figure it out.
Thanks for this video.
You're really off with the reason for some of Rozz' lyrics, but even though he's gone, it's not my place to disclose. Respect.
RIP Rozz 1334
You had me at the yuyu hakusho
Cavity- chills!!!!!
I love the quality of the videos, I love what you’re doing and keep going.
Thanks, will do!
Thank you.
Only theater of Pain was to christian death what disintegration was to the Cure❤️💕
I saw Christian Death at the Rat in Boston while they were touring Only Theatre of Pain. It remains one of the best shows I’ve every seen
also, what are your thoughts on siouxsie & the banshees' juju? been a favorite of mine recently.
Siouxie and the Banshees are the 1st Post-Punk band and pioneers of the the Alt Death Rock, Goth movement. I think they're the best, definitely my favorite. JUJU is a masterful album.
Re. M.Manson I would say they were influenced by Oomph!,Ministry and ofc Danzig / Missfits (musically!). Outfitwise you might be correct
I tripped sooooooo many times to this album !!!!🤤🤤🤤
shout out to my deathrock gf in hs for opening me up to this stuff
Before Marilyn Manson there was...
Hell comes to your house is just a phenomenal compilation
hey boss what's that rly nice, vibey breaks/dnb track you use as backing between 1:00-1:50
Remember Alice Cooper.
finally getting around to this video but:
romeo's distress is one of my absolute favorite songs ever, easily one of the ten best punk tracks of the 80s. thank u for covering them.
It's weird running into this video, especially not being subbed (I am now) because topic wise Christian Death isn't something that comes up. I literally could ask everyone outside of those I grew up with and they'd say "who?" That's not entirely why it's weird. I mean, I woke up today I guess feeling a little nostalgic and listened to my own Christian Death mix featuring of course Romeo's Distress, When I was Bed, Tales of Innocence (a song that went unmentioned) and a single song off of Shadow Project called Lord of the Flies. There's some other stuff too, Skinny Puppy, Sisters of Mercy (their song Fix), Bauhaus and Cranes. Anyway. This was really fun to watch. Valor's singing is 🤮 even though I kinda dig Sick of Love and The Loving Face.
Thanks again for your hard work on this great and informative video. Do you listen to cinema strange too?
@blacksunsigrune9494 awesome choice !
As a fan of the band since the 80s, I've got to say that though I enjoyed watching this, the investigation into their history was lazy. It got a few obvious things wrong, and lacked any real knowledge of the band. And Edgelord..? Really?
MannnI didn't know too much about Christian Death despite making some goth music meself but this video's been really insightful! It's so cool that they not only had meaningful lyrics and cool aesthetics but performed shocking stage acts too!! It'd be hard for acts like that to even get a bar gig in mosy places these days but I can imagine it would be absolutely epic to see live!
Shame they lost their charm with their change in sounds; it's always a bit of a risk but other bands like the Cure and the Horrors managed to do it really well! I suppose it depends on how well you express it which CD clearly did better in their Theatre era
To me Rozz was a genius. I think some of his best work is the spoken word tracks. Flowers for instance is Rozz showing how tortured he really was. R.I.P. Rozz
I can’t say much, but there is a work in progress to re release this song as Rozz intended, as a death rock song, with guitars, drums, and everything. The family has approved and Rozz’s vocals have been isolated. My good friend was given the honors of working on this cause he had played guitar for Rozz on his last tours. It all depends on if it sounds good and if the Nico B approves. Rozz gave my friend the 4 track demo during their tour, so he’s going to use that as a guide. Like I said, it’s not a sure thing, but it’s in the works. I’ll be promoting it once it’s done and before it’s released (if it’s released).
i never thought id see someone talk about christian death
there used to be this awesome long CD documentary (not spiritual cramp), does anyone know how/where I can get ahold of it?
"Theisticch relidzion miiht jast bie rwrs psjcholodzj, a remmeddj against ittsellf."
That witchcraft tiktok at the start is one of the worst things I’ve ever seen holy shit
Hello, here again, sorry I guess I'm going through your channel because you're covering stuff that interests me. This time I just wanna thank you for this video because I don't know anything about this band and saw them last year with the new vocalist last year at Prague Gothic Treffen which turned out to be a terrible experience. I actually have no idea who that guy is but he straight up got into an argument with the crowd in the middle of the performance and it caused half of the people to leave. He spouted a lot of conspiracy theories about covid19 and refused to accept anyone having any other opinions. We saw him continuing to argue with people even after the show. What a shame since musically it was quite interesting at the beginning.