Preview – 40 Years of Bauhaus.
40 Years of Bauhaus with Peter Murphy and David J Haskins.
David J Haskins comes full circle with this collaborative tour alongside Bauhaus co-founder Peter Murphy. David J was the first of Bauhaus to venture out solo and go onto a successful career with Love and Rockets. Now, 40 years since the formation of Bauhaus the pair are out on an extensive tour of Australasia, Europe and the UK. The ‘Ruby Celebration’ will feature debut album In The Flat Field in its entirety, augmented by an encore of Bauhaus classics. One would imagine the setlist might include a certain ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’. Considered to be the first gothic rock release, the legendary single, co-written by Haskins, charted for two years in the UK indie charts and led to the bands Peel Session and to sign for the fledgling 4AD label.
The iconic pair, (photographed above for W Festival), aren’t resting there. David J reissued his solo album Crocodile Tears and The Velvet Cosh LP on September 7th. This was his second solo release after Bauhaus’ disbanding. Released on Glass Records in 1985, the label’s new incarnation, Glass Modern Records, will release this remastered David J classic on 180-gram heavyweight clear vinyl with inner bag featuring all the lyrics, plus new sleeve-notes by David Barker of Glass Records.
David-J
David J says, “This is a personal pastoral favourite and the album that really set the tone for all of my future solo endeavours. Now it is being re-released as a limited edition on beautiful high quality 180 g clear vinyl by the newly rebooted Glass Modern label. ‘Feels like coming home!”
This is indeed great news for Haskins/Bauhaus fans alike but also for music fans generally. The album has been out of print on vinyl for over 30 years now. Whilst David J is undoubtedly an intelligent and literate musician his solo ventures are oft thought of as a bit ‘out there’. Once described (by Perry Farrell) as the “Avant of the Avant-garde” , I’d say that fits Etiquette of Violence but Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh is far more accessible. Check out ‘Stop This City’ (below) for a pastoral early take on angst rock. I compare Haskins most to Brian Eno who also made his name with his parent band (Roxy Music) but then again as a solo artist. Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh, would therefore be his Taking Tiger Mountain, an album, by the way, that included the song ‘Third Uncle’.
Which brings us neatly back to J’s ‘parent’ band where Murphy has also confirmed that late 2018 will bring a series of coloured vinyl Bauhaus reissues. More tour dates are also expected. It is an exciting time for sure.
Order Crocodile Tears And The Velvet Cosh via Bandcamp and ‘Who Killed Mr. Moonlight’, his book on his Bauhaus years, via David’s website. His latest album ‘Vagabond Songs’ (2017) can be ordered here. Peter Murphy-David J tour tickets can be ordered via the link below.
Etiquette of violence -expanded-reissue review.
Who Killed Mr Moonlight – signed copies
40 Years of Bauhaus tour tickets