Interview: Deadfilmstar

Is the rock star dead?

“'A.I.' was actually not even started when the record company asked about how it was coming along. The band line-up at that time had all but gone, thing's were a real mess and there was no sense of direction. However, after the new band line-up, 'The Inevitable Rise...' had a clear direction from the start and although it was a long haul, it was worth it.”

Deadfilmstar have been a staple of the British underground music scene for many years. Their gritty industrial and metal tinged gothic rock has seen them supporting names such as Mortiis, Combichrist, KMFDM and many others. Though the band have been a visible presence and received many positive reviews for the their live performances the band's debut album proper 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White & The Ill Fated Tour' has only just recently seen the light of day despite being in the works for a long time.
Intravenous Magazine caught up with Deadfilmstar front-man Gary Mobley to talk about the new album, the one that was disowned and surviving the underground.


Intravenous Magazine: You are a familiar name on the UK live scene, but for those who aren't familiar with Deadfilmstar, how would you summarise the band's journey from your formation to now?

Gary Mobley: Hard! - Seriously, at a time when most of the UK Goth scene was going bleep,bleep,bleep we crashed in going THRANG!! Thankfully, nowadays it's better evened out.

IVM: You've just released 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White & The Ill Fated Tour', which has been a few years in the works. How do you feel now that it is finally released?

GM: Relieved! - A track from the album is featured on the cover CD of this month's Terrorizer magazine and so far reviews have been very positive.

IVM: How do you feel the songs have developed since their initial demo versions to what we have on the album?

GM: The early demo's were very much headed in the right direction and although it took an age it was important not veer away from that initial sound they had... It was also important not have the finished album sounding too polished as we wanted a raw rock sound so yeah, I'd like to think we've done the demo's justice.

IVM: The album is dark and quite angry. What were your primary influences when writing the songs for the album?

GM: Among other things, true to life experiences and endless re-runs of movies like Breaking Glass, The Privilege, White Star, What Ever Happened To Baby Jane and Pink Floyd The Wall.

IVM: The album's title evokes the likes of David Bowie's 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars'. Is there a story or concept running throughout the album, and if so would you care to explain it?

GM: Yes, but although the 'rise and fall' was deliberately ripped from Bowie and a somewhat obvious influence, it was the real life story of the late Sean Purcell from the band Raped and later the Cuddly Toys that particularly inspired parts of the album rather than the fictional Ziggy.

IVM: The album has been released under your own Death2Me imprint. What led to this decision and how do you feel it has worked for the band?

GM: It just gravitated that way. How has it worked? We got the record out!!!

IVM: This is technically your second album under the Deadfilmstar name, but the first that reflects the true industrial rock nature of the band. Is the low-fi cyber style of your first album 'A.Rtistic I.Ntegrity' something that you would ever look to revisit, and are there any songs on there that you still enjoy?

GM: No and no. I really don't like that album. Some people do and that's fine but, I'd rather it never existed. Still, I'm very grateful to Nightbreed Records for going with the release at that time.

IVM: How did you find the process of recording your latest album compared to the first one?

GM: Both were a nightmare for different reasons. 'A.I.' was actually not even started when the record company asked about how it was coming along. The band line-up at that time had all but gone, thing's were a real mess and there was no sense of direction. However, after the new band line-up, 'The Inevitable Rise...' had a clear direction from the start and although it was a long haul, it was worth it.

IVM: You've been a constant of the live scene for a number of years – how has that shaped your perspective of the music business?

GM: Let's just say, time often presents a very different picture of what you first perceived.

IVM: In that time you've built up a very impressive list of support slots with band's like KMFDM, Combichrist, Mortiis, Orgy, and Christian Death. Which have been your favourite experiences and why?

GM: They've all been great and we're very lucky to have shared the stage with bands such as these. For myself, the guy's from Mortiis will always be top of the pile.

IVM: Bands have a tendency to come and go on the UK scene, and as you've been around for a while now are there any other bands that have sadly broken up that you wish hadn't?

GM: If you mean bands I personally knew? Yes, Pro-jekt, Squid and KIK spring to mind - As well as the music, those three bands were really good to us at various stages of trying to get a foothold on the scene.

IVM: Are there any plans for a music video to support the new album?

GM: I have talked to a director that I very much admire. He likes what we are doing. Hopefully,we may see something next year.

IVM: It may be a bit premature to ask, but do you have any plans forming for the next album?

GM: Not an album but, I do have a cover of the Human League's 'Seconds' in the mix which I'm very pleased with.

IVM: Are there any live dates coming up?

GM: Not until well into early 2016.

IVM: Finally is there anything that you'd like to add?

GM: Thank's for having us!

Deadfilmstar's début album 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White & The Ill Fated Tour' is available to purchase now through Death2Me Records. For more information please visit the band's official website.

All photos/artwork copyright of Deadfilmstar and Ed.Fielding.

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Review: Deadfilmstar – 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White &The Ill Fated Tour'

DEADFILMSTAR
'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White &The Ill Fated Tour'
DEATH2ME RECORDS

It has been a long time coming but finally the début proper from Deadfilmstar has arrived. 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White &The Ill Fated Tour' has been in the works since before the previous album to have the Deadfilmstar moniker attached to it 'A.Rtistic I.Ntegrity' a sidestep into dark cyber influenced sounds that bore little resemblance to their live presentation of a dirty industrial rock band. After regrouping and setting out to consolidate their name on the live circuit with support slots alongside Mortiis, KMFDM, Gothminister, Combichrist, Orgy, and a lot of festival appearances the band have honed their songs into a conceptual free-fall into the dark underbelly of rock.

Musically it is a slow and grim barrage of dirty rock with dark gritty guitars and bass are reminiscent of 'Antichrist Superstar' era Marilyn Manson. The sound is further augmented with a liberal dose of glam metal posturing rhythms and 'Broken' era Nine Inch Nails sleazy industrial dripping from it's lips, over which vocalist Gary hisses and growls like a madman.

Songs such as 'Soiled, Spoilt & Somewhat Flawed', 'The Day We Lost You', 'Hello, Cruel World' and 'RockStarDead' will be well known to anyone who has seen them live, and in their recorded form they have lost none of that raw punch. While the likes of 'Plunged Into Morning', Fake White & A Band Called the Flies', 'A Terrible Thing And Audience Can Make You Do', and 'It's Over Superstar' break out atmospheric elements such as crowd noise, power tools, water and thunder to add an extra layer of eeriness.

In terms of production it is pretty damn good. It is dirty, gritty and raw. Yet, at the same time it is nicely balanced between the harder and more melodic elements. And despite what initially sounds like a very clear and linear direction different elements of genres begin to creep out and take the songs down new tangents while staying true to that rock core.

It has been a while, but one of the UK's hardest working live acts have finally got the album they deserve. 'The Inevitable Rise & Fall Of Fake White &The Ill Fated Tour' is a sharp, gritty look into the rock 'n' roll abyss that doesn't disappoint. Hopefully this will prove to be a launchpad for Deadfilmstar.  

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