www.londonaftermidnight.com
London After Midnight (LAM) is a music project formed in the 1990s by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sean Brennan. LAM has retained and nurtured the political and socially aware element of the later punk scene that virtually vanished from all music scenes in the early 90s, and has developed as a passionate and political dark rock-music entity. LAM has a large worldwide following, with many gothic rock fans (LAM shuns labels such as "gothic", however, saying that labels limit an artist's creative realm and also destructively divides audiences- unfortunately too many people define themselves by the style of music they listen to and refuse to expand beyond that).
LAM has gained a large and loyal following all over the world, from the USA to Europe to Latin America (where the live band has toured extensively), and beyond. LAM has headlined and co-headlined concerts and major festivals with bands like The Cure, Green Day, HIM (HIM has cited LAM a favorite artist), Rammstein, Soft Cell and many more. LAM has performed to crowds of over 30,000 people as headliner and co-headliner on major music festivals around the world. However, London After Midnight maintains a strong underground and independent "personality" despite being a top seller (charting in the top 10 and top 20 German DAC, and other European independent charts, with each of 4 CDs released) and a major draw at music festivals year after year.
Songwriter, instrumentalist, producer and founder Sean Brennan is known for his strong stances in favor of animal rights, pro-environmental and human rights issues, anti-corporate control of media, and support for progressive and liberal political and social causes. Whatever the approach or subject matter, the music of London After Midnight is deeply touching, powerful, socially aware, romantic, emotional, disturbing, haunting, moving, and often exhibits a morbid wit with its sardonic humor (listen to the tongue-in-cheek "Your Best Nightmare" and try not to think of an Edward Gorey story).
LAM is all this, while at the same time appealing to a wide variety of people. There really is no classification that fits London After Midnight (despite LAM's "dark" image) because the music is so varied and the lyrical content (and even LAM's personality and causes) are unique and uncommon in today's music scene (often breaking boundaries- much to the outrage of people who live and die by genre labels). Sean Brennan shuns all labels (as any artist worth their salt will do) and the music he creates can really only be classified as "London After Midnight".
The live band varies and often changes, but includes Sean Brennan (vocals, guitar, keyboard, video, all programming), Randy Mathias (bass), Pete Pace (drums), Matthew Setzer (guitar). Brennan plays the instruments on the CDs (check liner notes on the new editions of LAM's four CDs for accurate details. Older Apocalyptic Vision Records and Metropolis Records releases were translated incorrectly and contain inaccurate information! Wiki sites take note!).
LAM began performing live in Los Angeles in the early 1990s at the legendary club Helter Skelter, which also hosted bands like Nine Inch Nails, Christian Death and many others. The live band immediately began to draw large crowds and always had elaborate stage settings including stage props that could have come from the Universal Studios back-lot. Needless to say the extreme stage settings attracted as much attention as LAM's music, which soon grew in popularity. So much so that the original four song demo cassette tape released in 1991-1992 was the hottest selling item in Hollywood's trendy Melrose Ave indie record stores, even beating out new releases from Duran Duran and other major label artists. For 2 years the most sought after item Los Angeles area club kids searched for in LA area independent record stores was the LAM cassette tape. Signs hung in record store windows like Vinyl ***** and Bleeck Bobs proclaiming "yes we have LAM's tape IN STOCK". Stores from as far away as Australia ordered multiple shipments of the tape each month to meet demand.
Sean Brennan released "Selected Scenes from the End of the World" in 1992, creating as much mania as the first demo release. LAM began to sell-out underground gothic/alternative/deathrock clubs like Helter Skelter and Zombie Zoo and began more frequent live performances at The Whisky a Go Go and Roxy Theatre , where the remnants of the awful Sunset strip "glam rock" scene saw LAM's success and sold-out concerts and began to try to emulate London After Midnight, helping to turn the dying rock/glam Sunset strip scene into a darker and more alternative scene. Several bands, which a few months earlier were glam/metal, suddenly became LAM clones (if in image only) over night after seeing LAM's success.
Soon, Sean Brennan began branching out with LAM and took the live act to Mexico City and Guadalajara in 1994 where LAM discovered a huge following, and the first concert drew 5,000 dedicated fans- all of whom had discovered LAM in underground magazines and bootlegs of the LAM's releases. A near riot broke out in Mexico City during the concert, such was the level enthusiasm.
In 1995 "Selected Scenes from the End of the World" was pressed to CD by German indie label Apocalyptic Vision (now Trisol Music Group). A version of the same CD was also released in Latin America on Mexico's Opcion Sonica label. Soon LAM's strong underground following in Europe became intense as sales of the CD grew steadily. The live act also made several headlining appearances at festivals in the UK (including the famed Whitby Festival) and Europe.
In 1996 LAM released "Psycho Magnet" with Apocalyptic Vision. The album's title itself is a tongue-in-cheek reflection of the insanity and jealousy LAM's popularity generated in some Los Angeles area club kids, while the subject matter, the lyrics, and music address personal relationships, society's inability to interact in a positive manner, even rape and more. "Psycho Magnet" went on to become even more popular than the previous releases and led to the live act being booked for several tours which took LAM all over Europe and the UK, Mexico and select major cities in the USA, performing to tens of thousands of people. LAM also headlined major German festivals like the well known Zillo Magazine Festival which had Siouxsie and the Banshees headlining the previous year. LAM also found itself in all the major European music magazines, on glossy covers in every European newsstand with the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Metallica.
Brennan continued to take LAM on tour, performing at various festivals, and in 1998 LAM co-headlined the Zillo summer festival with The Cure performing to about 30,000 people. Earlier in the year Sean Brennan signed a licensing deal with American indie label Metropolis Records, releasing both of his earlier CDs as well as new CD called "Oddities", a collection of live and rare songs along with a 30 minute DIY music video titled "Innocence Lost". Apocalyptic Vision also released "Oddities" and the music video in Europe at the same time. To date LAM has sold well over 150,000 CDs all over the world. All of LAM's releases rated in the top 10 and top 20 of the DAC (German Alternative Charts) and other independent music charts, as well..
Since 2000, LAM performed several sold out dates in the USA, one of which was filmed by E! Entertainment Television for a special on LA night-life in 2000. This special, which includes a short interview with Sean Brennan, aired in late Autumn 2000 in 120 countries all over the world. The special was actually pretty terrible and only featured less than 2 minutes of LAM, but diehard fans were happy to see LAM get major media attention and a whole new audience was exposed, briefly, to LAM creating a surge of new fans.
In the summer of 2001, LAM headlined the Wave Festival in Leipzig Germany (for the 3rd time), playing to about 10,000 people. The live band then toured to South America, Mexico and the USA where LAM played to tens of thousands of fans and appeared on Via X, the leader of rock music television in South America.
In 2002 LAM co-headlined the M'era Luna Festival with bands like HIM, Omph, and many others, performing to 25,000 people. In preparation for the brand new LAM CD scheduled for release soon, in March 2003 Brennan re-released his CDs "Selected Scenes from the End from the World" and "Psycho Magnet" with Trisol Music Group in Europe and Iron D Records in Russia, complete with never before released bonus tracks and new recordings of older songs.
From 2003-2004 Brennan had LAM headline and co-headline concerts in Europe and headline concerts in the USA, selling out the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles three times and performing at the huge Dour and Zillo festivals in Europe. Brennan released a new song called "Fear" on the SAW II motion picture soundtrack (Trisol Music Group Germany) in early 2006, which went straight to number one on the German Alternative Music Charts (DAC).
In autumn 2007 "Violent Acts of Beauty", the new LAM CD, was released worldwide in Europe (Trisol Music Group) and the USA/Canada (Metropolis Records). In December 2007 the CD was released in Russia (Iron D Records). The ground-breaking new CD is a hit with new and old fans alike and has been critically acclaimed by the press, with Germany's Orkus music magazine saying "Violent Acts of Beauty is a masterpiece of sound and lyric".
In October 2007 LAM headlined the Orkus Music International Festival that took the band through Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Greece. From May-July of 2008 LAM toured from Germany to the USA, headlining the Wave Gothic Festival in Germany to over 12,000 people, and then doing a full month long headlining tour of the USA. In autumn 2008 the live band toured back to Europe and performed in Russia, Finland, Poland, London UK, Greece, Germany and many other countries.
In early 2008 Metropolis Records (USA) re-released LAM's past three CDs (Selected Scenes from the End of the World, Psycho Magnet, Oddities) which now feature the same remastered audio tracks as the Trisol 2003 releases.
Sean
Brennan says "With LAM it's always evolving, trying something different and new, and I'm never content to be just another music project". Often classified by the press as industrial, deathrock or gothic, LAM break all the "rules" of those scenes and create a unique and strong identity and sound, and reject any label. Songwriter Sean Brennan's influences and musical passions are far ranging and varied. He takes pride in the fact that London After Midnight does not fit into any musical category. London After Midnight is simply London After Midnight, and that seems enough for LAM's fans.
This discography does not include illegal / unauthorized bootlegs or a full listing of compilation CDs.
London After Midnight, 1991 cassette:
Pressed in the USA and released by LAM. VERY rare self titled debut cassette which morphed from two to six songs with several different cover designs. If you have one of these, people have offered up to $200 for an original copy. The six song copies with the songs "October" and the bonus 4 track versions of the songs "Inamorada" and "Spider and the Fly" are extremely rare. Out of print.
Track listing: Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, Your Best Nightmare, October.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, 1992 cassette:
Pressed in the USA and released by LAM. Also released in 1995, re-mastered cassette. Somewhat rare.
Track listing: Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, Your Best Nightmare, Revenge, Spider and the Fly, This Paradise, The Black Cat.
Ruins, 1994 cassette:
Pressed in the U.S.A. and released by LAM. Two song single. Out of print. Very Rare.
Track listing: Carry On Screaming, Perversion.
Ruins, 1994 video:
Pressed in the U.S.A. and released by LAM. Two song video in NTSC and PAL formats. Re-edited in 1996. Rare.
Track listing: Psycho Magnet, Carry On Screaming.
In Goth Daze, 1995 CD:
Cleopatra Records U.S.A. compilation release with the London After Midnight song "Revenge".
Gothic Rock 2, 1995 CD:
Jungle Records UK compilation with the song "Revenge".
What Sweet Music They Make, 1995 CD:
Independent English CD compilation with the song "Spider and the Fly".
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, 1995 CD (also released in 1998 on Metropolis Records USA with new art):
Mastered and re-released to CD by Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany in 1995 with all new art (Metropolis Records USA version release in November 1998 with different art).
Track listing: Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, Your Best Nightmare, Revenge, Spider and the Fly, This Paradise, The Black Cat, Nightmare.
Psycho Magnet demo, 1995 cassette:
Pressed in the U.S.A. and released by LAM.. VERY rare promo (only a few hundred pressed) given away at concerts in 1995 as a preview of forthcoming Psycho Magnet CD. Contains the demo versions of the songs "HATE!" and "Psycho Magnet". Out of print. Very rare.
Kiss single, 1995 CD:
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany. Four song CD digipack limited pressing of only 5,000 with exclusive tracks. Rare. Pressed in Europe.
Track listing: Kiss, Demon, Shatter (All My Dead Friends), Untitled.
Psycho Magnet, 1996 CD (also released in 1998 on Metropolis Records USA with new art):
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany (Metropolis Records USA version release in September 1998 with different art). Pressed in Europe. New artwork released in May 1998.
Track listing: Psycho Magnet, Shatter (All My Dead Friends), HATE!, Where Good Girls go to Die (plus alternate-mix), The ****** Song, A Letter to God, Carry On Screaming, Theme from the film Love and Affliction, Kiss (Ra-Mix).
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, 1996 CD:
Released by GP/Opcion Sonica. Contains bonus track "Untitled" from the "Kiss" single and edit version of the song "Sacrifice". Pressed in Latin America.
Track listing: Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, Your Best Nightmare, Revenge, Spider and the Fly, This Paradise, Black Cat, Nightmare, plus bonus track Untitled and edit version of Sacrifice.
12" Picture disks, 1996, vinyl:
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany. Very rare (only 500 of each titled pressed) picture disks of "Selected Scenes from the End of the World" (with edit-mix of the song "Sacrifice"), "Kiss" and "Psycho Magnet". Pressed in Europe. ("Oddities" released in 1998)
Various Compilations, 1996-1998:
This is a partial list of compilations that were released in Europe by EFA distribution and various magazines. There are MANY more compilation CDs with LAM songs out there.
Life Is Too Short For Boring Music Vol. 8- Contains the song "Nightmare"
Life Is Too Short For boring Music Vol. 9- Contains the song "Shatter"
Zillo Dark Progressive Soundsampler Vol. 1- Contains the song "Kiss"
Zillo Club Hits Vol. 1 - Contains the song "Hate!"
Zillo Mystic Sound Sampler Vol. 7- Contains the song "Spider and The Fly (Trapped In The Web Mix)"
Out Of The Dark- Contains the song "Kiss"
Call On The Dark Vol. 1- Contains the song "Demon"
Call On The Dark Vol. 2- Contains the song "The ****** Song (Tiamat Remix)"
Orkus Compilation- Contains the song "Untitled"
Black Book Compilation- Contains the song "Shatter"
Innocence Lost limited pressing, 1997 video:
Pressed in the USA and released by LAM. Very rare limited pre-pressing of the Apocalyptic Vision pressing. One song video in NTSC format.
Track listing: Kiss, behind the scenes footage.
Oddities, 1998 CD:
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany and Metropolis Records USA. Contains live, rare and unreleased studio tracks. Limited pressing (10,000) digi-pack with exclusive poster and art and normal jewel case printing. Note: digi pack pressing available only from Apocalyptic Vision, and rare.
Note: Both Apocalyptic Vision versions of "Oddities" are out of print.
Track listing: The Christmas Song, Let Me Break You, Splinter (live), Nightmare (live- acoustic/remix), Shatter (live- acoustic), Claire's Horrors (live- acoustic/remix), Atmosphere (live), A Letter to God (live), Sacrifice (live), Sally's Song, Demon, Untitled, Spider and the Fly (tangled Web Mix- acoustic), Ice.
Innocence Lost, 1998 Video:
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany and Metropolis Records USA, all video formats. Contains music videos and live footage including the out of print "Ruins" video. Out of print.
Track listing: Kiss, Carry On Screaming, Psycho Magnet, behind the scenes footage.
Oddities 12" Picture disks, August 1998, vinyl:
Apocalyptic Vision Records Germany. Rare (only 500 pressed). Pressed in Europe.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, 2003 CD:
Re-mastered and re-released to CD by Trisol Music Group (Europe) with all new art in digipack format (also released on Iron D Records Russia in jewel case format), unreleased bonus tracks, tracks from the CD "Oddities" ("Oddities" is out of print in Europe) and re-recordings of older songs.
Track listing: This Paradise (03 mix), Inamorada, Revenge, Trick or Treat, Your Best Nightmare (8-track), Spider and the Fly, Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, The Black Cat (03 mix), Let Me Break You, Nightmare (live), Demon, Claire's Horrors (live), Spider (acoustic), Sacrifice (live)
Psycho Magnet, 2003 CD:
Re-mastered and re-released to CD by Trisol Music Group (Europe) with all new art in digipack format (also released on Iron D Records Russia in jewel case format), unreleased bonus tracks, tracks from the CD "Oddities" ("Oddities" is out of print in Europe) and re-recordings of older songs.
Track listing: The ****** Song (Unchained Mix), Kiss (Club Mix), Where Good Girls go to Die, Psycho Magnet, Shatter, A Letter to God, Carry On Screaming, Hate!, Blessing, The Christmas Song, Shatter (live), Atmosphere (live), A Letter to God (live), Untitled, Innocence Lost, Kiss, 99
SAW II soundtrack, 2006 CD:
Soundtrack release of the motion picture SAW II features an exclusive mix of the new London After Midnight song, "Fear". Trisol Music Group (Europe).
"A Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box" compilation, 2006:
Four disk compilation CD releasd by Rhino Records USA features one London After Midnight song, "Kiss".
Violent Acts of Beauty, 2007:
All new release on Trisol Music Group (Europe), Metropolis Records (USA/Canada), Iron D Recrods (Russia). Released in Europe and the USA in standard 14 song jewel case edition and deluxe limited release 16 song digipack edition.
Track listing: The Beginning of the End, Feeling Fascist?, Nothing's Sacred, Heaven Now, America's a F*cking Disease, Complex Messiah, Republic, Fear, Pure, The Kids Are All Wrong, Love You to Death, The Pain Looks Good on You, Nothing's Sacred Extended Club mix (digipack limited release only), Nothing's Sacred Edit Club mix, Nothing's Sacred original demo (digipack limited release only), America's a F***ing Disease-edit mix.
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, 2008 CD:
Re-released by Metropolis Records (USA) with new art (similar art to the Trisol editions, in jewel case format). Contains unreleased bonus tracks and re-recordings of older songs (same remastered sound files as Trisol editions).
Track listing: This Paradise (03 mix), Inamorada, Revenge, Trick or Treat, Your Best Nightmare (8-track), Spider and the Fly, Claire's Horrors, Sacrifice, The Black Cat (03 mix)
Psycho Magnet, 2008 CD:
Re-released by Metropolis Records (USA) with new art (similar art to the Trisol editions, in jewel case format). Contains unreleased bonus tracks and re-recordings of older songs (same remastered sound files as Trisol editions).
Track listing: The ****** Song (Unchained Mix), Kiss (Club Mix), Where Good Girls go to Die, Psycho Magnet, Shatter, A Letter to God, Carry On Screaming, Hate!, Blessing, Innocence Lost, Kiss, 99
Oddities, 2008 CD:
Re-released by Metropolis Records (USA) with new art (similar art to the Trisol editions, in jewel case format). Contains unreleased bonus tracks and re-recordings of older songs (same remastered sound files as Trisol editions). Note: Both Apocalyptic Vision versions of "Oddities" are out of print.
Track listing: The Christmas Song, Let Me Break You, Nightmare (live- acoustic/remix), Shatter (live- acoustic), Claire's Horrors (live- acoustic/remix), Atmosphere (live), A Letter to God (live), Sacrifice (live), Sally's Song, Demon, Untitled, Spider and the Fly (tangled Web Mix- acoustic).
