Nosferatu was formed in February 1987 by Vlad Janicek (Bass/Keyboards) and Sapphire Aurora (Vocals). Damien DeVille (Guitar) joined in March 1988 to complete the first gigging lineup. Vlad Janicek was the majority songwriter until 1994 and designed all the early releases and the distinctive band logo.
From the start Nosferatu were unashamedly gothic and were infamous for touring using a hearse owned by Damien. They drew on Victorian Gothic and Vampiric imagery and stood often alone in championing the stylistic excesses that many of their contemporaries were either to scared to admit to or did not have the nous to carry off. Despite their no-nonsense commitment to a scene many were too scared to align with they built an impressive fanbase via regular releases, tours and publication of their own magazine, Grimoire.
Sapphire Aurora provided vocals until April 1990, Gary Clarke sang briefly with the band from April-October of 1990. From 1991 to April 1993 lyrics and vocals were provided by Louis DeWray. Niall Murphy then sang with the band until November 1994 and Chris Clark joined the band briefly in 1994 on drums.
Dominic LaVey provided vocals from March 1995 to February 2002 in the later version of the band, then Louis DeWray returned as vocalist and songwriter in 2003, having performed in the meantime with Fashionable Living Death and his own band Ditzy Micro. DeWray played guitar, bass, keyboard and percussion in the band at various times until December 2014.[1] He contributed the majority songwriting and instrumentation of the 2011 Wonderland album, which was developed over a seven-year period.
The band has performed over 320 concerts in 14 countries since 1988, including Amphi Fest in Cologne, Germany in 2016, the Wave Gothic Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany in 2015, 2011, 2009, 2006, 1999 & 1994; the NCN Festival in Deutzen, Germany in 2012; the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, Germany in 2007 & 2002; the Castle Party Festival in Poland in 2011; the DV8 Festival in York in 2011 & 2010, England; the Judgement Day Festival Dornbirn in 2006, Austria; the Existence Festival in Valencia, Spain in 2006; the Vampiricon Festival in Duisburg, Germany in 2003; Sacrosanct Festival London in 1995 and Reading in 2014; the Waregem Gothic Festival in Waregem, Belgium in 2010 and the Lumous Festival in Tampere, Finland in 2011.
Singles
The Hellhound EP (1991) Vinyl and Cassette
Vampyres Cry (1992) Vinyl and Cassette
Diva (1992) Vinyl and Cassette
Inside The Devil (1993) CD and Vinyl
Savage Kiss (1994) CD and Vinyl
Albums
Rise (1993) CD, Vinyl and Cassette
Legend (1993 CD and Vinyl
The Prophecy (1994) CD, Double Vinyl and Ltd. Cassette
Prince of Darkness (1996) CD
Lord of the Flies (1998) CD
Wonderland (2011) CD