In case you missed the memo, AFI have gone full goth. After a long time spent weaving the influences of goth masters resembling Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus and The Remedy round their emotionally-charged punk/post-punk/hardcore leanings, it appears the cult Cali icons have lastly gone all the best way in with new album Silver Bleeds The Black Solar…
If early singles Behind The Clock and Holy Visions are something to go by, we’re in for a none-more-black blast of deliciously 80s-bent gothic melodrama that Bauhaus’ personal Peter Murphy can be happy with. It is a sentiment you watched AFI frontman Davey Havok can be notably happy with, having as soon as had a delightfully bizarre encounter together with his hero at a present in Los Angeles.
“I used to be with The King [Hollywood producer/promoter Josh Richmond],” Havok tells the Onerous Lore podcast. “For a lot of, a few years, The King has carried a cane. It seems like a sceptre. So the King, a longstanding buddy of punk, post-punk and rock ‘n’ roll in HolIywood, goes again with Peter Murphy.
“We go to see Peter Murphy play,” Havok continues. “I feel it was in LA…it was on the Nokia! So [Josh Richmond] needs to go say hello to Pete backstage, and I am not making an attempt to do this. I am making an attempt to not do this, as a result of I really like him, I do not wanna punish him, I do not wanna simply ‘be round.’ The King is aware of him, I do not. Pete’s hiding, really! Persons are looking for him, he is hiding in several rooms backstage to keep away from the LA scene.”
Because it seems, Havok would not must go attempting to find Peter Murphy anyway – the Bauhaus man discovered him as an alternative.
“Abruptly, from round a nook, there seems the Godfather, there’s Peter Murphy!” reveals the singer. “So The King introduces me, offers my ‘file’ to Peter Murphy, and I say, ‘Sure, it’s an honour to satisfy you, you’re definitely, by far, one among my greatest inspirations. And he says…’Kneel.’
For sure, a star-struck however totally confused Havok duly obliged. What occurred subsequent initially confused him much more.
“He goes, Josh, can I’ve that?’ and asks for the cane!” Havok laughs. “‘I hereby knight thee…’ So he knighted me! I want I may fucking bear in mind [what title he gave me]. It had one thing to do with ‘the tradition’. However he knighted me, that occurred. Peter Murphy knighted me, I assume ‘Sir Davey Havok’, he certified it.”
Maybe it was within the stars that Havok would assist lead AFI to fulfil their goth future. You’ll find out simply how far they’ve gone with it when Silver Bleeds The Black Solar… releases tomorrow. Watch the remainder of the Onerous Lore podcast beneath.
