Official Vampyrëan Biography
Vampyrëan was formed in late 2020, as a creative outlet for Vlad Janicek during downtime from his main band The Nosferatu, enforced by world events.
The origins of The Nosferatu lie in the band formed in 1987 by Vlad Janicek called Nosferatu, discover the official true story of the band here.
A new chapter begins, to create stylish, richly orchestrated gothic rock.
1987
Vlad Janicek and Sapphire Aurora form Nosferatu, from the ashes of Harrow based act The Dreaming, with a mission to create a no compromise gothic rock band.
Steve Cachman joins as guitarist to complete the first lineup and the band plays a handful of shows in and around London.
A 3 track cassette is released called Wide Upon The Horizon Of Time.
Steve Cachman leaves to join Rubella Ballet and the search begins to find a suitable guitarist to fit the band vision, aesthetics and style.
1988
The ex-singer of The Dreaming, Mark Macabre recommends Damien Deville, mainly for his mode of transport (a hearse), feeling he would fit the band perfectly.
After several months of song-writing, Nosferatu have enough songs to commence more live performances and make their debut with this new lineup at the Rock Garden in Covent Garden.
A second Demo Blood Lust is recorded at Second Sense Studios with BBC Top Of The Pops 2 Sound Engineer Andy Hewitt.
1990
Nosferatu return to Second Sense to record Symphony Of Shadows, featuring Emma Louise (later reworked as Lucy Is Red).
The track Bloodlust appears on Nightbreed Records 'New Alternatives' compilation.
Gary Clarke (The Cureheads) replaces Sapphire Aurora, who retreats to head up Grimoire.
The band tours the UK for the first time with Every New Dead Ghost, playing shows in Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Bradford and London.
1991
Nosferatu audition for a new vocalist, Louis DeWray joins and the band enter the studio to record their debut EP The Hellhound.
Vlad Janicek and Damien DeVille found Possession Records and a UK distribution deal with York based APT (Red Rhino) is secured.
A 10 date UK tour is arranged to promote it and takes in Hastings, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Cardiff, London and Leicester.
They are joined live by Belle Star, also of Enrapture and Killing Miranda on drums.
Nosferatu support Sex Gang Children for their sellout comeback shows at both New Cross The Venue and Camden Underworld.
1992
Nosferatu release their second EP Vampyres Cry (noticeably reviewed in both Melody Maker and NME).
A 10 date UK tour is arranged taking in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Sheffield, Swansea, Cardiff, Southampton and Leeds.
They are contacted by US magazine Propaganda for an interview, edited by Brian Warner (later to become known as Marilyn Manson).
Nosferatu release their third EP Diva and the first 500 copies are pressed in limited edition red vinyl.
A 10 date UK tour visits Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham, Birmingham, Stafford, Cardiff, Southampton, Exeter and London.
The band receives its first known Radio One airplay from renowned DJs Steve Wright and John Peel.
1993
The band releases their next EP Inside The Devil and debut studio album Rise, which is also released in the US, Benelux and Germany.
A 13 date UK tour visits Brighton, Stoke, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Southend, Bristol, Cardiff, Southampton and London.
Despite increasing success vocalist Louis DeWray regrettably leaves the band at the height of their powers.
New vocalist Niall Murphy joins and the band release Savage Kiss, which becomes their highest charting single in the UK Indie Charts.
A 14 date UK promotional tour takes in Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Exeter, Cardiff, Southampton and London.
1994
This becomes their biggest and busiest year, the band plays across Europe taking in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany including headlining Wave Gothic Treffen.
Cleopatra Records releases a compilation of Nosferatu's early EPs as an album called Legend.
The band release their second studio album The Prophecy and embark on a large UK tour to promote it.
An incident during the tour sees Damien Deville leave and despite attempts by the band to continue, they are forced to cancel the tour after two more shows.
Damien Deville creates a new unauthorised band around him, using the name Nosferatu. Legal technicalities prevent a court order from being served.
2019
After years out of the music business in a self imposed exile, Vlad Janicek feels the time is right to return and makes contact with Louis DeWray.
Under secrecy the two meet to discuss the idea of reforming the band with a view to honouring the original legacy and ethos.
Discussions are held with Rob Leydon, ex-guitarist and luminary of the scene. Chris Clark with unfinished business from The Prophecy tour, also throws his hat into the ring to complete the lineup.
To avoid confusion and any legal issues they settle on The Nosferatu as the new band name.
They establish an ethos to put quality first in everything they do. Their first live show takes place at Camden Underworld later that year.
2020
The start of the year sees The Nosferatu play to a capacity crowd of very enthusiastic Greek fans in Athens, shortly before the whole world went into lockdown.
Songwriting on the new The Nosferatu album continues with several tracks close to completion.
During a period of extended band inactivity caused by the global pandemic, Vlad Janicek finds himself at a loose end and begins sketching further song ideas.
These early ideas quickly develop into inspired gothic masterpieces and this gives Vlad Janicek the impetus to create a new project.
Given the mainly vampire related themes in many of the songs this project is named Vampyrean.
Receive The Latest News
