David J: Spoken Word Performance & Seance (Tribute to Genesis P-Orridge)

David J Haskins is a man who certainly needs no introduction, as he may very well be one of the somewhat unsung forefathers of everything you’ve come to know and love concerning the underground. Firstly, the man who is responsible for the lyrics to the landmark 1979 debut single by Bauhaus, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, which not only spawned a whole genre or two of music, but was so vital to others. The man who is responsible for the hypnotic, dub-esque and reverb drenched bass hooks that have been repeating in your head since you were but a teenager. David J wrote and performed lead vocals on their classic hit, “Who Killed Mr. Moonlight”. Subsequently, he went on to form the group Love And Rockets out of the ashes of Bauhaus when they disbanded in 1983. His significance is paralleled by few, one of whom being Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (COUM Transmissions, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, Industrial Records) who he honored with a spoken word performance this past June at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY at their tribute concert put on by the The Tribeca Film Festival, that also premiered the accompanying documentary film on Genesis titled S/He Is Still Her/e, a little more than four years after they “dropped their body.” 

VIEW THE LAST UNSEEN INTERVIEW WITH GENESIS P-ORRIDGE ON DISCIPLINE MAG

David J, atop an eerie and ever-so-slightly sinister soundscape, not musically dissimilar to something that could be on side B of PTV’s Dreams Less Sweet, reads aloud powerfully from a journal describing a meeting between he and Genesis at a vague but exclusive event in which Gen was the central focus, where there were many people in attendance from all walks of life that were part of the numerous tendrils of Gen’s collective cultural impact; musicians, artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, writers, thinkers, spiritualists, etc., later described as the release party for an album or artwork of high esteem that Gen had been involved with. He described what Gen was wearing; the silver Brian Jones pageboy hairstyle, their Chelsea boots, and how beautiful they looked, but the fact that their legs were very swollen. He went on about how fondly he and Gen interacted with one another and how seemingly thrilled they were to see one another other, and then how Gen was going off to fetch him a personal copy of this anticipated release, but amidst all of the well-wishers, friends, fans, and chaotic nature of the party they were- “separated by the crowd.” He goes on to repeat this several times. Separated – by the crowd. 

That was the end of the performance aspect. He goes on to briefly explain that this was a dream he had, and that this dream took place on the very night of Gen’s burial, in nature. Heavily implying that it was a visitation dream. The event in the dream was mirrored in the very same event in which we were all in attendance, which was the release party for the documentary film about Genesis: S/He Is Still Her/e. 

I was moved in a profound way by the performance, the haunting words and music, the synchronicities, and by the paranormal implications discussed thereafter. There was an undeniable energy in the room. The air was hanging heavy. It felt even as if David J was having to speak through dense metaphysical thickets or some kind of turbulence even though he had a microphone. The whole thing felt a bit like a Fellini dream sequence. I was, oddly enough, also separated from my girlfriend during his performance and she was unable to get back in during his set. So, I went outside and met up with her and told her how moving it was, and shortly after I looked at David J’s Instagram and saw a post that contained the following information. An EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recorder was employed and monitored by Douglas Rushkoff (author, media theorist, documentarian) off and on for 23 (a sacred & holy number within the Psychic TV mythos) second intervals for the duration of his piece. This was an unspoken seance. And a beautiful tribute, to boot. I am unsure of the official results of this attempt at contact, but the energy in the room that evening cannot be contested, and the spirit of the avant-garde is alive and well! S/He is still Her/e.