Victor Fradera
What was the very first record you bought?
A: It was ‘Love Gun’ by Kiss
What is the most expensive record have you bought?
I think it was a first pressing of Gary Numan’s first album with Tubeway Army. The original have a weird blue cover and was only pressed in very few copies. It was so long ago that I can’t recall how much I payed.
What are your 5 very favorite bands ever?
Dimmu Borgir, The Sisters of Mercy, Placebo, The Damned and New Model Army. I have a broad music taste and love to get inspired by many different styles.
Name 5 bands that have changed your life?
This needs some explanation; Iron Maiden and the ‘Killers’ album was my first contact with heavy metal. I saw the cover in one of my brother’s music magazines and I ordered it without having heard anything. After the instrumental intro, the pumping bassline of ‘Wrathchild’ starts and I knew I was sold. After discovering the new wave of british heavy metal I felt something was missing and Venom filled that gap. Their brutality and occult lyrics really struck a nerve on me. After being a metalhead for some years I stumbled over Gary Numan. His ice-cold musical universe really intrigued me. It was now I started looking for soundscapes in music and in Numan’s world I could see resemblance to my own feelings. The Sisters of Mercy then came and introduced me to dark romance, obscurity and political issues. With Numan and the Sisters I started to adopt the stage persona I wanted to explore. Finally some years later I came in contact with Dimmu Borgir and my musical journey was complete. Their mix of cold, harsh winter landscapes and occult mysticism really completed the circle and those 5 bands are the ones I would name most important to me both as a person and as a musician.
Name your 3 favorite Gothic Fests?
Bram Stoker Film Festival in Whitby, UK. We played there last year and it was an absolute blast and very well organised. Wave Gothic Treffen in Leipzig always attracts a big crowd and the Castle Party Festival looks like a cool place to be.
Name your 3 favorite gigs as a musician and as fan?
I saw the Damned at Brixton Academy in 1989. It was the last time the original line-up ever performed. A Swedish artist called Thåström played at the Kalas-tour in Malmö 2002 and after the gig I felt that nothing can be better than this. Finally I want to rate a gig I went to a long, long time ago when I was just a small kid. My mother took me and my older brother to a Marc Bolan and T-Rex concert in London. I believe it was at the Hammersmith Odeon and a biker standing next to us saw me and took me on his shoulders so I could watch the show.
Name the most 3 influential albums for you as an artist
The Sisters of Mercy-First and Last and Always, New Model Army-No Rest For The Wicked, Dimmu Borgir-Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
Describe yourself with 3 adjectives
Intensive, Creative, Result-driven
What is the most overrated gothic band?
I don’t like to lash out on other artists. They are hopefully very proud of what they’re doing, but since you specifically said gothic I can say Marilyn Manson, as I don’t see him as a gothic musician. I like Marilyn Manson, but it’s not goth to me.
What is the most underrated gothic band?
Haha, all gothic bands are underrated. Even though I’ve been in gothic music for more than 25 years I’m still amazed on how little attention this music scene gets and that larger companies frown and run away when you mention the word goth.
In which band would you have liked to play live?
Motörhead, f**k yeah!
Name 3 new gothic bands that have caught your attention lately?
I don’t really listen to a lot of goth as I get my inspiration elsewhere, but Aeon Sable, Gothminister and Salvation AMP have my attention. Maybe they’re not new to everybody, but they are new to me.
Gothic Rock or Post Punk and why?
Gothic Rock for me. Post Punk rings a bell of Batcave and that was never my cup of tea.
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