interview by John Wisniewski for MK ULTRA Magazine
Gitane DeMone, her career spans more than 30 years. She came to prominence in the mid-1980s as the keyboardist and backing vocalist of the influential death rock band Christian Death. In addition to her work with Christian Death, Demone was previously a member of Pompeii 99, worked with Dreadful Shadows, and has had a solo career which has included three studio albums: Am I Wrong?, Stars of Trash and The Reflecting Shadow.
Several years in the making, the debut of N + Gitane Demone finally arrived in 2024. Despair, a sprawling, experimental opera with a libretto penned by Demone, is spread over an epic-length, bespoke 4-LP box limited to 100 sets featuring 10 tracks on 4 LPS featuring a 28-page booklet with the complete lyrics and illustrated with exclusive paintings by Zara Kand. Each set includes a postcard signed by N and Demone. Despair tells the story of an elderly man as he begins to slip into dementia, and whose sunny memories and hallucinations of his ancestors’ murderous past alternately propel him toward an inevitable and precipitous fate. Scored by German drone guitar alchemist N, whose long list of credits include the bands [MULTER] and O R T, using unique amplifier and guitar extended techniques, the drama pitches and ebbs in waves of textured, sonorous beauty. Despair enfolds the listener in an ocean of desolation that offers a uniquely introspective and resonant experience that is, by turns, as spectral as it is human — and totally unexpected, in defiance of operatic stereotypes.
John Wisniewski: How did you view the goth music scene of the 1980s and 90s?
Gitane DeMone: A few outstanding bands in the 90s , such as Cinema Strange (now disbanded), but in general a lot of rehash, I guess in keeping with the genre…in the earlier 80s bands were much more Individualized with their sound.
JW: Who do you like in jazz?
GD: Sun Ra, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, John Coltrane…the old-school stuff. I need to delve into the Avant-Garde jazz more, I suppose.
JW: What was the greatest moment for you, in your career in music?
GD: Lots of “greatest moments” Recording, performing with Rozz Williams. I was invited onstage in Rotterdam, to perform with an 11-piece free jazz “orchestra” for a great sax player who had passed, Rev. Frank Wright. 3 events I organized at a local venue: a 48 minute version of Sun Ra’s “Retrospect” with a 17-piece punk “orchestra”/a 20-minute version of Screamers “Eva Braun” with a 20-piece choir directed by Josie Cotton, a 20 minute version of Eno’s “Here Come the Warm Jets” with a 21-piece band and a 40-piece choir… those events are highlights.
My greatest moments are with my band Gitane Demone Quartet (GDQ), with Rikk Agnew, Paul Roessler, Deb Venom and myself performing, recording, going on little tours.
JW: Could you tell us about working with Zara Kand in the Crystelles?
GD: In 2000 I started writing songs on guitar.My daughter Zara was living with me, and I asked her to play drums. It was both wonderful and difficult-we often had to play in a parking lot until it was time to play during her underage years, but she was used to the musician’s life being on the road. From the time she was born. We have remained closest friends, mom and daughter. We played mostly in Los Angeles, a duo for two years, our third member being a large painting or 2 or 3, on stage, since Zara is primarily a fine oil painter, until eventually we accepted a bass player, Troy Rounseville (Weird Knight). We recorded an LP Attach and Detach, which I released (Free Bondage Music/Art Unlimited) on vinyl in 2008, made two videos (You Tube), toured the U.S. with Sioux City Pete and The Beggars. 2009 we toured Europe, I wrote another LP, we had another bassist Jean-Paul Garner, we recorded, but tapes were burnt in a fire. The Crystelles toured Europe again in 2011. After that we broke up the band, I wanted to experiment with solo work, but she needed more time for painting.
JW: What was it like playing in Christian Death?
GD: It was exciting, dramatic, intense.
JW: What may inspire you to write music?
GD: These days I’m inspired by working with interesting musicians, with interesting and Avant-Garde ideas.
JW: Why did you leave Christian Death?
GD: Fundamentally, I left due to personal differences with band mates, with the musical direction, and need for change.
JW: Gitane, you also paint and write. Could you tell us about this?
GD: I painted a lot from 2000. I don’t really consider myself a painter-I don’t have a studio, and that’s necessary. When I do have the space I’m busy with paints. I create a lot of flyer art by hand, collage, typewriter art. I’ve got two chapbooks available “Vexata Quaestio” and “The Blood”, which contain poetry, prose and illustrations. I’m working on a novella currently, and have a cut-ups project ongoing documenting COVID-19.
JW: Any plans and projects?
GD: I’ve just finished a collaborative project of three years, an ambient opera “Despair”. I’m waiting for mixes, and working on finding a label. My current band Gitane Demone Quartet will be recording new material soon. I’m beginning a new project with Hollywood underground legend Tequila Mockingbird, our first recordings begin May 29, in the more experimental vein of genres. Also I’m currently writing a surreal novella and have artwork in Destroy Art Inc. online gallery. Unfortunately no live shows/tours scheduled because of the OBVIOUS!
Visit her online at: www.gitanedemone.net
Bandcamp: www.gitanedemone.bandcamp.com