‘Requiem For The Rose Garden’ is a new single by the alternative rock musician, producer, writer and artist David J, best known as the co-founder, co-songwriter and bassist with the legendary post-punk bands Bauhaus and Love and Rockets, but who has also enjoyed a successful parallel solo career. Originally from Northampton, England, he is now based in Los Angeles.
“It’s basically a protest about Trump’s administration and the atrocities it has visited upon the USA,” says J of the song. “In the context of the song, the Rose Garden at the White House can be seen as a symbolic metaphor, although it is also quite literal. I actually wrote it during Trump’s first term in office when he had that beautiful garden hacked up. Now, even more horror has been in?icted on it of course, and the elegant East Wing of the building completely decimated which is also highly symbolic.”
The backing band on the politically charged track is the Detroit-based Duende, with whom J has worked extensively in the past.
‘Requiem for the Rose Garden’ is included on a brand new album by J entitled ‘Postcards From The Afterlife’, which is out on 27th November. A musically diverse 14 song set with numerous autobiographical references that features a revolving cast of musicians, J describes it as being “essentially about the poignant persistence of connection, be it in life or in death. Schisms and transitions. Love found and love lost. Requiems, re?ection and revelation.”
Several songs feature string arrangements, including a spectacular finale recorded with members of the Prague Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, while others range from the soulful to hazy ‘60s orchestral pop, and from European-style chanson to the alternative rock territory for which J is best known.
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Further information about the album will be made available soon.
David J (born David John Haskins) is an English alternative rock musician, producer, writer and artist from Northampton, England but now based in Los Angeles, USA. His career began in 1978 when he co-founded the legendary post-punk band Bauhaus, with whom he played bass guitar and co-wrote their songs. After they split in 1983, he formed Love and Rockets with two of his former bandmates and was the group’s bassist, co-vocalist and co-songwriter on seven albums issued between 1985 and 1998. Both acts have reformed periodically in the years since, performing to huge international audiences.
J had already begun a productive solo career prior to Bauhaus splitting and became bassist and co-producer for The Jazz Butcher (the alias of the late Pat Fish) for two years prior to forming Love and Rockets. He has released sixteen solo albums to date, with a diverse range of other releases across music, film and theatre and a plethora of collaborations also showcasing his talents. His memoir, ‘Who Killed Mister Moonlight?’, was published in 2014 to great acclaim.