Interview by John Wisniewski for MK ULTRA Magazine
Started like most bands, by a bunch of idealistic if somewhat wary musical adventurers, Afterimage came out with a roar on the burgeoning Los Angeles music scene in 1980. Guitarist A Produce answered a local ad from Rich Evac (bass) and Holland de Nuzzio (drums) and found a dynamic rhythm section. When he brought vocalist and saxophonist Daniel Voznick (aka Alec Tension) the chemistry was right and a sound was forged. Afterimage used its “thunderous rhythm, threatening bass, wailing bursts of sax and haunted vocals” to create powerful brain and body music that tore through the Los Angeles music scene.
In 1981 they released a 7” single and a 12” Fade In ep and thrilled fans at local clubs such as the Whisky, The Hong Kong Café, Club 88 and the Brave Dog, sharing the stage with the likes of Suburban Lawns, Savage Republic, Middle Class and Johanna Went.
The chemistry changed sometime in the mid 80s and the original band members chose to follow their own interests, while singer Daniel Voznick (aka Alec Tension) continued write and record as Afterimage. With the help of conspirators from all over Los Angeles, this slowly mutating entity released songs on several compilations and in magazines, a 7” single and most recently, on 2 CD releases: Ghostlight and Radio Sky.
A Produce started Trance Port and released many solo recordings of ambient/trance music. Rich Evac and Holland de Nuzzio have retired from music.
In this interview Daniel speaks about releasing their album Fade In, as well as band influences, and how the band began.
John: When and how did Afterimage form?
Daniel: It happened in two stages: I met Barry (Barry Craig whose stage name was A Produce – those who knew him would call him either Produce or Barry) in the Spring of 1979. He answered an ad I ran in the recycler that said something like “New Wave and beyond vocalist seeks band.” When we met we connected on past bands, like The Doors (he was especially fond of them) and contemporary bands like Television, Magazine and Public Image. He played me The Fall’s “Futures and Pasts” and Gang of Four’s “Damaged Goods.” He seemed to like my writings so we started to work together. Not long after we played a house party where he played guitar, his friend Gary (whose stage name was Pierre Lambow) played synth and I sang or recited – I can’t really remember. It was not very good or successful and we moved on to our own pursuits.
Sometime around the New Year Barry saw bass player Rich Evac’s ad: “Wanted: Acid-Punk guitarist for threatening Hollywood-based band. Must be fed up and a little sick – no lightweights, hippies or new-wavers.” Rich knew drummer Holland De Nuzzio and the 3 of them got together. Produce passed me the tape they made that day, and I really liked it. We got together sometime later and it clicked.
John: Was Afterimage compared to Goth bands like Joy division?
Daniel: Yes. Joy Division and U2 were the bands that were most often brought up, but not always in a complementary way! My voice was compared to Howard Devoto and once to New Values era Iggy Pop. My sax playing was often remarked on, mostly because it was a rarely used instrument for bands at that time.
Was the album “Fade In” well received by critics and listeners of post punk/Goth/Cold wave?
The single seemed to generate more immediate excitement than Fade In, perhaps because there weren’t as many local bands on vinyl yet. (interesting how 8 or 9 months can change people’s perception) But Fade In did get pretty good press, especially in England.
The term GOTH was just coming into use and seemed a bit more associated with the look of a band. We had no definite look. We were called things like post-punk and psychedelic mystery band.
John: Did the band get to play live?
Daniel: Yes, we played the local clubs in LA, including The Whiskey, The Brave Dog, Club 88 and Al’s Bar. We played with bands like Suburban Lawns, Human Hands, Middle Class, Johanna Went, Nervous Gender, Kommunity FK and Afrika Corps (later called Savage Republic).
John: What was going on in the world of punk/goth in California when you guys began?
Daniel: The term punk at that time covered more variety in bands than it came to mean later. The first wave of LA Punk bands were sort of winding down at that time and the newer breed of hard core punk bands centering on the South Bay were coming to the fore. X and Fear were probably still at their peak then, but other first wave punk band like The Screamers, The Dickies, The Weirdos and Black Randy and the Metro Squad had stopped playing or had lost steam.
John: What are you doing now Daniel?
Daniel: Musically I have been on hold for a while now, but this new reissue has energized me.
John: Tell us about any latest reissue material or new material from Afterimage?
Daniel: This new release Faces to Hide includes every recording from the original lineup. The CD and the Vinyl release both have 20 tracks, some never before released in any form, which include all the studio recordings, 5 demos and 8 live tracks. The vinyl release comes with a flexi disk with 3 extra tracks. Both formats will include a bonus track to download of a live, in-studio version of Faces to Hide. It’s available through Independent Project Records or the Afterimage BandCamp page.
After the the original group splintered, I continued on as Afterimage and released 2 CDs, Ghostlight and Radio Sky, Both available on the Afterimage BandCamp page.
https://afterimage-music.bandcamp.com
John: Will there be an Afterimage reunions?
Daniel: A Produce passed away in 2011, Rich no longer lives in the States and Holland gave up music back in the 1980s, so there won’t be any reunion shows.