Venus d'Morte

Venus d'Morte (Clarisse) - Vocals & Lead/Rhythm Guitars
Stacey - Rhythm/Lead Guitars, Piano, Backup Vocals
Kali (Brandi) - Bass, Backup Vocals
Tommy - Drums, Backup Vocals

A Brief History:

What do you do when you're addicted to making and playing music, and even though you love your current band and bandmates, they don't play enough shows or record often enough for you to get your fix?  Why, you do solo projects on the side, of course!  That's exactly what Clarisse did in 1993 when she found that Rapture's several shows a month weren't enough to satisfy the itching in her nimble fingers, and decided to start playing her own solo shows and releasing her own albums, while still playing and recording with Rapture . . . Clarisse is a confirmed music junkie, and needs to be almost constantly playing the music she loves to cure her twitchies, so playing under her stage-name of Venus d'Morte both with Rapture and on her own was the perfect solution for her.  It also enabled her to experiment and try different things with her heavy metal, things that wouldn't have quite fit into Rapture's ferociously brutal and over-the-top style, so it also took care of a creative itch of hers as well, and she's found her little solo career to be immensely satisfying and great fun.

When she first tossed the idea out, both Stacey and Brandi, wanting to play slightly different music than they usually did, as well as wanting to be able to play in a band together, hopped aboard with Clarisse immediately, and while sitting around in Clarisse's basement, the trio assembled a demo tape for fun, borrowing a temperamental drum machine named Otis from Black Lawless to round out the sound.  When Tommy heard the tape, he was instantly interested, and he also said that, "damnable Otis didn't do the guitars justice . . . the lousy automaton couldn't flow around and embrace a good riff or lick like a real drummer could, and if it's one music that needs an organic drummer, it's guitar-drenched heavy metal.  Otis wasn't worthy . . . hell, he didn't even have a soul!"  That was more than fine with Clarisse, who was hoping that Tommy would be lured away from spending so much time at the library to come and play heavy metal with the other three once he heard Otis on the demo.  As Clarisse says, "Tommy's always bound and determined to prove that anything a machine can do, a person can do better, and it offended his sensibilities to hear a drum machine playing heavy metal with three flesh-and-blood musicians."  After Tommy joined the gang, the foursome gradually put together and recorded the Venus Burning EP, the band performing and toying with the songs Clarisse wrote and wanted to cover at a very relaxed and playful pace . . . while the Hollywood Vampires and Rapture don't exactly function like tight-assed machines when it comes to recording, Venus d'Morte was even more laid-back, and there were many a time when the band sat down to record and ended up spending the entire day just jamming and throwing ideas around.  Clarisse didn't sweat it, as she's strictly about playing, and extended jam sessions and musical tomfoolery that often came about when the four got together was fine with her . . . if they didn't get anything recorded for a couple of weeks, who cared?  They were having fun.

Eventually the band got around to finishing up the Venus Burning EP, and it was released to a very favorable response from the independent music press and fans in the L.A. area, so much so that Venus d'Morte released a double album in 1995, entitled Titanium Princess, which was loaded with extremely heavy metal, impeccable and fluid guitar work, and a sense of passion and enjoyment that made most albums seem lacking in comparison.  It also featured a number of very bluesy songs, which showed that even though Venus d'Morte was primarily a heavy metal band, both Clarisse and Stacey's love for the blues wasn't going to be neglected, and that they weren't going to pigeonhole themselves into playing just one style of music.  Many headbangers were quite pleased with Titanium Princess, as a good number of them preferred Venus d'Morte's rollicking and soulful blues-type songs over the ballads that many metal bands felt compelled to put on their albums . . . Clarisse has a strict policy banning wimpy ballads, backed up by the other three.  With the two releases, Clarisse's notoriety in and around L.A. increased, and she ended up receiving invitations to play a song or two with many of the heavy metal bands that passed through L.A., including Anthrax, Testament, and Megadeth.  She was even called upon to play an entire concert with Iron Maiden when guitarist Janick Gers received food-poisoning at Jack's Eatin' Shack . . . after she got over the shock, she gleefully accepted, and Iron Maiden was accompanied by a comely vampire guitarist at their sold-out show.  She even got to share vocal duties with legendary Bruce Dickinson during Maiden's classic "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner," which Venus d'Morte had covered on Titanium Princess, and she says that the show was one of the most fun moments of her life, and that the guys in Iron Maiden were complete gentlemen.  She and Stacey were also invited to come up and jam with ZZ Top on one of their stops through town, and Stacey even managed to find a long fake beard to wear, much to the amusement of everybody at the show . . . especially when he tripped over it.

But Clarisse's crowning moment of heavy metal glory came in late 1993 when she was asked to join Steel Dragon, one of the premiere heavy metal bands of the 1980's, which had fallen on tough times following the departure of replacement lead singer Izzy in the mid '80's.  After several unsuccessful attempts to rekindle the spirit the band had with original vocalist Bobby Beers, and then Izzy, they went on indefinite hiatus until 1993 when, tired of inactivity, they began to search for a new singer, one that would have the electricity and dynamics to turn their fortunes around.  They turned down hundreds of auditioning singers, and were getting pretty damned frustrated by the time that one of their fans mailed them a copy of Venus Burning, which mightily impressed them with its ferocity, prowess, and fire . . . unfortunately, they weren't interested in having a female lead singer, regardless of how much the band was drooling over her pictures in the album.  Somehow word of that got out to the legions of metal fans in and around Los Angeles, where the members of Steel Dragon were based much of the time, and a petition to get Clarisse a shot at joining Steel Dragon started going around, unbeknownst to Clarisse, and before long there were nearly two thousand signatures on it, and when it was sent in, Kirk and AC, the heart of Steel Dragon, decided to give her an audition, if only to prove they were fair guys.  When the two approached Clarisse following a Rapture show, she nearly fell over herself, as she loved Steel Dragon's music and was blown away at the petition that had been put together in her stead . . . and of course she auditioned!  Needless to say, after the band had heard her vocals and guitar on her favorite Steel Dragon songs, they decided to take a risk at something different and asked her to join, and though she was hesitant at first (due to the logistics of a vampire touring with a mortal band), she was eventually convinced by Steele, Stacey, Donita, and Brandi to go for it, at least for a year or so.  She didn't need much convincing, however, as she was dying to actually try touring with a heavy metal band, if only for a little while, and she officially signed on with Steel Dragon with the understanding that she'd only be with them for roughly a year, and that she'd help them find a replacement singer when her time with them was up . . . the boys weren't too sure about that, but they gambled on it, figuring that it was better to have a good lead singer and extra guitarist for a year than to just sit around and do nothing, as at the very least it could get their names on the map again.  And so began the adventure . . .

With Clarisse in the fold, the band had to do a little adapting, as Clarisse made it clear that she wanted to contribute to the band's music and that she wasn't going to simply do everything the band told her to do (like Izzy had done during much of his stint), and the Dragon sound changed a little bit with the addition of her guitar into the mix, though most fans will tell you that it made a great thing even better.  While the band got to work recording the album that would become Decimation, they went on a mini-tour of California to help Clarisse gel with them and work out any kinks in the beast that had laid dormant for several years now . . . even they were bowled over by how well things went.  Word of mouth about Steel Dragon's new female lead singer and guitarist had spread like wildfire, and even though alternative music was ruling the airwaves, there were still more than enough rivetheads out there to buy tickets to Steel Dragon's resurrection, and while some were skeptical, they quickly changed their minds after hearing and seeing Clarisse roar and rip her way through both old and new Steel Dragon tunes.  When Decimation, which was put together in record time, came out in February 1994, Steel Dragon was already on the road, playing anywhere that would have them, and while they weren't playing in gigantic arenas, they sold out everywhere they went and did some very respectable numbers, which is quite a feat considering the musical climate at the time and the fact they were getting barely any radio support and no MTV support whatsoever.  Clarisse, who was already filthy rich from centuries of saving money, donated most her proceeds from the album and tour to help pay for impressive stage-sets and tons of pyro, making sure that the new Steel Dragon shows were as visually exciting and dynamic as they had been back in the '80's, and that helped further the Dragon cause even more . . . the band was running full-on, quite possibly better than they ever had, and many people in metal circles were raising their fists in support of Steel Dragon, seeing the band's revival as a shot against the alternative movement that had shoved heavy metal almost totally underground.  It got to the point where music magazines had to interview Steel Dragon, because the band was doing so well that they couldn't be ignored, and even MTV grudgingly gave them a live interview following one of their concerts, where the band, Clarisse included, made complete assholes of themselves, trashing MTV's fickle ways, and though they received a lifetime ban from the station, they became even bigger heroes to metalheads everywhere.

There was no shortage of mayhem on the tour, either, as Steel Dragon continued the tradition of reckless debauchery they'd become famous for, and while Clarisse partook in some of it with the rest of the band, she had other ways of causing trouble . . . the Sisters of Fury.  Brandi had steadfastly refused to allow Clarisse to leave Los Angeles on such a tour unless there was plenty of protection for her, as many vampires across the country would absolutely despise the redheaded vampiress for touring and performing with mortals, and so not only did she offer herself up as Clarisse's personal security, she got hold of the Sisters of Fury (her and Clarisse's old biker gal-pals), who happily went along for the ride as well, giving Clarisse a formidable protection force.  The Sisters (Melissa, Darla, Elizabeth, and Bang-Bang, who'd joined following Brandi's departure in 1991), rode along in Clarisse's sunlight-proof tour bus, their customized Harley bikes safely ensconced in a trailer behind them, and they had no lack of action before, after, and during many of Steel Dragon's shows, as there were a good number of vampires out there who either wanted to make an example of Clarisse or otherwise had old scores to settle with her from her time in the Sisters.  Needless to say, the Sisters of Fury had a ball kicking the shit out of people in the name of protecting Clarisse, though there were a few times they had to come up with good stories to explain the tremendous damage a hotel suite or dressing room had sustained, but the guys in Steel Dragon milked stuff like that for all it was worth, doing everything they could to draw attention to themselves.  They didn't know that Clarisse's vampiric nature was anything more than a gimmick she liked to flash, and while they'd been a bit irked at first when she'd told them she wouldn't go anywhere near sunlight, they quickly turned it into an advantage, using it as an excuse to stay out later and sleep in longer, as well as using it to build up a mystique around Clarisse, which drew even more people in.  By the time the summer of '94 came around, Steel Dragon was riding hard, loud, and triumphant, laughing at their critics and pleasing their fans, and Clarisse was having a great time, happy as hell she'd taken the opportunity given to her.

The tour continued until the end of 1994, where Steel Dragon welcomed the new year in a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden, and shortly afterwards, Clarisse made her departure from the band, who tried everything they could to encourage her to stay, but to no avail.  Though Clarisse had been a nomad with the Sisters of Fury for four decades of the 20th century, she'd come to love Los Angeles and everything about it, and while she was having a good time, she was also ready to go home, to be with Steele and the rest of her friends.  But true to her word, she helped Steel Dragon find yet another lead singer: a hulking, powerful young man who had a tremendous voice, the classic heavy metal "look," and answered only to the name "Blaster," who not only worked out very well with Steel Dragon, but remains with them to this day.  Not long after Clarisse had left the band, they released a double live album from the Decimation tour, entitled Live Annihilation, which was very well-received, and is thought to be one of the better heavy metal live albums ever released.  But Clarisse's time in Steel Dragon wasn't forgotten, and even today many fans consider 1994, dubbed "the Year of the Dragon," to be finest period in the band's history, and when Steel Dragon comes anywhere in or near Los Angeles, Blaster respectfully and happily (he was one of the biggest fans of Steel Dragon with Clarisse in it) steps aside and lets Clarisse temporarily retake her old place as the band's frontwoman, sometimes for a few songs, and other times for an entire set.  Either which way, everybody goes home happy, which is what's really important, at least to Clarisse.

Like Rapture and the Hollywood Vampires, Clarisse has received many invitations to sign with major record labels (especially after her successful stint with Steel Dragon), but like the two other bands, she always turns the offers down, as she wants to work at her own pace and in her own time, and doesn't want anybody else to ever be pulling her six-strings, though she's always up to do a little hired-gun work as a session and guest musician on other bands' albums.  In fact, you might just own an album that features some of her six-string magick on it . . . like the venerable Slash of Guns 'N Roses, Clarisse gets around the music world and loves to try playing with new people and enjoys musical experimentation.  She's also willing to play just about anywhere with her band (as long as it's after dark), and she's always up to talk about music or help someone out if they're having troubles learning how to play a song . . . she's been called a musician's musician by many, though she protests that a bit, saying that she's just a gal who loves her guitar and her music.

Releases:

Much like Rapture, Venus d'Morte isn't signed to any record label, so you're out of luck if you go hunting through Tower Records of Best Buy in search of one of her albums.  All of the Venus solo albums have been released through the same "Bloodbath Records" imprint that the Rapture albums are, produced and put out by Clarisse herself, and so can only be found in small quantities . . . but as is the case with the Hollywood Vampires and Rapture albums, plenty of quality copies can be found all over Los Angeles and Hollywood, and seeing as how Clarisse is in it for the music and not the money, people are encouraged to copy and trade her albums all they want, as long as she gets credit for her work, so finding the music of Venus d'Morte isn't too hard if you ask around a little.  The original albums, however, have booklets in them that are filled with pictures of the band and fascinating liner notes, as well as some of Donita's best artwork ever, so if you can find an original Venus d'Morte album, it's definitely worth picking up.  Her two albums with Steel Dragon are easily found just about everywhere you go, even mall music outlets, so you likely won't have to travel far to find copies of Decimation or Live Annihilation . . . and if you can catch her after any show she's playing at, she'll even sign them for you if you ask nicely!

As Venus d'Morte
Venus Burning EP (1993) 500 copies made
Titanium Princess Double LP (1995) 1000 copies made
Six-String Alchemy (1997) 1000 copies made
Return Of The Empress (1999) 1500 copies made

With Steel Dragon
Decimation (1994)
Live Annihilation (Double Live Album) (1995)

Various
From Horace's Vault (Venus d'Morte / Steel Dragon collection) (1994)

Typical Venus d'Morte Setlist:

White Wedding (Billy Idol Cover)
Anything (Danzig Cover)
Devastator (Instrumental)
Critical Mass
Decimation (Steel Dragon Cover)
Killing In The Name Of Love (Rapture Cover)
Nobody's Victim
Brutal And Effective (Doro Pesch Cover)
No Surrender
Nitro Queen (Instrumental)
Inferno City (Steel Dragon Cover)
It's All In The Blood
Titanium Princess
Heavy Metal War
Last Day Of My Life (Doro Pesch Cover)

Encores
Blood Pollution (Steel Dragon Cover)
Black Friday (Megadeth Cover)
Polar Nights (Scorpions Cover)
Heart Of Soul (Cult Cover)

Please note that everything regarding Steel Dragon is based upon the movie Rock Star, and what I've read up on the fictional band . . . I rather enjoyed the movie, and thought it'd be fun to incorporate Steel Dragon into Clarisse's musical adventures.  Find out more about Steel Dragon at their "official" site . . . Steel Dragon Rules!

If you'd like a good idea of what Venus d'Morte's music sounds like, check out the following:

Doro Pesch - Clarisse's voice is very nearly a dead-ringer for that of the German metal goddess, and Doro's Calling The Wild and Love Me In Black albums are very indicative of what the music of Venus d'Morte would sound like, particularly the songs, "White Wedding," "Kiss Me Like A Cobra," "I Wanna Live," and "Brutal And Effective."

Iron Maiden - The classic metal sound pioneered by Maiden is one of Clarisse's biggest influences, and her guitar prowess is very much inspired by the likes of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers . . . she's very tight musically, and plays with a great deal of precision, yet is still able to easily cut loose and run wild on the strings.  Her style of singing is also influenced by Bruce Dickinson, the human air-raid siren, and the way Bruce growls and wails through many of Maiden's classic numbers is very close to how Clarisse would sing . . . refer to "Aces High," "Wasted Years," "Be Quick Or Be Dead," and "The Evil That Men Do" for some excellent examples.  Basically, if Doro and Bruce had a vocally-talented kid, that's what Clarisse would sound like.

Megadeth - This applies more to the band as a whole when they really cut loose, and if you want a good example of the precision-crafted ferocity that the entire Venus d'Morte band can cut loose with, refer to such Megadeth songs as, "Good Mourning/Black Friday," "Holy Wars . . . The Punishment Due," "Wake Up Dead," "Recipe For Hate/Warhorse," and "Hook In Mouth."  While having very strong classic metal tendencies, Venus d'Morte also has a good load of speed-metal flowing through its veins, and can really get fast and wild at times . . .