Vampire Rodents
Encyclopedia
Vampire Rodents was the name of an industrial music
and experimental rock
band formed in Phoenix
, Arizona
, although it's core members originally came from Canada
. The band was formed by singer, guitarist and composer Daniel Vahnke
(aka Anton Rathausen) and keyboardest Victor Wulf. Andrea Akastia (violin, cello) joined after the re-release of War Music in 1991. The band was well known for their use of guest vocalists on many of their songs. Although almost all of the instrumentalists credited, such as Jing Laoshu and Consuelo Buenviento, were fake. Daniel Vahnke was primarily influenced by classical and Avant-garde
music, whereas Wulf was more focused on Ambient music
, and both styles contributed to the mood of the band.
Across their five album career, they appeared on four different record labels, including Dossier, Vampire Rodents Productions (their own label), Re-Constriction Records
and finally on Fifth Column.
As well as Vampire Rodents, Vahnke also had a side project called Ether Bunny, and Wulf had a solo effort called Dilate
, which released two albums on Cleopatra Records
. The Rodents also collaborated with Babyland
to create Recliner, which released a few songs direct onto compilation albums, and later onto full VR albums.
While the band was mainly active during 1988-1996, Vahnke has expressed his desire on his myspace page to restart the group, however there has been nothing new produced.
In January 2008, Daniel released on his myspace page raw material from the proposed side project Pillow which was to be done in collaboration with 16volt
.
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
and experimental rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
band formed in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, although it's core members originally came from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The band was formed by singer, guitarist and composer Daniel Vahnke
Daniel Vahnke
Daniel Vahnke is a Canadian composer and lyricist. He is best known as a co-founding member of Vampire Rodents, a band that integrated elements of classical, ambient, and industrial music into its work...
(aka Anton Rathausen) and keyboardest Victor Wulf. Andrea Akastia (violin, cello) joined after the re-release of War Music in 1991. The band was well known for their use of guest vocalists on many of their songs. Although almost all of the instrumentalists credited, such as Jing Laoshu and Consuelo Buenviento, were fake. Daniel Vahnke was primarily influenced by classical and Avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
music, whereas Wulf was more focused on Ambient music
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, and both styles contributed to the mood of the band.
Across their five album career, they appeared on four different record labels, including Dossier, Vampire Rodents Productions (their own label), Re-Constriction Records
Re-Constriction Records
Re-Constriction Records was a division of Cargo Music basd in California. The label was founded in 1991 and headed by Chase, who was previously the Music Director at KCR, a student radio station on the campus of San Diego State University.-History:...
and finally on Fifth Column.
As well as Vampire Rodents, Vahnke also had a side project called Ether Bunny, and Wulf had a solo effort called Dilate
Dilate (musical project)
Dilate was an ambient solo project begun in 1996 by keyboard player Victor Wulf.-History:Wulf began writing music in 1977. After working with experimental industrial band Vampire Rodents, he released his first album under the name Dilate, Cyclos, in early 1996. The follow-up, Octagon, was...
, which released two albums on Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
. The Rodents also collaborated with Babyland
Babyland
Babyland was a performance-based "independent electronic junk punk" band from Los Angeles, California, featuring Dan Gatto performing vocals and electronics and Michael Smith on percussion....
to create Recliner, which released a few songs direct onto compilation albums, and later onto full VR albums.
While the band was mainly active during 1988-1996, Vahnke has expressed his desire on his myspace page to restart the group, however there has been nothing new produced.
In January 2008, Daniel released on his myspace page raw material from the proposed side project Pillow which was to be done in collaboration with 16volt
16 Volt
16Volt is an industrial rock band featuring Eric Powell and Mike Peoples with various other performers added for live shows.-History:Powell became interested in music early on, and formed 16Volt in 1988. While shopping his demos several years later, he met up with a college-radio music director who...
.
Albums
- War Music (1990)
- Premonition (1992)
- Lullaby LandLullaby Land-Accolades:-Personnel:Vampire Rodents*Andrea Akastia – cello, violin*Daniel Vahnke – vocals, sampler, guitar*Victor Wulf – pianoAdditional musicians and production*Marc C...
(1993) - ClockseedClockseed- Accolades :- Personnel :Vampire Rodents* Andrea Akastia – cello, violin* Daniel Vahnke – guitar, vocals * Victor Wulf – piano, synthesizerAdditional musicians and production...
(1995) - Gravity's RimGravity's Rim-Personnel:Vampire Rodents*Andrea Akastia – cello, violin*Daniel Vahnke – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, sampler*Victor Wulf – piano, synthesizer, organAdditional musicians and production...
(1996)
Compilation appearances
- Thugs 'N' Kisses (1995) ~ Core
- Vampire Themes (1997) ~ Schubert Trio in E Flat
- The Black Bible (1998) ~ Chain
Additional information
- [ Vampire Rodents entry] in Allmusic
- Vampire Rodents review by Piero ScaruffiPiero ScaruffiPiero Scaruffi received a degree in Mathematics in 1982 from University of Turin, where he did work on the General Theory of Relativity. For a number of years he was the head of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Olivetti, based in Cupertino, California. He has been a visiting scholar at...
- Daniel Vanhke interview