Pompeii 99

Pompeii 99 was a rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1981. They released one single and one album before the core members of the band (Valor Kand, Gitane Demone, and David Glass) joined Rozz Williams for a new version of Christian Death and eventually continued with the Christian Death name after all the original members had left the group. According to Gitane Demone, their music was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, contrary to Valor's claims that they were deathrock. Aside from Valor, the main songwriter during this period was Cram Netod (Marc Doten) who later went on to perform with Double Naught Spy Car and The Negro Problem.

History

The group began when Valor Kand (guitar, vocals) responded to an ad put in the paper by Gitane Demone (keyboards, vocals). The two would become band mates as well as lovers. Gitane Demone would give birth to their son Sevan in 1984. As a child, Sevan would contribute vocals to many Christian Death songs.

The album Pompeii 99 would put out, Look at Yourself (1981 or 1982), on their own Nostradamus label, was eclectic in sound, mixing poppy cheerfulness with ska, and lyrics about androids, being one of a kind, and a song that boasts about the fact that the song is about nothing. Other musicians on this album, besides Valor and Gitane, were Poli-Sci (vocals, organ, synth), Cram Netod (bass, piano, guitar, vocals), and David Parkinson/Glass (drums, percussion, vocals). Gitane Demone has stated that the sound of the band on this album was premature. After its completion, they started working on darker material and playing shows with deathrock bands 45 Grave and Christian Death. This material might have been released if it wasn't for Pompeii 99's sudden end.

Pompeii 99 and Christian Death planned on doing several shows in Europe together, but Williams was left without a band after Christian Death fell apart. Pompeii 99 were left without Christian Death to headline the tour, so Valor and Glass talked with Rozz about an idea to create a combined group for the tour. After this, Valor and David told Gitane that Pompeii 99 had come to an end.

Name

The name "Pompeii99" reflects Valor's obsession with his belief (based on Nostradamus' "prophecies") that the world would end in 1999. This obsession continued until 12:00AM 1 January 2000 when Valor immediately stated that he no longer believed that the world would ever end, at least not during his lifetime.

Discography

• Look at Yourself - (1981)
• Ignorance Is The Control 7"EP - (1982)

Members

• Valor Kand - vocals, guitar
• Gitane Demone - vocals, guitar
• David Glass - drums
• Poli-Sci - vocals, organ, synth
• Cram Netod - bass, piano, guitar, vocals