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London After Midnight (LAM) is a rock music project formed in the 1990s by singer/songwriter/bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Sean Brennan. LAM has retained and nurtured the political and socially aware element of the punk scene that died in the early 90s (listen to LAM songs like "Revenge", released in 1991, as an example or take note of the huge amount of literature handed out at concerts and online supporting animals rights and various progressive social and political causes). LAM can be defined as a passionate and political dark rock music entity as noted by virtually every magazine review. LAM has a large worldwide following, with many Gothic Rock fans (LAM outspokenly shuns artistic limitations via labels such as "gothic", however) "Gothic Beauty Magazine" (USA, Autumn 2005) "Orkus Magazine" (Germany, Autumn 2000), "Gothic Magazine" (Germany, Sep 2002).
Despite rejecting genre labels, LAM has been credited with reviving the faltering Gothic music scene in the early 90s (Dark Asylum magazine, New York City, 1995). "Dark Zone magazine (Poland, Summer 1998)" writes "This is the worlds biggest goth band who reactivated the whole genre". LAM is also a controversial entity to some other bands, mainly due to their popularity and shunning of genre labels. Mick Mercer, UK goth author of "The Hexe FIles: The Goth Bible" writes that LAM is "the coolest band, establishing a big reputation and invoking an alarming amount of petty jealousies ... they don't just have the songs, image, the intelligence (lyrics hardly disposable), there's humor and passion squeezed into the torment and delightful tristes".
Brennan is known for his support of animal rights, pro-environmental and human rights issues, anti-corporate control of media, and progressive, and liberal politics. However, Brennan's music ranges from the intensely personal to broader issues ranging from racism, social and political issues, animal rights, etc. (the new London After Midnight music in particular, played in concert since 1998, is very political). "Zillo magazine" wrote in 2000 that LAM's music is "very sensuous and unique...that creates an atmosphere of inexpressible haunting beauty". The lyrics are even sometimes presented with a sense of morbid wit - with songs like "Your Best Nightmare", an Edward Gorey-esque tale.
From "Dark Entries Magazine" (Belgium 1999):
- Dark Entries: "Tell me about some of your songs. Many of our readers are curious about "Your Best Nightmare". What was the inspiration for this unique song? To me it reminds me of Edward Gorey's writing. Has Edward Gorey ever appealed to your artistic sense?"
- Brennan: "At one point as a child I was very interested in drawing and Gorey was always a guilty pleasure with his morbid, cynical humor. "Your Best Nightmare" was actually a spoof of an Edward Gorey type story. Its a black comedy."
London After Midnight has headlined and co-headlined concerts and major festivals with bands like The Cure, Green Day, HIM (HIM often cites LAM as a favorite artist) "Orkus Magazine, Germany, May 2003" (also stated in several previous HIM interviews), Rammstein, Soft Cell, and many more, headlining and co-headlining to crowds of over 30,000 in Latin America, the US and Europe. London After Midnight maintains a strong underground and independent "personality" despite being popular sellers (charting in the top 10 European DAC charts with each of 3 CDs released, verified via Deutsche Alternative Charts) and a major draw at music festivals year after year.
In 2006 a new London After Midnight song was released on the "Saw II" motion picture soundtrack (Trisol Records, Europe), which went to number one on the German Alternative Charts (DAC). LAM's new CD is scheduled for release in 2007.
Discography
- Does not include original cassette releases, singles or compilations
- 1992 - Selected Scenes from the End of the World USA self release cassette (revised CD released in 1995 in Europe, 1998 USA, and extended CD released in 2003 in Europe and Russian Federation)
- 1996 - Psycho Magnet European release (1998 USA release and extended CD released in 2003 in Europe and Russian Federation)
- 1998 - Oddities European release (1998 USA release)
- 2006 - Saw II soundtrack with the song Fear (European release)