About Me
What is PAGAN LOVE SONGS? Don't ask us. There are gazillions of other people who shared their thoughts on this certain event in one way or the other. "This clubnight set the snowball rolling again for the Goth- and Deathrock scene!" (Paul Cuska, Kiss The Blade, Strobelight Records) is possibly the most flattering one.
After more than eight years of providing Germany's oldest Goth venue, the legendary ZWISCHENFALL in Bochum, with outstanding monthly parties and live gigs, PAGAN LOVE SONGS has now become a special attraction which only takes place a handful of times per year.
"The Ruhrarea is also known as Thyssen-country", Justin Stephens of the fabulous UK Goth-act Passion Play once said. He was of course exaggerating... ;-)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Here's what other people have written about PAGAN LOVE SONGS:
Mark Splatter (deathrock.com): "Pagan Love Songs has been a cornerstone of the current Deathrock scene, a 'pulling horse' if you will! It has been the original host to nearly all US Deathrock bands to make it over to Germany, and a support of all things new and worthwhile. (...)"
Dave Bats (Release The Bats, Kommunity FK, Element): "(...) Pagan Love Songs, though five thousand miles from its sister event, Release The Bats, took Europe by storm and society as we know it has never been the same. Release The Bats and Pagan Love Songs, there's no turning back. Give in!"
Stevyn Grey (Frankenstein, 45 Grave, The Last Dance): "(...) The Thyssens have turned Pagan Love Songs into a 'must play' club for any Deathrock band touring in Germany. And now, after having played Pagan Love Songs and at the Zwischenfall more times that I can count, I can say that this club in Bochum, Germany feels like a second home to me. (...)"
William Faith (Faith and The Muse, Anima Mundi): "Pagan Love Songs is keeping the flame burning for yet another generation of freaks; a haven for the gender-impaired, huge-haired, lipstick-smeared, fishnet-bound, stumble-drunk posse of glam-happy degenerates that we know and love so well. Love and glory to the Thyssen clan!"
Justin Stephens (Passion Play): "I've heard the entire Ruhrgebiet refered to as 'Thyssen country'. I googled 'Pagan Love Songs' and got three entries about Thomas and Ralf's landmark event at the Zwischenfall before the Virgin Prunes even got a mention. (...)"
Paul Cuska (Strobelight Records, Kiss The Blade, Judgement Day Festival): "(...) There may well have been the odd Truegoth/Deathrock party here and there, but by establishing Pagan Love Songs as a regular and dedicated event in Germany's most renowned and historic underground club, the Thyssen Bros. created both a stronghold for the scene and a not to be underrated psychological backing for fans, bands, labels, DJs and other clubs. (...)"
Frank The Baptist (Frank The Baptist, The Dirty Weather Project): "In the plainest, simplest words I can find: The Thyssen Brothers of Pagan Love Songs got a hold of our music from Mark Splatter of deathrock.com and have been champions of FTB ever since. They are the biggest reason anyone in the Old World knows who we are at all. Their support and belief in us has helped us keep going through tougher times and we we will be forever thankful. (...)"
Lucas Lanthier (Cinema Strange, The Deadfly Ensemble, The Dirty Weather Project): "Concerning Pagan Love Songs (...) and how it is the premier deathrock / batcave club in Germany, if not the world. The event does not attract a crowd so much as open the flood gates and let in a bristling sea of mohicans, their faces awash with liquid eyeliner and black lipstick, their bodies trussed up with netting and webbing and spikes and corsets. When this anachronistic tide rolled recklessly in, we were attacked from all sides by 1983, and for the first time since we started playing clubs, I felt at home. Pagan Love Songs is doing something remarkable, and it is this writer's opinion that every deathrocker worth the runs in his or her stockings should be saving for a plane ticket to Bochum. (...)"
Mick Mercer (mickmercer.com, The Mick): "A scene is built on its characters, who then give it its character, and both Ralf and Thomas should be applauded for doing what may seem like a business to some, but is handled in a way which shows their love for the music, which they make fun, with no time for pomposity."
Stevenson Sedgwick (Black Ice, The Phantom Limbs): "The crazy Thyssen Brothers of Pagan Love Songs are so cool, they were playing my bands, Phantom Limbs and Black Ice, before we even had proper records out! We owe a large debt to these fine fellows for exposing Europe to our music! The Pagan Love Songs/Zwischenfall-folks were gracious hosts when the Limbs played there in 2002, and the show was one of the best of the our tour! (...)"
Blu Ashton (Editor in chief of starvox.net): "The Thyssen Brothers have created a Deathrock legacy with Pagan Love Songs. Their commitment to the scene, to the musicians and artists that inspire our lives, is unequaled. They are almost certainly underappreciated for their efforts. They have held the torch when others have failed (...)
Grandma Fiendish (Antiworld): "We are delighted to be a part of the Pagan Love Songs-family. I think we were the second band to come from the States and play at this special event, and have continued to visit on each tour since. We have met many wonderful people who we have remained in contact with throughout the years and this would not have been possible without Ralf and Thomas and all their hard work and dedication to this event. (...)"
PAGAN LOVE SONGS hosted the first ever European exclusive live shows of bands like Cinema Strange, Antiworld, The Deep Eynde and Diva Destruction, who have all went on to become bigger and more well-known throughout the years, and was essential in putting then German newcomer (or undeservingly overlooked) acts like Bloody Dead And Sexy, New Days Delay, Murder At The Registry, Cadra Ash and Fallen Apart on the map.
Ralf & Thomas dj'ed all over the world, including Germany, the Netherlands, the US of A, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Slovakia, France and the U.K.
In addition to that and as a special gift for themselves, Ralf & Thomas alongside the help of their old friend Frank D'Angelo of Alice In... (distributed by Nova Media) decided to release a 38 track, 150+min double-cd compilation entitled "PAGAN LOVE SONGS - Antitainment Compilation" which has been completely sold out since its release in Autumn 2004.
"Compilation of the month!" Thomas Clausen (Sonic Seducer Magazine)
"Already the compilation of the year!" Paul Cuska (Gothic Magazine)
Ralf & Thomas are currently working on Volume 2!
PAGAN LOVE SONGS recommends:
