Hello Rockstars! Today’s Artist of the Week article is on Punk Rock Band Damned By The Night!
Here’s their story in their own words, enjoy!
Main Photo By: BullyPhotos
VMS:
“When did you start writing and performing your music.
What’s your backstory and current lineup.”
Damned by the Night:
Current Lineup:
Josh Tussinger – Guitar/Vox
Jay Burbank – Guitar/Vox
David Thompson – Bass/Vox
John Feeney – Drums
“2022. We embarked the hunger to start and create a horror rock n roll band.”
Photo by: Luna Saguaro Photo
VMS:
“What artist or bands inspire you and your sound.”
Damned by the Night:
“AFI, Misfits, Black Sabbath, Danzig, Alkaline Trio.”
VMS:
“What’s your writing process and inspiration for your lyrics.”
Damned by the Night:
“Our favorite horror films and dark experiences. Josh comes up with a lot the guitar riffs and we all build from there.”
VMS:
“I love your songs “Black Sunday”, “Red Death” and “Resurrection is Upon Us”. What is the inspiration or story behind these songs.”
Damned by the Night:
“All 3 songs come from a different horror films.
“Black Sunday” is based off the 1960 Italian Horror Film “Black Sunday ” about a witch that was put to death and to come back for revenge on a small town. She has the ability to bring the faces of death and the spirit world to your front door.
“Red Death” is inspired by two great forces in the horror world. Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe. The story The Masque Of The Red Death, is the devil our reality? Is the devil our insanity? Or is the devil just our own living lie? We believe in Love & Pain.
“Resurrection is Upon Us”, was our first single we put out, my fascination with vampires and horror films was a hit and the band went with a boom to get out there and write a record and get some live shows under our belt. Resurrecting the band was Upon us.”
Listen to Damned By The Night on Bandcamp:
https://damnedbythenight666.bandcamp.com
VMS:
“Tell me about your EP: “From the Shadows to the Coffin!”. What was the inspiration and process of writing it.”
Damned by the Night:
“Inspiration behind “From The Shadows To The Coffin” was our love and excitement for midnight spookshows of 1930s – 1970s stories from Tales From The Crypt, b-horror films, to create a sound that’s full of rock n roll, hard hitting nails to the Coffin, strong vocals surrounded by killer harmonies, blood curdling guitar riffs throughout every song on the record.”
Listen to Damned By the Night’s EP: “From the Shadows to the Coffin!” on Bandcamp:
https://damnedbythenight666.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-shadows-to-the-coffin
VMS:
“Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
Damned by the Night:
“We would love to collaborate with Von Boldt. We both enjoy and share horror movies references and hard rockin songs.”
VMS:
“What’s your overall theme or message of your music.”
Damned by the Night:
“The love of horror films, dark experiences, We’re all outsiders telling our story of passions and sorrows.”
VMS:
“Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform.”
Damned by the Night:
“We love performing classic Misfits tunes such as Horror Business and Halloween.”
VMS:
“Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene.”
Damned by the Night:
“We live in the Las Vegas Punk music scene. It’s almost impossible to not see something crazy from just the tourists or locals hanging outside the shows. One of the most crazy things I have seen is a woman urinating on punk front man’s face while the band is still playing in front of 200 people.”
VMS:
“What does the future hold for Damned by the Night.”
Damned by the Night:
“More music plain and simple. We would like to get another E.P. out for 2025 and play some great shows with bands in our genre. Being a DIY band we have a good amount of control of when we release music.
We have done everything we had made goals to do so far, and don’t intend to disappoint ourselves or anyone else.”
VMS:
“What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
Damned by the Night:
“Everyone experiences music differently. It all makes us feel a certain or specific way. We would like our audience to feel inspired to create their own art in one way or another, because at the end of the day that’s all this is.
We want them to feel the energy from our music energize them in a way that breeds a sense of belonging. We all pretty much grew up as punks in the early days and didn’t have our own communities outside of that.
Community is important, especially in smaller niche genres like ours.”
Photo By: Danny Breeden.
VMS:
“Tell me about your new song “Fangoria”. How did this song come to fruition and what was the process of writing your song.”
Damned by the Night:
“The name of the song came first. Obviously it’s one of the most famous horror magazines of our time. “Fangoria” to us, encapsulates all races of monsters and creatures alike.
So naturally, where can every vampire, werewolf, zombie and ghoul find you? In your dreams and nightmares.”
We wrote the song in practice, Josh brought the riff and we assembled the instruments first, pretty much to completion.
David wrote a sick bass line on the bass that turned into a breakdown in the bridge section. John our drummer decided to lay the drums down before the song was even finished and we assembled the rest of the elements in the studio.
Josh had the rough outline for the verses and John came up with the chorus lyrics and melody. After that it was just perfecting the performances and adding some ear candy like Jay’s improvised lead in the bridge and adding jays backups.
We actually had shot the video before we even had Dave’s bass or vocals done. Everyone in the band is so talented at what they do, it’s a lot of fun to watch songs like this come to life. We always trust that what is being played down by anyone is going to be good!”
Listen to “Fangoria” on Bandcamp:
https://damnedbythenight666.bandcamp.com/track/fangoria
Vegas Music Scene Thoughts:
What I love and really stood out for me with Damned By The Night, is not only do they talk about my favorite references such as horror films, monsters, and all the cool shit that makes Halloween amazing and the best holiday ever (cause fuck Xmas lmao) but I was taken aback about what an amazingly solid band they are. They make some of the most fun but also rocking my fucking socks off music I’ve have heard in a long time.
They are all masters of their craft, and definitely are ones to look out for, especially with killer tracks on “From the Shadows to the Coffin” such as “Red Death” which takes you on a fast paced journey of facing your demons and I’m proud the say the whole EP is a killer roller coaster ride of gore, death, monsters, and of course sick clips mixed in of the master himself Vincent Price (which gives this band more brownie points from me. lmao) Please do yourself a favor and listen to Damned By The Night’s music right now, they are such a sick band!
I also encourage you to see them live, to truly get the full experience. They are just as electric in person as they are on their EP and singles, but in my opinion better, they have this magnetism live that is hard to describe, so please be on the lookout for their next show, you will have an amazing time!
Between their balls to the walls punk rock joyous infection that is their music, to their wonderful lyrical references on all things spooky, dark and macabre, mixed into a blender with their solid musicianship, they are a one of kind band that not only makes killer music but also still manages to stay true in this scene, which is hard to do. Overall, I’m excited to see where the future takes Damned By The Night, I know it’s gonna be one helluva ride.
for More Information on Damned By The Night, please visit their website. 🙂
—–VMS