Drop Dead Festival

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Drop Dead Festival
Genre(s) Deathrock, Psychobilly, Post-Punk, Synthpunk, Punk, Goth Rock, Experimental, Batcave, Minimal

The Drop Dead Festival is the largest Gothic Punk themed festival, it books as many as sixty five bands per event, and have been known to atract attendees from over 30 countries. DDF is a post-punk, Deathrock multiple day festival, annually held in New York, NY and Europe with additional smaller events having formerly been held in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Jersey. Musical styles typically featured at Drop Dead include post-punk, deathrock, synthpunk, psychobilly, punk, experimental, gothic rock, horror punk, dark cabaret and more. The festival is also notable for its elaborate stage designs, bazaar of vendors of scene paraphernalia, movie screenings, and a dance floor featuring the best underground djs from around the world.

Contents

[edit] History - Drop Dead Festival USA 2003- 2005

The first Drop Dead Festival was held in August 2003, after the success of a series of smaller events put on by NY Decay Productions at the Pyramid in New York. The festival was originally held at the world (in)famous CBGBs punk rock club, but subsequent Drop Dead Festivals moving to the much larger Knitting Factory, also in lower Manhattan. Although the main event moved to larger locations CBGB's traditionally held pre-parties and after-parties for the festival, until it closed. In 2005, the Drop Dead Festival grew to four days, during Halloween week. Three of the days were in the Knitting Factory and one in the old Limelight club. over all about 5,000 people attended this event, featuring headliner Nina Hagen.

[edit] Drop Dead Festival 2006 - USA

In 2006 the Drop Dead Festival was held at the Knitting Factory, on Labor Day weekend, September 1-3 with Lene Lovich as one of the headliners. Festival also includes screenings and in 2006 movie " Forbidden Zone" Was screened with the director Richard Elfman flying in for a talk and Q and A. This was a last regular USA Drop Dead Festival. Although Drop Dead is rumored to make a comeback in USA, 2007 and 2008 festivals were/are held in Europe.

Location New York City, USA
Venue Knitting Factory, all 3 Floors
Dates September 1, 2,3 2006
Wave, Post Punk and Deathrock Bands Lene Lovich, Din Glorious , Cinema Strange, Ausgang, Loto Ball, Holly Cow, Bohemien, Deadfly Ensemble, Ex-voto, Siiiii, Castle Gray Skull, Signal and Report, New Minority, Bell Hollow, Opposite Sex, Screaming for Emily, Mortal Clay, Entertainment, Big Ravi, Veronique Diabolique, Submarine Fleet,Black List, Funeral
Billy and Punk Bands The Quakes, 7 Shot Screamers, Greg phoenix, Cult of the Psychic Fetus, Roketz, Bamboula, Boneyard Brawlers, Psychocharger, Blind Pharaohs, The Deadnecks, Black Cat Rebellion, Susquatch+sickabillies, Jones Crusher, Castle Gray Skull, New Minority, The Vultures, American BR,
Horror Punk & Surf Bands Blitzkid, Psychocharger, Lugosi's morhine, Gain and the Grave Robbers, Monster a go-go,
DJ's Polina Y (NYC), Lakini Malich (NYC), Cavey Nik (UK), Marc (Switzerland) many more
Special Features Forbidden Zone Movie Screening with director Richard Elfman Q and A

Din Glorious Open and close the festival

DIY Showcase for hand painted jackets

6 feet under dance floor and vendors

Each room of the club having different stage design

[edit] Drop Dead Festival 2007 - Europe

In 2007 after much demand Drop Dead Festival finally hit Europe and 5 Day event was help in Prague , CZ. Festival kicked of on Halloween October 31 at the Cross Club, a unique club that is an ongoing community art project. For the next 4 days festival moved to a much larger multilevel Prague location Rock Club. Festival was extreemely well atended with over 30 countries represented including fans from Russia, Japan, USA, Canada, South America and all over Europe.

Location Prague, CZ - Europe
Venue Halloween Party at the Cross Club then 4 days at Rock Cafe
Dates October 31, November 1, 2,3, 4 2007
Bands Sex Gang Children(England), Lene Lovich(UK-US), Din Glorious(US), Ausgang(England), Mona Mur (Germany), Charles De Goal(France), Sixteens(US), Andi Sex Gang(UK), Norma Loy(France), Rubella Ballet(England), Marfa and Ne-Af (US), Twisted Nerve(Scotland), Jellowaste(US), Ejaculation Post Mortem(Spain), De Tazsos(Poland), Creemaster(Germany), Joy Disaster(France), Curtains(US), Frank the Baptist(US-Germany), Moldig(Italy), Vasovie(France), Antiworld(US), Last Days of Jesus (Slovakia)
DJ's Polina Y(NYC), Lakini Malich(NYC), It Sicko(Germany), Cavey Nik(UK), SheetThief (Switzerland), Bat Luder(Denmark), Cyberpagan(Germany), Mark Splatter(Germany- US), No.Thing(Lithuania), JanEndzeit(Germany), RedStripe(Italy), Tony X(US), many more
Special Features Deathrock and Punk Poster art Exhibit

Movie Screenings including, Mute records, Cherry Red Records Showcases as well as NDW videos, Lene Lovich, and Sex Gang videos

Early Screening of the "She is a Punk rocker UK" with Q and A with the filmmakers Zilla and Sid

Andi Sex Gang art exhibit

Day trip to Bone Church

The international beer test Halloween Party hosted by Gothic Pogo Party of Leipzig Germany at the Cross Club

[edit] Drop Dead Festival 2008 - Europe

With European Drop Dead Festival Success event is slated to stay in Europe as well as possibly continuing in usa. The European Date is Scheduled to be held in Lisbon Portugal on October 9 12 , 2008. This year in addition to bands, dancing and movie Screenings Festival is set to include workshops and a large vendor bazaar.

[edit] Drop Dead Magazine

Drop Dead Magazine
Drop Dead Magazine

In 2005, NY Decay Productions began to publish Drop Dead Magazine as a way to promote the many bands who played the Drop Dead Festival and cover the music that owerwise was overlooked by mainstream press. Originally a page, black and white magazine, it has since become a full-color, 100 page quarterly. The magazine's early focus, while varied, consisted mainly of Deathrock, Post Punk, Psychobilly, and Goth bands. Since issue #3 the focus is on mainly modern bands in the field of Art punk, Electropunk, Noise Rock, Experimental, and underground Indie, maintaining some of the original Deathrock, Punk, and Wave content.

[edit] Drop Dead Artists

Past shows have featured exclusive appearances by international headliners, such as Lene Lovich (2006, 2007), Nina Hagen(2005), Sex Gang Children (2007), Din Glorious (2006, 2007), The Quakes (2006), Antiworld (2003, 2007), Ausgang (2004, 2007), Rubella Ballet (2007), Autonervous (2005), Bella Morte (2004, 2005), Bohemién (2005), Sixteens (2004, 2005, 2007)Cinema Strange (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 ), Charles De Goal (2007), Coffin Nails (2005), Mona Mur (2007), Cult of the Psychic Fetus (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006), Deadbolt (2004), Deep Eynde (2004), Frankenstein (2004), Frank the Baptist (2005, 2007), Holy Cow (2004, 2006), Cremaster (2007), The Naked and the Dead (2005), Phenomenauts (2005), Rezurex (2005), Scarlet's Remains (2005), Skeletal Family (2004), Andi Sex Gang (2007), Last Days of Jesus (2007), Norma Loy (2007), World Inferno Friendship Society (2005), Submarine Fleet (2007), Jellowaste (2007) and hundreds of other up-and-coming, as well as established, bands.

[edit] External links