black tape for a blue girl

10 Neurotics interviews & press
  • Creative Loafing | September 1 2010
  • Philadelphia Inquirer | July 30 2010
  • Marquis Magazine feature | April 2010
  • Elegy #62 interview | Spring 2010
  • Darkroom Magazine interview | March 2010
  • Ritual #42 interview | January 2010
  • Gothic Lifestyle #3 interview | December 2009
  • Black #50 interview | December 2009
  • Gothic Beauty #29 interview | November 2009
  • Ascension #22 interview | Autumn 2009
  • Sonic Seducer #99 interview | October 2009
  • Amped Magazine Fantastic review | October 5 2009
  • mecanica.com Interview in Spanish from Mexico | August 2009
  • Goth Culture Examiner
  • gothic.ru Russian Gothic Project | May 17 2009
  • Gothic City A Ukranian Magazine | May 18 2009

    Dig deeper into Blacktape with pre-2004 interviews, here





    		• The New York Times - October 29 2011 | Black Tape for a Blue Girl: If Marlene Dietrich had gone goth, Black Tape would've been her band. The ominous chamber-rockers deliver foreboding, throaty growls and cabaret-inflected salvos, a darkly glamorous formula they've adhered to since their 1986 debut, The Rope (Projekt). No wonder David Lynch is reportedly a fan. (Anderson)

    Live Bio - Tainted Life
    Dark rock outfit Black Tape For A Blue Girl celerates its 25th year with a collection of sinister character sketches performed in theatrical rock / cabaret style. Sam Rosenthal, the groups founder/guitarist/keyboardist, is joined by vocalist Athan Maroulis (formerly of the pioneering electronic band Spahn Ranch) and guitarist/violist/vocalist Pinky Weitzman (of Not Waving But Drowning).

    Their 10th studio album is 10 Neurotics (Projekt Records, distributed in the USA by Nail. Released in Europe on Trisol Records). "I set out to create an album that looks at our sexuality, obsessions and fetishes with a mature (rather than sensationalized) eye," writes Sam Rosenthal. "Our life is a constant churning of desires, sometimes overtaking us - more often subverted, submerged and repressed. I wanted to directly confront reality: who are we when the disguise is stripped away?"

    Press, promoters, Djs: click here for text and images.


    Click for larger image    		 Apr 3, 2002, email from David Lynch
    DEAR SAM .... I JUST HEARD FROM MARY XXXXX WHO IS ON YOUR MAILING LIST AND WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF DAVIDLYNCH.COM ..... SHE FORWARDED YOUR E-MAIL TO ME AND I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY TO SEE I MAY BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO RECEIVE THE BACK CATALOG OF YOUR GREAT CDs ..... THIS WOULD BE BEAUTIFUL SAM ..... I HAVE BEEN A FAN SINCE I HEARD THE MUSIC WHILE MAKING PRINTS AT TANDEM PRESS IN MADISON WIS. ..... A GIRL WHO WORKED THERE LOVED YOUR MUSIC AND GOT ME GOING ON IT AS WELL ...... BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL WAS PLAYING CONSTANTLY AS WE WERE PRINTING AWAY ..... MY ADDRESS IS : XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ..... THANK YOU SAM AND ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL ...... YOUR FRIEND , DAVID

    10 Neurotics bio
    Black Tape For A Blue Girl has an ever-changing line-up of musicians, dating back to their inception in 1986. The consistant element is visionary founder / songwriter, Sam Rosenthal. For 10 Neurotics, Sam reimagines the passion of Black Tape For A Blue Girl in a rock / dark cabaret setting. The results bear a more considered approach to songwriting: structured, melodic and dare say even "traditional" in composition. It is a new approach to the mood and power for which Blacktape is known. 

    Featuring drum kit and bass for the first time in 20 years (courtesy of new band-member Brian Viglione of The Dresden Dolls / The Cliks), these fourteen songs are revealing first person narratives. "Late last fall," Sam explains, "I approached my vocalists with the lyrics I had written. All three felt uncomfortable bringing these characters to life and being identified with these words. They basically left the band because of them! Their decision did not come as a shock; I had an intuitive feeling a new band was required to bring these ideas to life."

    "I had a good idea of who I wanted to ask," Sam continues." Laurie Reade was the American vocalist for Attrition, and I love her operatic voice and sultry stage presence. She gives my songs depth and personality. Athan Maroulis was the vocalist for Cleopatra Records' Spahn Ranch and sang a couple songs on Blacktape's 2002 The Scavenger Bride album. Listening to his old band Tubalcain on his mySpace page, I realized Athan could rock out and provide a powerful approach with swagger and potency. And finally, Nicki Jaine. She played acoustic guitar on the 2004 Halo Star tour. Nicki adds a world-weary sexuality to the two songs she sings. All three vocalists dramatically capture my characters."

    "These songs demanded a rock-n-roll drummer who could rock out as well as play subtle and textural passages. I went for the best and asked Brian of The Dresden Dolls." Impressed with the music, he quickly joined the band. "Brian became much more involved than past band members, providing brilliant performances, insightful suggestions and co-producing the album. If I hesitated, Brian pushed me out of the safety net, 'No man. Leave it in. Don't hold back!' Brian told me to take it to the edge, to tell the stories I wanted to tell, use the images I wanted to use!"