34 Facts About Rozz Williams

However, Williams disliked the "goth" label and actively worked to shed it during the 1980s and 1990s by focusing on punk rock, hard rock, cabaret, and spoken word music.

Rozz Williams was born Roger Alan Painter on November 6,1963, in Pomona, California, and was raised in a strict Southern Baptist family.

Albert and Rozz Williams formed Christian Death in October 1979 alongside bassist James McGearty and drummer George Belanger.

Rozz Williams asked Steve Darrow to fill in, however Belanger decided moments before their set to still try and play, leading to Belanger performing the first few songs then Darrow finishing the set.

Subsequently, Christian Death was halted, with Albert and Rozz Williams forming noise band Daucus Karota with drummer Mary Torcivia.

Subsequently, six months after Christian Death's disbandment, Rozz Williams joined Pompeii 99, which at that time consisted of only guitarist and vocalist Valor Kand and drummer David "Glass" Parkinson.

In mid-1985, Rozz Williams departed from the group, frustrated by Kand's increasing control of the band and perceived disregard for how touring affected the members' ventures outside of music.

Rozz Williams originally planned to do this under the pretext that DeMone would be leaving, however she soon decided not to, as that would mean separating Kand from their child together.

Rozz Williams had been the only original member of Christian Death left when he departed the group in 1985, yet the remaining members continued to perform earlier Christian Death material and released several albums under the original group name.

Rozz Williams had already recorded two more songs, "Haloes" and "Spectre ", with Eric Westfall, but these were not officially released for five years.

The songs appeared on the Heavens and Hells cassettes, which included live performances Rozz Williams selected from his own tapes.

Rozz Williams formed Premature Ejaculation in 1981 with performance artist Ron Athey.

Rozz Williams formed Shadow Project with Eva O in 1987, The band lineup included Johann Schumann and Barry Galvin and David Glass, both of whom recorded with post Ashes-era Christian Death.

Later on, Rozz Williams reformed Shadow Project with Eva O, Jill Emery, Tom Morgan and Paris Sadonis.

At the time, Rozz Williams was increasingly falling under the influence of the philosophy of Charles Manson.

Rozz Williams occasionally took part in Christian Death reunions during the late 1980s and early 1990s with Rikk Agnew, the guitarist on the band's first album.

Rozz Williams had been quoted as saying "The Path of Sorrows is probably my favorite Christian Death album".

Rozz Williams was joined by Rikk Agnew, George Belanger and Casey.

Demone and Rozz Williams came together to release the album Dream Home Heartache in 1995.

In 1995, following his return from Europe, Rozz Williams joined up with Paris Sadonis and Ryan Wildstar to work on the spoken word album, The Whorse's Mouth.

Shortly following the recording of The Whorse's Mouth, Rozz Williams began playing bass for EXP, the musical troupe created by Paris and Ryan Wildstar.

Rozz Williams went on to play bass on their self-titled debut album with bandmates Paris, Ryan Wildstar, Doriandra, Ace Farren Ford, Justin Bennett and Ignacio Segovia.

In 1997, Rozz Williams again paired up with Eva O to record the final Shadow Project album, From the Heart.

Rozz Williams recorded Wound of Exit, his last solo CD as Premature Ejaculation.

Rozz Williams co-directed and scored Pig, a 1998 experimental psychological horror silent short film with underground film maker Nico B The film stars Rozz Williams and James Hollan and was produced and directed by Nico B Pig was the last work Williams did.

Rozz Williams regularly performed in drag, a trait that put him at an inverse to the prevailing hypermasculinity of the hardcore punk scene he was involved in.

Rozz Williams began doing this as an act of rebellion against the jock types who became involved in punk.

Rozz Williams was raised in a strict Southern Baptist family, but abandoned this as he formed Christian Death.

Rozz Williams made final phone calls to friends and family in the early morning hours the next day.

Rozz Williams's body was discovered by Wildstar, who heard worried messages on the answering machine and broke down the door to Williams' bedroom when he returned home that afternoon.

Rozz Williams had left a rose on the coffee table in the living room, along with several items, including The Hanged Man tarot card.

Theories have arisen regarding the reason for Rozz Williams's suicide, including failing health, depression, bipolar disorder, financial instability, and his fascination with the number 1334, which can be found in the liner notes of his albums, in his signature, and on his urn.

Rozz Williams' creativity had a profound effect on the Goth subculture and was influential in poetry and collage artwork.

In 2010, Gothic Beauty Magazine and a short film Necessary Discomforts an Artistic Tribute to Rozz Williams featured one such event at the Hyaena Gallery curated by A Raven Above Press.