I like Dave Thompson. Spoke to him recently. I think he should do a follow up book on Rozz. I'm not so keen on the other book at the moment but it does look cool. The issue I have with Cleopatra, personally, is how they re-release things like Deathwish and Iron Mask and put the same two tracks "Spectre and Haloes" in almost every new Rozz release. There is almost no point to buying Invocations now unless youre a new comer and want a stripped down version of Heavens and Hells. I also don't know if they legally own rights to the 1981 sessions C death recorded for Hell Comes To Your House. Both Frontier and Cleopatra have released the same songs, from the same sessions. Frontier as extra tracks on 90s and onward issues of Only Theatre of Pain. Having spoken to people who were close to Rozz, nobody is really certain as to wither or not Rozz and Eva were ever legally married. It appeared more of a spiritual union or a common law type deal...but I get it. Why put Eva pictures in a Rozz biography? But let's go back to 2006 and ask them why they would use OTOP era Ed Colver photos on a Shadow Project DVD. lol 20:10, I've seen that photo Amy contributed to the book. She shared it with me back in 2013 and told me never to show it publicly. And I honoured her request. 28:38 I've got full scans of that journal. Sometimes vagueness pays off. The second book...photos look cool...but its all photo Bs and Photo Cs to all the existing Photo As we have seen over the years (if that makes any sense to anyone). Rozz was not very close to his family during his life; so I don't buy the whole Larry Painter thing one bit. It's just a way to try and officiate a presense tied to Rozz in today's world. Unfortunately, it does not hold up very well. Thats my opinion though.. Great job, Haloes. Love your videos.
It's a damn shame Rozz was fed up with the real Christian Death lineup w/Agnew. What they created was a perfect release and although I do like Catastrophe Ballet, I would rather have had more releases with Rikk Agnew's genius compositions. Not only that, but by going to Europe, he met that snake valor who stole Christian Death name and dragged it through the manure with his garbage.
I dont know if you have opened the vinyl yet as it should have another poster in size and I believe the dead wax doesn't say kitty kitty, lol. Love the videos. I was glad to have this vinyl in the release since i lost my orange copy long ago.
Thank you , your video is the only one on you tube unboxing both these terrific books. You've made my decision for me and because i cant choose i will be getting both.
What a ludicrous statement about Eva O. Do you realize how much of Rozz's catalog would not even exist without her writing, guitar and vocal contributions? She actually gets too little credit sadly, not too much.
Do you realize how much influence and creativity people like Rikk Agnew and Chuck Collison added to Rozz's catalog? I'm hoping that your disappointment that Cleo did not have full page spreads in a book about Rozz, titled: "Rozz Williams: In His Own Words" was a dramatic as your response to my disappointment that in a book about Rozz, titled: "Rozz Williams: In His Own Words" that Eva does receive a full page spread. The only thing I agree with you on is that most of the musicians that worked with Rozz receive little of the credit they deserve in constructing his musical world.
Great review. I really like both books, but I share some your criticisms of the Cleo book. Dave did an excellent job, just a shame that the art direction and some of the photo selections didn't match up.
