Biography of Dementia’99
Dementia’99 emerged from the ashes of the band with a primitive sound, but funny called «The Alien Fried Eggs,» a sarcastic imitation of «Alien Sex Fiend».
When the band dissolved, Virus (Guitar) and Cain (Vocals) had decided to make something more serious.
Virus hadn’t been involved in any projects before playing with Cain, and Cain, have made only two demos called «Llora Hermana» which proved to be some experiments in Gothic music without any clear preference of any style.
They wanted to make the sound closer to Death rock.
The band have chosen that musical style to make something similar Christian Death albums that has fallen into their hands in that period for the first time.
Those early records were “The Only Theater Of Pain” and “Atrocities”. That way, not by any confrontation between the style and Valor and Rozz, although in principle, subject of the necessary distance, Dementia’99 made a style closer to the pure Deathrock style of Shadow Project.
Since that, first two discs “enlightened” concept as a «copy» in the composition.
The band didn’t want to renounce influence of post-punk and its peculiar way of music understanding. They had a psychedelic way of understanding of the music and that promised some results.
Born in February 1996 that way, Dementia’99 appeared with:
Cain Uriel (Vocalist), Virus (Guitar), Tavi (Drums), Nada (Bass).
The band name was selected among many other variants, to hint direction at the psychedelic way, so the theme was taken from the Marrionettes «Ave Dementia» which the band considered classic, and add 99 for two reasons: years-long existing paranoia, and a small tribute to the artist Valor Kand, Cain & Virus were his big fans.
After this initial training, the changes were very serious, especially in the rhythm section. In fact,
There was the drummer from the band «Winchesters” in the 1st concert of Dementia in February’96.
And it was not until November 96, when Tavi («Lacrima Christi» band of Barcelona) could participate in a live show.
In 1997 changes continued.
One of the dreams of the two band founders, Virus and Cain, was undertaking a Gothic Festival in Mallorca. That was possible thanks to the invaluable help of a band called «Sepulcrum Mentis», which reached a deep friendship, support was indispensable during the two festivals which were held in Gothic island in 98 years and in 99 years.
It was in 1998 when the first «Mallorca Gothic Festival» took place and consolidated as a band to take into account in Mallorca. The fame they happened to get dew to the famous concert in the emblematic club of the island, «Fraguel Rock» where the most savage Dementia’99 concert took place, in which Cain was a blood sacrifice including milk bottles and a mass of sick friends and mad fans.
As a novelty the band commented the new member, «Sombra», as a second bassist, giving the band a very unique and powerful sound.
These two events were very important for the band.
The first bassist left the band. In his absence, Cain picks up the bass and sings at the same time. That has defined some loss of strength as Cain had to deal with two instruments and has brought difficulties.
In 1998 the band made Shadow Project cover-version, without thinking it would be a tribute to Rozz Williams. In April, two days after the unexpected death of Rozz, Dementia’99 has played probably more as a tribute to Rozz Williams.
Coming 1999 became sufficient explaination of the record what would be their first album «Smile Befote Die.» The recording of this release has generated changes: the female voice, Morphine, and the new bassist Manuel Sastre (Brother of Virus), giving Cain more freedom, but in the recording, bass patterns were made by Cain.
Other plans were made for the second Gothic Festival with «Sepulcrum Mentis» and «Madre».
The album of seven songs and two versions of the Shadow Project (Death plays his role / Penny in the bucket) was produced by the singer Madre del Vizio, Fulvio Tori, whom the band had the pleasure to meet at that Second Gothic Festival.
The album was recorded in a week in marathon sessions. The band decided to refuse addition of keyboards, to perform as much death rock as it’s possible. Despite this, they did not have much time for post-production, and left to get more female voices from morphine, and the necessary live recording of the theme «Jesus Christ» and versions of Shadow Project, for lack of time recording, will also participate in the second bassist Sombra, with their distorted Under.
The recording released despite these setbacks.
The Second Gothic Festival was the last chance to see this band, already mature in the matter sound, & probably its best concert. Unfortunately it hasn’t been recorded.
The last concert of Dementia’99 was in May 1999, three days before Virus commit suicide three days before his 21st birthday…
Cain has lost his “right hand” & decided to dissolve the group, seen no sense to continue without him. Very depressed and distressed Cain didn’t lift his head till the end of 2000.
Cain made a project called «Daityas», which has never been very successful, despite victory in the contest that was made by the city of Palma de Mallorca.
The problems continued and the spirit of Cain was not high.
The loss of the recording of Daityas in 2001 also became disillusionment, as this album included some new good songs, interesting versions, such as «Sick of Love» or «A Forest» in death-rock version.
Cain decided to refuse participating in music projects, and to devote himself entirely to his new business, a bar in Majorca of Gothic music, but the idea of experiment on their island still existed, since no one ever opened these local features.
The Gothic Virus Culture, the name was chosen as tribute to his friend Virus.
The first CD of Dementia 99 was issued late 99, edited in the 2004.
Only five hundred copies appeared in 2004. Their distribution has been very limited and didn’t plan to be re-edited, making it a rarity.
In 2006, a year after the dissolution of Daityas, Cain in a new attempt, gets into the study.
Dementia’99, rise from the ashes following the completion of the soundtrack for a short film of called «Cuarentena.»
After this realization, Cain decides to record tracks for the tribute to Valor Kand from whom they hadn’t got news since 2001, despite recorded album, which has still been waited anxiously, with a member of Daityas, Venus (Guitar), a new promise of Death Rock music in Mallorca.
That was expected; they decided to call their second album «Waiting for Valor.»
Now, after suffering the theft of all their music staff in their local, the band dissolved again and now Cain is looking for the new members to continue with a new musical project called:»Dark Phylosophy»
Thanks to Cain, the author of the bio, who gave his permission to publish it.
