Interview by Paul Salfen, Text by Christine Thompson for AMFM Magazine
In a candid conversation recorded from his car while in transit, David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) reflects on the joy of finally giving proper life to songs that had languished for decades. His new album Tracks From the Attic Revisited, out May 22 via Independent Project Records, transforms ten intimate home demos from the 2024 triple-LP box set into fully realized, band-driven tracks. Reshaped, sometimes rewritten, and infused with decades of hard-earned craft, these songs bloom with new wave swagger, classic country twang, and Nick Drake-style romanticism—proving that even neglected seeds can produce stunning flowers when tended with care.
“I could say that about all of them,” David J says with a warm laugh when asked which track surprised him most upon revisiting. “They just fell by the wayside because I tend to be a bit prolific.” The British post-punk icon, best known as the bassist and co-vocalist of Bauhaus and later Love and Rockets, has never been short on ideas. But during the busy years with those seminal bands, many songs were captured only on cassette in the attic and quickly set aside. Now, those neglected little seeds have been gathered, nurtured, and brought fully into bloom.
The genesis of Tracks From the Attic Revisited traces back to 2024’s expansive Tracks From the Attic, a 37-track triple album of raw home recordings spanning four decades. Where that collection offered an intimate, lo-fi window into David J’s songwriting process—listeners essentially sitting in the room as a young artist experimented—the new album presents a mature artist pruning and polishing those same ideas into something richer and more immediate.
“These are fully realized, fully produced versions of basic demos,” he explains. Recorded at Ear Gallery Music in Los Angeles and produced by David J himself, the ten selected tracks were shared with a stellar group he affectionately calls his “wrecking crew.” The core band features David Raven (drums, known for work with Steve Earle, Keith Richards, and Lucinda Williams), Tony Green (bass), Jason Brown from Spoon on guitar, and Jon Bernstein on keyboards and piano. Guests elevate the proceedings further: Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction adds congas on one track, John Courage contributes lap steel (and will join the upcoming tour), trumpeter Dan Clucas, accordionist Robert “Smokey” Miles (who has played with Bob Dylan), among others.
The result is an arresting distillation of David J’s eclectic tastes. Late ‘70s New Wave energy sits comfortably alongside lifelong affection for classic country and the hushed romanticism of Nick Drake. Some songs are virtually unrecognizable from their demo forms—radically transformed with new arrangements and lyrics updated to speak to life in the 2020s—while others retain their original charm but now stand taller, developed through years of musical mastery.
David J compares the process to gardening. “The 2024 demo tracks that became Tracks From the Attic were like neglected little seeds that had been set aside, or fallen on fallow land,” he says. “They’ve since been gathered up, nurtured, tended and brought back to life as little buds for Tracks From the Attic Revisited. Now this is the bloom.”
Standout tracks include the first single “If Muzak Be the Junk Food of Love (Revisited),” a sly, groove-heavy commentary on modern life dropping April 15, alongside evocative numbers like “I Wish Those Spacemen Would Come (Revisited),” “The Most Beautiful Girls in the World (Revisited),” “Homo Sapien Blues (Revisited),” and the haunting “Vincent in the Flames (Revisited).” The full tracklist showcases both continuity and evolution from the attic tapes.
This project arrives at a fascinating moment in David J’s career. While there are no immediate plans for a full Bauhaus or Love and Rockets reunion, he notes ongoing interest from promoters and the possibility remains open. “There’s still interest,” he says. “We still get offers. But myself and Daniel [Ash] are involved in other projects at the moment.” Fans who caught the Love and Rockets tour with the Jesus and Mary Chain will remember the electric atmosphere David J references fondly.
For the Tracks From the Attic Revisited tour kicking off soon, David J has faced the delightful challenge of distilling a massive catalog into a cohesive setlist. His method? Ruthless discernment and trusting instinct. “I listened to all the tracks over a couple of times, and it was really just the ones that stayed with me… If you’re in the supermarket and that one pops into your head, that’s a sign.”
Beyond the music, David J continues to expand his artistic horizons. He’s been composing scores for silent films with Severin Films, including early 1900s-1920s Grand Guignol-style horror pictures. A recent screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles highlighted how effectively his music brings these century-old works to life on the big screen with modern sound systems. It’s a pursuit he hopes to explore more deeply.
And there’s even more on the horizon: a new double solo album slated for autumn 2026 featuring extensive string arrangements, including one track recorded with the 2023 Prague orchestra. “I’m proud of that one,” he shares with quiet enthusiasm.
Throughout our conversation, David J’s authenticity shines through—not just as a musician but as a lifelong creative. That ethos traces back to a pivotal “Hail Mary” moment in 1976. At age 19, he and his brother Kevin attended a Sex Pistols show at London’s 100 Club, with The Clash opening. “That night, everything changed,” he recalls. The raw energy and relevance of the music convinced them they could form a band that spoke directly about their own lives rather than fantasy. They formed a punk band that very night—a story familiar to many who saw the Pistols that year.
That commitment to authenticity remains his guiding principle. When asked what advice he’d give to new generations of artists and the young fans who continue discovering his work, David J doesn’t hesitate: “Be authentic and don’t try to pander to public taste or popularity. Just do what resonates with you deep down inside and feels right. Because at the end of the day, that’s the thing that’s going to win through and make for longevity.”
In an era of algorithm-driven music and fleeting trends, David J’s approach feels refreshingly timeless. The music business has changed dramatically since he entered it, yet he sees both challenges and opportunities. Home recording and the internet provide unprecedented access, but the core truth remains: honest work finds its audience eventually.
Independent Project Records, known for its meticulous attention to detail and stunning hand-letterpress packaging, is the perfect home for this release. Founded by Grammy-nominated designer Bruce Licher, the label has championed distinctive artists since the early ‘80s. Tracks From the Attic Revisited will be available in black or gold vinyl, CD, and all digital formats, continuing IPR’s tradition of beautiful physical editions that collectors treasure.
As our conversation draws to a close, David J expresses genuine excitement about sharing these reborn songs. After decades of creating at a high level—through Bauhaus’s revolutionary influence on gothic rock, Love and Rockets’ adventurous alt-rock, solo projects, visual art, and now film scoring—he still approaches each new endeavor with the enthusiasm of an artist who simply loves the process.
“It’s still fun, isn’t it, after all these years?” Paul Salfen asks.
“Absolutely,” David J replies. “I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t.”
Tracks From the Attic Revisited is more than a reworking of old demos. It’s a conversation across time—between the prolific young songwriter capturing ideas on cassette and the seasoned master who now knows exactly how to let those ideas fully breathe. In tending this particular garden, David J has given listeners ten beautiful blooms that honor both his past and his restless creative present. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, it’s a powerful reminder that some songs, like certain artists, only improve with time.
