Moonlight flits through the trees; a fugitive of delicate luminescence; shadows huddle and watch it pass.
Somewhere out there, a wolf howls
A figure steps out from the undergrowth, a rustle of dry leaves touching his black cloak. In his hand, something, dark, and clotted and unspeakable; what was once living has been reduced to something small and round and wrapped in its own skin.
A shudder through the trees, branches stirring uneasily with the cold air
On walks the man
Further into the darkness
OOOOO
Wolf
The name of an animal wrapped around the bones of many a mythology. The man who turns into a wolf when the moon comes out. Gristle crackles and flesh contracts and muscle flexes and pulls agonizingly on ligaments. Hair stiffens and extends. Human features morph and bend and claws curl from soft feet that become paws, padded for stealth.
The wolf man is born.
And I know of another; a Gabriel Wolf. What cut mingled his blood with that of the feral, so that he could assume such an identity? What agony of transformation rent the air with his singular torment.
I asked him.
My name comes from a phasing of two entities, angelic references and a creature I tend to find a lot of in myself and what others have also found. The rumours that I have connections to otherworldly types are... just rumours. What's in a name?
Welcome Gabriel Wolf, charismatic singer with the band Opus Bridge
He didn't elaborate further on his name, a bit disappointing really. I was hoping for tales of midnight initiations and fights to the death with Van Helsing and an unhealthy obsession with Pedigree Chum and chasing sticks.
But not to worry. Gabriel Wolf does undergo a transformation; though not one that Lon Chaney could do. For one thing, that icon of horror can't sing like Gabriel, and that was how I first encountered him. I had seen a quiet, handsome, self effacing young man standing at the bar with a group of people They were other members of his band and not bar snacks, as they would have been for a real Man Wolf.
There was no pale light of the moon to quicken the blood, but there was the hot, searching spotlight of the stage he stepped onto. I couldn't take my eyes off his performance. The amplifiers were plugged into the mains and the electricity flowed with an intensity of an amphetamine rush, but Gabriel was plugged into something else entirely. It was the conduit that mesmerizing front men stick their fingers into, when they are on stage, his sweat mingled with the lyrics and his eyes closed with the stomach punch of emotion in his delivery. He stood back and posed for the camera like it was the most natural thing in the world that it should be at his feet looking up at his sardonic smile. And indeed it was, because it was an outstanding performance.
As is my wont, with such things, I put a few questions to Gabriel Wolf. That was how I found out that he was formerly known as... well, that doesn't matter. If the artist formerly known as Prince can get away with it, so can Gabriel. Strangely enough, Prince is also a dog's name, and dogs are just wolves with better social skills who have managed to train people to throw sticks for them.
I've seen a video which features a song called Religious Bleeding, by Gabriel's band, Opus Bridge. My first impression upon seeing it, was not so much one of wanting to interview Gabriel, but to increase any medication he might be taking. It was a very, very dark and disturbing video.
You can see it here.
Check out the power and versatility of the voice, but brace yourself for the video...
I asked Gabriel about it.
GABRIEL:The video isn't something I came up with. BIG Productions had a project short movie in the cutting room and they heard our song on ukbands.net and wanted to use Religious Bleeding on their film called 'The Mask'
I believe the point the director was wanting to make was some reference to his past marriage. *grin*. Only found out about that at the launch party that you and I were both at. My video ideas though are always churning about in my head. Quite soothing actually.
Regarding the reaction to the video, where a lot of people seemed to have had the same response as me, Gabriel says ' It's not my video... so... I don't care. *laughs* I think a lot of people have thought...."Wha...? Who...? Bllaaargh!? "
But I don't blame them. I knew the video, when I saw it, had something to do with relationships and tormenting and trapping yourself within your own mind with a mass collection of thoughts and words, sights and sound and it all meshes up and becomes distorted. That's how it felt for me on such occasions. I kinda figured it out. But I still know most just think 'WhaWhoBlaaargh." o_O
Geetan: So while the video, which as it turns out only features Gabriel's band, but not his visual input, made me think he was was a sick puppy, his live act made me want to find out more about him. Having established he wasn't in fact, auditioning for the psycho section of Crimewatch, I pressed on with the interview and asked him if he models himself on any particular performer.
GABRIEL: I don't think I style myself to any particular performer. My stage style is pretty much my own thing. I just go with how I feel once I become inspired to move in a certain way or gesture in a moment to how my emotions are at the time of the song.
Geetan: Would you describe yourself as a Goth?
GABRIEL:Gothically minded, possibly. Not a 'Goth'. I keep my ways to myself and close friends and family will notice a certain fashion I keep to, but it's not generally anything I decide to pick up on. It's just comfortable. Gimme a straight jacket though, those things are excellent!
Geetan: I think we could possibly borrow one off the guy who gave us a glimpse of his own personal hell in The Mask video.
How much of your live act is spontaneous and how much is crafted in the rehearsal room?
GABRIEL: None of it is rehearsed. My actions and sometimes random changes in lyrics or just ... noises (ooer) are actually my reactions to what is occurring externally and internally. Sometimes I can't even recall doing half the stuff I do, until I see it on video.
How do you prepare yourself for a gig?
GABRIEL: I look in the mirror until my face turns into goo. Well, I don't really prepare myself for a gig... I get to know a few people in the crowd, the stage backing... Once I'm on the stage I kinda just lose myself in the atmosphere of the situation.
Geetan: How do the songs come to fruition?
GABRIEL: Is that a word? My songs pretty much stem from a feeling or emotion ... or some kind of sensation I get about a certain sound of a song. I really want to start doing my own compositions because there's a lot in my mind I would like to get out and love to have produced. I possibly think too hard about certain subjects that revolve around me (Wheeee) and it's hard to actually describe to others how it should work. So I'll have to do it myself... I guess.
OOOOO
Out of the darkness comes the man. In his hand, snug against the calloused palm, the thing of blood he holds is warm. Dogs walk behind him, sniffing the air. If he dropped it they would tear it apart in a frenzy of teeth and the urge for blood.
The man stops.
His breath a wraith upon the air.
He looks for the man called Gabriel Wolf....
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Geetan: I see good things for Gabriel Wolf. He, however, is a realist. The band, Opus Bridge worked on an album's worth of material and developed the sound before playing live. It's not enough just to be a band and just turn up at the venue.
GABRIEL: The image needed to be worked on and to be honest, STILL needs working on because it's not just about the music in the industry. It's a mixture of sound and style that a lot of people notice and get involved with. I'm not one of these people who would fool themselves into thinking otherwise.'
Geetan: Do you believe that we make our own luck, or is it all predestined?
GABRIEL: I don't believe that life is already written out somewhere. The pages turn as the story continues in my own opinion. But I do believe in karma and I love Lady Serendipity. That element of my life seems to treat me rather nicely. But it's all ups and downs; there's a balance.
Geetan: Do you think people are essentially good or bad or a mix of both?
GABRIEL: A mix of both. There's a balance in this world that exists in everything.
Geetan: Due to Gabriel's on stage persona, I thought Gabriel would be a pretty dark minded character, but he is far from it. I have known some Goth... well Gothish people who have dabbled in the occult and I wondered what Gabriel's thoughts on this were.
The occult; is it hogwash or a tool to be used according to one’s nature; i.e. for, good or for bad?
GABRIEL: it's not hogwash and it's also a tool to be used in accordance to someone's own personal nature. But it's never good. It opens anyone who tries it up to a world they can't contain no matter how hard or tough they are, or whether they feel they can contain it. Sure they'd like you to think you could, that you feel you could... but you can't. And it's all they need to get in and control and play with you. Well... not... you Geetan, but those who dabble in things that should be left well alone.
OOOOO
It's raining now.
And there is a door.
Light spills out onto the gray concrete, into the cracks and crevices filled with rivulets of water.
The man stands, gnarled hand upon the door, knowing he must knock, knowing Gabriel is in there; the one he has come to see...
OOOOO
Geetan: Gabriel ended up in a band, oddly enough, because of his parents. Whereas most parents warn their offspring of the dangers of Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, Gabriel's parents encouraged him to go out and join a band. They sound pretty cool. I asked how Gabriel's parents discovered he had such a vocal talent, and what part did they play in his being the great front man he is now?
GABRIEL: They heard me singing Every Breath you Take by the Police and then kinda pushed me into joining a band.
Geetan: That's great. Presumably they made him get dressed first, but then again, they seem pretty cool with the whole rock and roll thing. Perhaps they thought it would save time with groupies. Or maybe not.
GABRIEL: Eventually I formed Opus Bridge
Geetan: Ah yes; sex, drugs and rock and roll. I remember it well. The music industry is full of people who drink too much, shag the wrong person for the wrong reason, take drugs like smarties and party like it's going out of fashion. You see them stumbling around town, smashed out of their heads on alcohol and pills; vomiting in the gutters and passing out in taxis.
And that's just Charlotte Church. My mother warned me about that kind of girl. My dad recommended them, but that's another story. Gabriel, had an offer to work with Charlotte but turned it down.
GABRIEL: thank goodness. Have you seen the video? I had/have a vocal trainer by the name of Andrew Jarrett (sorry Andy if I spelt your surname wrong) who has a lot of contacts and he called me one morning to ask if I was interested in playing in a video of Charlotte Church's new song release. I could have done it... but I don't know how to play guitar... I could have had a go. The money was nice and wow I could have done with some of that. But they were after my 'look', AND needed to look like I knew what I was doing on a guitar.
OOOOO
Outside the door, the hand rose, clenched into a fist, and then fell toward the door......
OOOOO
Geetan: My next question for Gabriel was are you a vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore?
GABRIEL: carnivore of course! But vegetables are nice too, and fruit. :D
Geetan: Carnivore; yes I guess it would have to be that way with a name like Wolf
But the interview went no further
There was a knock on the door
OOOOO
The door opened
A young man peered out
The old man recognised the face; it was Gabriel Wolf
He raised the thing in his hand up, the congealed mess of dark blood and skin. A question rasped along his dry throat.
'Would you like to buy my black pudding?'
Gabriel shook his head and closed the door
Nutter
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Geetan: And indeed, it would appear that Gabriel is shutting the door....
Gabriel sent me an email a few days ago
It reads
I've recently been asked by my girlfriend in America to move in with her along the West Coast of the USA and am leaving on Friday. Hope to find myself over there and either go solo or form again with another band and keep Opus Bridge (I own the name) as a project band. Like VnV Nation/NIN/Evanesance like... maybe. I don't know.
We'll see...
I love adventure
Gabriel
CONTACT DETAILS FOR GABRIEL ARE...
HERE
