Bauhaus to release 'The Bela Session' 11/23 in celebration of 40th anniversary

Bauhaus to Release ‘The Bela Session’ via Leaving Records in Celebration of the Band’s 40th Anniversary, November 23rd First Time "Bela Lugosi's Dead" - 9 Minute Original Studio Recording - Officially Available Digitally & First Return To Vinyl in +30 Years +Features 3 Previously Unreleased Tracks From Their Landmark 1979 Bela Recording Session

Los Angeles, CA (September 10, 2018) - Leaving Records, in partnership with Stones Throw Records, will release ‘The Bela Session’ by Bauhaus on November 23rd worldwide on vinyl and digital platforms. ‘The Bela Session’ captures the first time Bauhaus recorded together, just six weeks after forming as a band, on January 26th, 1979. This is the first release of that complete recording session featuring all five tracks, three of which are previously unreleased (all track listing information is included below). This also marks the first official reissue of the single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” on vinyl for over thirty years, as well as the first time the studio recording will be officially available on DSPs. The audio has been newly mastered from the original analogue tape by Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios (Björk, Brian Eno, Aphex Twin). Pre-order ‘The Bela Session’ via Bandcamp or Stones Throw Bauhaus are a four-piece from Northampton, England, composed of Peter Murphy (vocals, occasional instruments), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums), and David J (bass). Venerated and highly influential, the band emerged from the post-punk alternative music scene of the early 80s with a string of innovative albums and a powerfully dramatic live presentation. Their music embodies a minimalistic gloomy style of post-punk rock driven by jagged guitar chords and cold, distant synthesizers. “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is considered the original gothic rock record and a cornerstone of the genre. Originally released in 1979 on Small Wonder Records, “Bela” failed to make the pop charts but remained a staple of the U.K. independent singles chart for many years. “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” has widely influenced contemporary goth culture as well as popular culture at large. Among many highlights, a live recording of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” was the iconic soundtrack to the opening scene of 1983 horror film The Hunger (starring David Bowie, Catherine Deneuve, and Susan Sarandon); it’s been covered by Nine Inch Nails, Massive Attack, Nouvelle Vague, Chvrches and others; cited as an influence on authors Chuck Palahniuk and Neil Gaiman; used on Saturday Night Live’s skit “Goth Talk”; and the band itself was parodied on Beavis & Butthead and South Park. Three months after releasing “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” in August 1979, the group signed with influential U.K. indie label, 4AD who released their debut album “In The Flat Field”. They then moved to the larger parent company, Beggars Banquet and between 1981 and 1983 released three studio albums, peaking at #15 (UK) with their cover of David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust." After disbanding in 1983, members of the band went on to form Love And Rockets and Tones On Tail while Peter Murphy enjoyed a successful solo career.  Late 2018 will also mark the 40th anniversary of Bauhaus. To celebrate, Beggars Arkive will be reissuing records from the band’s catalog on limited edition color vinyl, details to be announced. Vinyl Me Please will also offer an exclusive edition of ‘The Bela Session’ on red vinyl in their member store.

Bauhaus | The Bela Session Leaving Records | November 23, 2018 “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” - 9:36 “Some Faces” – 2:29 – previously unreleased “Bite My Hip”– 2:57 – previously unreleased yet later reworked, re-recorded, and released as “Lagartija Nick” in 1983 “Harry” – 2:56 – later released as a B-side in 1982 “Boys (Original)” – 3:03 – previously unreleased, later re-recorded and released as the B-side of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” 

Photo credit: Graham Trott

2018 Tour Dates “Peter Murphy Celebrates 40 years of Bauhaus featuring David J” (all dates Peter Murphy and David J) Oct. 18 - Wellington NZ @ San Fran Oct 19 - Christchurch NZ @ Foundry Oct 20 - Auckland NZ @ Powerstation Oct 22 - Adelaide AU @ Governor Hindmarsh Oct 25 - Brisbane AU @ The Zoo Oct 26 - Melbourne AU @ Max Watts Oct 27 - Sydney AU @ The Factory Oct 28 - Perth AU @ The Capitol Theatre Nov 6 - St Petersburg RS @ Aurora Hall Nov 7 - Moscow RS @ Glavclub Nov 9 - Belgrade RS @ Dom Omladine Beograda Nov 10 - Frankfurt DE @ Das Bett Nov 12 - Zurich CH @ Mascotte Nov 14 - Paris FR @ Bataclan Nov 18 - Madrid ES @ La Riviera Nov 19 - Barcelona ES @ Razzmataz  Nov 21 - Rome IT @ Orion Live Club Nov 22 - Milan IT @ Fabrique  Nov 23 - Munich DE @ Ampere Nov 24 - Bochum DE @ Christuskirche Nov 26 - Wroclaw POL @ A2 Nov 27 - Berlin DE @ Columbia Theater Nov 28 - Hamburg DE @ Knust Dec 2 - Northampton. UK @ Roadmender  Dec 4 - Manchester UK @ O2 Ritz Dec 5 - Glasgow UK @ SWG3 Dec 6 - Northampton UK @ Roadmender Dec 8 - Leeds UK @ Leeds Beckett SU Dec 9 - London UK @ O2 Forum Kentish Town Dec 11 - Copenhagen DK @ Store Vega Dec 12 - Stockholm SW @ Nalen Dec 14 - Athens GR @ Gazi Music Hall Dec 15 - Thessaloniki GR @ Principal Club Theater