Biography
Alien Sex Fiend is a pioneering British band formed in North London in 1982 by Nik Fiend (Nik Wade, vocals), Mrs. Fiend (Christine Wade, keyboards), Yaxi Highrizer (David James, guitar), and Johnny Ha Ha (John Freshwater, drums). Their debut performance at the Batcave club in December 1982 placed them at the heart of the burgeoning gothic and deathrock scene, where their theatrical stage presence and macabre, campy aesthetic quickly set them apart. The band’s early sound fused punk, gothic rock, and electronic elements, characterized by Nik Fiend’s phantasmagoric vocals and Mrs. Fiend’s inventive use of synthesizers and drum machines, creating a style that was both danceable and darkly humorous.
Alien Sex Fiend’s 1983 debut single, 'Ignore the Machine,' produced by Youth of Killing Joke, and their first album, 'Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brain?', established their reputation for blending B-movie imagery, psychedelic guitar, and pulsing rhythms. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the group released a prolific stream of albums and singles, including club favorites like 'R.I.P.', 'Dead and Buried', and 'Now I’m Feeling Zombified.' Their music evolved to incorporate more electronic and industrial influences, notably on albums like 'Acid Bath' and the ambient-techno 'Nocturnal Emissions.' Alien Sex Fiend’s legacy is marked by their relentless innovation, cult following, and influence on the gothic, industrial, and post-punk genres, as well as their role in shaping the Batcave scene and the wider goth subculture.
Fun Facts
- Alien Sex Fiend were the first band to compose and record an entire CD-ROM computer game soundtrack, for the sci-fi game 'Inferno – The Odyssey Continues' in 1994.
- Their single 'Now I’m Feeling Zombified' gained mainstream exposure after being featured on MTV’s 'Beavis and Butt-Head' in 1990.
- The band’s live shows are renowned for their use of smoke machines, zombie-like makeup, and eccentric costumes, making them cult favorites at the Batcave club.
- Nik Fiend and Mrs. Fiend are not only bandmates but also a married couple, and have remained the group’s only consistent members throughout its history.
Members
- Mrs Fiend
- Nik Fiend
- Rat Fink
- Johnnie Ha Ha
- Yaxi Highriser
- Doc Milton
- Matt Rowlands
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- David Bowie - Major stylistic inspiration for the Batcave scene and Alien Sex Fiend's theatricality (General influence on glam and goth aesthetics) [1970s-1980s]
- The Sweet - Influence on the glam and camp elements in Alien Sex Fiend's music and image (General influence) [1970s-1980s]
Key Collaborators
- Nik Fiend (Nik Wade) - Founding member, vocalist, principal songwriter (All Alien Sex Fiend releases) [1982–present]
- Mrs. Fiend (Christine Wade) - Founding member, keyboards, synthesizers, co-songwriter (All Alien Sex Fiend releases) [1982–present]
- Yaxi Highrizer (David James) - Founding guitarist (Early albums and singles) [1982–late 1980s]
- Johnny Ha Ha (John Freshwater) - Founding drummer (Early albums and singles) [1982–mid 1980s]
- Youth (Martin Glover, of Killing Joke) - Producer of debut single 'Ignore the Machine' ('Ignore the Machine' (1983)) [1983]
Artists Influenced
- Nine Inch Nails - Inspired by Alien Sex Fiend’s fusion of goth, industrial, and electronic music (General influence on early industrial sound) [Late 1980s–1990s]
- Marilyn Manson - Adopted theatrical, horror-inspired stagecraft and dark humor (General influence on image and performance) [1990s]
- The Horrors - Cited Alien Sex Fiend as an influence on their gothic and post-punk sound (General influence) [2000s]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| The Singles 1983-1995 | 1995-01-01 | Album |
| Acid Bath | 1988-01-01 | Album |
| Who's Been Sleeping in My Brain | 1989-01-01 | Album |
| It The Album | 1986-10-01 | Album |
| Another Planet | 1988-01-01 | Album |
| Maximum Security | 1985-01-01 | Album |
| Classic Albums, Vol. 3 | 2024-09-27 | Album |
| The First Compact Disc | 1986-01-01 | Album |
| Liquid Head in Tokyo (Expanded Edition, Live) | 2006-01-01 | Album |
| Open Head Surgery | 1992-01-01 | Album |
| Fiend At The Controls, Vol. 1 & 2 | 1983-12-31 | Album |
| Curse | 1990-01-01 | Album |
| Possessed | 2018-11-09 | Album |
| Death Trip | 2010-05-03 | Album |
| R.I.P.: A 12" Collection | 2008-11-17 | Album |
Top Tracks
- I Walk the Line (The Singles 1983-1995)
- She's A Killer (Acid Bath)
- Now I'm Feeling Zombiefied
- Dead & Buried - 12" Version (The Singles 1983-1995)
- Ignore the Machine (Who's Been Sleeping in My Brain)
- E.S.T. (Trip to the Moon) (Acid Bath)
- Smells Like... (It The Album)
- In God We Trust (In Cars You Rust?) - Live (Acid Bath)
- Hurricane Fighter Plane (It The Album)
- New Christian Music (The Singles 1983-1995)
External Links
Tags: #british, #deathrock, #electro
References
Heard on WWOZ
alien sex fiend has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2025 | 20:39 | now I'm feeling zombified | Music of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold |