Sanctuary.cz: The Nosfëratü can be categorized as a traditional gothic rock band. Would you consider yourselves as a traditionalists in your personal lifes as well?

Vlad Janicek: I can only answer for myself, I think others might disagree. yes I like to have some traditional elements in my home from a style and decor perspective. I do love technology, but I like to have old style elements which is why I live in a house built in the early 1900s.

Sanctuary.cz: What were the band‘s first influences? Aside from the music, surely some classic horror stories were included too. Do you remember the most important works and bands that shaped your band‘s beginnings?

Vlad Janicek: Musically the influences range from classic first wave gothic rock bands such as Bauhaus, The Cure, The Cult, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Sisters Of Mercy, The Mission to less obvious bands such as Black Sabbath, WASP, Led Zeppelin, plus film composers such as John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, John Carpenter, Hans Zimmer and Christoper Young as well as the obvious classical composers such as Bach, Wagner and of course Beethoven.

The thriller/horror films that have influenced my writing have included many Hammer films, The Omen, The Exorcist, Salem´s Lot, Hellraiser and Coppola's Dracula.

Sanctuary.cz: Can you recommend us some contemporary horror films or books that could perhaps inspire next songs made by The Nosfëratü?

Vlad Janicek: Newer films such as The Conjuring, Sinister, The Ring, Drag Me To Hell and Insidious have great soundtracks.

Sanctuary.cz: Vlad, you disappeared from the band at one point, why did you left?

Vlad Janicek: Firstly let me correct you, I never actually left Nosferatu! The band name was stolen from me and legal issues prevented me from stopping them. Disillusioned by the music business I chose to walk away and accept things I could not change.

I was the founder member of Nosferatu way back in 1987 along with Sapphire Aurora. I wrote the majority of the songs on the first three albums Legend, Rise and The Prophecy.

The band that carried on using the Nosferatu name was an unauthorised act that stole most of the band’s legacy.

The intervening years have given legitimacy to what was and is a pale imitation. This was the reason I approached Louis De Wray 2 years ago to correct this situation and we formed The Nosferatu to distinguish ourselves even though I am a 50% owner of the original band name.

Sanctuary.cz: What did you actually do when you weren't playing with Nosferatu? Did you pursue music in any other way? I know you had some projects too... What was your life like without Nosferatu? Do you have any other hobbies or is all of your time consumed by music?

Vlad Janicek: Firstly in the aftermath of Nosferatu I wrote and performed with a new project called The Shadowmaker for two years and also released some tracks solo. In late 2021 I released my Vampyrean project as an 11 track album with guests including Chris Pohl, Sven Friedrich and Aaron Stainthorpe.

Between these two projects I ran my own design company, raised two children (now both adults, gulp) and played music for fun, teaching myself classical orchestration in the process.

Sanctuary.cz: What was the main impuls for reviving the band under the modified name The Nösferätu, and what was the reaction of the people around you to your resurrection?

Vlad Janicek: Watching the "legitimate" band turn into a parody and feeling insulted by the legacy they were damaging made me contact Louis who I had advised against having anything to do with them (he later realised why). The reaction has been amazing and many fans knew all about the difference and that my input was the driver of the classic songs. We recently played to over 700 absolutely die-hard fans in Mexico and the reaction not only to the music but to me personally left me in no doubt who they prefer.

Gradually we are becoming the definitive and best version of this band and the lineup we now have is in my opinion the best ever.

Sanctuary.cz: A distinctive image is an important part of your live presentation. How important are visuals to you in music? What can fans who haven't seen you yet look forward to?

Vlad Janicek: We are all a little older so perhaps its not as intense as in latter years, though on my part I have and will always taken things to the extreme. But visual presentation in artwork, merchandise, backdrops has and will always be important. Unfortunately I cannot make the others wear my clothes!

Sanctuary.cz: Are you working on something new? Will we get a new studio recording from The Nosfëratü perhaps?

Vlad Janicek: I cannot promise when and if as it is not just up to me but 6 songs have been written and recorded, they require lyrics/vocals and mixing/mastering.

Sanctuary.cz: Do you know XIII. století, with whom you will play in Prague? In the Czech Republic, this band is considered as a cult band – it can be said that together with you, the fans will see the living history of gothic rock.

Vlad Janicek: Of course we know of XIII Stoleti they are Czech legends of the scene and probably around even longer than us!

Sanctuary.cz: I can't help but ask at the end - Janíček is a purely Czech sounding surname. Vlad, do you have any ancestors from our country?

Vlad Janicek: Okay my grandfather was Bohemian, this is in fact my real surname though my grandmother remarried and took an English surname when he died (I never met him). Coming to Prague is something I have wanted to do for some time. I am barely English as my mother was Italian, though my knowledge of both languages is almost non existant!

Sanctuary.cz: Thanks for your time and we look forward to seeing you in Prague!

Vlad Janicek: Indeed we are excited to try some real Czech beer and win over the Czech fans!

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