KRUSAFIX
History - 1981 - 2000
Darrel W. Hughes first discovered alternative electronic music at the age of nine in 1981, when friends introduced him to the music of FAD GADGET,
THOMAS DOLBY, VISAGE, ULTRAVOX, KRAFTWERK, THE HUMAN LEAGUE,
JOHN FOXX, BILL NELSON, amongst many others at that time.
Darrel soon wanted to learn more about this type of alternative dark electronic
pop music style. So over the next couple of years found himself searching
further into international music scenes in the hunt to discover the many new artists and bands that were working in this music genre.
At the same time Darrel got into the electronic instrument revolution, and
became very interested in synthesizers, drum machines, early sampling
technology, etc.
By 1985, Darrel had discovered a huge number of artists and bands from a
very wide international circle; LUCIFER'S FRIEND, FIAT LUX, BORGESHIA,
HARD CORPS, DEPECHE MODE, SISTERS OF MERCY, SPK, KILLING JOKE,
NEW ORDER, CABARET VOLTAIRE, HEAVEN 17, FASHION, PAUL HAIG, MATT
JOHNSON, PETE SHELLEY, 23 SKIDOO, PROPAGANDA, TEST DEPT, to name
just a few.
In 1985, Darrel had also started composing his own tracks on a modest midi
studio set-up. This was a time when Darrel got into programming analogue
and digital synthesizers at quite a depth, as he was exceptional at distinctive
sound design.
By 1987, Darrel had begun composing simple instrumental tracks; the set
up he had was quite limited due to it only being a hobby at the time. Due to
the huge cost of equipment and Darrel only just starting his working life,
funds did play a big part in being able to acquire new equipment.
Then in December 1990, after going to see DEPECHE MODE at Birmingham
N.E.C. on their World Violation Tour, Darrel decided it was time to get into the
music scene at a much deeper level.
On a visit to his local hi-tech equipment store Darrel met a guy called Matt,
he later gave a demo of the Roland R8 drum machine and Yamaha SY77,
a short Industrial HardBeat instrumental was composed in minutes, Darrel
found that technology had come of age, at a price that didn’t require you to
sell your soul.
Darrel also went to see several other live shows of progressive bands at
that time; NITZER EBB, FRONT 242, CABARET VOLTAIRE, ORBITAL.
After the CABARET VOLTAIRE show Darrel met up with Stephen Mallinder
for a chat with the living legend.
At this point Darrel became a friend of Matt Culpin, who was also looking
to secure a record deal for his own Dark-HardBeat-Pop duo STRUKCHA
based in Leicester, England.
1990-1991 Darrel studied all he could about music technology and the music
industry in general, reading everything he could get his hands on regarding
studio recording, the music business, the legal side of the industry, and the
artistic.
From this time Darrel continued to learn every aspect of the music business
on an international level.
In 1991 several instrumental tracks composed by Darrel under the
guise of VOLTOID were released by Magazine’s on their cover tapes
or by label’s such as MIND SCAN, IMPULSE.
As VOLTOID, Darrel was composing Industrial Rave tracks.
By early 1992 Darrel decided it was time to make a project with vocals
and a song structure.
RED SEKTA had its debut track Torture released on IMPULSE Music
Magazine cover tape. In general, it was reviewed as the best track to
feature on the compilation tape.
At this point Darrel also began to work as an engineer at Reflex Studio
based in Nottingham.
RED SEKTA was to become Darrel's main project, with a sound that
was a fusion hybrid of Industrial-Dark-Hard-Pop-Futurist-Techno-EBM.
July 1992 - April 1993, Darrel spent his time developing his own sound
and recording songs-tracks for a debut RED SEKTA CD EP on his own
label NEUROGENIK TRANSMISSIONS.
In July 1993 RED SEKTA Light From Darkness CD EP was released
on the NT label.
The debut RED SEKTA CD EP had radio airplay in over 40 countries,
over 300 radio stations broadcasted the tracks from Light From Darkness
CD EP.
Over 400 international music magazines in over 50 countries wrote news
headlines, features, reviews and interviews regarding RED SEKTA.
Other labels from all over the world sent requests for RED SEKTA tracks
for their upcoming CD compilation albums.
Rather than send compilation tracks out, Darrel decided to start recording
songs-tracks for the debut RED SEKTA CD album.
With such a huge response Darrel decided it would be too much to make
the music and co-ordinate the label, distribution, promotion as well as
maintain a full time job at the same time.
Therefore, on the success of the RED SEKTA Light From Darkness CD EP,
in December 1993, Darrel approached several European record labels with
a view to secure a deal.
Many made offers, however Celtic Circle Productions had suggested the
best offer and requested tracks for impending CCP label DCD compilations.
June 1994 was the first time Darrel jetted out to Germany to meet and sign
with Celtic Circle Productions.
Alfred Kaenders, was a great host and made Darrel feel very much at home
in Germany.
CCP in October 1994 released the debut 16 track RED SEKTA CD album
Anodize CD. Anodize featured a Dark-HardBeat remix of DEPECHE MODE’s
Fly On The Windscreen, and a Techno-Pop remix of FAD GADGET’s
Love Parasite.
The artwork for Anodize was a collaboration between Dominik Van Reich
of the cult German Satanic-Neo-Classical-Dark-EBM band YELWORC.
However, at the time Dominik was just starting his solo project AMGOD.
The Celtic Circle Sampler Vol.02 was released in August 1994, it featured
the RED SEKTA track Dream Demon. The CCP Vol.2 DCD compilation
also featured 29 other international artists & bands.
Also for this release Darrel, working under the guise of SURGEON, did a remix of ID.1D6 for AIBOFORCEN, a Dark-Techno-EBM duo from Belgium.
The vocalist Seba Dolimont of AIBOFORCEN is also the editor of SIDE-LINE
music magazine based in Belgium, the bible of the alternative electronic
scenes worldwide.
The remix was recorded in Germany at CCP’s TIME SOUND STUDIO.
Later that day Darrel, Seba and Benoit travelled together by car to attend
the CCP 4th Nights Of Darkness Festival, bands that performed included;
YELWORC, PROVOKING NOISE, DER PRAGER HANDGRIFF, PARACONT,
AMGOD, PAGE 12, DIVE, PIERREPOINT, PLASTIC NOISE EXPERIENCE.
Before and during the concert Darrel met up with most of the bands for
drinks and interesting discussions, furthermore he also got introduced
to SUICIDE COMMANDO, RED BADGE OF COURAGE,
FUZE BOX MACHINE amongst many others.
At this point CCP asked Darrel if he would co-ordinate the UK division
of CCP, due to his experience in marketing & promotion. Darrel had
promotion pool contacts of over 600 international music magazines
and 400 international radio stations. CCP wanted to utilise this huge
promotional database Darrel had built up since 1991.
As Darrel was now also running the A&R office for CCP in the UK, he
was directly in talks with the bands and artists; KABUKI, CUT 2023,
NEW MIND, BIO-TEK, GUNHEAD, PSKOTROPIK, METRA-TRON,
PRO PATRIA, NEX2US, PH-1, LOST.IT.COM, ENEMY ALLIANCE,
ZOS=KIA, CYBER-TEC PROJECT, INERTIA, SECOND VOICE,
NEUROACTIVE, ELECTRO ASSASIN, to name just a few.
Joakim Montelius and Eskil Simonsson of COVENANT were also in
contact with Darrel when they almost signed to CCP.
A second artwork edition of the RED SEKTA Anodize CD album was
also created by MADESIGN, the new artwork division of CCP, the 2nd
edition was released in May 1995.
Ronan Harris from VNV NATION looking for a new publishing deal
possibly with CCP gave Darrel a call just prior to VNV NATION signing
to the German label DISCORDIA.
Richard Silverthorn of MESH was also in direct contact with Darrel.
June 1995, Darrel endured a 4.5 hour train journey to Edinburgh, to spend
the day with Scotland's premier electronic masterminds FINITRIBE.
Dave, Phil and John were great hosts, Dave and Darrel went to a local pub
for a few beers and a good long chat about the FINITRIBE career, releases.
Then back to the FINIFLEX Studios to watch some exclusive new
FINITRIBE video promos at that time, LOVE ABOVE, BRAND NEW.
After spending all day with the guys Darrel caught the train home with
almost every release ever made by FINITRIBE as a thank you gift from
the band, including video promos and releases by other artists FINITRIBE
were working with on their own FINIFLEX RECORDS label.
Invited to a SHINING gig in Nottingham at the Rock City venue Darrel got to
catch up with ex-vocalist of STRUKCHA, John Bagguley now teamed up with
Julian Beeston (NITZER EBB) and Steve White (PIG) to form SHINING.
Darrel had been in contact with John for a few years and had visited John
and Joolz (Julian) at their recording studio and synthesizer company DIN
in south London on many occasions.
Also at Din Studios, Darrel met and had a few beers with Marc Almond
(SOFT CELL), Tony James (THE SISTERS OF MERCY), Neil X
(SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK).
July 1995, Darrel met up with Julian Beeston Ex-NITZER EBB member,
as Joolz had just started a new band SHINING.
Under the guise of SURGEON, Darrel did several remixes for SHINING,
the tracks were from their Debut album Din.
In August 1995 the Celtic Circle Sampler Vol.03 was released it featured
the RED SEKTA track Demolition Man (Judge Dredd Hammer Fist Remix).
This track was a remix from the Anodize album. Both mixes actually got
a lot of airplay in Planet Hollywood in London.
The CCP Vol.3 DCD compilation also featured 27 other international
artists & bands.
July 1995, Darrel begin's working on a new side project: PANZER.
With a concept of fusing EBM with TECHNO to create a hybrid that
would create TECHNO-BODY-MUSIC (TBM).
Darrel working under the guise of PANZER was also featured on the CCP
Vol.3 DCD compilation with the track Malevolent Force (Intensify Mix).
This track was the debut PANZER track from the planned debut PANZER
CD album Dark Sentinel.
Autumn 1995 as SURGEON, Darrel also remixed PAGE 12’s Shizo World
taken from their debut CD album The Violence Of Truth. The SURGEON
remix was titled Shizo World (Our-Time-Remix), and was released on
the PAGE 12 Decline CD-EP, and was released by CCP.
In August 1996 and RED SEKTA attended PopKomm the International
Music Convention in Germany.
Here Darrel met up with many other bands, ABSENT MINDED, PARACONT,
SLEEPWALK, PAGE 12, IONIC VISION, AXONAL WARFARE, CYCLOON, AIBOFORCEN, YELWORC, EVIL SERMON, PUTREFY FACTOR 7, THE AMP,
PANIC ON THE TITANIC, THE DUST OF THE BASEMENT, PIERREPOINT,
CRADLE OF SPOIL, DIVE, THE HOUSE OF USHER, amongst many others.
Also in August 1996, CCP released their Celtic Circle Sampler Vol. 4 and presented it at PopKomm 1996.
The CCP Vol.4 D-CD compilation featured the CCP anthem RED SEKTA
track Circle Of Fire (Halloween Remix). And also featured 27 other
international artists & bands.
Darrel was working 16 hours a day in the studio recording and running
the CCP UK office, his recording time was being replaced with global
promotion of RED SEKTA, PANZER & SURGEON.
And the UK & USA promotion of all the other artist at CCP and their
side-label KHAZAD DUM.
Darrel had also started his own promotion company CYBERNET EXPOSURE,
working with other labels in the global Industrial, EBM, Dark-Techno-Pop
scenes.
Darrel was promoting a total of 60 artists & bands.
Recording new material was getting harder to fit in to the schedule, due to
so many other commitments.
So many things were possible, Darrel tried to do it all, but things started to
suffer in the end.
At this point Darrel decided to leave CCP, and just concentrate on his own
music and promotion, having studied a lot since 1991, he decided to go it
alone again.
The 8 track RED SEKTA mini-album SEIZURE was released in
December 1996 by Neurogenik Transmissions.
June 1997, RED SEKTA Light From Darkness Remix CD EP is released
via Neurogenik Transmissions.
October 1997, RED SEKTA Zealous Adrenalux Fusions CD album was
released on Neurogenik Transmissions, and promoted worldwide via
Cybernet Exposure.
The new album was a logical evolution in RED SEKTA’s own style of
sound formula.
14th February 1998, due to Darrel having been introduced to certain
young woman, all things musical slowly came to a halt.
Neurogenik Transmissions released RED SEKTA Strike To The Body
CD Single in March 1998.
Followed in August 1998 by the release of RED SEKTA Plasma Surge
CD Album.
Darrel, still pushing the dark RS sound development further into blackness.
As the next few months passed, Darrel found he could no longer give
anything near the time needed to progress with RED SEKTA and maintain
the close relationship he now found himself in!.
By November 1998, Darrel decided to settle down and recoil from the music
world, due to being engaged to a woman that wanted a regular life and his
100% attention.
Here musically, there was a nothing more than the darkness of a black void.
Until 15th November 1999, when Darrel had found himself again, only after
losing himself in a downward spiral of falling for the wrong woman.
After six months of getting back into the worldwide activity of various
music genre’s, Darrel was ready for a new beginning.
June 2000, Darrel began a new project, KRUSAFIX.
His aim was to create a band with a sound that assimilated the best
elements of Progressive-Industrial, EBM, Dark-Techno, Cyber-Gothic,
Hard-Beat, Epic-Trance, Electro, Cyber-Metal, Industrial Drum & Bass,
Rave, Dark-Wave, Neo-Classical, Avant Garde music genres and create
a unique complex fusion, the KRUSAFIX system of sonic genesis.
For further information on KRUSAFIX, please read the Biography section.
