Devil Doll.

When you're really into prog you re always looking for something new, something which you would like to discover long before any of your friends do. In the sudden re-interest of the genre there are so many upcoming bands that you get many a chance to find such a band but you only get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to discover and explore something really unique, something extremely precious, something breathtaking and 100% genuine.

That something is called DEVIL DOLL, a combination of progressive rock, thrash metal, punk and classical music and just like the mysterious situation which still hangs around the RESIDENTS, you don't really know who DEVIL DOLL really is! DEVIL DOLL is the brain of one super original mind, someone we can call a classic composer from the new age, someone who calls himself Mr. Doctor. Throughout all of his albums, Mr. Doctor weaves his obsession with theatrical black and white horror sceneries. In the middle of the bombastic music he places his operatic eerie vocals as inaccessible as possible!

Founded in march 1987 there originally is a DEVIL DOLL active in Venice, Italy and one in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia. At the end of the year Mr. Doctor records his first album of which he wants to press only one copy. His wish is granted and in February '88 only one copy of The Mark Of The Beast' is pressed, housed in a sleeve handpainted by the brain, Mr. Doctor himself! Based on the British television series The Prisoner, rehearsals begin for the new project to be called 'The Girl Who Was Death'. In March 1989 a small quantity of 500 vinyl copies are pressed. During DEVIL DOLL's second concert Mr. Doctor distributes 150 copies of the album througout the audience. The remaining 350 copies are destroyed! This rare first pressing is the only one to feature both the intro and outro based on The Prisoner's theme, music which will be omitted from all forthcoming re-releases thus making the original very rare and extremely sought after!

On august 18th, Mr. Doctor performs his own versions of 14 songs by German composer Hans Eisler. The sheduled vinyl album 'Mr. Doctor Sings Hans Eisler' only reaches the test pressing stage and all future release is completely abandonned. In May 1990 the first vinyl pressing of 'Eliogabalus' is issued in a die-cut theatre cover in a limited run of only 50 copies! In 1991 due to the war situation in Yugoslavia, Mr. Doctor decides to join both DEVIL DOLL bands into one. In December recordings for the new album begin whilst the DEVIL DOLL fanclub welcomes it's 1000th member! In March the next year the band performs the entire new album 'Sacrilegium' whilst incorporating segments from the film 'The Sacrilege Of Fatal Arms' which has been written and directed by Mr. Doctor.

In July 1993 DEVIL DOLL enters the Tivoli studios in Ljubljana to record the new album provisionally called 'Dies Irae (The Day Of Wrath)'. Unfortunately whilst Mr. Doctor is mixing the album a fire breaks out destroying the entire studio ... and the tapes! Unannounced, the band plays concerts in Venice and Ljubljana in June '94 to perform material from 'Dies Irae' and newly to be recorded work. In August, the Hurdy Gurdy label reaches an agreement with American based Renaissance Records to re-release all four titles on a limited run of 1000 copies issued as picture discs. To top it all a very limited set is released on 333 copies containing all four discs in an embroidered pouch with a special booklet personally inscribed by the mystery man himself, Mr. Doctor. Selling at $100 it surely is not the cheapest release but apart from the superb music you can see it as a safe investment because 333 copies worldwide will make this one of the must-haves in years to come. At present DEVIL DOLL is re-recording the 'Dies Irae' album which should be released very soon now.

In May 1994, Record Collector magazine did a feature on Devil Doll (page 143). Practically all of the band's releases have values of £20, £30 and even more placed next to them although if you contact the fanclub you can still obtain most of the material at around £12. Record collector has it about the 'pre-empted' vinyl fanclub edition of 'Sacrilegium' which strangely enough more than one year later I was able to buy a mint copy of through the fanclub. So do get in touch with the DEVIL DOLL fanclub c/o Rossana Pistolato at the following address: San Marco 5499. 30124 Venezia, Italy.

Don't forget to include an IRC. In return you will receive a complete list of what's available together with the prices. From the fanclub you can also buy some unique limited DEVIL DOLL T-shirts! For your information: one pound equals 2350 lire (check your bank for exact amount) If you want to buy yourself an early christmas present then by all means buy one of the 333 (half of the devil ?) limited sets from Michael Piper at:
The Wild Places, 621 'A' Hanover street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA.
Hurry because he might be sold out very soon You can give him a ring on (408)427-3043 or fax (408)427-0643. You won't regret it!

THE MARK OF THE BEAST (Feb '88) - only one copy!
THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH {Hurdy Gurdy HG-1}(March '89) - 500 vinyl copies of which 350 are destroyed.
ELIOGABALUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-6}(May '90) - 50 vinyl copies in die-cut theatre sleeve.
ELIOGABALUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-6}(July 90) - vinyl re-issue in same artwork without die-cut cover by Hurdy Gurdy label (sold out).
ELIOGABALUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-6}(July 90) - alternate vinyl pressing in different gatefold cover in limited numbered edition of 9Q0 copies released by Devil Doll fanclub (sold out).
ELIOGABALUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-6}(Sep 90) - CD release by Hurdy Gurdv (still available at 25,000 lire).
ELIOGABALUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-6}(Sep 90) - CD release by Devil Doll fanclub with different booklet in limited numbered run of 900 copies (very few available at 25,000 lire!).
SACRlLEGIUM {Hurdy Gurdy HG-7}(May 92) - CD release only on Hurdy Gurdy (available at 25'000 lire).
SACRILEGIUM {Hurdy Gurdy HG-7}(May 92) - vinyl edition limited to 900 numbered copies housed in gatefold cover designed by Mr Doctor released through Devil Doll fanclub (very few available at 25,000 lire but hurry!).
THE SACRILEGE OF FATAL ARlUS {Hurdy Gurdy HG-8}(Jan '93) - CD only release by Devil Doll fanclub on 900 copies (sold out in 72 hours!).
THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH {Hurdy Gurdv HG-1RE}(May '93) - vinyl re-release by Devil Doll fanclub on 500 copies but without original intro and outro (sold out).
THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH {Hurdy Gurdv HG-lRE}(Dec 93) - CD release bv Devil Doll fanclub with original intro on 120Q copies.
MR. DOCTOR SINGS HANS EISLER {Hurdy Gurdv HG-5}(1993) - CD with booklet.
THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH - CD release by Hurdy Gurdyy American label Renaissance/Wild Places distribution as picture disc on 1000 copies (available from fanclub at 35,000 lire).
ELIOGABALUS (Aug '94) - CD re-release by American label Renaissance/Wild Places distribution as picture disc on 1000 copies (available from fanclub at 35,000 lire).
SACRELIGIUM (Aug '94) - CD re-release by American label Renaissance/Wild Places distriution as piture disc on 1000 copies (available from fanclub a[ 35.000 lire).
THE SACRELIDGE OF FATAL ARMS (Aug '94) - CD re-release by American label Renaissance/Wild Places distribution as picture disc on 1000 copies (available from fanclub at 35.000 lire).
DEVIL DOLL COMPLETE WORKS (Aug '94) - embroidered pouch containing all four CD's as picture discs, with sticker and special bonus booklet personally inscribed with a unique message from Mr. Doctor, numbered and limited to 333 copies.
DES IRAE ('95) pre-orders are being taken by the fan club. The CD version will cost 30.000 lire postage included.