James Havoc

Pen name and artistic alias of James Williamson (b. Julian Hallett in 1959, Plymouth, England), a British writer, editor and translator, best known as the founder of Creation Books independent publisher. James Havoc established a short-lived industrial/goth/experimental band, Church Of Raism, with members of Primal Scream, and authored several "esoteric horror" and dark erotica novels. James Havoc met Martin Duffy and Robert "Throb" Young of Primal Scream soon after he settled in Brighton in the mid-1980s. They formed a short-lived conceptual band Church Of Raism, joined by Scottish neofolk singer-songwriter and guitarist Rose McDowall. The project centered around the notorious XV-century French child murderer Gilles de Rais. In 1989, the band's eponymous album, CD/LP, came out on Creation Records. (James Havoc also directed a music video for the band, called Crimes Against Pussycat and starring Primal Scream's lead singer, Bobby Gillespie.) Through his bandmates, James Havoc/Williamson was introduced to the Creation label's founder and boss, Alan McGee. He soon convinced McGee to launch a publishing branch, Creation Press and appoint him as its editor-in-chief. James inaugurated a new book series with his novel, Raism (89). Church Of Raism appeared on several compilations, including Creation's CD/LP in April 1991 and an ultra-limited edition 262599 cassette on Portugal label Maldoror Tapes in August 1995. Soon afterward, Creation Press went independent, changing its name to Creation Books. James Havoc published a few more works, including Raism: The Songs of Gilles De Rais: Meathook Seed Pt. 1 (1992) and Butchershop in the Sky: Premature Ejaculations (99), illustrated by Mike Philbin. His latest book, Teenage Timberwolves: Lust For Lightning (2009), was produced in collaboration with visual artist Daniele Serra.