Joel Gausten

Joel Gausten (born July 17, 1977) is an United States drummer, publisher, author, editor and journalist. He is an alumnus of Wallkill Valley Regional High School and holds a BA in English from Montclair State University.
Writing career
As of May 2009, Gausten has written nearly 2,500 articles for a variety of music, gaming and automotive publications.
Gausten has interviewed several notable musicians over the years, including Bill Ward of Black Sabbath
, Eric Singer of Kiss
, Rick Dufay of Aerosmith
, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure, David Thomas of Pere Ubu, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Jarboe, Nicholas Bullen of Napalm Death
, Midge Ure of Ultravox and Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Destri of Blondie
, Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, Alex Skolnick of Testament, Paul Allender of Cradle of Filth, Marky Ramone,
Bill Laswell, Tony Maimone of They Might Be Giants, Matthew Good, Chris Connelly of Revolting Cocks,
Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke,
Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Xzibit, Geddy Lee of Rush, Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four, Pete Jones of Public Image Limited, Ted Parsons of Prong,
Tommy Victor of Ministry,
Jerry Only of The Misfits,
Texas Terri, Richard Lloyd of Television, Yngwie Malmsteen, Martin Atkins of The Damage Manual,
Amanda Ghost, J Mascis, Hunt Sales of Tin Machine, Musiq Soulchild, Bob Daisley of Rainbow,
Celtic Frost, Billy Ray Cyrus, Nicole Blackman of KMFDM, Cosey Fanni Tutti of Throbbing Gristle, Opeth, Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys, Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, 3LW, Reeves Gabrels, Gitane Demone of Christian Death
and Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, among many others.
Gausten's notable non-music celebrity interviews include Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank and Art Monk of the Washington Redskins.
Gausten's books include Tales of Horror: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD
,Pandemonium: Inside Killing Joke,
Prong: The Early Years, The SABBATH Interviews and From Satan to Sabbath: The METAL Interviews 2000-2009.
Gausten's upcoming books include Rock N Roll Monster: The Rik L Rik Story (foreword by Brendan Mullen) and Albums that (Should've) Changed the World.
He was also a contributor to/editor for Martin Atkins' best-selling 2007 book, Tour:Smart, alongside such notables as Henry Rollins and Steve Albini.
Gausten has been the subject of articles in a variety of magazines including Punk Globe
, Blender
, Revolver
and Scream Magazine.
In November 2006, Suicide Girls famously called him "a very busy man."
In May 2009, Gausten publicly supported Tony Iommi in Ozzy Osbourne's trademark lawsuit over the name "Black Sabbath."
Music career
A drummer since age 9, Gausten has appeared on over 50 CDs, EPs and internationally distributed compilations by such acts as Electric Frankenstein, The Undead, The Sixth Chamber, Broken Heroes and The Graveyard School (with Larry Montozzi of Seven Witches).
He was a sporadic member of The Undead from 1998 to 2008. In 2001, he performed as a member of Pigface alongside Martin Atkins (Killing Joke), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks), Charles Levi (My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult), Chris Haskett (Rollins Band) and Meg Lee Chin. In 1995, he rehearsed with The Misfits as a fill-in drummer and later appeared on a number of Misfits bootlegs recorded during these rehearsal sessions.
Gausten also worked with The Misfits as a promoter, booking and coordinating the band's legendary "homecoming" show at Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey on August 31, 1996.
While living in Los Angeles in 2005, Gausten played in a Ramones cover band with members of The Wildhearts, , Life, Sex & Death, , White Lion, Clam Abuse, AntiProduct and Prong.
Gausten is an active supporter of the West Memphis 3 and has performed benefit concerts (with The Undead) and published articles on their behalf.
In addition, he has performed as a member of The Undead at benefit concerts in memory of slain punk fan Brian Deneke.
Gausten was a member of the long-running New Jersey Oi! band Broken Heroes in 1998 and again in 2006-2008, sharing the stage with the likes of , Adrenalin OD, Reagan Youth and . In 2006, the band also performed at a special benefit concert for Dirty Rotten Imbeciles guitartist Spike Cassidy, who was suffering from colon cancer at the time. Members of the fluctuating 2006-2008 line-up of Broken Heroes included Tim Miller of and Blanks 77 and Quincy of and Michale Graves' solo band. The 2006-2008 line-up of the band is represented on four songs on the 2007 compilation Oi! Don't Pay The Bills released by Neck Records. Ironically, Gausten left Broken Heroes to play drums in Electric Frankenstein, whose former drummer, Joe Martin, subsequently joined Broken Heroes.
Gausten joined Electric Frankenstein on drums for a Canadian tour in the summer of 2008.
He previously played with the band 10 years earlier, contributing drums to two recording sessions. Also in 2008, he briefly performed under the name "Hung Lo" in the "secret" punk project Kung Fu Killers (with Sal Canzonieri of Electric Frankenstein and Danny Frankenstein of Christian Death and Shadow Project).
Highlights in Gausten's album discography include Electric Frankenstein's Sod The Odds!, Electric Frankenstein / Le Shok and Don't Touch Me, I'm Electric!' (Double Album Version) and The Undead's 12 Hits Un-Covered. He is also co-producer of an upcoming tribute album to Betty Blowtorch
and is currently drumming with the electronic project Effectionhate.
Church of Satan Affiliation
Gausten is a Satanist
and a Warlock in the Church of Satan. He is also a media representative for the organization, regularly dispelling many of the public misconceptions about the Satanic philosophy.
Gausten's most notable appearance representing the Church of Satan was when he went head-to-head with Bill Donohue of the Catholic League in the October 2008 issue of , with the magazine declaring Gausten the victor.
His first book on the Satanic philosophy, Words From The Third Side: Essays on Sex, Satan & Success, was published in 2009. The book includes cover art and a supplemental essay on BDSM culture by artist, musician, model and Church of Satan Witch, Shannon Gardner - Gausten. Additionally, the book details Gausten's lifelong battle against cerebral palsy.
Gausten's erotic photography work appears in the 2009 Topless Witches Calendar, produced by and featuring members of the Church of Satan.
Personal life
Gausten married Shannon Gardner-Gausten in September 2009.
External links
Joel Gausten's official Website: http://www.gaustenbooks.com

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