The dastardly Doctor Haze, father of the rock’n’roll Circus of Horrors, was born to a lion trainer and a spider-woman in a circus wagon in Manchester and is reported to be 1000 years old – although he denies these rumours, insisting he’s not a day over 549. Previously a rock’n’ roll frontman, Doctor Haze set up the Circus of Horrors in its current form following a chance meeting with the legendary Gerry Cottle at a funeral. It is said that Cottle’s daughters, who quite fancied being vampires in a chainsaw-wielding blood-and-guts freakshow, convinced their father to lend his know-how to the Circus. Beginning with a legendary performance at Glastonbury in 2005, the Circus of Horrors – “not for children or people with nervous dispositions” – has gone from strength to strength, touring all over Europe as well as South America, and even appearing at the world-famous Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. The Circus is currently touring the UK: a full list of dates is available on the website.
What do you do all day?
Depends, if we’re doing a show I’d be getting ready, the full show takes about 4 hours to build up. If it’s not a show day it’s mainly doing boring admin, or doing interviews (like this), also recently we’ve been recording songs, firstly to release a new single on download. It’s called FROM HELL and you can order you copy now by texting Horror82822.
What will you do today/ What have you done today?
Today I’m doing lots of admin but I’m also in discussion with our special effects guy about props and costumes for the new show, and tonight I am going back into the recording studio to hear the final mixes of the songs.
What’s your working process?
Work in process is writing songs for the new show, making sure all the props, costumes and equipment are getting made on time etc.
What’s the best thing about what you do?
Most people go through life doing jobs they don’t like, but generally I love my job. I love being Dr Haze, I feel proud of the shows I have done and I am looking forward to the new ASYLUM show.
And the worst thing?
Doing the admin.
How did you get into it?
I was born in a Circus: my dad was a lion trainer. I ran away from the Circus to have a bash of rock’n’roll and the Circus of Horrors is an amalgamation of all of that.
What’s been the biggest achievement in your career so far?
There’s been so many: performing in London’s Roundhouse for 29 weeks (the longest a Circus has been in one place in London), taking the show all over the world, and generally keeping it going against all odd for 13 years.
Where do you go from here, career-wise?
Would love to make a Circus of Horrors film but still love touring & recording.
Have you got any advice for someone trying to do what you do?
Keep your nerve: it costs a lot of money to put a show on the road and to keep it going. I always believe if you like it enough other people will too.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Rock Star, Footballer (only for Preston North End though), James Bond, Batman.
And if you were going to have a complete career change, what would you go for?
Possibly a TV presenter or movie actor (but only if the show was right).
Where do you look for inspiration?
My main inspiration was undoubtedly Marc Bolan: his look, his music & his attitude were perfect. Also – obviously – Alice Cooper is a big inspiration.
What constitutes a successful work, for you?
A great show – a full house – with lots of beautiful girls, a Preston North End win and alcohol.
What constitutes an unsuccessful work?
A shit show – no one in, not a girl in sight – an alcohol drought and Preston North End loosing to Blackpool.
