Phil Shoenfelt is a Prague-based British singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and author, whose path started on punk and post-punk scenes of London, Manchester and New York, where in 1981 he formed the post-punk band Khmer Rouge. They shared the stage with artists such as The Clash, Nico, or The Fall. For a time, the band was managed by Nat Finkelstein, the legendary photographer who collaborated with Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground, and who filmed a video for the Khmer Rouge song New Assassins.
In 1984 Phil moved to London and in 1989 he made his first solo recording, a 12 inch single Charlotte’s Room/The Long Goodbye. During his UK tour dates in early 90’s, Phil supported Crime & The City Solution and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. In 1994 Phil toured in the Czech Republic, supported by the band Tichá Dohoda. In 1995 he moved to Prague, where he formed his current band Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross. In 1997 Phil founded Fatal Shore with Berlin-based Australians Bruno Adams and Chris Hughes, and in 2011 he started Dim Locator, with Chris Hughes and Dave Allen. Phil also collaborated with Nikki Sudden (the founder of The Swell Maps and The Jacobites) playing lead guitar in his band in 1997-98, and recording Golden Vanity with him in 1998. In June 2014 Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross recorded a live album The Bell Ringer – Live At The Shot-Out Eye for the occasion of the band’s 20th anniversary. Cassandra Lied, a well-acclaimed solo album, was launched in early 2020. Phil Shoenfelt has published several titles: A fictionalised autobiography Junkie Love, a poetry collection The Green Hotel, Magdalena – Books One and Two (with the Prague surrealist poet and artist Kateřina Piňosová), Kamikaze Skull (poems co-written with UK performance artist Sophia Disgrace), and Stripped, a two-part authobiographical novel set in New York between 1979-1984. Phil also wrote the afterword for the 1995 Czech edition of Nick Cave’s cult book And The Ass Saw The Angel, and features in several anthologies, such as The Return Of Král Majáles – Prague’s International Literary Renaissance 1990-2010, or City Primeval. New York, Berlin, Prague, which was named after a Khmer Rouge song.
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Albums
CASSANDRA LIED
℗ 2019 Fuego © 2019 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
GOLDEN VANITY
© 2010 Easy Action (Recorded in 1998)
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
UNDER THE RADAR
℗ 2020 Fuego © 2019 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
OUT OF THE SKY
℗ 2018 Fuego © 2018 Phil Shoenfelt, Bruno Adams
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
THE BELL RINGER – LIVE AT THE SHOT-OUT EYE
℗ 2015 FUEGO © 2015 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
PARANOIA.COM
© 2010 Phil Shoenfeld
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
WORM HOLE
DIM LOCATOR
© 2013 Dim Locator
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
SETTING THE SAILS FOR EL DORADO
FATAL SHORE
℗ 2014 FUEGO © 2011 FATAL SHORE
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
IMMORTALISED
DIM LOCATOR
© 2011 Dim Locator
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
REAL WORLD
FATAL SHORE
℗© 2010 Amboss Recordings
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
LIVE AT THE HOUSE OF SIN
© 2008 Exupery
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
DEEP HORIZON – 2 CD
℗ 2005 Fuego © 2004 Phil Shoenfeld
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
ELECTRIC GARDEN
℗ 2009 FUEGO © 2002 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE
© 1999 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE (UNPLUGGED)
℗ 2002 Fuego © 2002 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
THE FATAL SHORE
FATAL SHORE
℗ 2006 FUEGO © 1997 Fatal Shore
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
BIRD ON A WIRE
FATAL SHORE
© 2009 Fatal Shore
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
RARE TRACKS
© 1998 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
BLUE HIGHWAY
℗ 2009 FUEGO © 1997 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
LIVE IN PRAGUE (TICHA DOHODA)
© 1995 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
GOD IS THE OTHER FACE OF THE DEVIL
© 1993 Humbug Records
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
FREE FALL
FATAL SHORE
© 2003 Fatal Shore
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
BACKWOODS CRUCIFIXION
© 1990 Paperhouse Records
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
RIVER OF LIGHT
℗ 2020 Fuego © 1991 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
NEW YORK – LONDON 1981-86
KHMER ROUGE
℗ 2020 Fuego © 2020 Phil Shoenfelt
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
iTunes / Apple Music
Video
GHOST SONG
From the album ‘Cassandra Lied’, 2020.
FLY AWAY
From the album ‘Cassandra Lied’, 2020.
CHARLOTTE’S ROOM
From the album ‘God Is The Other Face Of The Devil’, 1993, and ‘Deep Horizon‘, 2005
DEAD FLOWERS FOR ALICE
From the album ‘Dead Flowers For Alice’, 1999, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005
HANOI JANE
From the album ‘Golden Vanity’, recorded in 1998 with Nikki Sudden. (Released in 2010.)
CLOAK OF VIRTUE
From the album ‘Golden Vanity’, recorded in 1998 with Nikki Sudden. (Released in 2010.)
DEVIL’S HOLE
From the album ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005, and ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990.
DARKEST HOUR
From the album ‘Dead Flowers For Alice’, 1999, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005
ALCHEMY
From the album ‘God Is The Other Face Of The Devil’, 1993, and ‘Deep Horizon’, 2005
GARDEN OF EDEN
From the album ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990
PSYCHE
From the album ‘Backwoods Crucifixion’, 1990
KHMER ROUGE – NEW ASSASSINS
From the album ‘New York – London 1981-86’
Videoclip directed by Nat Finkelstein
INFORMATION
Quardasonic Studios, NYC, 1980
Books / Selected Writings
JUNKIE LOVE
Phil Shoenfelt
© Maťa 1997, Twisted Spoon Press 2001
Winner of the 2002 Firecracker Alternative Book Award in New York
Set in Camden Town, London, during the late 1980’s, Junkie Love is a nihilistic (and largely authbiographical) love story that revolves around the themes of addiction, decadence, hedonism and self-destruction.
“A nice, nasty read. I enjoyed it a lot”
Nick Cave
“A fine, gutsy, spare rendering of the drug underworld”
Will Self
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
Apple Books
CITY PRIMEVAL. NEW YORK, BERLIN, PRAGUE
Curated by Robert Carrithers and Louis Armand
© 2017 Litteraria Pragensia Books
An anthology of stories, essays, interviews and photographs from the New York, Berlin & Prague underground scenes. It includes a 6000 word extract from Phil’s book ‘Stripped’, as well as photos of Khmer Rouge, Fatal Shore, Jolana Izbicka and Phil Shoenfelt.
The book takes its title from the Khmer Rouge song ‘City Primeval’.
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
STRIPPED / AŽ NA DŘEŇ
© 2012 Maťa
A memoir of Shoenfelt’s New York years (1979-84).
An excerpt from the book’s opening in the original English version is available to read at Equus Press website.
Available at Kosmas (Czech translation)
STRIPPED / INKOGNITO V PODZEMÍ
© 2016 Maťa
Part II of Shoenfelt’s New York years memoir.
Available at Kosmas (Czech translation)
MAGDALENA – Book One
Phil Shoenfelt / Kateřina Piňosová
© 2010 Moloko+
A collections of dark, erotic poems and incantations co-written with the Czech surrealist painter and poet Kateřina Piňosová.
Available at Moloko+
MAGDALENA – Book Two
Phil Shoenfelt / Kateřina Piňosová
© 2013 Moloko+
A collections of dark, erotic poems and incantations co-written with the Czech surrealist painter and poet Kateřina Piňosová.
Available at Moloko+
A UZŘELA OSLICE ANDĚLA
(AND THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL)
Nick Cave / Afterword: Phil Shoenfelt
© 1995 Argo (Language: Czech)
The Czech translation of Nick Cave’s classic Gothic novel includes afterword by Phil Shoenfelt, which can be read in English on Phil Shoenfelt’s website.
The Czech version of the book with Phil’s afterword (transl. into Czech) is available from Apple Books or Kosmas.
The novel in its original English version, but not containing Phil’s afterword, can be obtained from Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE.
THE RETURN OF KRÁL MAJÁLES
Edited by Louis Armand
Prague’s International Literary Renaissance 1990-2010 – An Anthology
© 2010 Litteraria Pragensia Books
An anthology mapping the work of 90+ poets and writers active in Prague during the two decades post the Velvet Revolution. The title refers to the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg’s legendary visit in 1965, when on 1st of May he drove through the streets of Prague as a freshly elected ‘King of May’ by the students, and a few days later, on the plane to London, he wrote a poem Kral Majales. The anthology includes Phil Shoenfelt’s poem The Train of History… Derailed.
The Table of Contents of the anthology can be viewed here.
Available at Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon DE
KAMIKAZE SKULL
Phil Shoenfelt / Sophia Disgrace
© 2014 Moloko+
Twenty poems co-written with UK performance artist Sophia Disgrace.
Available at Moloko+
Phil Shoenfelt’s Official Website & Social Media:
http://www.philshoenfelt.com
http://www.philshoenfelt.de
https://www.facebook.com/philshoenfelt
https://www.facebook.com/dimlocator
https://www.facebook.com/Phil-Shoenfelt-David-Babka
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It’s really cool getting to know some of these legendary artists that you’ve never heard of before. I loved the guitar when I was a boy, but really didn’t pursue my interest far enough. I wish I had now! I have checked out some of the videos and really liked the overall sound as well as Phil’s voice. I will also check out some of Phil’s books that you’ve mentioned in this article.
Hi Justin, thank you for your nice feedback! It’s never too late to start to learn anything, including a musical instrument. Listening to legendary musicians is the best way to learn, and Phil is one of those musicians who have the ability to inspire others big time. Good luck and I’m glad you liked the article and the music!
Hi Lucie, I have to admit I haven’t heard of Phil Shoenfelt before, but based on what I’ve heard through the samples and the videos, it’s clear he’s a well-respected artist within the underground rock scene. I really like the kind of sound that he’s produced and I am sure that a whole lot of people who haven’t heard of him before – but who will, thanks to your post – will dig his tunes as well as his writings. I was impressed to learn about his collaboration with Nick Cave!
Hello and thanks for your lovely comment. Phil’s journey as a musician is so intriguing and inspiring. I have been his great fan for years, and I love his novels and poems. Do check out his official website as well as his Facebook page for news and gig dates – I’m sure you’d have a great time at one of his gigs!
Hi Lucie, thanks a lot for sharing such an interesting post. I was actually doing some research regarding post-punk music when I saw your article on Phil Shoenfelt, and I must say, after checking out several of his tunes, that he is definitely someone to look up to. Most musicians today don’t enter such depth of lyrics and music. He seems to be a real legend on the post-punk/new wave scene. I’m definitely getting some of his albums, it’s been a great discovery for me. Thanks again!
Hello and thanks for your great feedback! I couldn’t agree more – Phil Shoenfelt’s truly a legend. I also highly recommend his novels and poems. Watch this space for the announcement of his trilogy ‘Stripped’. He’s taking the readers on a wild ride with that one!