Zeena Schreck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zeena Schreck
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Zeena performing at Kantine am Berghain, February 28, 2016 – Berlin (Germany)
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| Born |
Zeena Galatea LaVey
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Nikolas Schreck
(m. 1988; div. 2015) |
| Parent(s) | Anton LaVey Diane Hegarty |
| Relatives | Karla LaVey (half-sister) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Electroacoustic music, sound art, field recording, soundscape, minimalism, magic realism, ritual music, experimental, dark ambient, ambient, post-industrial, neoclassical, gothic rock, post-punk |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboard, Percussion, Flute, Synthesizer, Electronics, Sampling |
| Labels | Gymnastic Records, Unclean Productions, Wolfslair, Inc., Video Werewolf, Musicus Phÿcus, The Epicurean |
| Associated acts | Radio Werewolf, Nikolas Schreck, Christopher Lee, Hisham Bharoocha, John Murphy, NON, Musicus Phÿcus, Cory Vielma, King Dude, Frank Haines, Chris Kachulis |
Zeena Galatea Schreck (née LaVey), known professionally by her mononymous artist name ZEENA, is a Berlin-based American visual and musical artist, author and the spiritual leader of the Sethian Liberation Movement (SLM), which she founded in 2002.
Zeena was raised within the Church of Satan, and came to international prominence early in life as the organization's first spokesperson, defending the Church during the 1980s. She resigned her position in 1990. Her religious path eventually led to teaching Tibetan Tantric Buddhism.
Contents
Early years and family
Zeena was born in San Francisco, California to Anton LaVey and Diane Hegarty.
Zeena was married to Nikolas Schreck, her Radio Werewolf band partner and frequent collaborator, from 1988 to 2015. In 2019, both parties issued a jointly written public statement on their respective websites stating, "[...] in 2015, after having been separated since 2007, we agreed to amicably divorce." Zeena chose to retain her married surname.
Early artistic influences and training
Zeena's work as a photographer, visual artist, musician/composer and writer are heavily influenced by mystical and magical traditions. Stylistically, she gravitated at an early age to artists and mentors whose art was imbued with a mystical or magical vision.
As a teenager and young adult, she trained in and studied theater, drama and film. At sixteen years of age, Zeena passed the High School equivalency exam, which enabled her to leave High School early, begin working legally and enroll in City College of San Francisco, majoring in drama. In addition to CCSF's Drama Department, she also received instruction from Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Eric Morris acting coach, Viola Spolin's student Marcia Kimmell of The Next Stage Improvisation Theater San Francisco, and the San Francisco School of Dramatic Arts. Her study focus was Hellenic sacred drama, improvisation, and various branches of the Stanislavski 'system' and method acting.
Zeena traces the lineage of her magical art to the mentorship of her godfather, filmmaker Kenneth Anger. During the 1960s and 1970s, Anger transmitted the influences of Curtis Harrington, Jean Cocteau, and Maya Deren on his own work to Zeena during her childhood and adolescence.
Zeena also became a long-time friend of director Curtis Harrington, who cast her as a Dietrich-like character in his last film, Usher (2000).
Temple of Set
Zeena began to pursue ancient religious practices relating to the Egyptian god Set and Sethianism. She has stated, "While I was residing in Vienna, I visited a museum where a Sethian altar lives. It was there that I had a very profound experience that enabled me to clearly see the course for my future." At the time, she was also practicing traditional tantra and yoga. Her experiences within those two systems, as well as her central role and life's experience in other occult and esoteric milieux, would contribute considerably to the content of her book Demons of the Flesh, co-authored with Nikolas Schreck.
In 2002 Zeena became High Priestess of the Temple of Set.
Sethian Liberation Movement
The Sethian Liberation Movement was founded on November 8, 2002, after Zeena Schreck resigned from the Temple of Set with four Masters of the Temple of Set (one Master, Magister Michael Kelly, was also a member of the corporate Board of Directors for the California non-profit organization The Temple of Set). Details of the departure were explained in a letter dated November 8, 2002, from the newly departed Temple of Set Council of Nine member to an Adept IIº member regarding the events leading to Zeena's resignation and the founding of the Storm, later renamed the Sethian Liberation Movement.
Shortly after Zeena Schreck resigned from the Temple of Set, a Disinfo listing for the Temple of Set from December 17, 2002, under the heading: 2002 Schism: The Storm Awakens reported, "High Priest Don Webb stepped down, and, on 9 September 2002, was succeeded by High Priestess Zeena Schreck. Six weeks after the Helsinki Conclave (September 2002), Zeena, Magister Aaron Besson, Magister Nikolas Schreck and Magister Michael Kelly all resigned on 8 November 2002. Four Priests Alfred Rodriguez, Kevin Rockhill, Jared Davison and Richard Gavin also resigned. Temple of Set sources have claimed that eighteen Initiates have resigned while others have estimated the number at closer to sixty (including several Orders, Elements, and members of the Adept and Setian degrees)."
In one of the Sethian Liberation Movement's earliest public Frequently Answered Questions documents released, Disinfo referenced it in their post covering the Temple of Set/Storm schism: "... [the] document defines the new and as-yet unnamed group as ... a loose confederation of Setian Teachers and Students, an alliance of Orders." The group has eschewed the Temple's administrative and non-profit structure, as well as its degree system and titles. "We work together through mutual respect and interest, not through any organizational limitations or restrictions", the FAQ document states. Finally, its founders have sought to avoid the "magical society" structure of post-Theosophy groups: the confederation is "an ongoing Magical Working in which we may participate, a living, dynamic and evolving thing."
Music and performance art
The 8/8/88 rally
On August 8, 1988, a large gathering converged on the Strand Theater in San Francisco for the film debut of a mockumentary about Charles Manson. The event was planned and carried out by Nikolas Schreck. Zeena spoke at the beginning of the rally and a film of her baptism was played. In a 2011 interview with Zeena for French music magazine Obsküre, she stated that 8-8-88 "would be the only performance that Nikolas, Evil Wilhelm [the original Radio Werewolf percussionist], and I ever performed live together. That marked the transition point spanning three phases of Radio Werewolf: 1) the Nikolas Schreck/Evil Wilhelm collaboration, 2) the solo Nikolas Schreck phase, and 3) the Nikolas Schreck/Zeena collaboration." Also featured were NON, Amok Press and Kris Force, a musician who at the time owned the Strand Theater. Geraldo Rivera's "Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground" film crew filmed the event, as well as interviews with all involved, to use for the network special.
Radio Werewolf
From 1988 to 1993, Zeena was co-director of the experimental musical project Radio Werewolf. She served as composer, vocalist, musician and graphic designer on the Radio Werewolf recordings "Songs for the End of the World", "The Lightning and the Sun", "Bring Me The Head of Geraldo Rivera", "Boots/Witchcraft" and "Love Conquers All." Her performances were exclusively European-based at that time.
In 2012, Radio Werewolf released The Vinyl Solution – Analog Artifacts: Ritual Instrumentals and Undercover Versions Compact Disc, the first authorized Radio Werewolf release in 20 years.
In 2016, Classic Rock magazine ranked Radio Werewolf No. 4 on their 'The 25 weirdest bands of all time' list, stating: "Formed during the height of 'Satanic Panic' hysteria in mid-80's America, Radio Werewolf was once considered 'the most dangerous band in the world', largely due to the notoriety of their vocalist, Zeena Schreck ...". In 2016, The Top Tens Most Satanic Bands listed Radio Werewolf, "Yes!, Since when does Heavy Metal have to be the only satanic music. Why not dark organ Gothic/Deathrock."
Solo music career
Performa 13, New York
On November 8, 2013, the visual art performance biennial Performa presented Zeena accompanied by New York musician Hisham Bharoocha (first percussion) and Danish musician Anders Hermund (second percussion), for a vocal based work that tapped into the ritual use of sacred syllables from Vajrayana, Shaktism and Sethian-Typhonian left-way tantric practices, "originating from emptiness, gradually transforming into a sound and voice collage on a stage set design by Frank Haines." This was Zeena's first solo performance in her native country since her expatriation to Europe in 1990.
David Sanderson described the event, "Jingling bells and padded footsteps echoed in the darkness. The curtains silently parted, dramatically revealing an electrified, vermilion environment. Dead center, with hands held in the Mudra position, stood the seemingly twenty-foot tall goddess Zeena. With a painted gong behind her, Bharoocha and Hermund adorned her sides. Bharoocha lit incense that swept through the audience as Zeena's commanding gaze pierced us all (everyone I talked to after the show swore she was staring directly at them)."
Wave-Gotik-Treffen music festival
On May 23, 2015, after a 24-year retreat from musical performances, Zeena made her official return to music in Europe, now as a solo artist, at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in Leipzig, Germany. The concert, held amid "the sacred, magically charged ancient artifacts housed in Leipzig's Egyptian Museum (at the Leipzig University)," was a unique ritual soundscape which Zeena composed especially for the theme of that environment. She was accompanied by Cory Vielma and John Murphy. This was John Murphy's penultimate performance. Having suffered a long illness, John Murphy died less than five months after this concert. In accordance to Murphy's wishes, Zeena conducted the traditional Tibetan Buddhist ceremony for the passing of consciousness as he died. In 2016, a tribute to John Murphy as a 3CD compilation set entitled "All My Sins Remembered – The Sonic Worlds of John Murphy" was released by The Epicurean record label. On it, a live track from Zeena's WGT concert, featuring Murphy's electronic-percussion is included. The CD booklet also features cover portrait of Murphy by Zeena.
First recording as solo artist
It was announced on Zeena's homepage that March 11, 2020, is the release date of her first solo recording, "Bring Me The Head of F.W. Murnau: A Ghost Story in Six Acts," inspired by news reports that the director's head had been stolen from his grave under mysterious circumstances. Many of the sounds incorporated in the tracks were captured in field recordings at Murnau's former residence in Berlin and at his grave-site in Stahnsdorf, Germany. The recording was issued as an EP in CD format, beginning with a pre-release limited, signed and numbered edition of 89 (number of years since the film director's death) followed by open edition and digital download through the Zeena Schreck Bandcamp site.
Discography
As solo artist
- Transcend debuted at Snow Gallery NYC on June 3rd, 2023, as soundtrack for the third exhibition in a series, 'Movement of the Triangle,' inspired by Kandinsky’s 'Concerning the Spiritual in Art.' The exhibition also marked the first time originals of Zeena's visual art were shown together with works of her godfather Kenneth Anger, who died shortly before. The soundtrack was subsequently released as digital download on Bandcamp.
- Bring Me The Head of F.W. Murnau: A Ghost Story in Six Acts, Compact Disc EP 2020 KCH Records, no ASIN
Composer/performer for Radio Werewolf
- The Vinyl Solution- Analog Artifacts: Ritual Instrumentals and Undercover Versions, Compilation of Radio Werewolf singles and EPs in one CD. World Operations, 2012.
- Love Conquers All CD. Radio Werewolf, Gymnastic Records, 1992. ASIN: B000025TGE
- Witchcraft/Boots Vinyl Double-cover 12-inch Maxi Single. Radio Werewolf, Unclean Production, 1991. ASIN: B001EBDQXM
- Songs for the End of the World CD. Radio Werewolf, Gymnastic Records, 1991. ASIN: B001EB9JFG
- Bring Me the Head of Geraldo Rivera Vinyl Mini LP. Radio Werewolf, Unclean Production, 1990. ASIN: B001EBFUXG
- The Lightning and the Sun, Vinyl Mini LP. Radio Werewolf, Unclean Productions, 1989. ASIN: B000XV7U6I
Producer
- 5,000 Years of the God Set, 1997 Wolfslair, Inc./2012 Kaliyuga Clearing House, Producer Zeena Schreck, no ASIN
- Christopher Lee Sings Devils, Rogues & Other Villains (From Broadway To Bayreuth And Beyond), 1996 Wolfslair, Inc., Co-Produced with Nikolas and Zeena Schreck, ASIN: B004GL0VRQ
- Charles Manson Superstar (co-producer/narrator), 1989, film documentary, director/producer: Nikolas Schreck)
Other recordings
- All My Sins Remembered – The Sonic Worlds of John Murphy (Live track from WGT 2015 performance; track title "Sethian Dream Oracle"), 3-CD compilation, 2016 The Epicurean
- Georges Montalba – Pipe Organ Favorites & Fantasy in Pipe Organ and Percussion, 2001 Hit Thing, digipack booklet includes an article written by Zeena Schreck with her archival photos, graphics and the last photo together of her and her father, ASIN: B001K2GGTG
- Zeena Speaks on the Death of Anton LaVey, 1998 Wolfslair, Inc./2012 Kaliyuga Clearing House, no ASIN
- X – Zero (Track: Hymn To The Great Grand Goat), Vinyl LP 1998 Musicus Phÿcus, no ASIN
- Zeena provided all the female narration, as well as contributing some of the soundtrack music for the documentary film Charles Manson Superstar, 1989 Video Werewolf.
- Zeena [LaVey] Radio interviews: Three Volume Set, 1989 The Black House, no ASIN
Recordings about or inspired by Zeena (selected)
- I Was Evil (song title), released on 7-inch vinyl by King Dude/AWEN, released Jan 21, 2021. Zeena was the inspiration for this track; Tesco Organisation description, "[King Dude] relays a story told to him by Zeena Schreck (née LaVey) wherein she could have effected some malice but on a whim decided not to, adding ‘but, that was back when I was evil’. That sentence was a springboard for a song idea."
- The Silent Lineage album by Sacred Legion, released December 2020. Both album and band name given by Zeena. From Dark Italia website, "The band’s name was chosen for them by Zeena Schreck, counterculture icon, multimedia artist and musician (Radio Werewolf)."
- Two tracks from the EP State and Design, titles: Radio Werewolf and An Anonymous, released April 30, 2018, by Cubus Larvik. Samples of Zeena's voice from interviews used copiously throughout, as well as a still from one of Zeena's interviews used for the cover.
- Pentagram Sam, released 2012 by Da Grimston & Mist-E. A Satanic rap parody on T-Rex; references Zeena in lyrics and imagery as status symbol within that milieu, e.g., "I'm Facebook friendz with Zeena LaVey; Pentagram Sam get outta the way."
- The Satanic Mass, 1968 Murgenstrumm Records / re-released on CD, 1994 Amarillo Records / 2001 Mephisto Media. Contains a reenactment of Zeena Schreck's historic satanic baptism. ASIN: B000172L86
Filmography
- REGRETS voice cameo by Zeena in short film premiered June 24, 2023 at Dances With Films film festival, Los Angeles. Director: Alex Badham.
- Satan Lives (interviewed as herself), documentary, 2015. Directors: Sam Dunn and Scott McFadyen, Banger Films.
- Usher (plays Sapphic Poetess), short film based on Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," 2000. Director: Curtis Harrington. Released on Blu-Ray in 2013 by Flicker Alley.
- Speak of the Devil: The Canon of Anton LaVey (as herself – uncredited), documentary, 1998. Directors: Nick Bougas/A. Wyatt Mann and Adam Parfrey/Feral House.
- The Zurich Experiment (performer/producer/director), documentary of live music performance. Produced by Video Werewolf Inc., Vienna, Austria, 1992.
- Germania: The Theory of Ruins, (producer/director/photographer), Documentary-art video. Director: Zeena Schreck, Produced by Video Werewolf Inc., Vienna, Austria, 1992.
- Ragnarok, (Producer/director), documentary. Produced by Video Werewolf Inc, 1990.
- Charles Manson Superstar (co-producer/narrator), documentary. Director/producer: Nikolas Schreck, 1989. Zeena was co-producer, provided all the female narration as well as contributing some of the soundtrack music for the film.
- The 80s: Satan's Seed Strikes Back [Alternate title: Zeena vs. Ignorance] documentary; compilation of Zeena's media interviews while spokesperson for the Church of Satan, produced by The Black House, USA, 1989.
- The Wonderful World of Brother Buzz (as herself) Children's television program, San Francisco, USA, 1965.
Selected Publications (as author)
- The Zaum of Zeena, all art and writings in "The Zaum of Zeena" are her own. Edited by Frank Haines, published by Heinzfeller Nileisist for the New York Art Book Fair, 2015. Currently in its third edition.
- VICE Column for VICE in 2013 by Zeena called "From the Eye of the Storm".
- Beatdom Nature issue #11, Zeena's autobiographical essay, "Liberation Under the Snow Moon", May 26, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4774-1872-7
- Beatdom Religion issue #10, Zeena wrote two short stories in this issue: "A Short History of Buddhism in Berlin" & "Lost and Found: A Fairy Tale of Sethian Awakening" December 15, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4680-9677-4
- LeDossier Manson, by Nikolas Schreck. Appendix A, is a 53 page full transcript with introduction and annotations by Zeena, from the raw video footage from Nikolas Schreck's interview to his documentary, Charles Manson Superstar. Transcript title: "Easter Monday Audience with the Underworld Pope: Charles Manson Interviewed and Decoded". Jacket design artist/graphic designer and all chapter plates by Zeena Schreck. Camion Noir, 2011
- The Manson File: Myth And Reality Of An Outlaw Shaman, by Nikolas Schreck. Appendix A, is a 53 page transcript by Zeena of the raw video footage from Nikolas Schreck's interview in his documentary, Charles Manson Superstar; includes introduction and annotations to the transcript by Zeena as well. Title: "Easter Monday Audience with the Underworld Pope: Charles Manson Interviewed and Decoded". Jacket design artist/graphic designer and all chapter plates by Zeena Schreck. World Operations, 2011
Published illustrations and graphic design by Zeena
- All My Sins Remembered – The Sonic Worlds of John Murphy, CD booklet cover portrait of John Murphy by Zeena; released by The Epicurean record label, 2016
- The Zaum of Zeena, all art and writings within "The Zaum of Zeena" are her own. Published by Heinzfeller Nileisist for the New York Art Book Fair, 2015
- HORSEFLY, cover art and title design by Zeena, Vinyl 7-inch EP of Charles Manson's music. ATWA/ATWAR Productions, 2011
- The Manson File: Myth and Reality of an Outlaw Shaman, Cover design, artist/graphic designer and all chapter plates by Zeena. World Operations, 2011
- LeDossier Manson, Cover design, artist/graphic designer and all chapter plates by Zeena. Camion Noir, 2011
- Kabbalah, Qliphoth and Goetic Magic, contributed two original photos and two original drawings for this volume. Ajna, 2004
- The Exit Collection, two original drawings for this volume. Tacit, 1998
- Love Conquers All, design layout for CD's cover, booklet & inlays; 1992 Radio Werewolf, Gymnastic Records, ASIN: B000025TGE
- Witchcraft/Boots, concept, double cover design & photographic tableau of Nikolas Schreck for Witchcraft side (photo of Zeena for Boots side by Helmut Wolech); Radio Werewolf, Unclean Production, 1991 ASIN: B001EBDQXM
- Songs for the End of the World design & original art for CD's cover, booklet & inlays; Radio Werewolf, Gymnastic Records, 1991 ASIN: B001EB9JFG
- Bring Me the Head of Geraldo Rivera, concept, cover art & design; Radio Werewolf, Unclean Production, 1990 ASIN: B001EBFUXG
- The Lightning and the Sun, cover design & layout; Radio Werewolf, Unclean Productions, 1989 ASIN: B000XV7U6I
Publication cover stories featuring Zeena
- DERAILED Magazine; Issue 4, Vol. 1 – April 2021, Eager Student, Humble Teacher, interview with Zeena Schreck by Daphne Minks Daly. ISSN 2766-6379
- Cuir Underground; Issue 4.2 – Summer 1998 Sado-Magic for Satan, interview with Zeena Schreck by Kiki Scar.
See also
In Spanish: Zeena Schreck para niños
