Post-punk icon Daniel Ash of Bauhaus and Love and Rockets talks new band Ashes and Diamonds’ debut album “Are Forever” on this week’s podcast.
Few artists have a résumé as genre-defining as Daniel Ash. From the shadowy art-rock of Bauhaus to the sleek psychedelia of Love and Rockets, his fingerprints are all over post-punk, goth, and alternative music. Now, Ash returns with a brand-new project Ashes and Diamonds alongside Paul Spencer Denman (bassist for Sade and Sweetback) and Bruce Smith (of Public Image Ltd. and The Pop Group).
The band’s debut album, Are Forever, arrives October 31, 2025, via Cleopatra Records, and it’s everything fans might hope for: raw, rhythmic, textural and full of that unmistakable Ash guitar swagger. The first single, “On A Rocka,” is a glam-fueled burst of energy that channels late-’50s rock and roll through a modern, gritty lens. Directed by Jake Scott (son of filmmaker Ridley Scott), the song’s video captures the trio’s cinematic punch and off-kilter cool.
In the latest episode of the podcast, Daniel joins me to talk about the creation of Ashes and Diamonds Are Forever, from the first jam sessions in a humble Los Angeles rehearsal space to finishing the record through long-distance collaboration during lockdown. We also dig into how his guitar tone continues to evolve, the perfectionism that shaped the album’s seven-year journey, and how newspaper headlines sometimes spark his lyrics.
And yes, we touch briefly on Love and Rockets, from their triumphant 2023 reunion tour to what might (or might not) come next.
Whether you’ve followed Daniel since Bela Lugosi’s Dead or you’re discovering him through this new chapter, Ashes and Diamonds prove his creative fire still burns bright.
Stick around after the interview: we’re closing the episode with the full track “On A Rocka.”
🎧 Listen to the full episode via the Spotify embed, or the podcast platform of your choice using the podcast buttons below.
💿 Ashes and Diamonds Are Forever
Out October 31 via Cleopatra Records. Click here to preorder.