BLACK VEIL VAMPIRE HISTORY
Welcome to the official timeline from the perspective of the Black Veils. S.Y. designates "Sabretooth Year" which began on August 7th 1995 with the founding of the Sabretooth Clan. Please email us for any updates at vampireworldtv@gmail.com.
730ce
The Baital Pachisi, the collection of twenty-five fables surrounding Vikram the Vampire, is written in Sanskrit by the scholar Bhavbhuti.
1047
The first recorded appearance of the word “upir” in writing referring to the Russian prince “as “Upir Lichy”, or the “wicked vampire.”
1196
The “Chronicles” written by William of Newburgh, records several vampire like revenants in England.
1428
Vlad Dracula “Vlad: the Impaler” is born.
1477
Elsewhere in the vampire world:
Vlad Dracula “Vlad: the Impaler” is assassinated.
1484
The Malleus Maleficarium by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger is published. It becomes known as the witch hunter’s bible and discusses how to hunt and destroy vampires.
1560
Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory is born.
1610
Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory is tried on murdering several hundred young women and sentenced to life-imprisonment.
1614
Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory dies.
1645
De quorundam Graecorum Opinationibus which is written by Greek cleric Leo Allatius detailing the of the vrykolakas; the vampires of Greece.
1819
The Vampyre, a short novelette is written and published by John William Polidori. The Vampyre is inspired by Lord Byron.
1872
Carmilla by Joseph Sheriden Le Fanu is published.
1897
Dracula written by Bram Stoker is published in London.
1922
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, directed by F. W. Murnau is released in Germany. This is an unauthorized adaption of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. This is the first death of a vampire by direct sunlight.
1930
Psychic Self-Defense written by Dion Fortune is published in London. It contains defense techniques against psychic and astral vampires.
1966
Dark Shadows the TV show featuring the vampire Barnabas Collins first airs. The first time in history a vampire is not a villain. The show airs until 1971.
1969
The Satanic Bible by Anton Xander LaVey is published with an article “Not All Vampires Drink Blood,” warning about psychic vampirism. The book becomes an instant best seller, outselling the Bible in some cases.
1970
Sean Manchester establishes The Vampire Research Society in the UK.
In Search of Dracula by Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu is published.
Stephan Kaplan establishes The Vampire Research Center in the UK.
“The Highgate Vampire” incident occurs in London, spawning a massive hunt. Reports of a real vampire in the Highgate cemetery are reported.
1975
The Temple of Set (ToS) is formed in July of this year from former members of the Church of Satan. It is what will eventually form the Order of the Vampyre (OOV).
1976
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is published. For the first time bringing a massive interest in people desiring to be a vampire.
1976
Martin V Riccardo founds the Vampire Studies group which publishes the Vampire Journal.
1984
The Temple of Set (TOS) officially establishes the Order of the Vampyre (OOV) as a subgroup, being one of the first organizations to bring vampires out of fiction. The OOV’s goal is to harness the archetype of the vampire for personal empowerment and occult practices.
1985
Anne Rice’s book The Vampire Lestat is published and goes to the best seller list.
The original Fright Night is released, later influencing vampire culture.
1987
The film Near Dark, directed by Kathryn Bigelow is released. One of the early influences on vampire culture.
The film Lost Boys is released and directed by Joel Schumacher. Very influential on rock and roll vampire imagery.
1989
The Temple of the Vampire (TOV) officially establishes itself as the first legally registered vampire church in the USA and the Vampire Bible is released.
Norine Dresser’s book American Vampires : Fans, Victims and Practitioners is published, detailing real life vampires.
1991
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Sebastiaan’s mother, “Lady N” tells him that Tom Cruise is looking weight to play a vampire named “Lestat” and introduces him to Anne Rice’s book, Interview with the Vampire.
Vampire: The Masquerade is published by White Wolf Publishing. It wins the 1992 Origins award for best RPG and goes onto a wild success in multiple categories of entertainment including but not limited to TCGs, novels, video games, LARPs and TV. This game is inspired by the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.
1992
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Whilst attending a medieval live roleplaying game named Xanadra, one of the other players tells Sebastiaan of a Vampire: the Masquerade LARP happening in Harrisburg PA hosted by Night Owl Games.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Francis Ford Coppila’s movie Bram Stoker’s Dracula opens.
Anne Rice’s Tale of a Body Thief is published.
1993
Within the Sabretooth Clan (prelude):
Father Sebastiaan after getting involved in the Vampire: The Masquerade community (LARP). November 8th in NJ he gets his first pair of fangs with his lady Dawn in preparation for his high school prom.
Father is presented a Xeroxed copy of the Vampire Bible at the NY Renfaire by “Dimitri” an active member of the group because he turns 18.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Vampire: the Masquerade Roleplay is Widely popular.
1994
Within the Sabretooth Clan (prelude):
Whilst working at Wild Pair shoes in Bridgewater Commons Mall in NJ, Father meets a club promoter from Limelight who sees his fangs and invites him to help run guest lists. Limelight is the hottest club in NYC at the time.
Sebastiaan meets prosethedonist (dental surgeon) who offers to teach him the art of fangsmithing and he apprentices for 18 months. These two elements combined together creates what would become Sabretooth (fangs) and Endless Night (events) wings of his business.
On Christmas Day 1994 he makes Lady N. (his birth mother) his first pair of fangs.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
November - Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles opens with Tom Cruise as Lestat and Brad Pitt as Louis.
Steven Lessing establishes the Vampire Access Line (VAL) for the vampire community in NYC.
Dr. J. Gordon Melton publishes the first edition of The Vampire Book, a major listing of facts of myths, legends and includes details on the vampire community.
1995 - S.Y. 1 - Year of Awakenings
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Working at Limelight at night making fangs Sebastiaan begins his first job making fangs during the day at Andromeda Body Piercing on Saint Marks Place in NYC. Here he expands to working at Halloween Adventure on 4th Avenue NYC during the Halloween season.
August 7th while involved in the “Rennie” community at the New York Renaissance Faire he decides upon the name Sabretooth for his fang business over the “Dark Tooth Fairy.”
August 17th shortly after founding Sabretooth Sebastiaan meets Victor Magnus at Abracadabra magic shop in Greenwich Village.
That Halloween, at the invite of one of his fang clients Father Sebastiaan attends the legendary Memnoch Ball in New Orleans coordinated by Anne Rice and her fanclub the ARVLFC (Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club). This ball was sold out and invite only, over 5000 guests including Kirsten Dunst at Saint Elizabeth’s orphanage in the Garden District.
This immediately inspired the creation of the New York Vampyre Ball, which would evolve into the Endless Night events.
1996 - S.Y. 2 - Year of Foundations
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
On January 28th at the Bank nightclub Sebastiaan hosts the first New York Vampyre Ball at the Bank nightclub with Empire Hideous, Voltaire and DJ Erebus (Ian Fford). Over 350 guests attend and it is the bridging event between “old school” and “new school” elements of the New York vampyre community.
July 16th reporter Suzan Walsh disappears investigating vampire covens of the East Village, which brings a massive media attention to the NYC vampire community. Sebastiaan is in the center of this media response because of his fang and event business.
Tuesday July 28th club mogul Peter Gatien rents Sabretooth the Limelight for the Vampyre Ball III, the entire club for what to this day is the largest vampire ball to date with 2400 guests. Limelight finally closes from the fallout of pressure from the court case over murderer and drug dealer Michael Alig (see the movie Party Monster for this story).
August of this year Sebastiaan is invited by Chi Chi Valenti to host the party “Long Black Veil and the Vampyre Lounge” to open the following year at the newly opening MOTHER nightclub.
At the Royal Amusements event hosted by latex designer “The Baroness”, Sebastiaan meets metal worker PN D’Drennan. They discuss the creation of the now legendary Vampyre Legacy Ankh.
The Vampyre Ball events continue at the Bank the week before Halloween.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Voila Johnston’s book Dhampir: Childe of the Blood is published.
Jeff Guinn’s Something in the Blood is published.
Konstantinos’s book Vampires: The Occult Truth is published.
Vampires appear on Ricki Lake.
Kindred the Embraced airs a TV show inspired by Vampire: The Masquerade produced by Aaron Spelling releases on FOX on April 2.
1997 - S.Y. 3 - Year of the Black Veils
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Long Black Veil (LBV) On Wednesday March 12th the vampyre event opens at MOTHER in the seedy Meat Packing district. Within this night the Sabretooth Clan would be formally established.
July of this year Master Metal Manipulator D’Drennan delivers to Father Sebastiaan with the final version of the Vampyre Legacy Ankh in a wooden coffin. He presents the ankh to Raymond T McNally (the writer in August at the Dracula 97: A Centennial Celebration in Los Angeles for his blessings.
In August the Sabretooth Emporium opens at the Halloween Adventure at 104 4th Avenue to the world’s first full time fangshop.
On Halloween Sebastiaan attends the Anne Rice Coven Ball in New Orleans again on Halloween. Seeing only a one night event he thinks New Orleans needs a full weekend of events. He begins planning the Endless Night Festival.
Sebastiaan writes the original “Black Veils,” the code of conduct for the Long Black Veil night at MOTHER.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Joss Whedon’s series Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuts on TV.
Mick Mercer’s book The Hex Files: A Gothic Bible is published.
Many vampire lifestyle websites launch the online vampire community (OVC).
1998 - S.Y. 4 - Year of the Endless Night
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
With TV appearances on MTV and CNN and magazines/newspaper appearances in Glamour Magazine, Cosmopolitan, the New York Times, New York Time Out and InStyle Magazine establishes a world wide reputation for Father Sebastiaan and Sabretooth fangs.
People flock from around the world to visit the Sabretooth Emporium at the Halloween Adventure and attend Vampyre Ball and LBV events in New York. The Vampyre community in NYC gains world renowned.
This summer Sebastiaan invites Katherine Ramsland, Anne Rice biographer to host a night at LBV. They begin collaborating on Vampyre Magazine and he writes the first Vampyre Almanac 1997-8 Edition. This book is released in Hot Topic with a small supplemental ankh, 20,000 copies sold in 6 weeks and puts Sabretooth and Endless Night on the map
September 23rd Katherine Ramsland’s book “Piercing the Darkness” releases. It follows the footsteps of Suzan Walsh’s disappearance. Featuring many in the Sabretooth Clan and the New York Vampyre Ball, it helps solidify Sabretooth into history.
This Halloween is the first Endless Night Festival I in New Orleans at the Omni Royal Hotel. 600 guests from around the world attend this weekend long event. The first New Orleans Vampyre Ball was held with Empress Chi Chi Valenti and Poppy Z. Brite as a special secret guest. Inkubus Sukkubus a pagan vampyre band from the UK headlines. The concept of the first Endless Night is to create complimentary events since the Anne Rice Coven Ball was only one night.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Joss Whedon’s series Buffy the Vampire Slayer is becoming a smash hit.
Blade the movie is released bringing attention to the concept of vampire clans and a community within an without the VC.
Anne Rice’s books Pandora and The Vampire Armand are published.
1999 - S.Y. 5 - Year of Gotham Halo
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
The Sabretooth Clan is now world renowned and the Vampyre scene in NYC a full time, in person community with Long Black Veil now weekly at the center of the East Coast vampyre community.
With the rise of the internet and AOL going flat rate per month the vampire scene begins to evolve rapidly and many terms from Sabretooth Clan spread throughout the internet.
The Endless Night moves back to NYC from New Orleans due to an opportunity to be held on Halloween Night at MOTHER.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Anne Rice’s book Vittoro the Vampire is published.
House Kheperu announces itself to the world online.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer brings more mainstream attention to vampire culture.
2000 - S.Y. 6 - Year of Transformations
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
With the gentrification Meat Packing District on MOTHER’s Day, Chi Chi Valenti announces MOTHER will close in June. The last LBV is held on Thursday June 15th and the club closes a week later to many of the alternative community’s disappointment. An era ended but LBV moved on to another club right away at True on 23rd St.
Sebastiaan sells the Sabretooth Emporium at the Halloween Adventure Shop to Lestat, one of the LBV DJs who renames it: Transformatorium.
On Halloween weekend Endless Night returns to New Orleans and is held at the House of Blues with the Cruxshadows performing.
At this time Sebastiaan is the webmaster for PunishmentSquare.com and the dungeon Pandora’s Box in Chelsea. He creates Sanguinarium publishing and publishes the Vampyre Almanac 2000, a full color book.
2001- S.Y. 7 - Year of the Phoenix
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Long Black Veil continues at True on 23rd St. in NYC and it gains in popularity. Many other promoters from MOTHER move their events and True becomes the center point of the alternative community in NYC.
Empress Chi Chi and Johnny Dynell of MOTHER reopens a sister club “Daddy” on 1st Avenue. Sadly it is short lived and closes quickly as the disasters of 9-11 change the soul of NYC forever.
Endless Night still goes on in New Orleans, even with a short attendance at the Conti Muse Wax Museum.
The New York Vampire Ball “Anti-Valentines Day” takes a break to found the Court of Lazarus on Valentines Day at Jekyll & Hydes in Greenwich village.
2002 - S.Y. 8 - Year of Horizons
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
The Endless Night in New Orleans moves to the beautiful Gallier Hall on Halloween weekend. With a magnificent group of people it is highly successful.
With NYC nightlife and the Vampyre community in shambles from 9-11, Sebastiaan relocates to Germany, however soon finds friends in Amsterdam and resides there until January 2005.
2003 - S.Y. 9 - Year of a Second Age
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Traveling around Europe, Sebastiaan begins rebuilding the Sabretooth Clan again in his original vision. Although many roadblocks, Germany is not receptive to Vampyre culture in his vision, yet the Netherlands is more responsive.
Sebastiaan befriends “Kinma”, the priest in the Kerk van Satan in Amsterdam. They begin collaboration on a book entitled “V” which will include the some of the works of Michelle Belanger (Vampire Codex). The collaboration of Sebastiaan and Kinma results in the birth of the Ordo Strigoi Vii (OSV), the esoteric wing of the Sabretooth Clan.
On Halloween Endless Night in New Orleans moves to 735 Bourbon St. in a little room upstairs and is although small is a fireball of energy.
The producers of the TV show Mad Mad House contact Sebastiaan in an effort to get assistance on booking people for a reality TV series. Sebastiaan consults and aids in casting Don Henrie, the vampire on the show.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Underworld is released with Kate Beckinsale. Sony Pictures and Screen Gems are sued by White Wolf due to similarities to Vampire: the Masquerade & Werewolf: Apocalypse. The case is settled out of court.
2004 - SY. 10 - Year of Legacy
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
With Sabretooth going strong in Amsterdam, Sebastiaan travels around Europe fanging dozens of people. From Swiss to France to London to Germany he is networking the Sabretooth Clan like never before. The OSV temple with Kerk van Satan in Amsterdam and the Illuminates of Thanateros, a chaos magic order.
Instead of hosting the Anti-Valentines Ball in NYC, Sebastiaan produces a Vampyre Ball in Amsterdam, where he meets French journalist Laurant Courau working on a film documentary project called “Vampyres: Reality is Stranger than Fiction.”
On March 4th Mad Mad House with the Vampire Don Henrie releases bringing national attention to the vampire / Vampyre culture.
On Halloween, Endless Night takes place in the entire club 735 Bourbon with over 800 guests over 4 days. Highly successful he also releases a hardcover edition of V with Aangel Press of Amsterdam with Kinma as the publisher.
2005 - S.Y. 11 - Year of Broken Hearts
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
After 3 years in Europe, Sebastiaan returns to NYC where he hosts with Victor Magnus the annual Anti-Valentines Vampire Ball at Rare. Outside meets Jeniviva, who would become a major influence on the Sabretooth Clan and Endless Night events.
While in Florida visiting friends, Sebastiaan discovers D’Drennan, artist who designed the Vampyre Legacy Ankh had committed suicide on Valentiens Day. Immediately Sebastiaan returns to NYC. D’Drennan’s funeral was a traumatic event for the Sabretooth Clan and its legacies. The entire Vampyre community of NYC gathers at True on 23rd St. to celebrate his life, with speakers and performers.
Now living in NYC again and taking over the Fangshop at the Halloween Adventure Sebastiaan settles in and begins working more with Victor Magnus at Club Avalon, in the old Limelight space running a party called Church.
On August 29th Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, displacing many and ending Halloween. The Endless Night is relocated to NYC and takes place at a club on the Bowery called Crash Mansion.
The Vampyre Almanac becomes VampyreAlmanac.com and is the largest active vampire community online.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is published.
2006 - S.Y. 12 - Year of Reflections
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Black Abby opens at Uncle Mings with Victor Magnus in NYC.
Endless Night takes place in NYC.
2007 - SY. 13 - Year of the Returning
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Anti-Valentines Ball in NYC at Element (The Bank).
June – Sebastiaan moves to Paris with Sacar Mina.
October – Endless Night returns to New Orleans at Conti Muse Wax Museum with Voltaire.
Chad Savage, Bloody Mary and Sebastiaan give vision to Fred Samedi, the mascot of the Endless Night events.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Moonlight TV series releases on TV.
2008 - S.Y. 14 - Year of the Undead
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Day of the Dead.”
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
True Blood premieres on HBO.
Bathory a film about Elizabeth Bathory is released.
2009 - S.Y. 15 - Return to Versailles
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “A Night at Versaii.”
The Sanguinomicon is released on Lulu.com in four editions.
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
The Strain, a book by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, is published.
2010 - S.Y. 16 - Year of Masques
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Lucifer’s Masquerade.”
2011 - S.Y. 17 - Year of Entropy
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Steampunk Soiree.”
November 19th, Endless Night belly dancer and Sabretooth member Jeniviva dies in a car accident.
2012 - S.Y. 18 - Year of C’thulhu’s Apocalypse
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “C’thulhu Apocalypse”
2013 - S.Y. 19 - Year of Omens
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Zompire.”
2014 - S.Y. 20 - Year of Victoriental Dreams
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Victoriental.”
Elsewhere in the vampire community:
Anne Rice’s book Prince Lestat is published and Anne Rice returns to New Orleans.
Universal pictures announces it has bought the rights to the Vampire Chronicles and plans a Harry Potter / Twilight like franchise.
2015 - S.Y. 21 - Year of Penny Dreadfuls
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Halloween night: Endless Night: New Orleans Vampire Ball returns to the House of Blues “Penny Dreadfuls.”
Vice Magazine “the Real True Blood” released on February 9th.
Feb. 15th Anti-Valentines Ball @ Jekyll & Hyde, Times Square
Feb. 28th the first Endless Night: Tampa Vampire Ball at the Castle Ybor City in Florida.
2016 - S.Y. 22 - Year of the Cirque
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
Endless Night Vampire Ball ´Cirque du Vampyreª takes places at theHouse of Blues at 225 Decatur St. in New Orleans.
2017 - S.Y. 23 - Year of Gods & Monsters
Within the Sabretooth Clan:
On Halloween Endless Night Festival "Gods & Monsters" takes place at the House of Blues in New Orleans.
First Endless Night: Los Angeles Vampire Ball at the Globe Theatre on Sunday February 19th.
BLACK VEILS "The Vampire Lexicon" is published internally on May 1st for members of the Sabretooth Clan and October 1st for the public.
23rd Anniversary of the Sabretooth Clan is celebrated with a new stone for the Legacy Ankh.