Who's Been Sleeping in ALIEN SEX FEIEND's Brain for over 42 years now!

Alien Sex Fiend – 42 Years of ‘Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brain’

Released 11 November (Germany)*, 25 November (UK)* 1983 on the iconic indie label Anagram Records, Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brain marked the arrival of one of the most distinctive and chaotic forces in the gothic rock and post-punk underground: Alien Sex Fiend. Emerging from the grimy, neon-lit corners of London’s Batcave scene, the band — fronted by the flamboyant and unhinged Nik Fiend, alongside Mrs. Fiend (keyboards), Yaxi Highrizer (guitar), and Johnny Ha-Ha (drums) — fused punk energy, horror imagery, and electronic experimentation into a sound that defied easy categorization.

The album was recorded at Aosis Studios in London and produced by the legendary Tony “Brooke Bond” James (of Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Generation X fame). From its opening track “Wish I Woz a Dog” to the menacing “Ignore the Machine,” Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brain captured Alien Sex Fiend’s wild theatricality and sense of dark humor. The record brims with twisted samples, warped vocals, and primitive drum machines — a surreal collision of horror-punk aesthetics and proto-industrial textures that made the band instant cult favorites.

Unlike many of their goth contemporaries, Alien Sex Fiend didn’t just dwell in gloom — they injected a dose of deranged fun into their macabre world. Nik Fiend’s manic stage presence, corpse-paint makeup, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics set the band apart from the more solemn tone of bands like Bauhaus or The Sisters of Mercy. Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brainreflected this rebellious, DIY ethos, standing as both a parody and celebration of gothic culture.

The standout track “Ignore the Machine” became an underground anthem, its hypnotic rhythm and bizarre charm earning the band recognition across the UK and beyond. The album’s raw production and unapologetic weirdness paved the way for Alien Sex Fiend’s enduring career and influence on the darker fringes of electronic and industrial music.

Over four decades later, Who’s Been Sleeping in My Brain remains a seminal debut — a chaotic, campy, and utterly original statement from a band that proved being strange was not just an attitude, but an art form.

Who's Been Sleepin In My Brain (LP GRAM 10)

DISCOGS

* SPEX magazine 12/83 (Germany)
** Music Week magazine 26//11/83 (UK)