It’s been a hell of a summer for Twin Temple. The self-professed satanists saw their dark star rise earlier this month when country singer Charley Crockett allegedly removed them from his tour because of their use of “satanic imagery,” propelling the husband-and-wife duo into the spotlight and earning them an invitation from Jack White to open one of his shows.
On Wednesday, singer Alexandra James and guitarist Zachary James got more return from their presumed deal with the devil when they made their late-night TV debut on The Daily Show. Twin Temple performed “Haunt Me,” off their forthcoming album Doomed Lovers, out Oct. 9.
The duo took the stage on a church-themed set with upside down crosses and candles, with the initial part of the broadcast appearing in black and white. Color began to seep in, revealing brilliant red outfits and backdrops.
The pair also sat down to chat with host Jordan Klepper. They explained their inspirations and why they’ve dubbed their music “Satanic doo-wop” (“It’s just rock ‘n’ roll, honestly,” Alexandra said). Klepper asked the group about making national news when they were kicked off Crockett’s tour.
“We were pretty shocked,” Zachary replied. “It was a few days before the shows began.” Alexandra added, “I feel like it’s time for maybe a little more Satanic Panic. Like, let’s get it going again.”
She noted, “The reason why we’re drawn to rock ‘n’ roll is that it was always about pushing back against societal norms, about questioning the status quo.”
Following their Daily Show appearance, Twin Temple announced they are officially accepting Jack White’s offer to open his show at the Hollywood Palladium in L.A. on Sept. 29. When the duo spoke with Rolling Stone recently, they were unsure if a nearby date opening for Danzig would prohibit them from saying yes to White. That seems to have been sorted out.
“I’ve been a White Stripes fan since I was a kid. ‘Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground’ was the first song I learned on guitar,” Alexandra James told RS in an interview that also asked if they were in fact satanists.
“Hell yeah!” the singer said, offering that she practices witchcraft and Zachary practices magic. “To us, Satan is a metaphor for exploring all of these things in our art. It’s the images that have always resonated with us. For me, growing up a mixed-race woman [of Korean and British descent], first-generation in America, I’ve always felt a little bit like an outsider. And Satan’s the original outlaw, right? He’s a rebel angel. He’s the one who questioned authority, fought for himself, refused to bow down or conform, and was like non serviam. That was a metaphor that resonated very strongly with me.”
