Death Becomes Him: A Look Into the Visionary Mind of Steven Juliano and Requiem for the Dead

You've said that the concept of the album has been with you since your time with IAG, and that it acts as a prequel to the tale told in "Lover's Requiem". When and how did this part of their story (Always and Forever) come to you? What was/is the inspiration behind the two lovers? How did the story evolve?

After I Am Ghost came out with Lovers' Requiem on Epitaph Records, I always wanted to do a prequel to the story.  It kinda sat around in the back of my head for awhile after that, but in all honestly, I didn't feel my band at that time wanted to try and do another concept album. I was probably the lowest in confidence around that time writing our second album, because, I was torn between "should I write a theatrical album again?" or "Should I write straight up songs about my life at that moment?" I tried to combine both, really, and I think it came out pretty damn good. Yes, it wasn't a "Lovers' Requiem" per say, and we were all fine with that. We had to try something different, I guess. The second album we did on Epitaph never compared to the impact Lovers' Requiem did. The fans def let me know it, that's for sure. And I agreed with them in small ways. After that, the prequel idea kept coming into play with my writing of new songs, and I knew my band was gonna hate it. I just knew. So, I left. I started Requiem for the Dead a few weeks after I quit I Am Ghost to try and see what else I could muster in my head. 

http://getfanged.com/group/interviews/forum/topics/death-becomes-him-a-look-into-the-visionary-mind-of-steven-julian