which emerged when he turned 23. Anaximander-Zayan played bass
on this first album.

Vance was especially curious
about his Exodesian heritage. After an ill-fated pilgrimage to
Exodesia and rejection by the Obscuros, he assumed the Parminter
forenames, but rejected the family name, becoming “John Grey”. As
he studied the occult he added an exalted title in some would say a
blasphemous context and became Prester John Grey (Presbyter Johannes being a
legendary figure of early Christendom). He draped himself in occult
imagery but seemingly venerated the cross and crucifixes. As noted, he was
famed for wearing a large black cowl and a chalk white faux porcelain
mask evocative of the Phantom of the Opera (concealing his 3rd
eye), framed by extremely long dreadlocked hair. He was known for
playing the guitar with small daggers and cross-shaped plectrums.

In 1971, Volker, Fogg, and
PresterJohn recorded Weltanschauung and toured tirelessly with a lineup consisting of PJG,
Anaximander, Glu, Fogg, and synth/ vox/ sax man Jorg Jungen Reinl. In
1972, they added female vox/ keys with Anke Mueller and switched bass
to Brit Hasty Greenhalgh. Also in 1972, Prester John's daughter Anjou Faustine Parminter was
born. The constant touring and occult obsessions were rending PJG's
marriage. In 1974, Anke died (allegedly an occult sacrifice) and
Reinl decamped, leaving 1975's final Opal Masque album, called Torn
from Me Mother Whore, for years to feature PJG, Hasty, Glu, and Fogg.

In 1973, PJG and Althea
separated, and in 1975, divorced. Grey even wrote the lyrics and
music to the chilling lament of their marriage, the title track on Torn from Me Mother
Whore. In 1975, PJG finally recorded his scary acoustic album In
Nomine Anti-Christ. Althea raised