{{Short description|British circus owner (1956–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Doktor Haze | image = | caption = | birth_name = John Hayes Mabley | birth_date = {{birth date|1956|12|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Preston, Lancashire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|2023|4|15|1956|12|22|df=y}} | death_place = | education = | occupation = {{hlist|Circus owner|circus performer|singer-songwriter|director|author}} | years_active = 1970–2023 | known_for = The Circus of Horrors | other_names = Dr. Haze, John Haze | notable_works = | partner = | website = {{URL|www.circusofhorrors.co.uk}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | background = person | genre = {{hlist|Psychedelic rock|classic rock|hard rock}} | instrument = | label = Madman Records | past_member_of = {{hlist|Flash Harry|Haze Vs The X Factor|Dr Haze & The Circus of Horrors|Dr Haze and the Interceptors from Hell}} }} | module2 = }}
'''John Hayes Mabley''' (22 December 1956 – 15 April 2023), better known by his stage name '''Doktor Haze''', was a British circus owner and performer, singer-songwriter, director, and author. He was the owner, ringmaster and director of The Circus of Horrors, in which he co-founded with Gerry Cottle in 1995, which has become Britain's longest-running alternative circus.
== Life and career == John Hayes Mabley was born on 22 December 1956 in Preston, Lancashire. His parents were circus performers and travelled with the Winship Circus in Scotland when he was a new born.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr Haze and the Circus of Horrors return to their Preston roots!|url=https://www.prestonpulse.co.uk/news-article/2628/Dr-Haze-and-the-Circus-of-Horrors-return-to-their-Preston-roots-|access-date=2 June 2020|website=www.prestonpulse.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> At age 12, he performed with his father as a fire eater for a circus in Ireland. At age 16, he learned to play the guitar and began songwriting, influenced by T. Rex and Marc Bolan.<ref name=":0" />
In the late 1970s, Haze formed his first rock band Flash Harry, which toured with Depeche Mode.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-09-12 |title="People like to be scared" |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/8385547.circus-of-horrors-founder-dr-haze-brings-his-show-to-dorset/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> Then during the 1980s and 1990s, he performed with his band Haze Vs The X Factor, which incorporated stage illusions and elements of circus and horror into their performances. They often performed at Marquee Club in London and Haze created the title "Circus of Horrors" for one of their acts.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=In Memory - Dr Haze |url=https://www.psycho.co.uk/in-memory-dr-haze/ |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=Psycho Management Co. |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1994, Haze met circus owner Gerry Cottle at a funeral and discussed ideas for a new brand of circus. With help from Cottle and Archaos’ creator Pierrot Bidon, Haze created The Circus of Horrors which debuted at the Glastonbury Festival in the summer of 1995. The Circus of Horrors was a blend of circus, cabaret and horror, all performed to Haze’s original rock score. With The Circus of Horrors, Haze gained Guinness World Records, appeared on various television shows including ''Britain's Got Talent'', and performed all over the world and at numerous festivals. He was the ringmaster of The Circus of Horrors until 2021.
In 2011, Haze released his autobiography book ''Dr Haze: Mud, Blood and Glitter.''<ref>{{cite book | author=Dr. Haze | title=Dr Haze : mud, blood & glitter : an autobiography. | publisher=Peculiar Pub | publication-place=Great Britain | date=2011 | isbn=978-0-9570699-0-9 | oclc=809544312 }}</ref> He was the company director for Moscow State Circus, Carters Steam Fair and Psycho Management, and was also the co-owner of Circus Extreme, Circus Ukraine, and Continental Circus Berlin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wookey.co.uk/circus-of-horrors-2019/|title=The Circus of Horrors 2019 25 years of Shock & Roll {{!}} Wookey Hole Caves and Attractions|language=en-GB|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/the-county-s-most-unusual-jobs-circus-of-horrors-1-132775|title=The county's most unusual jobs - Circus of Horrors|website=www.lep.co.uk|language=en|access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> In 2017, he stood as an independent candidate for Brighton Kemptown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/15333739.meet-the-candidate-doktor-haze/|title=Meet the candidate: Doktor Haze|website=The Argus|date=7 June 2017 |language=en|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/15308318.60-seconds-with-doktor-haze/|title=60 seconds with... Doktor Haze|website=The Argus|date=25 May 2017 |language=en|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref>
Haze died from oesophageal cancer on 15 April 2023, at the age of 66.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet Doktor Haze, the independent candidate for Brighton Kemptown|url=https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/news/meet-doktor-haze-independent-candidate-brighton-kemptown-1121996|access-date=12 November 2021|website=www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ultimate Horror Circus |url=https://www.circusofhorrors.co.uk/ |access-date=9 May 2023 |website=THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS |language=en}}</ref>
== Discography ==
* ''The Web'' (Haze Vs The X Factor) (1996) * ''Welcome to The Freakshow'' (Haze Vs The X Factor) (2001) * ''Destiny And Desire, My Enchantment With Fire'' (Haze Vs The X Factor) (2002) * ''An Evil Anthology'' (Dr Haze & The Circus of Horrors) (2006) * ''Destiny & Desire'' (Dr Haze & The Circus of Horrors) (2008) * ''Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (Dr Haze & The Interceptors From Hell) (2016)
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Bibliography == *{{cite book|last=Haze|first=John|date=2011|title=Dr Haze: Mud, Blood and Glitter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHKpMQEACAAJ&q=dr+haze|location=United Kingdom|isbn=9780957069909}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Haze, John}} Category:1956 births Category:2023 deaths Category:British circus performers Category:British circus owners Category:Deaths from esophageal cancer Category:People from Preston, Lancashire
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