During a warm-up performance for their now legendary reunion set at this year's Coachella Festival, Bauhaus lead singer Peter Murphy glanced backwards and drummer Kevin Haskins noticed a glint in the frontman's eye that he hadn't seen for many years. That was the moment Haskins knew the band's latest reunion would be extending beyond their festival set.

"Once we've been playing for ten minutes it feels like it's yesterday," Haskins said during a recent conversation with Chicago Innerview. "As long as we're enjoying it, we have the intention to continue on. We've decided to make Bauhaus a priority for all of us."

For four and a half years at the dawn of the '80s, Bauhaus combined dark imagery and an ethereal sonic presence to create a moodily textured post-punk sound. The band's music, style and spirited live sets served as a blueprint for the yet to emerge Goth rock scene. The band came together with a burst of creative energy after Murphy and guitarist Daniel Ash teamed up with Haskins and his brother David J. in late 1978. But by the middle of 1983, the band's egos got in the way of things and the four artists went their separate ways. "I don't think it could have lasted very long," Haskins said. "It was a very intense flame."

At the time they broke up, Haskins didn't think Bauhaus' music would have much of an impact on the musical landscape. Murphy went on to a solo career, while after a few years of solo projects Ash and the Haskins brothers formed Love and Rockets. Bauhaus briefly reunited in 1998, but after recording a live album the four musicians again parted ways and Haskins said they did not stay close before regrouping earlier this year.

Now as they prepare for their first full-scale tour in quite a while, the members of Bauhaus find themselves very excited about making music together and gratified by the reaction from their fans. Haskins thinks the years apart gave the band members time to mature, yet didn't dull the intensity of their musical connection. "I think we're actually enjoying each other's company and playing together more now," Haskins said. "We feel really blessed that there is so much interest in our shows."

While Bauhaus' attention is currently focused on their tour, the band is starting to think about heading into the studio together for the first time in more than two decades. Thus far, Haskins said "there's one new song evolving" but he's not certain it will be debuted on the current tour. However, the entire band is interested to see where they will go when making music together after such a long layoff. "I think there's a curiosity about what a Bauhaus 2005-06 record would sound like," Haskins said.

Haskins does have some ideas as to what he'd like to capture when the band does return to the studio. He said he wants to "keep it raw and simple, and not let editing technology get in the way." But Haskins was quick to explain that he doesn't mean Bauhaus wants to abandon the dub influence and experimental attitude that permeated their earlier music. "It's more with avoiding the editing that tries to make everything perfect," Haskins said. "I think one thing that's charming about our records is the mistakes."

While Bauhaus' legacy was well-cemented before Coachella, the band's festival set definitely added to their lore and introduced the band to new fans. The group's penchant for theatrics was certainly on display as Murphy dangled upside down over the stage throughout the show-opening 10-minute rendition of their first and most prominent release, "Bela Lugosi's Dead." This was just the latest trick from a band that's earned a reputation for using light and video effects to enhance their shows.

"Basically we're drama queens," Haskins said. "We've always felt at live shows there should be something there, people should be entertained. Otherwise they might as well be at home listening to the album."

Bauhaus :: Vic :: November 8-9.