Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help

Subject: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:50 pm

Goth Music: The Early Years

OK--students in my cultural studies course had a bit of a crisis because half of their presentation group dropped out. They are doing a presentation on the Goth subculture and the two members that dropped out were covering the music. So I offered to help out with an introduction to the roots of the Goth sound (as a non-expert)... here is what I came up with, anyone want to suggest additions?

1970s: The Early Influences

Siouxsie and the Banshees:
Formed in 1976, early British punk contemporary of the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Very influential on the later Goth subculture, especially Siouxsie’s sense of style.

Nicotine Stain

Joy Division:
Formed in 1976 in post-industrial, working-class Manchester. Their music had a deep somber aspect, yet was powerful and driving. Broke up in 1978 when the lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide prior to their first major tour of the USA.

Dead Souls (later covered by Nine Inch Nails and used in the 1994 film The Crow)

trailer for the 2008 British film Control

Bauhaus:
Formed in 1978, and after only six months together as a band they recorded six songs including:

Bela Lugosi’s Dead (Studio)

Dark Entries (Live)

The Cure:
First formed as the Art School band Obelisk in 1973, it became The Cure with Robert Smith as the lead singer in 1978.

The Lullaby

Sisters of Mercy:
Formed in Leeds in 1980.

Alice

It's not his fault and he's asking for help so does anyone have any ideas to give him a hand?

Guest

For roots of the sound? ....I'm not too sure, but shouldn't David Bowie be on there? Or.... maybe Black Sabbath? it's not really goth music, but I'd bet a lot of goths would listen to them.

That's really all I can offer since I listen to symphonic power metal instead of the old school goth.

You know, maybe they should just tell this guy that the music varies from person to person and that he has a better chance of seeing the Loch Ness monster than making a definitive goth music list.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:24 am

Well, surely, David Bowie should be on there as an influence, but he's not what I would call goth music by any stretch (though, I do love him).

You have a solid base of info there, raven. I would add on that by including Sex Gang Children, Fields of Nephilim, The Birthday Party, Alien Sex Fiend and Theatre of Hate.
Definitely mention something about the Batcave being the stage for the birth of goth music.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:37 pm

He's got the basics right but he needs to expand on the influence of the Sisters, Bauhaus and Fields of the Nephilim

He also needs to see past Siouxsie much as I love her - she may be "goth" now but she was far from it originally.

Goddess I would like to chat with this guy direct

Smile

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Fri Nov 20, 2009 7:05 pm

I recommend that he reads The Dark Reign of Gothic Rock by Dave Thompson... Any Dave Thompson book is worth a read really.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 12:51 pm

surprised no one said specimen or early christian death with rozz williams. although I agree with ghost red sex gang children should be mentioned.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 5:34 pm

Killing Joke?

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:00 pm

Just so you all know,I left a comment on the blog letting Thivai Abhor know we were discussing his blog post here.

"[Thanks to Ravenlovecraft for posting my query on The Dark Realm discussion board. I appreciate all of the comments and will use the thread as an example for the class of how people understand/discuss/form their understanding of subcultures like Goth. I hope the thread continues...]"

Ravenlovecraft is my blogspot username btw.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:03 pm

albinasamara wrote:: Killing Joke?

Absolutly.
Killing Joke~Love Like Blood

Specimen~Hex

Christian Death (Rozz)~Cavity 1st communion

Sex Gang Children - Sebastine (The Riverside - complete)

David Bowie~Ziggy Stardust

Alien Sex Fiend~ Now I'm Feeling Zombified Live

Black Sabbath~Hand Of Doom

Theatre Of Hate~The Hop

The Birthday Party ~ Happy Birthday

Fields of the Nephilim~ Celebrate (Second Seal)

I would add:

Virgin Prunes - Pagan Lovesong

Kommunity FK ~ Something Inside Me Has Died

Echo and The Bunnymen ~ The Killing Moon

The March Violets~Walk Into The Sun
The Sisters of Mercy ~ More

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 7:48 pm

Can I add Nosferatu grin

Lucy is Red
Wiccaman
Alone

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:00 pm

Please add whatever you think goth music is!

Helen really could add alot to this as I know she thinks of herself as a gunk (gothic punk),I know I think of myself as a deathrocker so anything I add will probably be in that vein.

I love Nosferatu but I have to admit that I had no clue who they were until you told me!

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:26 pm

^^ Surprised Helen didnt mention ~~The Damned~~ hehe.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:40 pm

I wanted to but thought it would be best to let her mention them.

It would be like someone else mentioning Samhain,I know I'd be happy someone did it but completley jealous that it wasn't me who bought them up.

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:55 pm

^^ Hehe changed it just in case grin

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:40 pm

Alenuska wrote:: surprised no one said specimen or early christian death with rozz williams. although I agree with ghost red sex gang children should be mentioned.

Specimen and all the bands that contributed to the Batcave should be mentioned, or just the Batcave in general. A lot of music grew there

Subject: Re: Here's A Guy Who Needs Some Help Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:04 pm

ravengrim wrote:: Just so you all know,I left a comment on the blog letting Thivai Abhor know we were discussing his blog post here.

"[Thanks to Ravenlovecraft for posting my query on The Dark Realm discussion board. I appreciate all of the comments and will use the thread as an example for the class of how people understand/discuss/form their understanding of subcultures like Goth. I hope the thread continues...]"

Ravenlovecraft is my blogspot username btw.

How Cool!

I think it's really great that their teacher is letting them do their presentation on Goth culture. Boy would I like to be'a bat in the corner of that classroom! That'd be so much fun to get to listen in on! I hope they get a really good grade on this. headbang

Alenuska wrote:: surprised no one said specimen or early christian death with rozz williams. although I agree with ghost red sex gang children should be mentioned.

Hey! It's really nice to see you here Alenuska! You've been missed!

mmm... I'm trying to think if I can add anything cause you guys have pretty much mentioned most of the early bands.

A lot of the music was inspired by horror/ sci-fi movies & macabre literature in a campy theatrical way.