When you look for goth on wikipedia you might be redirected to sites explaining a medieval art movement or to the Goths; a group of east Germanic tribes. But this is not what this article is about. This articles tries to outline the origins of a subculture that defines itself through music (gothic rock) and fashion (goth fashion).
The word gothic was first used to describe certain post-punk groups in the late 70s. Many sources name Bela Lugosies Dead, the debut single of Bauhaus released in 1979, the beginning of the gothic movement. The genre defined itself during the early eightees by using stylistic elements from music and fashion that were very different from rock and punk rock movement. The sound of that time was characterized by dark and often keyboard heavy music combined with depressing lyrics and dark dresses that used Victorian and Elizabets elements. Andrew Collins described goth music of the early years with these words:" Gothic rock takes the guitar and synthesizer sounds of post-punk and uses them to construct "foreboding, sorrowful, often epic soundscapes." Bands of this first goth wave were Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Birthday Party and Killing Joke.
The goth movement began to gain momentum as myriads of goth-bands were founded and many goth-venues were established. The most popular goth venue was the Batcave club in London. As bands of this second goth wave Flesh for Lulu, Play Dead, Rubella Ballet, Gene loves Jezebel, Uk Decay, Blood and Roses, The Virgin Prunes and Ausgang can be named. The sound hasn't changed very much and still included sorrowful and depressing lyrics so as heavy guitars and keyboards.
Finaly, the band called Sisters of Mercy, influenced by bands such as The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, The Birthday Party, Motörhead, the Suicide and The Fall created a new goth sound that was harder than what has been heard before and that lead the way to the heavy and hard goth sound we all know and listen today.
Jan Weidenbach is the owner of www.punkz.fm. Emo people welcome! We have a large punk forum.
