Goth Music: A Brief History Pt 1-1978-1990: The Beginning

In the late 70s, a scene known as post-punk was flourishing. It was out of this scene that the roots of what is now known as 'goth' emerged.

Two of the most prominent proto-goth bands to from the post-punk era were Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy division. These two bands, with there haunting sound and dark lyrics, were quickly labeled as being 'gothic' in sound, although 'goth' did not yet exist as a music genre. Most of the bands associated with the birth of the goth scene were either new wave or post-punk such as Killing Joke, Christian Death, Sex Gang Children, Virgin Prunes, and Xmal Deutschland. Then, in 1979, along came the Bauhaus with their debut single "Bella Lugosi's Dead" which is considered to be the beginning of what is stylistically known as 'goth rock'. It was not until 1983 however, that the term 'goth' was used to describe a particular music scene. Originally labeled as 'positive punk', the music of The March Violets, The Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, Danse Society, and many others became the music of what became known as the 'goth' scene. The first group of people ever called 'goths', by Ian Astbury of The Cult, were the fans of the UK band The Sex Gang Children.

By the mid 80s 'goth' had become a distinct scene and began to attract mainstream attention with bands like The Sisters of Mercy, who charted on the British Top Ten with their debut album'First, Last, ans Always'. Other bands had significant mainstream attention and radio play such as Dead Can Dance, The Cocteau Twins, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cult, and Fields of the Nephilim. Fanzines started to pop up and the first club specifically devoted to goth was established; the Batcave in London. Goth music even made its way into popular film, with the Bauhaus making an appearance in the movie 'The Hunger' starring David Bowie. It was also at this time that goth and industrial music began to cross paths, with bands such as Dog Pile, Crash Worship, and Skinny Puppy. Goth even saw itself combined with pop music, in the form of Depeche Mode, and to a lesser degree, The Cure.

NEXT: Pt II- 1990-Present: Modern Goth

Recommended Listening:

Joy Division- Substance
Siouxsie and the Banshees- The Scream
Bauhaus- In the Flat Field
Sisters of Mercy- First, Last, and Always