Goth Rock

1 of 1 Pages

(Vocal group, 1979–83, 2005–present) Taking their name from the German architectural movement, Bauhaus were a prototype goth outfit who made their recording debut in 1979 with the nine-minute single ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’. Peter Murphy’s brooding voice was accompanied by Daniel Ash (guitar), David J. (bass) and Kevin Haskins (drums) for four albums until the singer left in 1983. Their only Top 20 hit was a faithful cover of David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
91 Words Read More

(Various instruments, vocals, b. 1958) Originally recording as Tubeway Army – the name used on his first No. 1 single ‘Are “Friends” Electric?’ – Numan’s electronic music was influenced by Berlin-era Bowie and set in a dystopian future of his own imagining. The hypnotic synthesizers and emotionless vocals earned him a second 1979 chart topper ‘Cars’, which was also a smash in America. Mainstream success proved difficult to sustain but Numan ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
98 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1979–present) Jeremy ‘Jaz’ Coleman (vocals), Geordie Walker (guitar, synthesizers), Youth (b. Martin Glover, bass, vocals) and Paul Ferguson (drums) formed one of the most alluring post-punk bands. They are now considered forefathers of American nu-punk. Their compulsive, tribal blasts on debut Killing Joke (1980) and Revelations (1982) created a legion of rabid fans and a handful of hit singles, including 1985’s ‘Love Like Blood’. The band still crop up ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
101 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1990–present) Fronted by Aaron Stainthorpe (vocals), this goth metal outfit formed in 1990 and released their first EP, Symponiare Infernus Et Spera Empyrium (1991). With dark lyrical concerns and matching music, they spent the 1990s building up a strong loyal following. Like Gods Of Sun (1996) aptly showcase this period sound. In recent years albums like Turn Loose The Swan (2003) and Songs Of Darkness Words Of Light (2006) ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
99 Words Read More

(Singer-songwriter b. 1957) Nick Cave (vocals) began his fascinating career in Boys Next Door, who became The Birthday Party: Mick Harvey (guitar), Tracy Pew (bass), Phil Calvert (drums). A gothic, blues punk band of fearsome intensity, showcasing Cave’s brutal, Captain Beefheart-style lyrics, they released three albums, 1981’s Prayers On Fire being the pick. 1982’s Junkyard is the sound of the band falling apart. Cave regrouped, retaining Mick Harvey and adding guitarist Blixa ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
154 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1988–present) Taking their name from the famed John Milton poem, it was only fitting that Nick Holmes (vocals), Gregor Mackintosh (guitar), Aaron Aedy (guitar), Stephen Edmonson (bass) and Matthew Archer (drums) delivered a slower brand of dark thrash metal. Early EPs and albums enjoyed a noisy cult success although by Shades Of God (1992) and Icon (1993) they had gained a more extensive international following. Tours and albums flowed ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
91 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–96, 2002) A legendary punk band, The Banshees did not release their first single, ‘Hong Kong Garden’, until 1978. Vocalist Siouxsie was accompanied by Steve Severin (bass), John McKay (guitar) and Kenny Morris (drums). McKay and Morris left abruptly in 1979 to be replaced by Budgie (ex-Slits) and John McGeoch, formerly of Magazine, whose more sophisticated, nimble-fingered guitar steered the band away from the punk assault of old and ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
91 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1980–98) The otherworldly tones of albums such as Treasure (1983) and Victorialand (1986) helped define ambient music. The Cocteaus comprised Robin Guthrie’s layered soundscapes and Liz Fraser’s spectral voice (also used by Massive Attack), plus bassist Will Heggie (replaced by Simon Raymonde). None of their lyrics could be discerned, but the atmospheric ‘Pearly Dewdrops Drop’ (1984) charted, and is still used by TV producers. Heaven Or Las Vegas (1990) ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
105 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1984–95, 2001–02, 2006–present) Centred on singer Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy (guitar), The Cult (initially Southern Death Cult), released the goth/psychedelic Dreamtime in 1984. An alliance with producer Rick Rubin in 1987 resulted in third album Electric, influential on many nu metal bands and Guns N’ Roses (who stole drummer Matt Sorum). Sonic Temple (1989) was more mainstream rock and made the US Top 10; after that the band ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
98 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–present) This influential UK post-punk outfit, led by wild-haired Robert Smith (vocals, guitar) with Lol Tolhurst (drums) and Michael Dempsey (bass), debuted in 1978 on the Albert Camus-inspired ‘Killing An Arab’, followed by debut album Three Imaginary Boys (1979). Simon Gallup (bass, keyboards) replaced Dempsey and the tone got even darker with Seventeen Seconds (1980), Faith (1981) and Pornography (1982). Yet in the same year, ‘Let’s Go To Bed’ ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
176 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–present) A trailblazing outfit responsible for the first British punk single, ‘New Rose’ in 1976, and album Damned, Damned, Damned (1977), the original line-up of Dave Vanian (real name Letts, vocals), Brian James (guitar), Captain Sensible (Ray Burns, bass) and Rat Scabies (Chris Miller, drums) disintegrated after the second album Music For Pleasure (1978). They reformed shortly afterwards, minus James, and with changing personnel since. The Damned progressed beyond ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
98 Words Read More

(Vocal/instrumental group, 1985–96, 1999–2008) Ex-Sister of Mercy Wayne Hussey (guitar, vocals) employed Simon Hinkler (guitar), Craig Adams (bass) and Mick Brown (drums) to form another charismatic goth rock band renowned for their dramatic live shows. The powerful God’s Own Medicine emerged in 1986 and ‘Wasteland’ went No. 11 in the UK charts. The John Paul Jones-produced Children (1988) reached No. 2. Their best set, Carved In Sand (1990), was the last ...

Source: The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock, general editor Michael Heatley
95 Words Read More

Much derided by music (and fashion) journalists, goth rock is slow, introspective, gloomy and doom-ridden, with elements from hard rock and psychedelia, often with swathes of cold keyboards and angular guitar parts. The dress code was rigid: black clothes, big black hair and face made up to look deathly white. Critics often found the music pretentious and overblown and the goth fashion cartoonish and reminiscent of the Addams Family, but that ...

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music, general editor Paul Du Noyer
556 Words Read More
1 of 1 Pages

AUTHORITATIVE

An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...

CURATED

Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.

Rock, A Life Story

Rock, A Life Story

The ultimate story of a life of rock music, from the 1950s to the present day.

David Bowie

David Bowie

Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers his life, music, art and movies, with a sweep of incredible photographs.