The Cure are an English rock band that released eight albums and eighteen singles between 1978 and 1989 on Fiction Records. They emerged in the British post-punk movement and cultivated a goth-rock sound and image during the early 1980s. Their popular hits include “Boys Don’t Cry,” “A Forest,” “Let’s Go to Bed,” “The Love Cats,” […]
Siouxsie and the Banshees were an English rock band that released eleven studio albums and twenty-seven singles between 1978 and 1995 on Polydor. They charted with their debut single “Hong Kong Garden” and scored multiple UK hits, including the underground rock staples “Happy House,” “Spellbound,” “Arabian Knights,” “Cities In Dust,” “Peek-a-Boo,” and “Kiss Them for […]
Joy Division was an English post-punk band from Manchester, formed as Warsaw by guitarist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook with drummer Stephen Morris and singer Ian Curtis. They co-headed the Northern DIY boom with their 1978 EP An Ideal for Living. On Tony Wilson’s Factory label, Joy Division made their 1979 debut, Unknown Pleasures, […]
Bauhaus was an English post-punk band that sparked goth-rock with their 1979 debut single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” performed in David Bowie‘s 1983 film The Hunger. As the banner act on 4AD, Bauhaus made the 1980–83 albums In the Flat Field, Mask, The Sky’s Gone Out, and Burning From the Inside. Popular Bauhaus songs include “Dark […]
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are a goth-rock/cabaret ensemble formed in London circa 1983 by Australian vocalist/keyboardist Nick Cave. Between 1984 and 2008, the band released 17 albums on Mute Records, followed by a further round of discs on self-press Bad Seed in the 2010s. Members: Nick Cave (vocals, piano, organ, harmonica), Mick Harvey […]
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish goth/dream-pop trio that was active for 16 years, starting in 1981. Between 1982 and 1990, the band released six albums and assorted EPs on 4AD. Two additional longplayers appeared on Fontana during the 1990s. Members: Elizabeth Fraser (vocals), Robin Guthrie (guitar), Will Heggie (bass, 1981-83), Simon Raymonde (bass, 1983-97) Background […]
All About Eve was an English ethereal-goth band that released four singles on Eden Records and the 1988/89 Mercury albums All About Eve and Scarlet and Other Stories, charting with “Our Summer,” “Flowers in Our Hair,” “Wild Hearted Woman,” “Every Angel,” and “Martha’s Harbour.” Members: Julianne Regan (vocals), Tim Bricheno (guitar), Andy Cousin (bass), Mark […]
The Mission are an English goth-rock band formed in Leeds in late 1985 by singer-guitarist Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams. Guitarist-keyboardist Simon Hinkler and drummer Mick Brown completed the original lineup. The quartet released three studio albums and two companion compilations on Mercury across the 1986–90 period. North American releases used the name The […]
The Cult is an English hard-rock band that started in 1983 as the goth-inspired Death Cult, a name derived from singer Ian Astbury’s prior band the Southern Death Cult. As Death Cult they released two singles on the London indie Situation Two, then signed with Beggars Banquet as The Cult. After their 1984 album Dreamtime, […]
Xmal Deutschland was a German goth-rock band fronted by songwriter Anja Huwe. They cut two 1981/82 Zickzack EPs and the 1983/84 4AD albums Fetisch and Tocsin, followed by the 1987–89 discs Viva and Devils. Members: Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar, 1980-87), Fiona Sangster (keyboards, 1980-87), Caro May (drums, 1980-82), Rita Simonsen (bass, 1980), Wolfgang […]
The Legendary Pink Dots are an English-Dutch goth-psych band that issued two cassette-albums on self-press Mirrordot in 1981, followed by three proper studio albums on In Phaze Records between 1982 and 1984. A lengthy round of albums appeared during the subsequent 10-year period on Play It Again Sam Records amid side releases on Jarmusic and […]
Gene Loves Jezebel were a Welsh goth-rock band that released five albums between 1983 and 1990 on Beggars Banquet, three of which appeared stateside on Geffen. The band featured twin brothers Jay and Michael Aston, who later combusted and litigated over the nameplate, resulting in a split franchise by the 21st century. Members: Jay Aston […]
Skeletal Family was an English goth-rock band from Keighley that debuted with singles on Luggage Label and Red Rhino Records in 1983, followed on the latter by the album Burning Oil and the extended-play Recollect in 1984. A second Red Rhino full-length, Futile Combat, appeared in 1985. Briefly signed to U.K. Chrysalis, the band issued […]
The Snake Corps were an English goth-rock band from Watford that made the 1985 album Flesh on Flesh, followed by multiple singles and the 1990 release Smother Earth. Members: Tristan Garel-Funk (guitar), Marc Lewis (vocals), Liam McGuinness (bass, 1983-?), Nigel Pollard (drums, 1983-84), Jon Greville (drums, 1984-?), David Wood (keyboards, ?-1991), Jim Blanchard (bass, ?-1993) […]
Charge was an English punk-rock/goth band from London that debuted with a live album on Trikont in 1980, followed by singles on YCAFO and Test Pressings. In 1982, the band released two shortplayers and the album Perfection on Kamera Records. Members: Stu P Didiot [Stuart Lunn] (guitar, vocals, 1977-83), Iain MacLaughlan (vocals, 1977-80), Dave Griffiths […]
Zerra One was an Irish modern-rock band that released three indie singles and a 1984 self-titled album, produced by Todd Rundgren, followed in 1987 with The Domino Effect, produced by Barry Blue. Members: Paul Bell (vocals, keyboards), Andreas Grimminger (guitar), Adrian Wyatt (bass), Korda Marshall (drums, 1983-87), Mike Mesbur (drums, 1982-83) Background Zerra One formed […]
Ausgang was an English goth-rock band from Birmingham that released two EPs on Criminal Damage Records circa 1983/84, followed by the 1985 album Manipulate on FM Revolver. Members: Mark “Max” Freeth (vocals), Paul “Cub” Balogh (bass), Matthew Amos (guitar), Ian “Ibo” Oakley (drums), Stuart Smith (bass) Background Ausgang formed in Birmingham in the early 1980s […]
Blue in Heaven was an Irish rock quartet, formed in 1982 in Dublin. On Island Records, they released two 1984 singles and the 1985/86 albums All the Gods Men and Explicit Material. After one further EP, they reconfigured as the Blue Angels for a 1990s run. Members: Dave Clarke (drums), Declan Jones (bass), Shane O’Neill […]
Pink Turns Blue was a German goth-rock band that released two albums on Fun Factory! during the late 1980s, followed by a string of albums on Our Choice from 1990 onward. Members: Thomas Elbern (guitar, vocals), Mic Jogwer (vocals, guitar, bass), Rübi Walters (bass, keyboards), Marcus Giltjes (drums, samples, sound effects), Louis Pavlou (drums, guitars, […]
Belfegore was a German goth-rock band that released the 1983 album A Dog Is Born on Pure Freude, followed by a 1984 self-titled album on Elektra. Members: Michael Claus (guitar, vocals), Walter Jäger (keyboards, bass, vocals), Charly Terstappen (drums), Raoul Walton (bass) Background Belfegore formed in Düsseldorf in late 1982 when singer-guitarist Michael “Meikel” Clauss […]
The Danse Society was an English goth-rock band that released the 1981 independent singles “Clock” and “There Is No Shame In Death,” followed by the 1982–83 albums Seduction and Heaven Is Waiting on Society Records. As Danse Society International, they concluded with the 1986 Society release Looking Through. Members: Steve Rawlings (vocals, 1980-87, 2009-10), Paul […]
Luna was a Yugoslav goth-rock band behind the 1984 Helidon album Nestvarne Stvari. Members: Slobodan Tišma (vocals), Zoran Bulatović [aka Balé] (guitar, vocals), Ivan Fece (drums), Jasmina “Mina” Mitrušić (keyboards, vocals) Background Luna formed in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, in autumn 1981 when singer Slobodan Tišma and drummer Ivan Fece (Firči) teamed with guitarist Zoran Bulatović […]
Musta Paraati was a Finnish goth-rock band that released three singles and the 1983/84 Johanna albums Peilitalossa and Käärmeet. Members: Pasi Nikander (bass), Jari Kääriäinen (synthesizer, 1981-84, 2015-present), Ykä Knuuttila (drums, 1981-83, 2015-present), Jore Vastelin (vocals, guitar, 1981-83), General Njassa (vocals, 1981, 1983-84), Saku Paasiniemi (guitar, 1982-85, 2015-present), Epe Kronholm (vocals, 1984-85), Sande Vettenranta (drums, […]
1919 was an English goth-rock band that released three singles and two EPs (1982–84) on Red Rhino and Abstract, compiled with missing material on the 2001 Anagram disc The Complete Collection. Members: Mark Tighe (guitar, 1979-2017), Ian Tilleard (lead vocals, 1979-84), Nick Hiles (bass, 1979-83), Ian Anderson (keyboards, 1979-80), Tony Horsfall (drums, 1979-80), Mick Reed […]
The 13th Chime was an English goth-rock band that cut three independent singles and recorded an intended 1984 album, released in 2009 by archivists Sacred Bones. Members: Mick Hand (vocals), Gary O’Connor (guitar), Terry Taylor (bass), Ricky Cook (drums) Background 13th Chime formed in 1980 in Haverhill, Suffolk, when singer Mick Hand, guitarist Gary O’Connor, […]
