Tea Bunny, I lived through it as well. Its not really that hard to describe the origins of Goth, in terms of music and a youth culture phenomenon. The confusion comes when everyone claims that their own personal favorite bands were responsible.
Its not a stretch to say the first two bands which brought Goth to the mainstream were Bauhaus and Joy Division. The Cure was responsible for making Goth very popular in the mainstream in the 80s
But the main influences for these bands were mainly David Bowie and to a lesser extent bands like The Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop, NY Dolls and Lou Reed. These acts didn't create Goth, but the created a rebellion within youth culture and music, against the mainstream of 60's rock, i.e. The Beatles, etc. This rebellion branched out into punk, glitter rock/glam rock, new wave, and Goth. This 'rebellion' was androgynous, and anti-traditional sexuality at its core.
I was at a small, elite liberal arts college in 1981-82. This is when I first saw Goth influence. By 1983, there were full fledged Goth kids listening to Bauhaus.
Bauhaus has paid quite a bit of tribute to David Bowie, and have even said that Bowie was the father of Goth.
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TeaBunny
11 years ago
Saying that Siouxsie "wasn't even close" to defining goth fashion is just ignorant. She was dressing and makeup-ing in the style adopted by modern Goths back in the mid-70's. That is what we are talking about here. The Cure was later.
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"Love means never having to say you're ugly." - the Abominable Dr. Phibes
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chas437
11 years ago
Perhaps, I just don't remember Siouxsie being very prevalent in those days, 1981-82, while Bauhaus was absolutely huge. I don't think Goth was manifested in mainstream culture until the early 80s, although it obviously had its roots and origins in the 70s.
I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout
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TeaBunny
11 years ago
So then maybe you shouldn't say, "LOL nope not even close" when you don't even know who one of the great Goth music pioneers is.
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"Love means never having to say you're ugly." - the Abominable Dr. Phibes
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chas437
11 years ago
I was fully aware of who they were, I just didn't think they were as influential as others mentioned. I know Bowie sort of gets credit for everything, but I think he is the key influence here as well.
I'm a civilian, I'm not a trout
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shoegal421
11 years ago
Robert Smith was a part of Siouxsie and the Banshees at a certain point while playing with The Cure simultaneously. Siouxsie and the Banshees were only about two years older than The Cure as a band so I'm not sure what you mean by later unless you mean Smith's look, which evolved with some time.
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Gandolph_Lundgren
10 years ago
Robert Smith wasn't a official part of Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Cure were on tour with Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1979 when Banshees guitarist John McKay and drummer Kenny Morris quit, Smith agreed to play guitar for The Banshees with Slits drummer Budgie on drums so they could finish the tour.
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Wombstar
10 years ago
But it was Smiths time with the Banshess that started him off with the silly hair and make up, he wanted to be Siouxsie, she inspired him. Prior to that both the Cure and Banshess were part of the post-punk movment.
Goth pretty much came from the punk scene. (once that had run it's course)
In my opinion it was The Dammed that started it all.
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