Check out Jesus and Mary Chain. Early Goth tended to be more melancholy with catchy melodies than outright depressing and this Goth band reflects that. Morrissey ruined it for everyone so I don't recommend the Smiths or the Cure (although I could argue that The Cure is not Goth, but I'll let that one go). The rise in the Smiths popularity is when I got out of the habit of listening and following Goth music/scene/subculture. Empathizing with the music you listen to is a different event than letting yourself dissolve into depression and self loathing. Worst thing I ever saw was a little Goth boy letting himself be led around by a little Goth girl (and no she was not cute), by a leash that was hooked to the spiked dog collar around his neck, at of all places Rockfest in KC. And Manson is not Goth, though labeled as such as is all Death Metal and Thrash now a days it seems, but it's really not in my opinion. Lazy journalists. Us Goth kids in my day were never that angry-passive aggressive and spiteful yes, but we'd never raise a hand against anyone other than ourselves. Still love the culture, what with the toys on the market and all and movies influenced by Goth, like Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. You might also explore steampunk, very Goth in a brown sort of Victorian way, the way the Goths chose the black and purple Victorian style, but less focused on the human condition. Style is key to being Goth, but don't lose a job over it, nothing worse than having to squat as previously mentioned in the thread. But yeah, check out Jesus and Mary chain they are one of my favorite Goth bands next to Bauhaus and the Damned. Also check out Love and Rockets, not Goth per se, but you might like them.

Haunted George, in case you guys did not know, is also Uncle Yah-Yah, host of the Haunted Shack Theater podcast found right here on GaragePunk.com.

Chessman said:

I concur with SSP. The new Haunted George record kicks ass...

"BLACK ROOOOOSSTTERRR SQQQUUUUUAAAAALLLLLLLSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

I concur with SSP. The new Haunted George record kicks ass...

"BLACK ROOOOOSSTTERRR SQQQUUUUUAAAAALLLLLLLSSSSS!!!!!!!!"

however, I love gothic literature and music. However I also love punk style and

Okay, so I dress goth, however, I love gothic literature and music. However I also love punk style and incorporate a lot of that into my clothing as well.. horrorpunk I suppose? LOL

That was pretty interesting. I never knew that Suicide was considered part of New York's No Wave scene seeing as it was common to find them sharing stages with the Ramones, Television, The Voidoids, and other New York bands who stood out from each other. As noisy and arty as they were, I always thought they were more talented than bands like the Contortions and Teen Age Jesus and the Jerks (I think Lydia Lunch is over rated).

kopper said:

Click here for All You Ever Wanted to Know About No Wave But Were Afraid to Ask.

Click here for All You Ever Wanted to Know About No Wave But Were Afraid to Ask.

What exactly is no-wave? I mean I know all labels are vague, flexible, and sometimes ubiquitously meaningless, but I've heard no-wave a lot and never really had any idea or had any bands come into my head. Bands? Time period?

Also you find Ty Segall to be dark? I'd have to agree with whoever said he's a more positive, well-adjusted version of Jay Reatard.....happy go lucky west coast surfer + psycho garage rocker

kopper said:

I still listen to Bauhaus now and then. It's funny... the Dirtbombs' version of "Kung Fu" (where they basically incorporate "Bela Lugosi's Dead" into a cover of Curtis Mayfield's classic soul number) actually got me listening to them again when Ultraglide in Black came out in 2001. Listened to that album right after it came out almost non-stop while driving to NYC just a month after 9/11 for Cavestomp. CLICK HERE to listen. I'd probably avoided Bauhaus since the mid-'80s before then. Tones on Tail, Lords of the New Church, Southern Death Cult, etc. I like Joy Division a lot, too. I remember having the "Black Planet" album by Sisters of Mercy back then, too, but I just can't listen to that stuff anymore without laughing.

I guess the Damned could be considered goth punk, right? Still listen to them, although I've never been too crazy of their post-Strawberries stuff. Try Phantasmagoria, though. And once in a while I'll still listen to the Misfits, especially around Halloween (although I still prefer the Cramps). Do you like the Cramps? Not "goth" but they do sing about dead stuff, zombies, and whatnot. Kinda spooky! And the Mummies, haha! ;)

But seriously, here are some bands you should seek out. The following aren't typically considered "goth," more like dark-themed garage, punk/rock'n'roll, art punk, black metal, swamp rock, avant-garde, etc., but you might like them:

T.S.O.L.
The Wipers
Gun Club
Hoodoo Gurus
Satan's Cheerleaders
The Fiends
Wire
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The Honeymoon Killers
Poison 13
The Gories (Mick Collins' band before the Dirtbombs)
Dwarves (Horror Stories or Lick It LPs)
Dead Moon
Destruction Unit
The Hex Dispensers
Lost Sounds
Suicide
Roky Erickson & the Aliens
The Horrors (from Cedar Rapids on In The Red Records, not the UK band)
The Hunches
The Blowtops
Mystery Girls
Television
Modey Lemon
The Monsters (The Lightning/Reverend Beat-Man's band!)
The Fuzztones
The Priests
New Salem Witch Hunters
The Nomads
Radio Birdman
The Nevermores
Rocket From the Tombs
The Original Sins
Demon's Claws
Cheater Slicks
Black Time
The Deadly Snakes
The Fall
The Screamers
Crime
Brian Eno
The Mirrors
The Daily Void
The Gris Gris
Subsonics
The Vipers
Ty Segall
Haunted George (ha!)
And you'd probably like the Black Lips, too, although you've probably already heard them. Try their earlier stuff, though.

And for '60s stuff, try the Monks, Sean Bonniwell's Music Machine, Love, the Seeds, 13th Floor Elevators, the Calico Wall, Electric Prunes, the Haunted, Can, the Velvet Underground, Zakary Thaks, Them, Stooges, Godz, Captain Beefheart, early (Syd Barrett-era) Pink Floyd, the Omens, Pebbles comps, and, yeah, ok, the Doors. Oh, and Screaming Jay Hawkins. ;)

I keep more or less that list handy whenever someone asks me if I like goth rock. I realize it's all over the place, but seriously, check some of them out if you haven't already. You might get sucked in!

I still listen to Bauhaus now and then. It's funny... the Dirtbombs' version of "Kung Fu" (where they basically incorporate "Bela Lugosi's Dead" into a cover of Curtis Mayfield's classic soul number) actually got me listening to them again when Ultraglide in Black came out in 2001. Listened to that album right after it came out almost non-stop while driving to NYC just a month after 9/11 for Cavestomp. CLICK HERE to listen. I'd probably avoided Bauhaus since the mid-'80s before then. Tones on Tail, Lords of the New Church, Southern Death Cult, etc. I like Joy Division a lot, too. I remember having the "Black Planet" album by Sisters of Mercy back then, too, but I just can't listen to that stuff anymore without laughing.

I guess the Damned could be considered goth punk, right? Still listen to them, although I've never been too crazy of their post-Strawberries stuff. Try Phantasmagoria, though. And once in a while I'll still listen to the Misfits, especially around Halloween (although I still prefer the Cramps). Do you like the Cramps? Not "goth" but they do sing about dead stuff, zombies, and whatnot. Kinda spooky! And the Mummies, haha! ;)

But seriously, here are some bands you should seek out. The following aren't typically considered "goth," more like dark-themed garage, punk/rock'n'roll, art punk, black metal, swamp rock, avant-garde, etc., but you might like them:

T.S.O.L.
The Wipers
Gun Club
Hoodoo Gurus
Satan's Cheerleaders
The Fiends
Wire
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The Honeymoon Killers
Poison 13
The Gories (Mick Collins' band before the Dirtbombs)
Dwarves (Horror Stories or Lick It LPs)
Dead Moon
Destruction Unit
The Hex Dispensers
Lost Sounds
Suicide
Roky Erickson & the Aliens
The Horrors (from Cedar Rapids on In The Red Records, not the UK band)
The Hunches
The Blowtops
Mystery Girls
Television
Modey Lemon
The Monsters (The Lightning/Reverend Beat-Man's band!)
The Fuzztones
The Priests
New Salem Witch Hunters
The Nomads
Radio Birdman
The Nevermores
Rocket From the Tombs
The Original Sins
Demon's Claws
Cheater Slicks
Black Time
The Deadly Snakes
The Fall
The Screamers
Crime
Brian Eno
The Mirrors
The Daily Void
The Gris Gris
Subsonics
The Vipers
Ty Segall
Haunted George (ha!)
And you'd probably like the Black Lips, too, although you've probably already heard them. Try their earlier stuff, though.

And for '60s stuff, try the Monks, Sean Bonniwell's Music Machine, Love, the Seeds, 13th Floor Elevators, the Calico Wall, Electric Prunes, the Haunted, Can, the Velvet Underground, Zakary Thaks, Them, Stooges, Godz, Captain Beefheart, early (Syd Barrett-era) Pink Floyd, the Omens, Pebbles comps, and, yeah, ok, the Doors. Oh, and Screaming Jay Hawkins. ;)

I keep more or less that list handy whenever someone asks me if I like goth rock. I realize it's all over the place, but seriously, check some of them out if you haven't already. You might get sucked in!

When I say subculture, I mean I like to dress in black, I am being myself. :) Emo is dead anyway. SCENE is what you're reffering to haha.

kopper said:

Fuck the subculture. Goths are about as annoying as emo kids. Just dig the music and be yourself.

Johnny Paradox said:

Thanks guys, I am just getting into the "Goth" subculture and the new tunes will be welcome :)

jamie said:

More important I think, is building music on tradition with a proper foundation based on the theory of rock and roll archetypes from the 50s and 60s.

in that case, Jody Reynolds! anybody mention Christian Death? First album, the ones after are snoozers to me(tho they definately fit the depresso rock thing).

Kilslug!

More important I think, is building music on tradition with a proper foundation based on the theory of rock and roll archetypes from the 50s and 60s.

Fuck the subculture. Goths are about as annoying as emo kids. Just dig the music and be yourself.

Johnny Paradox said:

Thanks guys, I am just getting into the "Goth" subculture and the new tunes will be welcome :)

Thanks guys, I am just getting into the "Goth" subculture and the new tunes will be welcome :)