The art of darkness: The history of goth

Growing up in the seventies and eighties i saw or listened to most of the band's in the book but although 90% of the band's would be on a Goths playlist their more post punk than gothic. It's well written and written with love for the band's so for anyone who was there it's well worth buying but there's very little about the band's that are post nineties onwards and next to no mention of the modern gothic scene.

What England's Dreaming did for Punk, this will do for Goth. I've been waiting for a book like this since I first read "In The Reptile House" by Dave Thompson back in the late 90s.I'm 350 pages in and am utterly hooked. This majestically written masterpiece must have been a labour of love for John Robb to research and write.It will, when finished, sit proudly next to my battered, old, well-read 1st edition of that punk bible England's Dreaming by Jon Savage.Took me back to the 80s and the bands I loved( and still do - Siouxsie and the Banshees, Xmal Deutschland, Sisters of Mercy, The Mission, All About Eve, Bauhaus, The Cure, Southern Death Cult/Death Cult/The Cult.....)and to the many concerts in various London venues I attended watching these bands live.The Cathi Usworth Goth book out on 11th May 2023 I've pre-ordered from Amazon has a lot to live up to.Thank you John Robb for giving us this book that the subculture that is Goth deserved.

John Robb has written a book not only about a great chapter of this dark music history but also of the "Goth" cultural mood from the late seventies and through the eighties. Very informative on a bunch of great musicians and bands, many of them old favorites of mine. Highly recommended reading!

I have only flicked through it at this point, but can confirm that it mentions all of the obscure bands I have searched for, even if it is in passing and not referenced in the index.Some are not technically goth (Crass, Poison Girls as an example), some definitely not goth (PWEI) but referenced. from pre-punk, punk & post-punk through to modern music (your milage may vary on modern) it seems comprehensive. To be clear, it is concentrating on the major bands but mentioning the outliers.As I said, I have had a 5 minute scan of the contents but it is a densly packed book and I am pleased I took the chance and bought it.

This is a joyous read.Its an immersive look back at what was how I got into Goth scene. So well written.Goth I got into through my love of early 70s glam and a good gothic novel.I remember when we were bright peacocks not all in black Ive passed the peacock onto my daughter.

I can’t think of anyone more qualified to write this book, John’s warmth and personality shines through in his writing. I remember encountering the Gothic phenomenon as a young adult and this is the first book to comprehensively cover the subject. A compelling read.

The Art of Darkness is definitely set to become the definitive book on Goth in the way that Jon Savage's England's Dreaming has with punk. Both books are great in putting the subjects in a far wider artistic and historical context rather than just discussing them as rock music.I can't think of any other rock book that goes back to 410 AD! Robb links the original Goths' sacking of Rome through to the romantic poets - Shelley and Byron, and then Poe, Mary Shelley, Brothers Grimm... and composers such as Wagner, Debussy and Satie, philosophers such as Nietzsche and film makers such as Murnau... It's quite a while before we arrive at rock music, but Robb has a style and enthusiasm that keeps us enthralled throughout.Back in the 80s, I hated Goth... seeing it as superficial and image orientated. Happily Robb casts a wide net here, including the likes of The Birthday Party, Einstürzende Neubauten and Nico alongside the more clichéd acts. To be honest, my dislike of mainstream goth evapourated like a vampire exposed to sunlight when Britpop appeared and I realised how much more creative and imaginative the goths had been compared to the dominating lad culture of the time.I couldn't recommend this book too highly.

A deep dive into goth culture and it's cultural foundations.John Robb has left no (grave) stone unturned in this wonderful history into pops darker subculture.Once you pick it up, you can't leave it alone.