Which band do you think was the best goth band of the 80's!!

Sisters of Mercy
Bauhaus
The Cure
Siouxsie
Joy Division

This was a tough decision because I like them all. I voted for Siouxsie and the Banshees.

I voted for The Cure, Siouxsie was close though.

I voted for Siouxsie, but The Cure and Bauhaus were close second and third.

Love these poll things. Only here for three days, but am so enjoying it and a lot of quite nice people are here from what Ive read so far.

I love them all, but my choice will always be The Cure. Cant say how much that band helped me out when I was a teenager and going through usual teenage stuff.

Marius

Of the list, I chose The Cure. I am a big New Order fan, but I just can't get into Joy Division's music. I have there greatest hits CD, but rarely play it. I guess the only song I really like by Joy Division is "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Love New Order very much more than Joy Division. Cant believe how much they changed just from the lead singer not with them anymore. I think they more showed their talent in New Order and seemed to be limited and held back in Joy Division.

Marius

Originally posted by Marius
Love New Order very much more than Joy Division. Cant believe how much they changed just from the lead singer not with them anymore. I think they more showed their talent in New Order and seemed to be limited and held back in Joy Division.

Marius

It depends what you mean by "held back." If you listen to all of NewOrder's albums back-to-back (with the exception of Movement), you'll notice that every one of them sounds... the same. This is not necessarily bad. I think NewOrder found a good formula that worked and decided to stick with it. They never changed throughout their 20+ year history. Would you consider that "limited" and "held back"?

Btw, my vote goes for Bauhaus

Definitely The Cure for me :verycool:

I just said Sisters of Mercy. I like them all actually. I can't choice a favorite from the list.

My vote goes to Siouxie, but I like them all. :D

I would have to go with The Cure on this poll.

too close but im voting for the cure, siouxie was 2nd on my list

Man that was hard choosing. But honestly, when I hear the word "goth" I automatically think of Bauhaus because nothing sounds more "goth" to me than "Bela Lugosi's Dead" :)

Originally posted by PoisonGirl234
Man that was hard choosing. But honestly, when I hear the word "goth" I automatically think of Bauhaus because nothing sounds more "goth" to me than "Bela Lugosi's Dead" :)

I gotta agree with you on that one! Haven't heard it in seems like forever....

I have to add a band that isn´t in the poll, but i love them: Clan Of Xymox, they are so great! I´ve seen them about a month ago, in a concert here in Chile and it was Awesomeeeeeeeee.
And i kiss Ronnie, hehehe.
This band really kick ass.


:rockband:

Out of that lot, I'd vote Bauhaus. But my fave 80s goth band would probably be the March Violets or Specimen. Clan of Xymox are great too.

To me - and this is gonna sound very injurious to Gothic music fans - Clan Of Xymox used to be better when they had the original line-up with Anke Wolbert and Peter Nooten. After The Phoenix album, the only other album that could recapture their good sound was 1997's Hidden Faces. Anything after that pales in comparison to their e.p., debut, or Medusa.

The best Goth band? Easy. That would be Death In June :)

I went with Bauhaus... just beacuse I think that Peter Murphy is the most Goth individual on the planet.

Peter Murphy - Cascade is in my top 10 albums of all time, and I don't even consider myself a "goth". Strange. Maybe I am goth and don't realize it......

Originally posted by XXX
To me - and this is gonna sound very injurious to Gothic music fans - Clan Of Xymox used to be better when they had the original line-up with Anke Wolbert and Peter Nooten. After The Phoenix album, the only other album that could recapture their good sound was 1997's Hidden Faces. Anything after that pales in comparison to their e.p., debut, or Medusa.

The best Goth band? Easy. That would be Death In June :)

I actually agree. I think they went downhill when they changed their name to Xymox. The Hidden Faces album was brilliant though...Songs like Out of The Rain, This World & The Story Ends were brilliant....but albums since that were just hideous!

As for Death In June? Saw them play in Sydney over the Easter weekend this year. Darn brilliant! Especially "She Said Destroy". They even took their masks off, which I always thought was a bit of a DIJ no no...

Omg! Another DIJ fan! I envy you! I'd love to go to one of their gigs. Sigh. If they only came around these parts...

Hehe. I'm also a bit partial to their 80s works too. Songs from Nada and The World That Summer esp., but, then, I find myself mouthing the chorus to "Rose Clouds Of Holocaust" once and again when I'm walking alone or in the car ;) Douglas P. has such a calm and soothing deep voice. I don't think I've ever been as much into listening to songs before I go to sleep since The Smiths...

The Smiths eh? Morrissey! *swoon* Saw him twice late last year. Best 2 nights of my life :D

I prefer the older DIJ too. Have you listened to the Boyd Rice stuff?

The Cure BY FAR... someone said how they helpled them deal with a lot in HS or something like that and I totally agree. I didn't start getting into them til towards the end of HS and then in college. I can relate to so many things they sing about and they have helped me deal with so much in my life. They are at the top of my list for Bands I Must See Before I Die.

My second choice is Sisters of Mercy... LOVE them.

Originally posted by Belladonna
The Smiths eh? Morrissey! *swoon* Saw him twice late last year. Best 2 nights of my life :D

I prefer the older DIJ too. Have you listened to the Boyd Rice stuff?

Whoa! Hahaha! I was about to ask YOU that! He's a plain genial Situationist. I read somewhere this is the same guy who pushed Tom Jones down a flight of stairs :p Anyway, NON is a guilty pleasure to listen to. I don't own any of his albums 'cause they're impossible to find at the local Circuit City or Tower Records, but I have a couple of his songs like "I'd Rather Be Your Enemy" and "Disneyland Can Wait." I've heard his music be played in the Uni radio station years ago. For a guy so wicked and weird, he has a really monotone/baritone (a bit calm and soothing) voice and sounds great :)

Would you recommend any of his albums (or specific songs) to look out for?

NON supported DIJ when I saw them.... :D I've never actually been able to get into that stuff to the same extent as DIJ, but a goth radio show here has been playing some stuff recently under the name of Boyd Rice & Friends which I quite like... I don't own any, but I'll try and track down a couple of the song names for you.

Love all thoose bands, But you dont have the BEST Goth band on the poll.

Christian Death. Has got to be my all time fave!!!

Originally posted by surfnut
Love all thoose bands, But you dont have the BEST Goth band on the poll.

Christian Death. Has got to be my all time fave!!!

Providing that it's Rozz on vocal duties, not Valor! :)

Originally posted by Belladonna


Providing that it's Rozz on vocal duties, not Valor! :)
Good call sweety!!!!!! :)

Bauhaus is really nice talking about real "dark" however i pick Joy Division....

And i love Cranes BTW

The Cure BY FAR... They are at the top of my list for Bands I Must See Before I Die.

you HAVE to see them in concert jillybean!! I saw them in 2000 for their Dreamtour, and to this day, it was the best concert I've EVER been to.
I would do pretty much anything to live that night over again - the atmosphere and the sound was like no other! make sure you see them at all costs!!!!

The Cure without a shadow of a doubt, probably the most popular too and their music were :thumb: and still good!! :yesnod:

My choice (from the bands offered) has to be Bauhaus! The Sisters made some very good music, as did the Banshees. Joy division were OK, until they became open about really being a bibblegum pop band by forming "New Order".

As for the Cure, I found it hard to believe that they were even included in the options...they were NEVER goth, unless a mass of black hair and bad red lipstick is enough to let you in. They Cure were (are?) a good band, but goth??? No.

When I was a goth in the 80's, I saw all of the bands above, except The Cure, and they were all wonderful live, but Bauhaus encapsulated that early 80's sound & image (which at the time we called "spikey-gothic"). The Sisters were more heavy, more "produced" and were the mid 80's defining image (theatre-gothic we called it).

Anyway, My all time favourite goth band is Christian Death. I saw them several times, but they are still so amazing now, 20+ years on! How about "The Marrionettes", "X-mal Deutschland", "Sex Gang Children", "Alien sex feind" an "Southern Death Cult"(later "Death Cult", and even later "The Cult....losing credibility with each name change).

Thanks

Andy

Bauhaus were probably the best. Although the Sisters were/are my personal faves.

Joy Division and The Sisters Of Mercy are not Goth. One is better described as Post Punk/New Wave and the other is a Rock band (as they describe themselves to be...). A lot of goth kiddies listen to them, that's all. The Cure is probably more Goth than those two bands - and, yes, it does include their look. Shoot, ya think Christian Death/Rozz Williams would be considered Goth if they went around wearing pastel coloured cachemere sweaters, flat front khakis, and matching belts and shoes ? :lol:

NewOrder and Bubblegum Pop do not belong in the same sentence. Nobody would ever call NewOrder - or any Factory band - "Bubblegum Pop." Obviously, you've not heard enough of either or else you would never make such a rash comparison.

joy division gets my vote..definitely one of the darkest band I've ever heard

I had to go with Bauhaus. To me they were they were the dark...

Of the scene as i remeber it (about when the 80's turned into the 90's), I picked the Sisters, However Danielle Dax, Janes Addiction, Bauhaus, The banshees etc were all pretty much a feature as well. So as you can tell, The Local scene was not exactly hard core Goth, more proberbly what i hear refered to as a dark wave. Certainly a fair amount of early 'industrial cross over' at the time going on. :tsk:

The Cure, somehow seemd to us a guilty pleasure at the time, they were pop, fluffy, unthreatening, but enjoyable. :mwaha:

(intends to put on Lagatija Nick on the record deck when he gets home tonight) :thumb:

I chose The Sisters. why?
Because Craig Adams is god :)

The Cure of course!

Joy Division and The Sisters Of Mercy are not Goth. One is better described as Post Punk/New Wave and the other is a Rock band (as they describe themselves to be...). A lot of goth kiddies listen to them, that's all. The Cure is probably more Goth than those two bands - and, yes, it does include their look. Shoot, ya think Christian Death/Rozz Williams would be considered Goth if they went around wearing pastel coloured cachemere sweaters, flat front khakis, and matching belts and shoes ? :lol:

NewOrder and Bubblegum Pop do not belong in the same sentence. Nobody would ever call NewOrder - or any Factory band - "Bubblegum Pop." Obviously, you've not heard enough of either or else you would never make such a rash comparison.

Wel......As I said, my choice was based "on the bands in the list". I agree with you about Joy Division, and to some degree, even the Sisters, but bear in mind that just because a band later claims not to be Goth, that changes very little. If it did, Siouxsie would never have made it into the list, as she has said for years she hates the "G" word, and says she & the Banshees were never a part of the Gothic thing. And as for the Cure, when did they EVER say they were Gothic? Never! a lot of bands we now look back on as Goth were not interested in that title, and were also "post punk/early new wave" but styles change, as do people's interpretation of what the limits are. One of the things that made Goth so special (to me anyway) was it's "underground-ness" (is that a word?)

I am aware that it's all about personal taste really, but there is some validity in looking at a band's following (who makes up the vast majority of thier fan-base) as well as the sound/image etc. Goth is WAY too varied (and always was) to simply hear a sound and then decide....

What is a Goth kiddie anyway??? I was a Goth Kiddie in 1981 (aged 14) and before very long, I had been to the Batcave, Bloodcapsule and Rock City & seen most of the bands. Now I am more of a Goth has-been.

The very thought of Valor (or Rozz when he was alive) wearing "pastel coloured cachemere sweaters"......it makes the mind boggle :-)

I am aware that it's all about personal taste really, but there is some validity in looking at a band's following (who makes up the vast majority of thier fan-base) as well as the sound/image etc.
Agreed Andy...if we have to pigeon-hole bands into categories and use criteria in the first place (which I'm not a fan of :D ) then the Sisters would make the Goth list everytime. Whether judging by content, sound, appearance or fan base....regardless of what clever thing Mr. Eldritch might now say. Sure, they may not have gone out and said..."hey, how can we be part of this goth thing?" But the end result was the same.

To me Bauhaus is the godfather of Goth. I have their Gotham DVD and they are still as unbelievably artsy now as they were then. Plus I love all of their subsequent solo acts as well as other band incarnations.

The Cure is a VERY close second.

I voted for Joy Division.

Did somebody know other Goth-Bands like Screaming Dead, Specimen, Sex Gang Children, Virgin Prunes ?

or the new ones like : Cinema Strange, New Days Delay, Zombina and the Skeletones, Frank the Baptist,... ?

Bauhaus of the one's listed. My favorites above them are Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance though.

After thinking about it, The Cure is not Goth. They are Alternative/Post Punk/New Wave. Robert Smith hates it when people call The Cure "Goth". I like it how Craig Killborn labled them "They create darkly romantic pop songs". The Smiths/Morrissey is more "Goth" than The Cure.

Well hell. If The Smiths are Goth and The Cure are not Goth, then Haircut 100 and The Sparks are Goth :lol: :p

To me Bauhaus is the godfather of Goth. I have their Gotham DVD and they are still as unbelievably artsy now as they were then. Plus I love all of their subsequent solo acts as well as other band incarnations.

The Cure is a VERY close second.
are Bauhaus still putting songs out as a band?
I should have kept up more. The last I bought is some of Peter Murphy's solo stuff. They will always be my #1 fav goth band.
:)

the last cd they did was 'REST IN PIECE: THE FINAL CONCERT (live)
cd, 1992' right?

Bauhaus stopped performing as a band in 1983 and reformed briefly in the late 80s (that's where Gotham came from). Everything else that has been released since is archive material.

thanks, dude.
I saw Peter M. perform in '89, and I thought Bauhaus was pretty much through at the time.

Bauhaus is the kind of band that lives on after it's dead :D

Peter Murphy still does gigs here and there. Last time I think it was at the House Of Blues in Hollywood. I missed it, but I'm definitely gonna try to catch his next show. It's always been backwards for me. I got into Bauhaus after hearing Peter Murphy and Love And Rockets. One was totally Alterno-Indie while the other was unashamedly Poppy... thus, it was weird to hear the non-single Bauhaus stuff (which was pretty much anything but "Bela Lugosi" and "She's In Parties" :rolleyes: ). "Dark Entries" is one of my faves from them, but the lyrics are a bit of nonsensical poppycock :p

yeah, Peter does an awesome show. I got into Bauhaus around '87, after hearing "Bela L..'s dead" in the clubs. It's a trip when everyone's dancing to that song. Watching the 'goths' and 'death rockers' (anyone heard that in awhile?) dance to it. The other people would sort of fade from the dance floor. lol
Songs like 'Telegram Sam' and 'Kick in the Eye' are what really got me into them, though. Then Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets. There will never be bands like that again. :no:

Songs like 'Telegram Sam' and 'Kick in the Eye' are what really got me into them, though. Then Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets. There will never be bands like that again. :no:

A lot of the "scene" nowadays is made up of outfits in the SynthPop and Aggro-EBM categories. I can't think of a current band that sounds remotely like Bauhaus or Tones On Tail (nothing that would ring any bells anyway). The new stuff is not bad music per se (well, I have my reservations on the Aggro music since I can't listen to it for more than one song). It's either artistic choice or plain inability to come up with that sound that we've grown to love from Peter and Co.

based on who i saw live:

Virgin Prunes
Gene Loves Jezebel
Southern Death Cult
Killing Joke
Sisters O.M.
Play Dead
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Cocteau Twins
dead can dance

"Mine's a cider and black.." LOL

I voted for Sisters of Mercy, but the Cure is going to be in Concert here in Houston on Aug 15 and I will have to go even if I have to mortgage the kids.

The Cure was too easy. Let's make the next one a little more difficult. :clap:

...and then there was 'Theatre of Hate' ....who quickly became 'Spear of Destiny' ("Liberator" is such a GREAT RECORD).
plus:

Alien Sex Fiend
Sex Gang children
Flesh For Lu Lu ('Roman Candle' is excellent)
March Violets
Xmal...


"In Shreds" by the Chameleons is an amazing and rare track. Then there's the first 2 records by 'All about Eve'...

:-))

"In Shreds" by the Chameleons is an amazing and rare track.
:-))

I agree. I LOVE this track. It's perfect. Do know their other songs? I'm a huge Chameleon's fan. Second Skin was always my favorite track. :)

I had to pick Duran Duran...but it was close between them and Flock of Seagulls...

I had to pick Duran Duran...but it was close between them and Flock of Seagulls...


:lol: Morgan , wake up!!!! :clap: I think you're still sleeping, hon. ;)





I picked Sisters of Mercy

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah it's just brilliant. Cover of the single is a piece of art.
I own most Chameleons vinyl (I think)...my favourite is "A Person Isn't Safe Anywhere These Days" from the "Script of the Bridge" album...disturbing stuff...
Remember listening to this in some teacher's car after hitching a lift home from a London goth gig...(always took tapes with me).

The London gig I referred to was GLJ. :mwaha:

Hi Jezebel ;)

:banana: YAY!!! Another GLJ fan!! :banana:

:banana: YAY!!! Another GLJ fan!! :banana:


Saw them in concert recently and the remains of GLJ barely gasped it's way through a 35 minute set before being unceremoniously bumped off by Terri Nunn.

That's not the real GLJ. lt's a long story, but Michael Aston's band goes by the name Gene Loves Jezebel, even though he left the band in 89. The "real" GLJ never broke up, never stopped recording, touring, etc. Michael Aston's band is basically a bunch of imposters.

I saw the band maybe 'lots' of times, I remember sitting in pubs or side rooms with them before gigs. Hi Gaz and Wez if you ever see this. Being on the 'guest list' was special. I kept a diary of the 1985 tour (great times) and met some lovely kind people, even if they were scary. GLJ were/are heroes of mine.

Always a flame.
:bigcry:

That's not the real GLJ. lt's a long story, but Michael Aston's band goes by the name Gene Loves Jezebel, even though he left the band in 89. The "real" GLJ never broke up, never stopped recording, touring, etc. Michael Aston's band is basically a bunch of imposters.

Hehe. I know. Kinda like Valor carrying on the name of Christian Death to the dirt.

'Danse Society'. All the best leather jackets had their logo on the back.

'Ex-Post Facto' - "Dancing child" is top banana, a great Goth 12" from Liverpool UK. Sold mine. :(

'InTwo a Circle' - Bee's band.

'Tones On Tail'.'

'Ballam & the Angel'.

The Cure....

The Cure!!!! I absolutely loved the Cure!!!!!!! Still do!!!! They are the only goth band I listen to. :)

The Cure. Who else???

Joy Division was my fav :jester:

Like them all...but the best goth band was ofcourse Fields Of The Nephilim with the album "Elyzium" as the best ever made Goth album...

you can see the earth
we're high here
we're climbing over sumertown
you can kiss the air
we're gliding
follow me for sumerland

Hmmmmmmm best Goth band of the 80's

* Looks at the list again *

None of the above I would class as a Goth band really :tsk:

Yep, whatever goth is, the Nephilim made a special kind of music which you could play to life, rather than to death. In fact, I had a friend who I had to lend my tape to 4 times before he was sure he liked it.
And then it just grows...
Going back to the definition of "goth" anyone heard of an album called Scoundrel Days? Check out the lyrics. They are _melancholy_! Reptile House EP is easy listening by comparison.

Siouxsie :thumb:

Isn't this like the other poll? Once again I went with The Cure.

All are wonderful bands,I'd say it's between: siouxsie/sisters/the cure/bauhaus. But as i said,they're all wonderful and sorely missed today.

I was too a real Fields Of The Nephilim addict.
Also i loved and still love :
The Chameleons
Skeletal Family
The Last Cry
The Danse Society
March Violets
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Clan Of Xymox
X-Mal Deutschland
Death Cult
Siglo XX
The Neon Judgement
Poésie Noire
And much much more :violin:

I went for BauHaus.
I love them all but these blokes took the grand prize in the inscrutable amphetamine freaks awards of the 1980's. Their version of Ziggy Stardust is astonishing.
I don't know how well these other bands did in the US but they are worth a mention..

Fields of the Nephilim.
Laibach.
Lacrimosa.
Gay Bikers on Acid.

I voted for Bauhaus.

At the same time, The Cure is NOT a goth band.They have the look and they were coined alternative before it was even used as a popular musical term. But musically and lyrically the Cure is not and has never been a Goth band,to do so is denying them of all their other influences.

Just IMO

MrV

I voted for the Cure since they are my favorite band. However, I wouldn't call them Goth. In fact Bob hates it when The Cure get labeled as goth. If anything I would maybe call them darkwave, but to me they are in a class by themself.

It's a shame you only got famous names in this poll, for me the Top 5 are :

1. Twisted Nerve
2. Bone Orchard
3. Ausgang
4. 1919
5. Joy Division

So, Joy Division gets the vote...
*sigh*
:bigcry:

Mike

It's a shame you only got famous names in this poll, for me the Top 5 are :

1. Twisted Nerve
2. Bone Orchard
3. Ausgang
4. 1919
5. Joy Division

Mikei know a lot of goth bands (i used to date a dj/promoter right after highschool) and out of your list, i only ever heard of Joy Division, who really aren't a goth band (too me). Who are these other bands? Give us info.

Hola

It's all british Postpunk, some of the stuff even re-released on CD now (*sniff*)
Ausgang (Last Exit - Best of Ausgang) and 1919 (Complete Works) you can still order at midprice I think (and recommend to do so).
Twisted Nerve and Bone Orchard are except a few single tracks on vinyl only.

The music is a kind of...
hmm
how to say
all instruments play something different but together it sounds great...
lol
Take the drums of Bauhaus' Double Dare, speed them up, add the vocals of Alien Sex Fiend and guitar and bass...

Looks like you are from NYC, so maybe you know the band Grinning Plowman from 87/88 (the song "Inquisition" sounds very much like this old UK stuff), also maybe Of A Mesh from NYC mid-80s, or from the UK the later UK Decay (song : Dresden) that are typical for this style.

Mike

Siouxsie. Amazing band. I also like their stuff they made afterwards as "The Creatures" alot.

Out of those whom you listed, I chose Bauhaus... came extremely close to choosing Sisters... but ah, well. All of the bands listed rank high on my favourites list, and I'll leave it at that for now.

I voted for The Cure, Siouxsie was close though.
My sentiments too.

I picked The Cure

BauHaus is definitely the best goth band. Siouxsie and Sisters of Mercy would be 2nd and 3rd respectively.

I voted for Bauhaus, but looked for The Damned on the list. I loved some of their songs. I have the Shadow of Love video on a compter disc. Sanctum Sanctorum (sp?) was a fave.

Voted for Joy Devision

The Cure Win Easily Here
But Saying That Joy Division (New Order Now) Are Also Great !

Love You Walvis

I voted for Siouxsie and the Banshees because Ms. Sioux is one of my heroes. I was hoping to see Dead Can Dance on the list. Sisters of Mercy are a close second in the list. What about The Jesus and Mary Chain, guess they're a little more psychedlic than goth? Early Cure (i.e. Faith; the sexiest album EVER) is definitely one of my favorite records of all time, but I completely lost interest in them after Head on the Door. Good poll :thumb:

The Cure- hands down!!! :yesnod:

Cocteau Twins.
I'm partial to the ethereal style they invented.
'Treasure' is probably my all-time fave album.
Though i do like the Siouxsie Singles albums a lot.

The Cure- hands down!!! :yesnod: That's a very good choice. I'd have to say it's a tie between: Bauhaus/The Cure.

Cocteau Twins.
I'm partial to the ethereal style they invented.
'Treasure' is probably my all-time fave album.
Though i do like the Siouxsie Singles albums a lot.

I recently discovered the Cocteau Twins, and I'm totally adicted. Such and amazingly good band. I especially like their debut album "Garlands".
:spin:

The Cure! But I like the others also

THE CURE, without a doubt, however i have been into others on the list at different times of my life. Used to be into The Sisters heaps, Siouxsie and Bauhaus. Anyone remember New Kids In The Block " The Right Stuff " video and i think it was Joey who had a Bauhaus t-shirt on? I still listen to Bauhaus and want to listen to more Joy Division. "Love Will Tear Us Apart", would have to be one of the most tragic songs ever. Ian Curtis sings it like his heart is physically breaking apart from within.

"The Cure" is an easy win. They had tons of hits and Smith's voice is so unique. Great band.

Great drummer too (previously was with Thompson Twins ;))

The Cure!

Another tough one, but this time I picked Bauhaus. Peter Murphy :drool:

The Cure

What a tough one! I like Sisters, Cure and Bauhaus very much. I've seen Cure and Sisters on stage and Cure definatley are the better performers. The Sisters concert some years ago in Austria was a little lame but out of my stomache I still voted for them.

The Cure

I can't really choose a favorite I like them all equally

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