BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
The more we try to get away from high school, the more things stay the same. I think we all go through phases. Everyone bounces around in life finding new things to try and new social groups. We all eventually settle into who we are, but there is a constant evolution that makes life an interesting journey.
One phase I went through was my fishnets and black hair dye "Gothy" years. It was just good times, but it was never the "image" that worked for me. I know some folks, and even good friends who still rock the Goth look.
One thing I gained from all of this was an appreciation for Goth music. I like the darker tones, the haunting lyrics, and just the glamorization of the morbid and macabre.
Today I figure I might as well take this reflection back and tie it into the Halloween season. So, here's the rundown of THE BEST GOTH BANDS EVER... or pretty much my favorites.
If you agree it's "best of", if not then it's "my favorites".
Regardless, let's talk Goth!
7: VOLTAIRE
I had the pleasure of seeing Voltaire and meeting him a few years back at a Fangoria event in Chicago. He isn't so much of a Goth musician, but a Goth artist who puts a tongue in cheek satirical approach to music. Yet at the same time at poking fun at Goths, nerds, and religious hypocrites he's putting beautiful and genuinely awesome music into the world. He's also an artist of other mediums. Voltaire is a professor, a designer, animator, director, and even a little acting. He's also responsible for the Brains song from the Gothy cartoon The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy! So that alone would be enough to be on the list, but he's bringing plenty of Goth and Gothish stuff to the table. Check him out!
6: TYPE O NEGATIVE
Type O Negative was a beast of a band. Peter Steele passed away in 2010, but that man lived every day like he was the king of the world. His voice is super deep and evil, but the tone of the band was often either overly sexual or really tongue in cheek. It was a fun and bizarre combo. I recently spent a day watching Type O Negative videos on YouTube and my mind was altered from the experience. They would end up being dubbed “The Drab Four”, because of their depressing nature. If you’ve ever shown any interest in Gothic related music this is a band you need to spend some time with. At first it’s unsettling and then it gets unsettling.
5: FASHION BOMB
This is a band that everyone should know. Based out of Chicago, this newer Goth band is more in lines with A Perfect Circle, Rob Zombie, Sevendust, or the like than anything overly campy. There is still a dark element to the music and their image is definitely Goth I'm just a huge supporter of these guys. Their two albums, “Devils to Some, Angels to Others” and “Visions of a Lifted Veil”, are easily among the best rock albums I've ever owned. I know that sounds like I'm talking out of my ass, but it just goes to show how disgustingly criminal it is that Fashion Bomb isn't a household name.
4: THE CURE
It's weird to think this gloomy nu-wave Goth band is responsible for the best written love song of all time. Seriously. That is not hyperbole, folks. I’m talking about “lovesong”. Read the lyrics, listen to the melody, and absorb the delicate brilliance that is this modern master piece. So, yeah... I'm a fan. The Cure is not a one hit wonder in the least bit. They have blown minds with “Boys Don’t Cry”, “Just Like Heaven”, “Why Can’t I Be You?”, “Fascination Street”, and a slew of others. Then there's the style impact Robert Smith brought to the table. It wasn't "spooky Goth" but rather "fashionably gothic". As if the 80's needed any more eye liner.
3: SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES
I really need to give myself the undoubtedly gift of Siouxsie. I’m not going to put up this façade that I know what’s up here. I don’t know all that much about Siouxsie and/or the Banshees. What I do know is that her voice is outstanding and these guys really innovated a post-punk dreary goth rock sound. This band pretty much had to carry the flag on their own for a while. In fact, many people would even say they were the actual inspiration in the genre existing to begin with. It’s a haunting sound that I need to really get more into. From what I’ve heard and from what I’ve been told I would not be disappointed.
2: BAUHAUS
The thing about Bauhaus is that they are ridiculously outstanding on every level. Their stage show is engagingly creepy as Peter Murphy embodies everything that would make up a vampire. Seriously, I've said many times that Peter Murphy would be the number one suspect of humans that are really vampires.... You know… if that were possible. Then there's the music. Murphy, Mars, and company come together to make the sleekest of grooves comparable to a Bowie, a Cure with testosterone, or even Satan herself after a few stiff drinks and two tabs of ecstasy. When you listen to Bauhaus time stops and the shadows take over. All praise Peter Murphy.
1: MARILYN MANSON
Mr. Brian Warner is a Goth rocker who pushed the envelope when I was a teenager. Because of this, and the fact he's pretty much a genius, is why Manson is one of the coolest rock stars of all time. Manson's impact on music is heinously underappreciated but no one can deny the glory that was Manson's early albums like “Smells Like Children”, “Portrait of an American Family”, “Antichrist Superstar”, and even “Mechanical Animals”. Those albums and especially songs like "The Beautiful People", "Dope Show", the cover of "Sweet Dreams", “Get Your Gun”, “Tourniquet”, “Disposable Teens”, “Man That You Fear”, “Cryptorchild”, “Coma White”, etc. etc. etc. are more than enough reason for this guy to be a first ballot entree into not only the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the most VIP exclusive areas of hell. During the grunge era Manson was throwing on a leather corset and smearing gorgeous shades of blood red lipstick on his dirty and vile mouth hole. For my generation he was the doorman to house of Goth No matter how much we grow old, we're always going to be spooky kids.
What is YOUR favorite Goth band?
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