Deathrock Weblog

|other_topics=[[List of classic deathrock bands|Classic Deathrock Bands (through 1990)]] – [[List of modern deathrock bands|Modern Deathrock Bands (1990-present)]] [[Goth]]

|other_topics=[[List of classic deathrock bands|Classic Deathrock Bands (through 1990)]] – [[List of modern deathrock bands|Modern Deathrock Bands (1990-present)]] [[Goth]]

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”’Deathrock”’ (also spelled ”’death rock”’) is a term used to identify a [[subgenre]] of [[punk rock|punk]] rock and [[Goth]] which incorporates elements of horror and spooky atmospheres within a Goth-Punk style and first emerged most prominently in the [[West Coast of the United States]] and [[London]] during the late [[1970s]] and early [[1980s]].

”’Deathrock”’ (also spelled ”’death rock”’) is a term used to identify a [[subgenre]] of [[punk rock]] and [[Goth]] which incorporates elements of horror and spooky atmospheres within a Goth-Punk style and first emerged most prominently in the [[West Coast of the United States]] and [[London]] during the late [[1970s]] and early [[1980s]].

The music of “modern” (post-1990) deathrock bands have a stronger [[post-punk]] influence than the earlier deathrock bands. Additionally, in the US, the term “deathrock” can be used as a synonym for first generation [[gothic rock]]. In the UK the terms were not interchangeable. Most of the early UK bands considered themselves to be punk, or goth, not deathrock -which at the time was an American based movement, though the term [[Batcave (London nightclub) | Batcave]] was and still is used by Europeans instead of, or along side Deathrock.

The music of “modern” (post-1990) deathrock bands have a stronger [[post-punk]] influence than the earlier deathrock bands. Additionally, in the US, the term “deathrock” can be used as a synonym for first generation [[gothic rock]]. In the UK the terms were not interchangeable. Most of the early UK bands considered themselves to be punk, or goth, not deathrock -which at the time was an American based movement, though the term [[Batcave (London nightclub)| Batcave]] was and still is used by Europeans instead of, or along side Deathrock.

==Characteristics==

==Characteristics==

==History==

==History==

===Etymology===

===Etymology===

The term “deathrock” was first used in the [[1950s]] to describe a thematically related [[genre]] of [[rock and roll]] called “death rock” which began in 1958 with Jody Reynold’s “”Endless Sleep”” <ref>[MMGuide.com]</ref> and ending in 1964 with J. Frank Wilson’s “”Last Kiss”” <ref>[Oldies.com]</ref>. These songs about dead teenagers were noted for their morbid yet romantic view of death, spoken word bridges, and sound effects. [[The Shangri-Las]]’ “[[Leader_of_the_Pack|Leader of the Pack]]” is arguably the best known example of the 50s/60s use of the term. <ref>[ClassicBands]</ref>.

The term “deathrock” was first used in the [[1950s]] to describe a thematically related [[genre]] of [[rock and roll]] called “death rock” which began in 1958 with Jody Reynold’s “”Endless Sleep”” <ref>[MMGuide.com]</ref> and ending in 1964 with J. Frank Wilson’s “”Last Kiss”” <ref>[Oldies.com]</ref>. These songs about dead teenagers were noted for their morbid yet romantic view of death, spoken word bridges, and sound effects. [[The Shangri-Las]]’ “[[Leader of the Pack]]” is arguably the best known example of the 50s/60s use of the term. <ref>[ClassicBands]</ref>.

The term deathrock re-emerged 15 years later in [[1979]] to describe the sound of various West Coast punk bands which would later become associated with the deathrock scene and most likely came from one of two sources; [[Rozz Williams]], the founding member of [[Christian Death]], to describe the sound of his band <ref>[Starvox.net]</ref>, or the music press reusing the 1950s term to describe an emerging subgenre of punk. Another less popular theory is that the term came from [[Nick Zedd]]’s 1979 film “They Eat Scum”, which featured a fictitious cannibalistic “death rock” punk band called “Suzy Putrid and the Mental Deficients”<ref>[Verizon.net]</ref>.

The term deathrock re-emerged 15 years later in [[1979]] to describe the sound of various West Coast punk bands which would later become associated with the deathrock scene and most likely came from one of two sources; [[Rozz Williams]], the founding member of [[Christian Death]], to describe the sound of his band <ref>[Starvox.net]</ref>, or the music press reusing the 1950s term to describe an emerging subgenre of punk. Another less popular theory is that the term came from [[Nick Zedd]]’s 1979 film “They Eat Scum”, which featured a fictitious cannibalistic “death rock” punk band called “Suzy Putrid and the Mental Deficients”<ref>[Verizon.net]</ref>.

This horror influence on rock music continued into the 1970s with theatrical hard rockers [[Alice Cooper]] <ref>[Canada.com]</ref> and [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]. Rozz Williams has specifically credited the [[1970s]] output of both [[Alice Cooper]] and Kiss as childhood influences <ref>[TheBlueHour.fr]</ref>, [[45 Grave]] also covered Alice Cooper’s “”[[School's Out (song)|School's Out]]”” on their debut full length album.

This horror influence on rock music continued into the 1970s with theatrical hard rockers [[Alice Cooper]] <ref>[Canada.com]</ref> and [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]. Rozz Williams has specifically credited the [[1970s]] output of both [[Alice Cooper]] and Kiss as childhood influences <ref>[TheBlueHour.fr]</ref>, [[45 Grave]] also covered Alice Cooper’s “”[[School's Out (song)|School's Out]]”” on their debut full length album.

Other rock and [[glam rock]] bands who influenced many early goth/deathrock artists include [[The Doors]], [[David Bowie]], [[The Velvet Underground]], [[The Stooges|Iggy Pop and the Stooges]], [[the Cramps]], [[T.Rex (band)|T. Rex]], [[New York Dolls]], [[the Damned]], [[MC5]], [[Richard Hell and the Voidoids]], etc. Most of these artists explored darker themes, sometimes incorporated horror-themed visuals into their shows, or had their music used in horror movie soundtracks. (For a more complete listing of influential artists, see [[List of forerunners of punk music|Punk Forerunners]] and [[Gothic_rock #Musical_predecessors_ .281960s.E2.80.931970s_or_Earlier .29|Gothic Rock predecessors]].)

Other rock and [[glam rock]] bands who influenced many early goth/deathrock artists include [[The Doors]], [[David Bowie]], [[The Velvet Underground]], [[The Stooges|Iggy Pop and the Stooges]], [[the Cramps]], [[T.Rex (band)|T. Rex]], [[New York Dolls]], [[the Damned]], [[MC5]], [[Richard Hell and the Voidoids]], etc. Most of these artists explored darker themes, sometimes incorporated horror-themed visuals into their shows, or had their music used in horror movie soundtracks. (For a more complete listing of influential artists, see [[List of forerunners of punk music|Punk Forerunners]] and [[Gothic rock#Musical predecessors .281960s.E2.80.931970s or Earlier.29|Gothic Rock predecessors]].)

Horror movies also directly influenced deathrock artists. According to [[Dinah Cancer]], Italian horror movies were a large influence on [[45 Grave]]’s visual style <ref>[Deathrock.it]</ref>. Zombie movies influenced many deathrock artists, especially [[George Romero]]’s ”[[Night of the Living Dead]]” (1968) and its sequels. John Russo’s ”[[Return of the Living Dead]]” (1985) which featured [[Linnea Quigley]] and a mostly punk soundtrack<ref>[Amazon.com]</ref> influenced later deathrock bands. Horror-themed TV shows, such as ”[[The Addams Family]]”, ”[[The Munsters]]”, ”[[The Twilight Zone]]”, ”[[Dark Shadows]]”, etc., also provided some visual influence, as did spookily-clad horror movie hosts on TV such as [[Vampira]] <ref>[PartiGirl.com]</ref> in Los Angeles, [[John Zacherle]] in Philadelphia and New York, [[Elvira]] in Los Angeles (then later nationally), and [[Ghoulardi]] <ref>[EmpLive.org]</ref> in Cleveland.

Horror movies also directly influenced deathrock artists. According to [[Dinah Cancer]], Italian horror movies were a large influence on [[45 Grave]]’s visual style <ref>[Deathrock.it]</ref>. Zombie movies influenced many deathrock artists, especially [[George Romero]]’s ”[[Night of the Living Dead]]” (1968) and its sequels. John Russo’s ”[[Return of the Living Dead]]” (1985) which featured [[Linnea Quigley]] and a mostly punk soundtrack<ref>[Amazon.com]</ref> influenced later deathrock bands. Horror-themed TV shows, such as ”[[The Addams Family]]”, ”[[The Munsters]]”, ”[[The Twilight Zone]]”, ”[[Dark Shadows]]”, etc., also provided some visual influence, as did spookily-clad horror movie hosts on TV such as [[Vampira]] <ref>[PartiGirl.com]</ref> in Los Angeles, [[John Zacherle]] in Philadelphia and New York, [[Elvira]] in Los Angeles (then later nationally), and [[Ghoulardi]] <ref>[EmpLive.org]</ref> in Cleveland.

==References==

==References==

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