Acclaimed writer and musician John Robb has announced a new book exploring the history of goth music and culture.
The Art Of Darkness – A History Of Goth will be released in March 2023 on Louder Than War books.
It’s a 650-page tome about the history of the subculture, from its roots through to its ongoing influence today.
The first-ever complete overview of goth is the result of a decade of work and countless interviews, with Robb immersing himself into the culture.
It’s a deep dive into the enduring culture and the social, historical and political backdrop that created the space for The Art Of Darkness to thrive.
A deep dive takes in the fall of Rome, medieval gothic architecture, dark folk tales, romantic poets, Lord Byron, Aleister Crowley and much more before arriving at the post-punk period.
The book features interviews with Andrew Eldritch, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Einsturzende Neubauten, Danielle Dax, Johnny Marr, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, Laibach, The Cure, Nick Cave and many others.
A darker culture began to coalesce around the holy trinity of the Doors, the Velvets and the Stooges in the late ’60s before flirting with glam rock, being amplified by punk, and exploding as Goth during the days of post-punk.
After that it splintered into electronic dance music, industrial, psychobilly and new Goth, before finally filtering through dystopian Hollywood blockbusters, modern literature and throughout the modern world.
John Robb is the frontman of punk band Goldblade and post-punks The Membranes, as well as the author of books including Punk Rock: An Oral History, and works on The Stone Roses and The Charlatans.
You can pre-order signed copies of The Art Of Darkness – A History Of Goth HERE.
