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Goth: A History
Following his memoirÌý Cured , a fascinating deep dive into the dark RomanticismÌýof Goth music, a misunderstood genre and culture by co-founder of The Cure, Lol Tolhurst
GOTH Ìý isÌýan entertaining and engaging historical memoir of the genre of Goth music and culture, exploring creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and many more great bands that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the 80s and ever since. Written by Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure, this book offers a fascinating deep dive into the movers and shakers of goth with stories and anecdotes from Tolhurst’s personal memories as well as the musicians, magicians, and artists, who made it all happen—the people, places, and events that made goth an inevitable and enduring movement.
Starting with the Origins of Goth, Tolhurst explores early art and literature that inspired the genre and looks into the work of T.S Eliot, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath , Albert Camus and more. He also outlines the path of Gothic Forebears and shows how many musicians played in punk bands before transitioning into goth endeavors. Next, he introduces readers to the "Architects of Darkness "—Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy division Ìýand The Cure—the godfathers of goth who established the genre's roots. Following these early bands, Tolhurst discusses a group he calls the " Spiritual Alchemists ", consisting of bands like Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins and more, who helpedÌý the darkness expand into the culture. He also tracks the expansion of the genre overseas, from England to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond. Gothic fashion was an important part of the movement as well, and Tolhurst discusses Ìýthe clothing that accompanied and complemented the music. Finally, Tolhurst examines the legacy of goth music, and shows how its influence can still be seen to this day across music, film, TV, visual arts, social media, and so much more finally concluding “Why Goth matters!â€�
Ìý
GOTH Ìý isÌýan entertaining and engaging historical memoir of the genre of Goth music and culture, exploring creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and many more great bands that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the 80s and ever since. Written by Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure, this book offers a fascinating deep dive into the movers and shakers of goth with stories and anecdotes from Tolhurst’s personal memories as well as the musicians, magicians, and artists, who made it all happen—the people, places, and events that made goth an inevitable and enduring movement.
Starting with the Origins of Goth, Tolhurst explores early art and literature that inspired the genre and looks into the work of T.S Eliot, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath , Albert Camus and more. He also outlines the path of Gothic Forebears and shows how many musicians played in punk bands before transitioning into goth endeavors. Next, he introduces readers to the "Architects of Darkness "—Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy division Ìýand The Cure—the godfathers of goth who established the genre's roots. Following these early bands, Tolhurst discusses a group he calls the " Spiritual Alchemists ", consisting of bands like Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins and more, who helpedÌý the darkness expand into the culture. He also tracks the expansion of the genre overseas, from England to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond. Gothic fashion was an important part of the movement as well, and Tolhurst discusses Ìýthe clothing that accompanied and complemented the music. Finally, Tolhurst examines the legacy of goth music, and shows how its influence can still be seen to this day across music, film, TV, visual arts, social media, and so much more finally concluding “Why Goth matters!â€�
Ìý
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
244 people are currently reading
4,883 people want to read
About the author
Lol Tolhurst
2Ìýbooks135ÌýfollowersLol Tolhurst is an Author, musician
and performer.
He is best known as a founding member of the band that virtually invented alternative music, The Cure. Formed in 1976, The Cure is one of the most influential, successful and critically acclaimed bands of its generation.
�
As The Cure’s drummer, Lol toured the globe many times over, supporting the ground-breaking albums Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. He took on keyboard duties in the mid-eighties until his departure from the band in 1989, at the time of their masterwork Disintegration.
�
In the early nineties, Lol relocated to Southern California where he continues to write, record and tour with his own band, Levinhurst.
More recently, 2011 saw a momentous reunion tour with his former bandmates and Lol performing with The Cure again for the first time in over twenty years.
�
Lol’s first book was published in 2016. Cured � The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys is a memoir that draws together the threads of his life and art� so far!
and performer.
He is best known as a founding member of the band that virtually invented alternative music, The Cure. Formed in 1976, The Cure is one of the most influential, successful and critically acclaimed bands of its generation.
�
As The Cure’s drummer, Lol toured the globe many times over, supporting the ground-breaking albums Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. He took on keyboard duties in the mid-eighties until his departure from the band in 1989, at the time of their masterwork Disintegration.
�
In the early nineties, Lol relocated to Southern California where he continues to write, record and tour with his own band, Levinhurst.
More recently, 2011 saw a momentous reunion tour with his former bandmates and Lol performing with The Cure again for the first time in over twenty years.
�
Lol’s first book was published in 2016. Cured � The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys is a memoir that draws together the threads of his life and art� so far!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
October 30, 2023
“I say unto you: one must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.
I say unto you: you still have chaos in yourselves.�
- Nietzsche
This is a historical memoir by Lol Tolhurst, the English musician and one of the founding members of the English band The Cure. In this memoir, not only we get to know about the history of Gothic Rock that emerged from Post-Punk in the UK of 1970s, but also learn more about the bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, Bauhaus, etc.
I confess I started reading this with the minimum knowledge about the subculture, but while reading, I found myself eager to listen to every band and music mentioned in the book.
Overall, bar a bit of repetitiveness in some instances, this was an engaging read.
And also, I love the cover!
I say unto you: you still have chaos in yourselves.�
- Nietzsche
This is a historical memoir by Lol Tolhurst, the English musician and one of the founding members of the English band The Cure. In this memoir, not only we get to know about the history of Gothic Rock that emerged from Post-Punk in the UK of 1970s, but also learn more about the bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Christian Death, Bauhaus, etc.
I confess I started reading this with the minimum knowledge about the subculture, but while reading, I found myself eager to listen to every band and music mentioned in the book.
Overall, bar a bit of repetitiveness in some instances, this was an engaging read.
And also, I love the cover!
December 3, 2023
This isnt a history of goth, it's a collection of poorly written essays about things that Tolhurst likes. When it isn't reading like rewritten Wikipedia entries, it's a memoir in which the author mythologises his own life and tries his hardest to make your eyes roll so hard your pupils retreat into your skull and never return. At one point we are treated to a bit of talk about the construction of the Humber Bridge, so Tolhurst can say 'I, on the other hand, was busy burning my bridges'. It's all a bit Alan Partridge.Ìý
The Joy Division chapter is particularly terrible. After describing every minute interaction the author had with the band (and even a boring story about buying their record) and telling us repeatedly that something wasn't quite right with Ian Curtis (mindblowing, I know) there is an inexplicable track by track runthrough of their albums, with analysis running as deep as describing what the songs sound like in 20 words or less. What's the point of this? Who is this for?
Also, I'm pretty sure there are more pictures in this book of Tolhurst than there are of the band's he's supposedly talking about. The author definitely puts the lol in Lol Tolhurst, at least.
Again, this book is supposed to be a history of goth, and it really, really isn't that. In the afterword, Tolhurst even admits this, but by then it's too late and I've already read all this useless, self-aggrandizing shite. Truly awful.
The Joy Division chapter is particularly terrible. After describing every minute interaction the author had with the band (and even a boring story about buying their record) and telling us repeatedly that something wasn't quite right with Ian Curtis (mindblowing, I know) there is an inexplicable track by track runthrough of their albums, with analysis running as deep as describing what the songs sound like in 20 words or less. What's the point of this? Who is this for?
Also, I'm pretty sure there are more pictures in this book of Tolhurst than there are of the band's he's supposedly talking about. The author definitely puts the lol in Lol Tolhurst, at least.
Again, this book is supposed to be a history of goth, and it really, really isn't that. In the afterword, Tolhurst even admits this, but by then it's too late and I've already read all this useless, self-aggrandizing shite. Truly awful.
June 26, 2023
This book was such an interesting read. Tolhurst gives heart to a subculture that is generally seen strictly as cold and dark by those who have gotten close to it. Memoir of Goth from the Cure's original drummer, who kindly explains his point of view on the matter. I have always loved the group The Cure so I really enjoyed reading about then instead of just listening to their music. Highly recommend.
October 21, 2023
This was a rather enjoyable “historical memoirâ€�. I was hoping going into this that it would be less like a disconnected encyclopedia (like the last Goth book I read), and more of a personal recount of the subculture. Lol definitely did do that, and intentionally so, thankfully. There was a nice balance of fact and personal experience, with most of the information written in sections by band/musician rather than by an overall timeline (another thing I prefer). While this doesn’t delve too deeply into Goth, it is a fairly good introductory or refresher of the main parts of the subculture, as well as showcasing Lol’s interpretation of what it is to him and what being part of The Cure was like. Including a section about Deathrock and even things like Eldergoths was appreciated and rather interesting.Ìý
Major props for including some of my favourite bands like And Also the Trees and All About Eve. I especially loved hearing more of Julianne Regan's thoughts, as I’m in love with her writing and am in desperate need of a book written by her as well.
Ìý
I do think this could've been edited better, as some of Lol’s thoughts seemed repeated and did not need to be said again in my opinion.
I also feel like addressing some of the edgier, terribly aged things in Goth, like Siouxsie and the Banshees "Hong Kong Garden" and Christian Death’s "Romeo's Distress" lyrics, and even The Cure's "Why Can't I Be You" music video, could've provided needed criticism in the light of an inclusive scene.
Major props for including some of my favourite bands like And Also the Trees and All About Eve. I especially loved hearing more of Julianne Regan's thoughts, as I’m in love with her writing and am in desperate need of a book written by her as well.
Ìý
I do think this could've been edited better, as some of Lol’s thoughts seemed repeated and did not need to be said again in my opinion.
I also feel like addressing some of the edgier, terribly aged things in Goth, like Siouxsie and the Banshees "Hong Kong Garden" and Christian Death’s "Romeo's Distress" lyrics, and even The Cure's "Why Can't I Be You" music video, could've provided needed criticism in the light of an inclusive scene.
October 12, 2023
Sigh. And two stars feels generous. I wanted to like this! I love The Cure! And Lol's previous book was reasonably okay. But this is really an insufferably self-congratulatory book laden with observations that will add nothing to the understanding of anyone associated with the Goth subculture and be of no interest to those who are not. Moreover, and more egregiously although unsurprising from the man who appeared in blackface in the "Why Can't I Be You" video (a fact he doesn't mention in the book, of course), there are numerous instances of, I'll charitably say cluelessness, about race. For example, in a segment about notoriously racist singer Nico, he states that The Clash song "Guns of Brixton" is all you need to know about the 1981 Brixton riot. The lived experiences of Black people are dismissed in favor of a song written by white guys. I doubt Strummer would agree. He also sings the praises of "Hong Kong Garden" by Siouxsie and the Banshees without even a passing mention of the racism of the lyrics (no, I don't believe Siouxsie's claim that the song is somehow anti-racist). Finally, he states that Joy Division took their name from "wartime brothels"....! That's to say, Jewish women forced into sex slavery by the SS in concentration camps, Lawrence...I don't think your wording quite captures the atrocities they underwent.
So, in conclusion, I'm sad to say I don't recommend this book and I wish it had been considerably better edited or maybe just never written.
So, in conclusion, I'm sad to say I don't recommend this book and I wish it had been considerably better edited or maybe just never written.
November 6, 2023
I had enjoyed reading "Cured" and was looking forward to this book but I found it a rather tedious read and kept falling asleep after a few pages. It would have benefitted from much better editing. Parts of the book read like a factual history of specific bands, Wikipedia style, others like album reviews (having a description of every single track on both Joy Division albums feels like a filler to me), then interviews (Wayne Hussey, Julianne Regan), and finally personal anecdotes. I think "A hotchpotch around goth" would have been a better title.
September 1, 2024
DNF about halfway through. The title of this book is pretty misleading. This is not a history of the goth subculture; it is a book about Lol Tolhurst’s personal influences. As a concept, this is fine (ex: Dave Grohl’s “The Storyteller� is a great collection of essays about his life and influences on his music), but I did not find Tolhurst’s writing particularly insightful. Each section had a bit of context about how he discovered a particular artist or piece of media, some information from secondary sources, and not much analysis or insight thereafter. If Tolhurst wanted to do something similar to Grohl’s memoir, I wish he would’ve fully committed to the bit instead of trying to pass the book off as a comprehensive deep dive into the subculture.
June 17, 2024
The Cure’un davulcusu Lol Tolhurst’un “goth� kültürü üzerine yazdığı bu kültürün tarihine ve izlerine dair güzel gözlemlerini okuyoruz. Ancak kitabın bütününe bakınca “goth tarihi� anlatmaktan ziyade yazarın kendi zevklerine (anılarına) dair bir derleme olduğu kanısına varıyoruz. İlgi alanım olduğu için severek okudum ama “goth� kültürü için çok daha iyi kitapların olduğu da tartışmasız.
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March 15, 2024bro just kept yapping and YAPPING
October 30, 2023
written engagingly enough, though it did get quite repetitive in the second half. i will say it was also very odd to be reading a book about the intensity of feeling an absent presence while it sidestepped any and all discussions about race/the anxieties of whiteness which emerged within the scene
January 31, 2024
Writing is terrible. This is not a history of Goth, repeating things other people have said and then says "yeah, I think that too" Waste of time, don't bother.
March 29, 2025
Tolhurst takes a pretty laid-back approach in this idle wander into the past, which appears to be part memoir - part history of goth. He explores the many bands, acts, movies, books and other influences which he believes to have played significant parts in establishing, shaping and I suppose furthering the gothic genre, which is obviously quite a broad range and also includes the likes of fashion, art and architecture.
He enhances the text with many old photos, hand bills, posters and other related ephemera throughout this short account, with particular emphasis on his earlier days in The Cure. I learned of two or three really good sounding books, which I’ll definitely check out down the road too.
November 21, 2023
A very personal compendium of Goth’s history and progeny from one of its key creators: the *only* reason this works so well is that we can search and stream the subjects he discusses. The personal touch is amazing, but if we didn’t have the ability to revisit or discover his many references, this book would be a struggle. It’d be one requiring repeat visits to well-informed record stores and libraries. In that way, it’s a blessing this book exists in the internet age, because it’d be much more frustrating if it didn’t.
October 2, 2024
1,5
Förra veckan släppte The Cure singeln "Alone", deras första sedan 2008. Jag har hunnit lyssna ett par gånger och är försiktigt positiv och ser fram emot skivan som kommer om nån månad.
Förra veckan gick jag också förbi den här boken på bibban, skriven av ex-medlemmen Lol Tolhurst som var med och grundade bandet. Han har tidigare skrivit en bok om sin tid i The Cure ("Cured", som jag inte har läst) men här är anslaget att teckna en bredare bild av subkulturen och musikstilen goth. Spännande tänkte jag, den här vill jag läsa.
Tyvärr är det väldigt oklart vad för slags bok han har velat skriva. Någon heltäckande historik över genren är det inte, snarare en rad personliga anekdoter och reflektioner uppblandat med vad som ibland känns som Wikipedia-inlägg om olika band (bokens vanligaste mening är utan tvekan "[bandnamn] was formed in [årtal] by [person/er] ..."), ofta som en ursäkt för att få berätta hur han träffat dem.
Stilen är överdriven och innehållet är i ärlighetens namn rätt tråkigt; en hel del skulle kunna ha strukits (t.ex. genomgången av Joy Divisions två skivor med en två-tre meningar lång beskrivning av varje låt) eller redigerats kraftigt. Det finns ljusglimtar här och där, främst i några av de personligare delarna eller viss fakta (att Cure-låten "The drowning man" är baserad på Mervyn Peakes "Gormenghast-trilogi" visste jag t.ex. inte) men det räddar inte detta från att vara ett riktigt sömnpiller och så långt från spännande som det kan vara.
Låt oss hoppas att "Songs of a lost world" håller en högre nivå. Att Tolhurst inte varit med och spelat p�� den får nog efter denna läsning tolkas som något positivt i alla fall ...
Förra veckan släppte The Cure singeln "Alone", deras första sedan 2008. Jag har hunnit lyssna ett par gånger och är försiktigt positiv och ser fram emot skivan som kommer om nån månad.
Förra veckan gick jag också förbi den här boken på bibban, skriven av ex-medlemmen Lol Tolhurst som var med och grundade bandet. Han har tidigare skrivit en bok om sin tid i The Cure ("Cured", som jag inte har läst) men här är anslaget att teckna en bredare bild av subkulturen och musikstilen goth. Spännande tänkte jag, den här vill jag läsa.
Tyvärr är det väldigt oklart vad för slags bok han har velat skriva. Någon heltäckande historik över genren är det inte, snarare en rad personliga anekdoter och reflektioner uppblandat med vad som ibland känns som Wikipedia-inlägg om olika band (bokens vanligaste mening är utan tvekan "[bandnamn] was formed in [årtal] by [person/er] ..."), ofta som en ursäkt för att få berätta hur han träffat dem.
Stilen är överdriven och innehållet är i ärlighetens namn rätt tråkigt; en hel del skulle kunna ha strukits (t.ex. genomgången av Joy Divisions två skivor med en två-tre meningar lång beskrivning av varje låt) eller redigerats kraftigt. Det finns ljusglimtar här och där, främst i några av de personligare delarna eller viss fakta (att Cure-låten "The drowning man" är baserad på Mervyn Peakes "Gormenghast-trilogi" visste jag t.ex. inte) men det räddar inte detta från att vara ett riktigt sömnpiller och så långt från spännande som det kan vara.
Låt oss hoppas att "Songs of a lost world" håller en högre nivå. Att Tolhurst inte varit med och spelat p�� den får nog efter denna läsning tolkas som något positivt i alla fall ...
September 4, 2023
Co-founder of the Cure, Lol Tolhurst takes a look at the history of Goth music and the Goth world in his follow-up to his memoir, Cured. This book charts the contribution of great bands like The Cure, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Cocteau Twins just to name a few. Tolhurst even includes some "must listen to" discographies to help the reader go back and really understand the roots of this genre of music. Obviously he was a part of this scene, and his memories of his own experiences really add a first hand perspective to this history. As a reader, I really appreciated his look at some of the great authors who have inspired Goth musicians like Lovecraft, Poe, Mary Shelley, and Sylvia Plath. This is a fascinating look at an often misunderstood genre that still is relevant to pop culture today. Definitely a must read for us 70's and 80's kids who were very much a part of this amazing time.
March 16, 2024
I have conflicted feelings about this one. I really enjoyed the well-researched parts on goth’s origins in literature, poetry, and film and his breakdown of a lot of The Cure songs. However, I think he spent too much time going through every goth band or musician in the 80s which basically just felt like a Wikipedia article with added anecdotes about his experience with them.
November 12, 2023
I enjoyed this so much! The writing is wonderful, and I appreciated his historical memoir approach. I can’t wait to read his other book.
And if it’s possible, I now like Siouxsie Sioux even more.
And if it’s possible, I now like Siouxsie Sioux even more.
May 30, 2023
Sweet, lovely, and heartfelt memoir/history of Goth from the Cure's original drummer, who kindly explains his point of view on the matter. There aren't a lot of surprises here -- no gossip and no pictures of Mary or anything like that. (Some good ones from the Batcave tho!) It's more of one man's take on what the scene he helped create means now and meant in the late 70s and 80s.
An accessible primer for all young Goths and something every elder Goth will want to read, and perhaps own, Tolhurst's history is a gift to anyone interested in an often-maligned but quite persistent and (actually) pervasive subculture.
An accessible primer for all young Goths and something every elder Goth will want to read, and perhaps own, Tolhurst's history is a gift to anyone interested in an often-maligned but quite persistent and (actually) pervasive subculture.
March 4, 2024
To be fair- I have not read the entire book. I am still kind of new to the goth- scene and want to learn more. I saw this book being talked about online so I borrowed it from my local library.
The language is a bit too reminiscent of academic litterature, I struggle to get through the sentences fluidly. It's not necessarily that Tolhurst uses difficult words, but the structure of the text is difficult for me to get through, I have to reread things often.
I read some other reviews to try and make more sense if the book. The more critical ones say the book does not adress the issues of racism within both the scene as a whole and The Cure specifically. Like say- I am still new to the scene and dont yet know enough about this topic, but it did lead me to look at the video for "Why cant I be You". Blackface. No thank you. I found myself looking for reasons to not "have to" read this book. The combination of blackface and not adressing that is what did it for me.
So why not 1 star? Bc I feel this book had potential to be good for someone like me, but too much is working against it.
The language is a bit too reminiscent of academic litterature, I struggle to get through the sentences fluidly. It's not necessarily that Tolhurst uses difficult words, but the structure of the text is difficult for me to get through, I have to reread things often.
I read some other reviews to try and make more sense if the book. The more critical ones say the book does not adress the issues of racism within both the scene as a whole and The Cure specifically. Like say- I am still new to the scene and dont yet know enough about this topic, but it did lead me to look at the video for "Why cant I be You". Blackface. No thank you. I found myself looking for reasons to not "have to" read this book. The combination of blackface and not adressing that is what did it for me.
So why not 1 star? Bc I feel this book had potential to be good for someone like me, but too much is working against it.
March 27, 2025
i understand the value of someone like lol tolhurst reminiscing on his life with the cure. especially during the birth of punk and goth BUT!! this is simply not a history of goth. it’s a self indulgent autobiography with a severe lack of actual historical account. instead he focuses on his interpersonal relationships and his judgment of other bands of the time. there wasn’t a single thing about the subculture i didn’t already know, besides the specific friendships between musicians.
if you’re looking to actually learn about the historical, literary, and aesthetic inspirations for goth then this isn’t the book for you. if you don’t mind horrible writing from an insufferable ego, then sure.
if you’re looking to actually learn about the historical, literary, and aesthetic inspirations for goth then this isn’t the book for you. if you don’t mind horrible writing from an insufferable ego, then sure.
October 3, 2024
lol is a great writer & goth historian. loved this book.
March 20, 2024
I really wanted this to be a four or five star book. A history of a movement I love by an artist who inspires me - how could it not be?
There's a ton of great in here - Tolhurst is a good writer with plenty to say - but he gets lost along the way. Uninspiring digressions and track-level album reviews don't advance the story, and the last tenth devolves into needless platitudes and wishy-wash.
(It's also a bit too 'inside-baseball' - referring to various people from bands by first names or moniker only, often without even naming their band or explaining at all who they are, was off-putting even to me...and I knew who he was talking about!)
Needed a more aggressive editor.
There's a ton of great in here - Tolhurst is a good writer with plenty to say - but he gets lost along the way. Uninspiring digressions and track-level album reviews don't advance the story, and the last tenth devolves into needless platitudes and wishy-wash.
(It's also a bit too 'inside-baseball' - referring to various people from bands by first names or moniker only, often without even naming their band or explaining at all who they are, was off-putting even to me...and I knew who he was talking about!)
Needed a more aggressive editor.
August 3, 2024
I’ve adored goth and post punk music my entire life. So clearly a book that shares insights into London in the late 70’s and throughout the 80’s will be captivating. Dreaming of a dark and dance filled era that was before my time.
November 26, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. It was really a historical memoir by Lol Tolhurst, who seemed to be at the beginning of all Gothic beginnings, which I thought was a much more interesting way to read a “history� book than one that was more encyclopedic. So many bands I love were included, and it really validated my feelings & made me proud to be part of this alternative subculture.
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February 12, 2024No.
November 23, 2023
Excellent intro to goth written by someone who actually created it: Lol Tolhurst, drummer for The Cure and one of the two original and remaining members along with Robert Smith. Lol is a humble fellow in an industry where many aren't, and has that very, very twee British sensibility without the cringe, being the affable chap that he is. If you're looking for a definitive guide to goth, this isn't it, and the book should be more fittingly titled "Goth Music", as that's the main focus here. But as an intro to the subculture, it's fantastic.
The narrative has a nice mix of philosophical though, analysis of the primary figures in Goth music, and first hand accounts of some defining moments in Lol's life related to the movement. I wasn't goth as a kid (turning more to riot grrrl as my modus operandi) but I loved the music and very much related to being the weirdo outsider with a pretty bleak future. One of the coping mechanisms for this is to embrace and find peace in the macabre, so I love talking incessantly to anyone about the darker sides of life. I know that's not for everyone, but it's a very healing and healthy thing to do: we can all learn a lot from Goth.
The narrative has a nice mix of philosophical though, analysis of the primary figures in Goth music, and first hand accounts of some defining moments in Lol's life related to the movement. I wasn't goth as a kid (turning more to riot grrrl as my modus operandi) but I loved the music and very much related to being the weirdo outsider with a pretty bleak future. One of the coping mechanisms for this is to embrace and find peace in the macabre, so I love talking incessantly to anyone about the darker sides of life. I know that's not for everyone, but it's a very healing and healthy thing to do: we can all learn a lot from Goth.
May 27, 2024
Recommend reading the afterward first because it fairly accurately describes the project. This is a thin catalog of often superficial description with a little memoir thrown in. There is little to no critical engagement with the material or history or cultural inputs. Obviously a labor of love but of limited value to anyone familiar with these bands. Besides the expected players there’s a very brief rundown of some more recent acts that does little to support the central thesis that goth is a still thriving sub-culture as important today as it was in the 80s/90s. Worth recommending to anyone who needs a primer however.
October 5, 2023
This book had been highly anticipated by me, as well as, many in my friend group. I pre bought the audiobook on Libro.fm months in advance. So far, this year, has been a fantastic year for me reading books related to my favorite kind of music- Goth and Post-Punk.
Lol is lovely. I adored his first book Cured, and still hold it as one of the best music memoirs, up there with Viv Albertine's - Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys. His talent in writing comes through in his personal experiences, as well as his vulnerability.
Lol does a great job in this book, as he was there from the very beginning and was instrumental in helping shape what Goth has become. His book starts with the pre Goths, such as The Doors, The Velvets, etc. We then go sonically and chronologically through Goth from London and the UK movements in the late 70s and early 80s to New York, LA Deathrock and beyond.
There are some great stories, in particular, the time they spent with the Banshees during the ill fated 1979 Join Hands tour. I had just read about this recently in Siouxsie and the Banshees - the Early Years. It is definitely during this tour, that Lol and Robert are influenced by the Banshees and they begin the bands most iconic period that begins their Goth Triology of Seventeen Seconds, Faith, and then Pornography.
Lol also expounds on literary and film Goths that were influential to the movement as well as places like the Batcave and the Camden Palace.
I came to Goth early on in my life (even if I didn't know that it was called that yet) and I can honestly say that this music saved my life on several occasions. I always knew that I was different and my home life was not great to say the least. Finding this tribe to belong to was a blessing. Once a Goth, always a Goth as I say.
"The Cure's songs were always more of a solace than destructive or depressing. That has always been a false notion that people hold as, that this intense music made it's listeners' anxiety or mental problems worse. I beg to plead exactly the opposite. We weren't the problem, but the Cure."
"Gothic is a mode that responds to crisis." I can tell you it did that for me and many of my friends growing up. Goth gave us something to dream about, to aspire to, and to escape sometimes the horrific or humdrum realities of our lives.
I listened to the audiobook but will also retain a hard copy of the book. Lol reads the bulk of the book, with the intro being read by Budgie.
Lol is lovely. I adored his first book Cured, and still hold it as one of the best music memoirs, up there with Viv Albertine's - Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys. His talent in writing comes through in his personal experiences, as well as his vulnerability.
Lol does a great job in this book, as he was there from the very beginning and was instrumental in helping shape what Goth has become. His book starts with the pre Goths, such as The Doors, The Velvets, etc. We then go sonically and chronologically through Goth from London and the UK movements in the late 70s and early 80s to New York, LA Deathrock and beyond.
There are some great stories, in particular, the time they spent with the Banshees during the ill fated 1979 Join Hands tour. I had just read about this recently in Siouxsie and the Banshees - the Early Years. It is definitely during this tour, that Lol and Robert are influenced by the Banshees and they begin the bands most iconic period that begins their Goth Triology of Seventeen Seconds, Faith, and then Pornography.
Lol also expounds on literary and film Goths that were influential to the movement as well as places like the Batcave and the Camden Palace.
I came to Goth early on in my life (even if I didn't know that it was called that yet) and I can honestly say that this music saved my life on several occasions. I always knew that I was different and my home life was not great to say the least. Finding this tribe to belong to was a blessing. Once a Goth, always a Goth as I say.
"The Cure's songs were always more of a solace than destructive or depressing. That has always been a false notion that people hold as, that this intense music made it's listeners' anxiety or mental problems worse. I beg to plead exactly the opposite. We weren't the problem, but the Cure."
"Gothic is a mode that responds to crisis." I can tell you it did that for me and many of my friends growing up. Goth gave us something to dream about, to aspire to, and to escape sometimes the horrific or humdrum realities of our lives.
I listened to the audiobook but will also retain a hard copy of the book. Lol reads the bulk of the book, with the intro being read by Budgie.
November 8, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I love The Cure and Goth bands and novels. I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars, but I can’t do rating fractions on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ. Tolhurst is at his best when he discusses his experience writing and performing music. This is what made his previous book, Cured, so good. Goth: A History is well written but a little disjointed. Tolhurst discusses numerous punk, post-punk, and early and modern Goth bands and their influences on The Cure and other bands. Some bands get more attention; others much less in a manner that seems a little unfocused. There are photos sprinkled throughout the book, but they’re low quality and a little blurry. Several chapters don’t have introductions, which would have improved the book’s organization.
When I was a teenager in the�90s, I loved talking to my aunt and uncle—my dad’s younger siblings who listened to cool music and wore cool clothes—about punk and new wave music they listened to in the �70s and �80s. Tolhurst is about the same age as my aunt and uncle, and reading his thoughts about the same genres of music has the same effect. I would love it if I could meet Tolhurst at a book signing.
I laud Lol Tolhurst for his creative output over the past decade: his two books, his Curious Creatures podcast with Budgie, his Levinhurst project with his wife Cindy, and his most recent percussion-heavy releases with Budgie and producer Jacknife. He is a talented man.
When I was a teenager in the�90s, I loved talking to my aunt and uncle—my dad’s younger siblings who listened to cool music and wore cool clothes—about punk and new wave music they listened to in the �70s and �80s. Tolhurst is about the same age as my aunt and uncle, and reading his thoughts about the same genres of music has the same effect. I would love it if I could meet Tolhurst at a book signing.
I laud Lol Tolhurst for his creative output over the past decade: his two books, his Curious Creatures podcast with Budgie, his Levinhurst project with his wife Cindy, and his most recent percussion-heavy releases with Budgie and producer Jacknife. He is a talented man.
November 20, 2023
This is a very enjoyable and informative book about Gothic rock, which the author and drummer for the Cure witnessed and which he helped flourish. A large chunk of it consists of profiles of bands that inspired him and others who started the genre, the most famous bands in it, recent bands who are keeping it alive, etc., but they are not just dry encyclopedia articles. Tolhurst includes his personal experiences with the bands from how they influenced them to his interactions with their members. Other than that, he discusses the dire economic and political situations in the U.K. that led to the creation of Gothic rock, clears up its typical misconceptions and talks about his experiences as a founding member of The Cure. You could say that the structure of the book is also "punk" in that it is a bit haphazardly structured. Even so, it is bound to make you even more of a fan of this kind of music or extremely interested if you do not know much about it.
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