Abwärts formed in West Germany in 1979. Their single ‘Computerstaat’ was very well received by what would become known as Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW), followed by their debut album Amok Koma. These were released on the German label Zick Zack (pre-4AD label of Xmal Deutschland). Members FM Einheit and Mark Chung joined Einstürzende Neubauten, and the band split up for several years, and in 1987 released Normal . They remain active as of 2025.
French postpunk band from Paris formed in 1981. Guitarist Croc was also in Les Marty’s. Ausweis released one blistering album, ‘Murnau’ on the L’Invitation Au Suicide label (French issues of Christian Death, Virgin Prunes) with a vibe on par with Killing Joke, as well as a handful of cassettes and 12” singles.
Using synthesizers to create dark rhythms, the female duo of Angie Mörth (Viele Bunte Autos) and Martina Aichhorn arose from the mid 1980s in Vienna. Along the lines of the darkwave sounds coming out of France and Belgium at the time, their work included a visual and performance art element which can be seen in their film for the song ‘It’. The contrasting vocals sets the band apart from peers like Xmal Deutschland or Collection D’Arnell-Andrea, Clair Obscur. They released only one full length album in 1987, reissued in 2020.
Location: Los Angeles, California Active: 1981-1984
Los Angeles punk band from the early 80s fronted by Bobbi Brat (July 14, 1962 – † November 30, 1988). Taking the sound of fast thrash guitar that was becoming well known in California punk with bands like The Adolescents, D.I. and TSOL, Red Scare fronted by Bobbi Brat brought a bit of Vice Squad to the table. Though their material was punk, several songs such as ‘Dont Look In The Basement’ are the perfect addition to any gothic punk mix tape. They only released one LP, with a single on Posh Boy Records, but an anthology collection was released on Grand Theft Audio in 1995.
After a DIY tour, the band broke up. Bobbi Brat continued with a solo country influenced act Bobbi and the Boneyard Brats, but settled on just The Bobbi Brat Band. Though the band attempted to reform and record new material, Bobbi tragically passed away from cancer at the age of 26.
Related: The Adolescents, D.I., TSOL, Bobbi Brat, Vice Squad, Los Angeles, punk, California, Posh Boy Records
Neoclassical darkwave band from France, they began in 1986 with the eponymous main composer Jean-Christophe d’Arnell and Pascal Andréa, with Chloé St Liphard singing, though Andréa soon left the band. They began on french New Rose records (under the Lively Arts sub-label known for Little Nemo, Asylum Party, Mary Goes Round, Babel 17).
One of the original Batcave bands, formed in London of 1982, that club was where they played their first gig. They remained active for long periods with an extensive discography, exploring many styles from straight up gothic punk to industrial and even more electronic sounds. Sampling, dubbing and synthesizer elements played a dominant part in their sound, while their visual aesthetic always featured the art of Nik Fiend, and their live performances usually featured heavy use of props like bones, cobwebs, torn nets and from time to time an oversized inflatable banana. Somewhere in my collection is a Zillion Dollar Bill bearing Nik Fiend’s iconic visage.
Nik Fiend and partner Mrs Fiend started in 1975 with a group called Demon Preacher, later just ‘Demons’ (with Jim Bryson and Razzle who would both go on to join The Dark), they were joined by Johnny Ha Ha and Yaxi Highrise (aka David James, later of Savage Opera). They worked performing with artists like Specimen, Meteors, and one of their initial cassettes was produced with Youth of Killing Joke, and they appeared on the Batcave Compilation Young Limbs and Numb Hymns in 1983, featured on the John Peel show. They signed on early to Cherry Red’s Anagram label in 1983, putting out several 12” singles, EPs and albums until starting their own 13th Moon label.
London based postpunk group. They had only one single, but were one of the standout bands on the classic The Whip compilation by Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children. They performed at clubs like The Anarchist Centre London, 100 Club, Klub Foot/Clarendon Hammersmith Ballroom with bands such as Sex Pistols, Sex Gang Children and Actifed. They, along with Blood & Roses, were featured on Michael Moorcock’s 1983 South of Watford show, a showcase of the positive punk movement in England.
Related: London, The Whip, Actifed, Sex Gang Children, Sex Pistols, Blood And Roses, Michael Moorcock
Right! here we go now!!! and welcome to the official site of the legendary punk rock band brigandage. It’s been many years and many drinks under the bridge since Brigandage set sail, struggling on a sea of apathy, battling against tidal waves of despair and hopelessness that was 80’s Britain There were many casualties in this war and Brigandage lost several members who could no longer face the conflict and onslaught of criticism, who lost a battle of wills with drugs or some who just felt it was time to move onto dry land to pastures new- or should we say passing fads and modern styles. Brigandage was born out of an act of Will. In meeting the right people, of believing the vision. Within the year we had gone from rehearsing weekly at Terminal studios to playing the Anarchist Centre and the 100 club.Standing and performing on the same stage as the Sex Pistols was a dream come true. But dreams, visions, magick, whatever you like to call it can only be fulfilled if all are committed to the same act. Events might have conformed to my will for a while but unfortunately I forgot a crucial element in the equation – the other members of the band. I can’t speak for Richard North, only what I remember but when Richard was asked to report on the bands he’d been reviewing we were so excited- all of us would get some exposure – people outside of London would hear us. He wrote with joy and in good faith and tried to mention as many bands as possible. At first most people seemed pleased, but then the backlash. When the other music papers realized they’d been left standing at the gate everyone was slagged off. I think nearly every band paid a price. Mine was to be sniped at and criticized by people who were formally friends and allies, and then to be thrown out of my own group… Hail Eris, Goddess of discord … little did Richard and I know….but an article that celebrates music and life cannot be blamed for peoples responses. At most it probably accerlerated our descent into the ubiquitous pit known as musical differences. i.e. our potential record company wanted us to release a Thin Lizzy track on the b- side. I naturally declined this honour… turns out they owned the publishing rights to Thin Lizzy. I’m surprised we lasted as long as we did really. Any band that has its singer (me) coming to physical blows with its guitarist (mick) and fighting on the floor in the middle of a recording session must have some issues!But hey! this sounds like nothing good came from the piece. I love that article, seeing your band and your friends’ bands mentioned and the ideas all gaining ground, getting aired to a wider audience – bloody fantastic .If that piece had never been written I’d never have met the Newcastle lads – Cooey, Dave and Tosho the one, at the aborted Scala allnighter. We wouldn’t have met the Americans – Maggie and Gerard, later to become Tex Diablo of Zodiac Mindwarp, who generously took Richard and I to Hollywood and Mexico and we’d never have met Michael Moorcock when we did the South Bank Show. No not the south bank show- what am I on- The South of Watford show – exactly.Fashion digression – The South of Watford Show -what the hell was I thinking of? short white dress, holey black tights tucked into boots! Why didn’t I wear the simple, classic little black number – bondage trousers.Why didn’t anyone warn me that video makes you nearly a stone heavier. I was only about 9 stone then and all I remember is my mum ringing me up to tell how fat my thighs looked. So all that speed really worked then! so here we are – having well and truly left the 20th Century using the effort of the will to live and breathing. How did we get here and where are we going?
The Blackouts formed in Seattle in 1979 with Erich Werner, Mike Davidson, and Bill Rieflin, former members of The Telepaths. They were joined by Roland Barker, and after their first two releases, Davidson was replaced by Roland’s brother Paul Barker in 1981 for the “Exchange of Goods” single on Situation Two. In 1982 they moved to Boston where they played with bands like The Misfits, who toured often.
This is when they run into Al Jourgensen of Ministry, who produced the ‘Lost Soul’s Club’ EP for Wax Trax! Records. Not long after, Blackouts disbanded andJourgensen recruited Rieflin, Paul and Roland Barker to the line-up of Ministry, leading to further collaboration between Paul Barker and Jourgensen in Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, etc.
Related: Seattle, 1979, Erich Werner, Mike Davidson, Bill Rieflin, The Telepaths, Roland Barker, Paul Barker, Situation Two, Misfits, Al Jourgensen, Wax Trax! Records, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard
Play Dead was an early entry into what was becoming known as post punk and even gothic, with a much more rhythmic sound along the lines of what The Southern Death Cult and UK Decay were starting to develop. Initially a punk band, they quickly found their direction and released many singles (beginning on Fresh Records along with The Dark and UK Decay) and three albums in their relatively short existence. After they disbanded in 1986, founding members Rob Hickson and Pete Waddleton, guitarist Steve Green, were joined by Mich Ebeling of Look Back In Anger and formed Mankind’s Audio Development aka M.A.D.
Related: Oxford, UK, 1980, Punk, Gothic, The Dark,The Southern Death Cult, UK Decay, Rob Hickson, Pete Waddleton, Steve Green, Mich Ebeling, Look Back In Anger, Mankind’s Audio Development, M.A.D.
Location: Islington, London, England, UK Active: 1978-1982
Formed in London in 1978, The Dark alongside The Damned stood out as capable of more melodic and dynamic sounds, though they never achieved wide success or recognition. Despite never focusing on a particularly gothic sound as their name might imply, their single ‘The Masque’ is a cornerstone on any gothic punk compilation. Like many of their peers in the movement at the time, they highlighted political and social topics, but more directly and succinctly than style over substance bands that achieved more attention.
The majority of their music was put out on the label Fresh Records, who brought out some of the earliest UK Decay, Play Dead, and Second Layer records, some more experimental bands like Cuddly Toys and Family Fodder, not to forget about more punk fare like The Wall, Menace, and the fantastic Punk and Disorderly. Their final record was a 1982 live recording of what was to be their final gig, though their actual last gig was at the Klub Foot in August with The Lurkers.
The initial lineup consisted of John Flannagan, Billy O’Neil, Jim Kane and Phil Langham (later Action Pact and staff at Cherry Red Records), soon joined by Andy Riff. Other members over their career would include Jim Bryson and Razzle (both formerly of Demon Preacher, with Nik Wade aka Nik Fiend in Demon Preacher – the band that would become Alien Sex Fiend). Razzle would end up with Finnish rock band Hanoi Rocks until his tragic death in 1984.
Related: UK Decay, The Damned, Alien Sex Fiend, Hanoi Rocks, Play Dead, Demon Preacher, Second Layer, Cuddly Toys, Family Fodder, The Wall, Menace, London, UK, 1978, Action Pact, Anagram Records, Cherry Red Records, Fresh Records, Punk and Disorderly
