John Robb is a man with a myriad of interests, talents, and passions. Between touring with the Stranglers, Chameleons and Fields of the Nephilim, The Membranes bassist (and mastermind behind UK music site Louder Than War) also found the time and energy to pen a new 650-page opus, diving into the dark recesses of post-punk history.
The Art Of Darkness: The History of Goth is an in-depth account that presents the first major and comprehensive overview of Goth music, culture, and its lasting legacy.
The book focuses mainly on the 80s era of music, style, legendary clubs, and the political and social conditions that spawned the culture. Interviews with Andrew Eldritch, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, The Cult, The Banshees, The Damned, Einstürzende Neubauten, Johnny Marr, Trent Reznor, Adam Ant, Laibach, The Cure, Nick Cave, and many more give a first-hand account of the times. The book also features photography by Mick Mercer.
Robb takes us on a deep-dive exploring the social conditions that created ‘Goth’ in the post-punk period, from the fall of Rome, to the writings of Lord Byron and the romantic poets, to European folk tales, Gothic architecture and painters, the occult to modern-day Instagram influencers. (Fittingly, the striking tintype cover photo of Robb, by Gareth Jarvis, beautifully embodies that artistic bridge between the past and present.)
Pre-order now to get a signed copy of this definitive deep-dive into the dark side….the book emerges on 24 March via Louder Than War Books.
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Featured photo by Jarvis Photography
