John Robb ‘The Art Of Darkness – the History Of Goth’ has now sold 30 000 copies making it the best selling goth history book. The critically acclaimed book is also coming out in Germany in the spring.
You can order the German version here
The English version is available from bandcamp or Amazon
Author/Music Scribe/TV Presenter/Environmental Activist and Bass Player for perennial post-punk survivors The Membranes, John Robb is a man who cannot sit still. When he’s not touring with his band (they recently toured in Europe with The Stranglers, The Chameleons and Fields Of The Nephilim), he’s presenting, moderating or writing for his popular UK music site Louder Than War. John has previously written the best-selling books “Punk Rock : An Oral History” and “The North Will Rise Again : Manchester Music City 1976-1996”. His latest opus is the 650-page “The Art Of Darkness : The History of Goth”, an in-depth account that he feels presents the first major and comprehensive overview of Goth music and culture and its lasting legacy.
Starting with a night out in a Goth club, it then takes us on a deep-dive into the wider culture, exploring the social conditions that created ‘Goth’ in the post-punk period. It examines the fall of Rome, Lord Byron and the romantic poets, European folk tales, Gothic architecture and painters, the occult to modern-day Instagram influencers.
The Art Of Darkness is built mainly around the 80s post-punk Goth period featuring 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 others. …it looks at the music, style and the political and social conditions that spawned the culture and the great music, fashions and attitudes – clubs that defined it, and is also a first-hand account of being there at some of the legendary gigs and clubs that made the scene happen.
John Robb ‘The Art Of Darkness – the History Of Goth’
“Brilliantly illuminates the realm of imagination and dark beauty” – Johnny Marr
“An encyclopaedia of excitement. Thanks to this book, Goth is undead” – Chris Packham
NB: Non-UK buyers; please be aware that your local Government may impose import charges upon receipt of your order. We are sorry, but we are not responsible for these charges and will not be liable
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