UK Decay

[werewolf]

Debate the history of 'gothic music'
Mick Mercer or someone once claimed that UK Decay were amongst the founding 'godfathers' of 'Goth'
In fact Abbo vocals, of UK Decay was actually the originator of the term 'Goth'...is this true?
Well this could be a starting place in this quest!
_________________

Share this article with Facebook, Myspace, Twitter & more

Visit The new UK Decay Communities

[Mervin]

i heard that myself on a us tv show,
Uk decay where pioneers at the frontier of goth punk well before, the cure or any other bands.

[bransonpickle]

I love the music listening to it now, it still has it. great lyrics from abbo and the boys all the best r.
_________________
come fly with me..

[mickmercer]

The influence of UK Decay is naturally very strong and people should respect their pre-eminence in UK Goth History because no other band helped as many other bands, if only through being so damn approachable.

The truth is, I never met a band who had a bad word to say about Decay and many clearly benefited through the help and exposure Decay brought them as their own reputation was building.

And from 'Black Cat' onwards the lyrical and visual imagery of the band fitted in with some bands moving away from the purely Punk energy, and concerns, into finding themselves more comfortable using personal concerns and interests in their lyrics.

Can you imagine Decay ploughing a conformist Punk 'strategy' and ending up like a superior Chelsea or something?

Instead, you naturally went your own way and people couldn't help but pick up on the feel. It was dark, it had some curdled humour, and also developed its own sound. The drums and guitar sound was your own invention. Abbo's vocal style became copied by others, as they copied Adam (and Abbo probably lifted some initial tricks from him).

For Goth, as a subject initially rather than any noticeable 'sound' (that happened in the second half of the 80's), it was important to have a band like Decay seen to flourish, and then be followed by other bands who also started to attract the same audience, or a decent proportion of them, and word of mouth was then spread through the burgeoning fanzine market of the time.

Goth was more the audience for the first few years than a group of bands. There were thousands of people going to tons of gigs, and gradually defining their devotions, and time, and effort, to bands who didn't fit into a one-dimensional Punk approach.

In my first Punk History CD I have used a couple of Abbo interviews and labelled him as Grandfather Of Goth. I'm sure he wears it well. Even if he did end up working for a rubbish label.
_________________
You may not like me now, but you smell.

[Dharma Sister]

I wasn't around in the days you're talking about, well actually I was but I was still in nappies and pushchairs. Looking back on the history of music, and looking at (and listening to) today's music scene I think it's great that a group of guys had the courage (I think it's appropriate to use that word) and originality to come out with something as you say Mick, more personal and non-conformist (even than punk). It is so easy to be swept up in a movement and to lose sight of the original meaning and purpose of it. I'd love to have been around in thoses days! Fortunately, having met Spon a few years ago I have been priveleged enought to be able to still have access to the old 7 as 12" early goth gems by the band. It's tragic about Steve Harle's death and I feel sad not to have been able to meet him, as many people will feel sad at the loss of a wonderful friend. But good on yer Spon for getting this together - u diamond dog! Abbo, get down from up there and check out the site man! Peace out xxxx
_________________
May you be well, May you be Happy, may you be free from suffering!
Natty Detox ♥

www.myspace.com/djdetox

[Rick A. Mortis]

Well weren't they one of a handfull of groups that started the "Goth" movement..

Gloria Mundi is another one right?

and The Dark?

[mickmercer]

Gloria Mundi, yes. The Dark, no.
_________________
You may not like me now, but you smell.

[Iain]

Poison Girls were also around, releasing stuff in 1979.

What month was the Black Cat EP released? I always assumed it was released before Bela Lugisi's Dead, but never found the month that either were released, just 79.

[werewolf]

Black 45 released

[brilliant guest]

It must have been november that the black cat, was actually released.
If my memory serves me correctly 1979 was a vintage year for the mushrooms growing round luton.
hint: look on the corner of the black cat cover: what do you see??
it was relevent to the time the single was released.