80's goth bands logos pt.IV (Christian Death)

During this early period, goth bands -like most respectful to themselves bands of the 70's- developed a taste for not only a logo (which includes the font for writing in a distinct way the name of the band) but also for a symbol. I think it presents a certain interest, so lets see as many cases as we can...

This cross and bones logo was designed  -as rumored- by Valor in 1987. 
It first appeared on the cover of "The Scriptures" LP on that same year. So it belongs apparently on the post Rozz Williams era.
It got accepted immediately with enthusiasm by the fans. The band uses it consistently on every release ever since.


Stay tuned...

80's goth bands logos pt.III (Fields of the Nephilim)

During this early period, goth bands -like most respectful to themselves bands of the 70's- developed a taste for not only a logo (which includes the font for writing in a distinct way the name of the band) but also for a symbol. I think it presents a certain interest, so lets see as many cases as we can...

This early logo accompanied all their releases from “Returning to Gehenna” in 1986  till “The Nephilim” album in 1988. It’s a detail from the opening scenes at  the train station, just before the fight, of Sergio Leone’s 1968 movie “Οnce upon a time in the west”.

After that McCoy proved unable to make up his mind. 

A series of magic circles appeared only to be replaced by another shortly after 

in some other release.

"The Nephilim"  first magic circle was designed by the mighty Chris Bigg, a long time assistant to Oliver Vaughan who created the wonderful pictorial world of 4AD sleeves.

The others were designed probably both by Bigg and by in house Nephilim design studio Sheer Faith. 

Here are some...

(I'll) Keep talking...

80's goth bands logos pt.II (Sisters of Mercy)

During this early period, goth bands -like most respectful to themselves bands of the 70's- developed a taste for not only a logo (which includes the font for writing in a distinct way the name of the band) but also for a symbol. I think it presents a certain interest, so lets see as many cases as we can...

One of the most notorious logos of all goth history.
Recognizable, effective, successful.
Actually this is not really the band's logo but their own record 
company's  Merciful Release logo!
It also appears on the early singles labels of other bands
that had signed to M.R. like the March Violets, Salvation and 
James Ray and the Performance!
But it got associated only to the Sisters, I think mainly due 
to the success of the band and its consistent use 
in every single release, t-shirts etc.


It's roots go back to 1858 and Henry Gray's anatomical studies.
Here's the proof...

During the mid 1990's it got replaced by the following (lame) version... 

This new version also marked the downfall of the mighty Sisters.

One more thing.

We all know Eldritch and Craig were Motorhead fans.

Is it only my idea that the SOM logo got somewhat influenced by 

Lemmy's gang logo?

To be continued...

80's goth bands logos pt.I (Bauhaus)

During this early period, goth bands -like most respectful to themselves bands of the 70's- developed a taste for not only a logo (which includes the font for writing in a distinct way the name of the band) but also for a symbol. I think it presents a certain interest, so lets see as many cases as we can...

Bauhaus was an applied art school in Germany from 1919-1933. 

It was created by german architect Walter Gropius and it was closed

down by the Nazis. The band practically copied the schools emblem.

Starting point & top 15

Ok, lets begin...

My interest in gothic rock goes back to my high school days when punk and later, gothic bands provided me and a couple of friends with a new spectrum of excitement...

Years passed with endless hours of listening, hundreds of records and gigs, clothes, places, photos, dreaming and even my choice of studies (graphic design) been influenced by gothic and punk fascination with art and atmospherics.

Oliver Vaughan, Chris Bigg (4AD) along with Neville’s Brody’s work on vinyl record sleeves, haunted my walls and my personal work. I can remember that the first poster I ever did as a student, was a collage of xeroxed photos for Bauhaus’ live LP “Press the eject and give 

me the tape”.

“..discover all of earth’s surprises” – Love under will, Fields of the Nephilim

Now, so many years later I know Mc Coy was right when he sang this...

I still feel a strong attraction towards not so much the image, masquerade and paraphernalia 

of this kind of music but to it’s very essence. For each of us it may be somewhat different...

That’s why I bother to upload this blog.

So I’ll start with a cliche.

My top 15 LP’s of classic goth rock.

Please feel free to upload yours.

That’s what blogs are about.

 I think that compilations here are a cheat so I haven’t included any...

Red lorry Yellow lorry - Talk about the weather (1985)

Play Dead - The first flower (1983)

The Sisters of Mercy - First and last and always (1984)

Fields of the Nephilim - the Nephilim (1988)

Fields of the Nephilim - Dawnrazor (1987)

Bauhaus - The sky’s gone out (1982)

The Cult - Dreamtime (1984)

Dance society - Heaven is waiting (1983)

Killing Joke - Night time (1985)

March Violets - Natural history (1984)

The Marionettes - Ave Dementia

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Tinderbox (1986)

Siouxsie and the Banshees - A kiss in the dreamhouse (1982)

The Mission - God’s own medicine (1986)

Dead can Dance - Dead can dance (1984)

That’s about it...

With no particular order.

Y


* whenever someone sends a top something I'm going to upload it to this page too instead of leaving it to the obscurity of the comments...


SavaGeo proposes:


Killing Joke - Fire Dances 
1919 - Machine 
Leitmotiv - Carress & Curse 
Southern Death Cult - S/T 
The Danse Society - Seduction 
The Sisters Of Mercy - First And Last And Always 
Bauhaus - Burning From The Inside 
Play Dead - The First Flower 
Christian Death - Only Theatre Of Pain 
Cocteau Twins - Garlands 
Gene Loves Jezebel - Promise 
Virgin Prunes - If I Die I Die 
Skeletal Family - Recollect