In 1979, a new darkness descended on British music. From the ashes of punk, something stranger, more romantic, and infinitely more theatrical was rising. They called it goth.
"Black Planet" is the definitive history of gothic rock and death rock—from the stark post-punk of Joy Division and Bauhaus to the theatrical excess of Siouxsie and the Banshees, from the legendary Batcave nights to the global scene that followed.
Nick Razer traces the music, the fashion, the philosophy, and the community that made goth more than just a genre. He explores why the aesthetic of darkness spoke so powerfully to generations of outsiders, how the scene survived the inevitable backlash and mockery, and why goth continues to influence fashion, music, and visual culture today.
Featuring interviews with key figures, rare photographs, and a discography that proves just how deep the darkness goes, "Black Planet" is essential reading for anyone who ever painted their room black—and for anyone who wants to understand why they might.