Blue Plate Special: Bauhaus
Bauhaus emerged from Northampton, England, in 1978 with a sound and aesthetic that would come to define gothic rock. Formed by Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David J, and Kevin Haskins, the band fused glam, dub, punk, and avant-garde art into a unique sonic signature. Their debut single, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead,” released in 1979, became an underground classic and the cornerstone of goth subculture. With stark black-and-white visuals, jagged guitar work, and Murphy’s brooding vocals, Bauhaus cultivated a theatrical and experimental presence that stood in contrast to the pop mainstream and resonated with disaffected youth.
Their early albums—In the Flat Field, Mask, and The Sky’s Gone Out—showcased a band unafraid to evolve, expanding their palette with acoustic textures, electronic flourishes, and dub-inspired rhythms. Despite internal tensions and brief commercial success, including a Top of the Pops appearance with their Bowie cover “Ziggy Stardust,” the group disbanded in 1983 shortly before releasing Burning from the Inside. One of my first vinyl record purchases was their compilation Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape, which I purchased from Tower Records in Sacramento in early 1984.
Before the breakup, Ash created the band Tones on Tail as a way to express his individual creativity, and was later joined by Haskins on this short-lived project. After the breakup, each member pursued solo paths: Murphy found success as a solo artist and with Dalis Car, while Ash, Haskins, and David J went on to form the cult-favorite band Love and Rockets.
Bauhaus reunited sporadically in the decades that followed, most notably in 1998 (for their Resurretion Tour), 2005, and again in 2019, maintaining their mystique with dramatic live shows and one final studio album, Go Away White, in 2008. Often labeled as the founders of goth, the band’s influence extends far beyond that tag, inspiring countless musicians across genres—from industrial and punk to shoegaze and alternative rock. Even after their final breakup in 2022, Bauhaus remains an enduring symbol of dark glamour, artistic rebellion, and sonic innovation.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
Bela Lugosi’s Dead – from 1979-1983 Volume One (1986)
A God in an Alcove – from the album In the Flat Field (1980)
Ziggy Stardust – from the album The Sky’s Gone Out (1982)
The Passion of Lovers – from the album Mask (1981)
Adrenalin – from the album Go Away White (2008)
Burning from the Inside – from the album Burning From the Inside (1983)
Telegram Sam – from the album In the Flat Field (1980)
Boys (Original Version) – from the EP The Bela Session (2018)
Kick in the Eye – from the album Mask (1981)
Third Uncle – from the album The Sky’s Gone Out (1982)
Black Stone Heart – from the album Go Away White (2008)
The Sanity Assassin – from the album Burning From the Inside (1983)
