Since 2009, May 22nd has been celebrated as World Goth Day, a holiday that originated at BBC 6Music when they spent the day spotlighting the sub-genre. (Wait! A radio station creating a holiday? Crazy!)
The term "goth rock" traces all the way back to 1967 when rock critic John Stickney used it to describe The Doors. A decade later, the phrase re-emerged when writers were describing the post-punk scene in the UK, including the "godfathers of goth" The Cure, as well as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Bauhaus. Since then, the term has evolved to be applied to multiple genres of music, from electronic to metal. KEXP's DJ Sharlese is our resident expert in all things dark. Not only has she compiled a list of goths from around the world for KEXP's The Weekly Mix podcast, but she's assembled a video roundup featuring pioneers of the genre alongside the darkwave acts who continue to carry the torch. Watch and listen below, and tune in to KEXP from 6 AM to 9 PM PT as we celebrate the darkness on air.
Take a look back at our DJs and staff sporting their best goth looks... in trees!
In Another of World Goth Day, KEXP takes a look back at the gothic cowboy aesthetics of Carl McCoy's Fields of the Nephilim
KEXP's DJ Abbie chats with the legendary artist about expressing herself truthfully despite "notions of discomfort"
