Goth music started in the early 1980s in the wake, or "death", of punk rock, and was originally known as post-punk. It began with bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Joy Division, and a handful of others. Although many of these bands could be considered to be part of other musical styles, Bauhaus is considered the archetype for goth music. The essential background of the music came from punk rock, although influences are also seen and heard from glam rock (David Bowie), psychedelic rock (The Doors), and early proto-punk (The Velvet Underground), as well as new wave (Adam and the Ants).
The term "gothic" in reference to the music is claimed to have been first used by the manager of Joy Division, stating that the band's music was "gothic" compared to the popular music of the time. Goth music often experimented with different instrument effects such as distortion, flange, phase, delay and modulation, in order to create music as art, as opposed to entertainment. Aside from music, many of those who could be called the founders of the goth subculture were art students, or art enthusiasts. In fact, all of the members of Bauhaus were students of Fine Art. From the artistic nature of the music, goth received a small portion of its genetic makeup, for lack of a better term. Among other things, what would become goth was an artistic subculture, encompassing more types of art than just music.
Goth took a slight turn away from its punk roots, however. Where as punk tended toward the masculine, goth went androgynous, blending both masculine and feminine. There are other styles commonly associated with goth, such as industrial and black/death metal, but there are differences between these styles. Industrial, like goth, was an offshoot of punk that took a slight turn away from the punk roots. Instead of going toward the feminine side of the spectrum, it went more masculine. As far as black/death metal is concerned, although appearances can be somewhat similar - such as black clothing, occasionally pale face makeup and sometimes black lipstick/eyeliner/eyshadow - these two styles are even more masculine than industrial. The fact is, no style of metal is goth in the slightest, not even so-called "goth metal" or "gothic metal".
The first use of the term "goth" in reference to a group of people was by Ian Astbury, singer for a prominent goth band known as Southern Death Cult (also known as The Cult). He used it as a term for the fans of the band Sex Gang Children. The reason they were known as such is due to their lead singer, Andi Sexgang, being nicknamed "Count Visigoth" by Ian Astbury. Visigoth being a reference to an old Germanic tribe also known as the Goths. Ian's use of the term "goths" was overheard by a journalist for the UK magazine NME, who published an article using it.
In 1982, a British night club known as the Batcave opened up. This club was for those generally fed up with the commercial direction of the New Romantic movement - those thirsting for something new, and darker. Although the Batcave didn't provide much in the music department, aside from the bands Alien Sex Fiend and Specimen, it was a major contributor to the fashion, as well as the popularity.
When it comes to aesthetics and fashion, there are two main influences, one for each sex. Bauhaus were the influence for the male goth look. To quote Fred Berger, "The aesthetic was pretty much set by Bauhaus, who were a very gender-ambiguous group. The guys wore makeup and they were pretty, and that carried over to the fashion, which for men was lace, high heels, jewelry, thigh-high boots, fetish clothing. Sometimes skirts, but it wasn't drag. Rozz Williams from Christian Death was gender-bending, but definitely a guy. No drag queen would ever consider these gothic boys to be trannies."
To elaborate on Fred Berger's quote about goth men sometimes wearing skirts, but without it being drag, I'm going to have to provide a quick definition of what makes up a drag queen. According to Wikipedia, "A drag queen is a man who dresses, and often acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining." Furthermore, drag queens often go to lengths to make themselves physically appear as women, although they are men. For goth guys, on the other hand, even though some of us may wear skirts it isn't drag because it is still obvious that we are men.
When it comes to women, the influence was Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees. To quote Ian Astbury, "For the women it was definitely Siouxsie from the Banshees -- that S&M look with the black fishnets, the black leather thigh-high boots, the pale face paint and the dark makeup, and then the big black spiky hair." Siouxsie commented on this stating "I never wore white face makeup; I was never that clowny looking."
(For a more comprehensive history, visit: http://www.scathe.demon.co.uk/histgoth.htm)
