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From the ashes of the UK punk scene, Bauhaus created a dark, ethereal, outsider form of gothic rock that made them cult heroes across the globe and went on to influence the likes of Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins. Led by pale, vampiric front man Peter Murphy, the band formed in Northampton in 1978 and - naming themselves after a German art movement - took inspiration from the gloomy scowl of Joy Division and the theatrical showmanship of David Bowie. Hailed as the first "goth" band, early single Bela Lugosi's Dead was championed by Radio 1 DJ John Peel and second album Mask (1981) broke through into the Top 30 and cemented a loyal band of followers. Often sneered at by the press, they scored a top five hit with their cover of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and their experimental, neo-psychedelic, post-punk sound reached a high point when third album The Sky's Gone Out (1982) made it to Number 4 in the UK charts. A nasty bout of pneumonia meant that Murphy contributed little to follow-up Burning From The Inside (1983) and the band split soon after; with bassist David J, guitarist Daniel Ash and drummer Kevin Haskins going on to form Love and Rockets, while Murphy pursued a solo career. The band reformed in 2005 to play at Coachella Festival and release Go Away White (2008) but again tensions arose and the band was discontinued.
Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
