Bauhaus

Bauhaus formed in Northampton in 1978, comprising Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins, and David J. Their debut single 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' (1979) — nine minutes of skeletal bass, reverb-drenched guitar, and Murphy's sepulchral baritone — essentially invented gothic rock in a single recording. It was unlike anything that had come before, and its influence on subsequent decades of dark music cannot be overstated.

Albums 'In the Flat Field' (1980) and 'Mask' (1981) developed the sound further, adding layers of texture and ambition to the stark post-punk template. 'The Sky's Gone Out' (1982) and 'Burning from the Inside' (1983) showed a band pushing against their own genre even as they defined it. Murphy's theatrical stage presence and the band's visual identity — all angular shadows and dramatic lighting — were as important as the music itself.

Bauhaus dissolved in 1983, with Murphy pursuing a solo career and the other three forming Love and Rockets. They reunited several times, most notably in 1998 and again in 2005 for a world tour. Their influence on goth, post-punk, and alternative music is immeasurable — from The Cure and Siouxsie to Nine Inch Nails and beyond, the shadow of Bauhaus falls across decades of dark music.