Gothabilly
Gothabilly | |
---|---|
Stylistic origins | Early Punk rock, Surf rock, Psychobilly, Death Rock, Gothic Rock |
Cultural origins | late 1970's United States |
Typical instruments | Guitar - Bass - Drums - Some more gothic rock influenced acts may incorporate violins and keyboards |
Regional scenes | |
Mainly England and the United States | |
Other topics | |
Timeline of alternative rock |
Gothabilly is a portmanteau which refers to the fusion of rockabilly music and the Goth culture. Gothabilly bands' lyrics include various dark themes sometimes including, but not limited to: Horror, the Supernatural/Paranormal, Vampires, The Occult, plus the standard rock fare of Dark Love songs, Sadness, violence,etc., with vocal styles that are similar to those used in classic rockabilly. Gothabilly also often draws visual and stylistic influences from camp 1960s "monster" themes, such as the television show The Munsters.
"Gothabilly" differs from "Psychobilly" in that Gothabilly music tends to be slower and more atmosphere-oriented than Psychobilly. Whereas most Psychobilly songs have rockabilly chord progressions played in a punk style, Gothabilly adds gothic influence, such as jangly guitars, organs, and often, acoustic instrumentation.
Origins
In the late 1970s, The Cramps helped to create a proto-gothabilly subgenre. However, the term "gothabilly" was not used until the early 1990's when Salon Betty frontwoman, Betty X. used the term in an interview with The Rocket newspaper. The terms Death Lounge and Deathabilly may also be associated with Betty X. It should be noted, however, that bands such as the Cramps were more influential to the Gothabilly genre as visual icons and stylistic archetypes, than they were musically in many cases. The Cramps musical style is/was closer in formula to the Surf rock sound of the early 1960s combined with the traditional "12-bar blues" format than to 1950's rockabilly rhythms or vocal styles. They also have been sometimes associated with Gothic Rock primarily because of their use of fetish clothing and outlandish makeup, including heavy, dark eyeliner on both male and female members of the group in their photos and live concerts, which is also popular in the Gothic subculture. The Cramps are also considered to be influential in the same sense to the Psychobilly genre.
Influential Acts
- The Cramps
- Tim Scott-Mcconnell
- Salon Betty
- The Misfits
- Samhain
- 45 Grave
- Nick Cave
- Screamin' Jay Hawkins
- Fields of the Nephilim
- Mac Curtis
- The Stray Cats
- Screaming Lord Sutch
- Marty Robbins
- The Sisters of Mercy
- Christian Death
- Reverend Horton Heat
- the Meteors
- Johnny Cash
Current Performers
- Psycho Charger
- Bone Orchard
- Calabrese
- The Coffinshakers
- The Cryptkeeper 5
- Concumbre Zombi
- Country Bob And The Blood Farmers
- Dave Vanian and his Phantom Chords
- Cult Of The Psychic Fetus
- Dark Violence of Beauty
- Dr. Daniel And The Rockabilly Vampires
- Reverend Elvis & The Undead Sycopators
- Frankenstein (band)
- Ghoultown
- The Hillbilly Headhunters
- Koffin Kats
- Scary Boom
- The Spook Lights
- HorrorPops
- Spooky DeVille
- The Young Werewolves
- The Limit Club
- Hillbilly Werewolf
- Alex Machine
External links
- Psycho Charger
- Dr. Daniel & The Rockabilly Vampires
- Gravemist(Formerly CREEPERS)
- Limit club
- Chicago Gothabilly Dot Net
- Baltimore Psychobilly - Internet radio show featuring psychobilly music