Find a band that will never let your curiosity and imagination die and spend your life listening to their music and exploring secret chambers of your psyche. Make sure your ears hear as many beautiful songs as possible thanks to that band. Actually, you don’t have to search that much. I have found a band for you. Bauhaus is an oddly shaped collection of sonic galaxies. Take a sneak peak into their biography and then start purchasing their records. If you are not dancing around in a perpetual state of baffled excitation and awestruck fascination when you listen to Bauhaus, then I don’t know why you have ears.
Formed in Northampton in 1978, Bauhaus were one of the most revered and most successful bands of British new wave scene in the late 70s and early 80s. Their forte was amalgamation of punk, glam-rock, Krautrock, funk and dub into idiosyncratic, obscure and zealous sound. It made them one of the trailblazers of gothic rock, as they stood as the first modern rock group who experimented with Goth. It comes as no surprise that Bauhaus influenced many artists. The frontman Peter Murphy was ordained with the title King of Goth Rock.
During their working existence, the band had released five full length albums, few compilations and several live-albums. Official breakup occurred in 1983, although they made a comeback in 1998 (with the purpose of touring around North America and Europe) and then again in 2005 when they dropped their final album. Interesting trivia is that the band was initially called Bauhaus 1919, but they simplified their name right before having their first live gig in Wellingborough.
In 1979, the band released their critically acclaimed debut single Bella Lugosi’s Dead, a song that later on went to become their trademark. It’s interesting that the single did not do well on the charts in the beginning. It wasn’t until the next year that it entered UK independent singles chart, where it peaked at number 8, and spent two year within top 100. When cover Telegram Sam peaked at #3, it was clear that Bauhaus are becoming kings of alternative scene.
In 1981, the band started collaboration with poet, painter and student of the Bauhaus movement, Rene Halkett, and dropped the single Nothing. Around the same time, Murphy appeared on British television station ITV in their commercial for empty video cassettes Maxell. From that point on, it was obvious that Bauhaus is on its way to become a cult group. They even appeared in the movie The Hunger with legendary David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve as leading roles. Bowie left a strong impression on band’s members, which is why they recorded a cover of Ziggy Stardust. After a performance on BBC 1 Top Of The Pops, the single reached top 15 on UK official single charts.
When Burning From The Inside came out, Murphy suffered lung inflammation, so Ash and J took over the leader position. They even recorded main vocals on few songs. Their last concert was held in London’s Hammersmith Palais. The band noted they are not going to play together anymore. Murphy went on to release seven solo studio albums up until now. In 2005, Bauhaus reincarnated on Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival in California, which lead to the previously mentioned comeback tour. During the tour, they hinted that they are working on their final album.
I am not going to tell you If their farewell was solid or not. I believe you should discover it on your own. I know I am teasing, and you’re welcome. I recommend you start with their debut single Bella Lugosi’s Dead. Everything following that song is history. Enjoy listening to history. Happy #SundaySpotlight!
