Today, Lol Tolhurst released his new book, GOTH: A History, via Hachette Books. The historical memoir from the co-founder of The Cure follows his acclaimed 2016 memoir Cured: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys, and is available HERE. GOTH: A History is an entertaining and engaging historical memoir of the genre of Goth music and culture, exploring creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and many more great bands that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the 80s and ever since. To celebrate the release of the book, Lol will be in conversation with author, musician and label head of Beggars US, Nabil Ayers (My Life In The Sunshine) in New York City today, September 26th, at Powerhouse Arena Brooklyn, and with musician, film / tv composer and podcast host, Joe Wong (The Trap Set) in Los Angeles on September 28th at Book Soup. For additional information on the events, visit: https://loltolhurst.com.
Written by Lol Tolhurst, the book offers a fascinating deep dive into the movers and shakers of goth with stories and anecdotes from Tolhurst’s personal memories as well as the musicians, magicians, and artists, who made it all happen—the people, places, and events that made goth an inevitable and enduring movement.
Starting with the Origins of Goth, Tolhurst explores early art and literature that inspired the genre and looks into the work of T.S Eliot, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, Albert Camus and more. He also outlines the path of Gothic Forebears and shows how many musicians played in punk bands before transitioning into goth endeavors. Next, he introduces readers to the “Architects of Darkness “—Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and The Cure—the godfathers of goth who established the genre’s roots. Following these early bands, Tolhurst discusses a group he calls the ” Spiritual Alchemists “, consisting of bands like Depeche Mode, Cocteau Twins and more, who helped the darkness expand into the culture . He also tracks the expansion of the genre overseas, from England to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond. Gothic fashion was an important part of the movement as well, and Tolhurst discusses the clothing that accompanied and complemented the music. Finally, Tolhurst examines the legacy of goth music, and shows how its influence can still be seen to this day across music, film, TV, visual arts, social media, and so much more finally concluding “Why Goth matters!”
ABOUT LOL TOLHURST
Lol Tolhurst is best known as a founding member of The Cure – one the most influential, successful and critically acclaimed bands of all time. The musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has also performed music with various projects, became an author with the release of his 2016 memoir Cured – The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys, and co-created the podcast Curious Creatures.
Tolhurst first met childhood friend Robert Smith at the age of 5 while at school in the London suburbs of West Sussex. They would go on to found The Cure in 1976 with Tolhurst on drums, and toured the globe many times over in support of their groundbreaking albums Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, Faith and Pornography. Lol later moved to keyboards until departing the band in 1989, leaving The Cure after the recording of their masterwork, Disintegration.
The restlessly creative artist has since moved to Southern California and written, recorded and toured with his band, Levinhurst. Tolhurst also saw a momentous reunion tour with The Cure in 2011, performing together for the first time in over twenty years. Tolhurst then went on to write his first published book, Cured – The Tale Of Two Imaginary Boys, released via Hachette Books in 2016. The globally praised memoir drew together the threads of his life and art so far, and saw him make over 300 appearances in cities across North America, South America, the UK and France. Similar to his time on the road with The Cure, the book tour gave Lol the chance to connect with his loyal fanbase again.
Lol’s creative journeys also recently continued after an unexpected meeting with his old friend Budgie (Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Creatures). In 2022, the pair teamed up to create the podcast series, Curious Creatures, where they explore post punk’s enduring legacy and contemporary relevance and welcome luminaries from all walks of life for revealing yet relaxed conversation.
The upcoming few years will be full of other artistic creations from Lol too! Tolhurst will release new music again, this time with Budgie and producer Jacknife Lee (U2, Taylor Swift). Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee’s debut album Los Angeles features hard-hitting tracks that dive into freedom and slavery, beauty and decay, and hope and despair. The album also features an astonishing list of guest vocalists and musicians including The Edge (U2), Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Civil Rights avant-garde artist Lonnie Holley, Mary Lattimore, Starcrawler wild child Arrow de Wilde, Mark Bowen (IDLES) and more. Hear the album’s title track “Los Angeles” ft James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem) and latest single, “Ghosted at Home” ft Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream).
Tolhurst will also release his second book, GOTH: A History, in the fall of 2023 via Hachette Books. The new book features stories and anecdotes from Tolhurst’s personal memories as well as the musicians, magicians and artists, who made goth an inevitable and enduring movement. The fascinating deep dive into the history of Goth explores creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and additional artists that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the 80s and ever since.
Photo Credit: Louis Rodiger
TheWaster.com | Read the Book
9.26.2023
