80s "goth"/ punk/ alternative

[KooKooKachu]

I was just wondering if any MNers were on the goth scene in the 80s? What did you call yourselves? Some groups called themselves goths, some called themselves psychobillies, a lot didnt attach a label to themselves.

I've been watching documentaries on youtube about The Batcave in London and I thought it looked ace. They had bands like The Cure and Bauhaus play there.

I was only born in 86, but I was on the rock/metal/goth scene of the early - mid noughties.

I wonder how much has changed since the 80s. I still listen to a lot of the music but my music tastes have definitely diversified. I wear a very average boring dress code now.

So, if any of you were on the trad goth scene of 80s what was it like and what were the clubs like? Did your appearance get met with 'disapproval' from people or did no one really bat an eye lid?

Hmm no one it would appear. Must have the wrong demographic.

More early 90s for me, like a lot of people it was a university thing. Definitely got looked at when I returned home! I would not have used the word goth about myself but I swabbed around in floor length skirts, purple lipstick and often a black hat so I think I probably was Loved it tbh.

(OP be patient - remember most 80s goths are now in their 50s and at work on a Friday afternoon, not on mumsnet!)

I was a teen in the 80s, didn't see a lot of bands, liked a mix of later punk and a bit of New wave. Saw the Cure, Siouxsie, Japan and others I can't remember.
Swapped between dressing in all black and looking very androgynous in dodgy suits with rolled up sleeves.
Ah, those were the days.

I class myself as an older goth now, still into the music and love the outfits but I don't wear mine now. I got a bit more subdued as I became a mother and got a well respected job and those clothes don't fit me anymore now anyway.

I always remember the clubs been dark and moody, with great music. Queuing outside on a Friday and Saturday night was always fun, see what abuse the 'normal' clubbers would yell at us, usually hippies which was always quite funny.

@Hangingbasketofdoom

(OP be patient - remember most 80s goths are now in their 50s and at work on a Friday afternoon, not on mumsnet!)

Fair point, @Hangingbasketofdoom.

Your clothes sound fab. I would definitely still dress up if a) I had a reason to (I don't go out these days ) and b) I wasn't so boring.

In my hometown we didn't have a separate club but the regular club would have a really short indie/goth section at the start, where we would shuffle around to the stone roses and throw ourselves about a bit more to the Sisters of Mercy. Then retire to the bar and drink purple nasties for the rest of the evening

Have realised I put I swabbed about.. got coronavirus on my mind! I swanned about..

Oh yeah saw The sisters of Mercy too!

Mid-teen in the 80s, was a Goth. The only goth in the village, in fact, although there were a couple of goths in the neighbouring village. Didn’t see any bands though, just haunted record shops for Sisters, Bauhaus etc. I flirted with The Levellers too, but they were a bit upbeat so I kept that quiet.
There’s a photo of me on the seafront all in floaty black with THE wildest orange and green eye makeup, I must dig it out to horrify DS

Love your username @suziesue45.

I got a bit more subdued as I became a mother and got a well respected job and those clothes don't fit me anymore now anyway.

I hear ya!

I lived in a tiny Cheshire village though, so had to travel to do anything vaguely interesting concert wise.

There’s a photo of me on the seafront all in floaty black with THE wildest orange and green eye makeup, I must dig it out to horrify DS

Love this!

I was a psychobilly / rockabilly in the early 90s. Had the big quiff etc.
I’m now 45 and a biker. My daily style hasn’t changed much at all...just have very long hair these days.

I was a Goth from the late 80s and still largely dress in a more alternative manner. Nowadays (sounding like a pensioner) anything goes, whereas 30 years ago people stared a lot. My dad refused to walk next to me, he was so embarrassed.

Unfortunately, I grew up in a tedious rural-ish location, so that made the staring worse. It also made it difficult to access the gigs and clubs. So to my mother's horror, from 14 I was travelling all over to go to some amazing gigs, one, notably, was The Cure at Crystal Palace Bowl in 1990.
I still go to the gigs - years ago, you couldn't see the stage for massive hair, but now, it's a sea of bald heads.

Is there still a goth scene these days?

Where I live there is a club that used to play alternative 80s music on one of its floors. I dont know if it still does as I've not been in a few years.

And then there used to be a "goth night" one night a month at a different venue, but that hasn't happened for over a decade now. I used to love going and drink snake bite and black. It played a lot of EBM and beepy beepy music but tons of moody 80s tunes too.

I dont really see anyone dressed like a trad goth anymore and wondering if its because nobody does it now, or it's just because I had a family and got a good job and all the trappings of life that I'm just not around that scene anymore. I miss being young, and carefree. I just don't see that scene anymore and it's depressing.

There's definitely a goth scene still in London. Slimelight still exists and everything. Plenty of goths walking around Camden in normal times, although goodness knows at the moment.

Love your username too @Crylittlesister.

Laughing at sea of bald heads

There is in my nearest city, but it is generally 20 years behind the times anyway. I like to spot Baby Goths when out and about. 🖤 They are few and far between though.
Also went to a club that played goth rock on one of the floors. I’d be scared to set foot in there now in case it was all different. Plus your hair stuck to the breezeblocks as you leant all casually with your snakebite and black. Mmmmmm......snakebite......

Whitby Gothic Weekend is still going i think, so must be goths out there still. Went a few times in the early 2000s and had a great time. Train from Kings Cross would be busy with goths and by the time we'd change onto the small train across the moors there'd be hundreds of us.
But all my London nightclubs closed and no idea where people go now.

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit - I'm guessing there was no local club where you lived?

Tectonic - it warms my little black heart to hear there is still a scene.

I was New Wave in the mid 80s, punk adjacent. This was in Washington DC where there was a small but devoted scene. We wore leopard print trousers, bondage skirts and DMs. And most of us were underage. Loved those days. Saw The Cult, The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Howard Jones and Echo & the Bunneymen.

My Dad asked me when I was in my late teens when I was going to stop wearing “those big bloody boots”. I’m reaching out and touching 50 now and still wearing them

I'm hoping for a revival. It needs to happen.

@Saucery

My Dad asked me when I was in my late teens when I was going to stop wearing “those big bloody boots”. I’m reaching out and touching 50 now and still wearing them

Love this. I can imagine parents at the time being mortified at their teenagers choice of attire.

My dad used to day little things to me but I just laughed it off. My mum wasn't arsed what I wore, she just left me to it. God I ache for my youth.