Bauhaus (band)

From Wikinfo

For the German architectural movement, see Bauhaus.

Bauhaus is a British rock band (formed in Northampton in 1978) popular in the 1980s. The band took their name from the German Bauhaus art movement, originally going by the name Bauhaus 1919, dropping the latter portion within a year of the band's formation. Although there were bands before them that pre-figured the style, Bauhaus is generally agreed to have been the first gothic rock group.

Sound

Bauhaus combined a number of influences (punk music, glam rock, even funk and dub) to create a gloomy, but very passionate sound which appealed to many left looking for something new in the wake of punk's collapse. Their sound proved very influential, inspiring or bringing attention to a whole wave of post-punk groups delving in the intense, gloomy style that would eventually come to be known as gothic rock. Bauhaus remains one of the most popular groups of its era and genre.

History

Forming till Break-up: 1979-1983

Bauhaus debuted with the single, "Bela Lugosi's Dead", which was released in August 1979. Over nine minutes long and recorded "live in the studio" in a single take, it did not enter the UK pop charts, but remained on sale for many years thereafter. By far their most famous work, its minimalist, free-form nature evoked a mixture of The Doors, early Pink Floyd and experimental Krautrock bands such as Can and Neu!. The song was used to score the first ten minutes of the 1983 Tony Scott vampire film "The Hunger".

The band released three more singles, "Dark Entries," "Terror Couple Kill Colonel," and "Telegram Sam" (originally written by glam rock icons T. Rex) before the debut of their first album In the Flat Field in 1980. In the Flat Field topped the indie charts and made headway onto the British pop charts (peaking at number 72). Their second album Mask followed the next year, and the Searching for Satori EP and their third full-length The Sky's Gone Out were released in 1982. Also in 1982 Bauhaus scored their biggest hit with another nod to their glam roots, a cover of David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust", which reached number 15 on the charts.

Prior to the recording of their fourth and final album Burning From the Inside vocalist Peter Murphy was stricken with pneumonia, which prevented him from contributing much to the album. Guitarist Daniel Ash and bassist David J took the reins and became the driving forces behind the record. However, due to Murphy's health problems and the creative strains felt by the constrictions of the goth label on their music and image, the band broke up in 1983. One last single was released in April, "She's in Parties", taken from the album. The band played their last show on 5 July at the Hammersmith Palais in London, where David J left the stage with the words "rest in peace".

Solo careers and side projects: 1983-1998

After Bauhaus disbanded, all members of the band did various solo work. Peter Murphy worked briefly with bassist Mick Karn of Japan in the band Dali's Car before going solo with such albums as Deep and Love Hysteria. Daniel Ash has also put out solo albums and released music under the name Tones on Tail with Kevin Haskins and Bauhaus roadie Glen Campling. David J has released multiple solo albums and has collaborated with several other musicians over the years. He is currently working on his visual arts. Kevin Haskins has been making electronic music for video games, and also has been producing musical artists such as Gary Numan.

David, Daniel and Kevin formed Love and Rockets in 1985, who achieved a US hit four years later with "So Alive". The band broke up after seven albums in 1999.

Bauhaus reform and tour: 1998-present

In 1998, Bauhaus reunited for the "Resurrection Tour", which featured two new songs ("Severance", originally written by Dead Can Dance, and "The Dog's a Vapour", which was also featured on the soundtrack for the film, "Heavy Metal 2"). A live album recorded during the tour, Gotham, was released the same year.

2005 saw, Bauhaus played a reunion gig at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 30, 2005. No new songs were expected, but Peter Murphy followed the Coachella performance with his own solo tour to support his new album. He does not typically play Bauhaus songs at his solo shows.

Recent events

Following Peter Murphy's 2005 tour, Bauhaus embarked on a full tour beginning in North America and Mexico in the fall of 2005, and ending in Europe in February 2006. The band has also mentioned that they hope to record new music following the tour.

In March 2006 it was announced that the band would tour with Nine Inch Nails on the summer leg of the "With Teeth" tour.

Band members

Discography

1979 - Bela Lugosi's Dead (single) (Small Wonder)
1980 - In the Flat Field (4AD)
1981 - Mask (4AD)
1982 - The Sky's Gone Out (Beggars Banquet) (initial copies included "Press the Eject and Give me the Tape" which was later given its own release)
1982 - Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape (live) (Beggars Banquet)
1983 - Burning from the Inside (Beggars Banquet)
1986 - 1979-1983 Volume 1 (compilation) (Beggars Banquet)
1986 - 1979-1983 Volume 2 (compilation) (Beggars Banquet)
1989 - Swing the Heartache: The BBC Sessions (BBC/Beggars Banquet)
1992 - Rest in Peace: The Final Concert (live) (Nemo/Beggars Banquet)
1999 - Gotham (live) (Metropolis)
2000 - Crackle - The Best of Bauhaus (compilation) (Beggars Banquet)