.::M I A + Z O E.M U Z i K::.

In The Flat Field

Bauhaus has got to be the penultimate Goth Band , before ' Goth ' was even a trend . If anyone band / artist has ever set a trend , it would have to be the North Hampton Eng. quartet which emerged in the early 80's . Comprised of Peter Murphy ( vocals ), Daniel Ash ( guitar ) , Kevin Haskins ( drums ) & David J. ( bass ) . The band went under the name " Bauhaus 1919 " before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation. With their dark and gloomy sound and image, Bauhaus are generally considered the first gothic rock group.

Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and, later, Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again following the release of their final album, Go Away White, in 2008.

Daniel Ash, his friend David J. Haskins, and Haskins's younger brother Kevin Haskins had played together in various bands since childhood, often not lasting more than one gig. One of the longer-lived of these was a band called The Craze, which performed a few times around Northampton. However, the Craze still split up fairly quickly, and Ash once again tried to convince his old school friend Peter Murphy to join him, simply because Ash thought he had the right look for a band. Murphy, who was working in a printing factory, decided to give it a try, despite never having written any lyrics or music. During their first rehearsal, he co-wrote the song "In the Flat Field." Ash's old bandmate Kevin Haskins joined as the drummer. Ash made a point of not inviting David J, the driving force in their previous bands, because he wanted a band he could control. After only a few weeks though, Ash reconsidered and invited Haskins to replace original bassist Chris Barber. Haskins had already agreed to tour American airbases with another band, but decided that joining his friends' group was "the right thing to do." With their lineup complete, the unnamed band played their first gig at the Cromwell pub in Wellingborough on New Year's Eve 1978.

The band chose the name Bauhaus 1919, a reference to the German Bauhaus art movement of the 1920s, because of its "stylistic implications and associations", according to David J. Bauhaus associate Graham Bentley said that the group was unlike any Northampton band of the time, most of which played predominantly cover songs. Bentley videotaped a performance by the group, which was sent to several record labels in the hope of obtaining a contract. The venture was unsuccessful , partly because many record companies at the time did not have home video equipment or Bentley had to provide it himself, so the group decided to record a demo.

Together for only six weeks, Bauhaus entered the studio for the first time at Beck Studios in Wellingborough to record a demo. The band recorded five songs; one of the tracks from the session, "Bela Lugosi's Dead", running more than nine minutes, was released as the group's debut single in August 1979 on Small Wonder Records as Bauhaus (the 1919 abandoned * I still have that record ; in Vinyl too !). The single received a positive review in Sounds and stayed on the British independent charts for two years. The song received crucial airplay on BBC Radio 1 and DJ John Peel's evening show, and Bauhaus was subsequently asked to record a session for Peel's show, which was broadcast on January 3, 1980.
The band released three more singles, "Dark Entries", "Terror Couple Kill Colonel" and "Telegram Sam"-originally written by glam rock pioneers T.Rex-before the debut of their first album In the Flat Field in 1980 on 4AD. Despite negative reviews, In the Flat Field topped the indie charts and made headway onto the British pop charts, peaking for one week at number seventy-two.

Bauhaus' growing success outstripped 4AD's resources, so the band moved to 4AD's parent label Beggars Banquet Records. Bauhaus released "Kick in the Eye" as its debut release on the label. The single reached number 59 on the charts. the following single "The Passion of Lovers" peaked at number 56. Bauhaus released its second album, Mask, in October 1981. The band employed more keyboards and a variety of other instruments to add to the diversity of the record. In an unconventional move, the group shot a video for the album's title track as a promotional tool for the band as a whole and not any specific song from the record.

Bauhaus combined a number of influences including punk music, glam rock, and Krautrock-even funk and dub-to create a gloomy and introspective sound which appealed to many fans left disillusioned by the New Wave that arose in the wake of punk's collapse. Their sound proved influential, inspiring or bringing attention to a whole wave of post-punk groups delving into the intense, gloomy style that would eventually come to be known as gothic rock. Its crucial elements included Peter Murphy's deep and sonorous voice, Daniel Ash's innovative guitar playing and David J's dub-influenced bass, ( who later went on to form " Love & Rockets along w/ Kevin Haskins on drums * I still have that vinyl as well )

Bauhaus released their first new studio album since 1983, Go Away White, in 2008. This marked the end of the band and there was no supporting tour. Drummer Kevin Haskins said in an interview that they "were getting along really well, but there was an incident that occurred." As a result, "some of us just felt that we didn't want to carry on as a working unit". In an interview with SuicideGirls, bassist David J said about the breakup: "You have a test tube, and you pour in one chemical, and you pour in another chemical, and something happens. It starts to bubble. Pour in another chemical, and it starts to bubble a bit more. You pour in a fourth chemical, and it bubbles really violently, and then explodes. That's my answer". Peter Murphy claimed in another interview that "... he was most satisfied with the bonding on an emotional level. It was good to be working together and to put the past behind us and it was very positive. The result was coming out really fast, so it was exciting and it was very enjoyable," but in the end "... that rocky character worked and I think it was a bit right to finish it, really."

Murphy also stated in his MySpace blog ( yes, they're my friends on myspace :) in January that "there's a lot more to it than this 'incident' that I've heard bandied about. In any group's business there are constant incidents, so what? Committing to a being in a band takes tolerance, love, and a massive commitment. I've walked on that stage at times when I could emotionally barely manage to and give it all just the same. If I'd let some disagreement or bad word distract me from that goal, then I'd need to question my integrity. Anton Corbijn once related to me how Bono of U2 talked about one of the reasons that U2 had survived was that they're unlike many English bands; there was a kinship and priority given to each other as family. I personally sympathize with that. 'There is no love where there is no Love.'"

After the bands dissolution Peter Murphy collaborated with Trent Reznor & NIN ( Trent Reznor ) touring across country , revising some of Bauhaus' tracks , and performing cover versions of Iggy Pops " Night clubbing " , Grace Jones' " Warm Leatherette" along with many of Peter Murphy's solo hits . Trent & Murphy are currently touring ( last gig was in New Zealand ) under their new name : " TV on the Radio " . Murphy's voice is as stellar & crystal clear as it were 30 yrs ago - not to say that it has gotten better with age ( which it has ! ) . If you have never heard of Bauhaus , or Love & Rockets , and the new band " TV on the Radio " , you are missing out on some great music .

Despite 30+ years , I still find myself listening to Bauhaus & Love & Rockets , except that now I do so on my iPod . Ain't technology grand ? ( I dont have to flip the 45 over to listen to the B side :)