Season of the Witch: The Book of Goth

In the winter of 1979, punk reached its bleak climax with the fatal heroin overdose of Sid Vicious. Unusual alliances of outsiders prepare to seize power, set the political agenda, and write the soundtrack for the years to come. Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and the Cure find a way to distill the dissonance and darkness of the shifting decade into a new form of music, goth. By the time Margaret Thatcher is cast out of office in 1990, the arrival of goth will have imprinted on the cultural landscape as much as the Iron Lady herself.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd

A captivating and meticulously researched account, this book has been hailed as a masterpiece. With its rich prose and deep insights, it has earned numerous accolades, including being named a Times Book of the Year, a Mojo Book of the Year, a Louder Than War Book of the Year, a Waterstones Book of the Year, and a Resident Book of the Year.

Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous decade, the book delves into the world of punk, a genre that had reached its bleak climax with the fatal heroin overdose of Sid Vicious while awaiting trial for the murder of his girlfriend. In this climate of industrial action and social unrest, unlikely alliances of outsiders prepare to seize power, set the political agenda, and write the soundtrack for the years to come.

Two distinct dominatrices emerge as the figureheads of this movement: Siouxsie and the Banshees, with their haunting melodies and dark lyrics, and Joy Division and the Cure, with their atmospheric soundscapes and introspective lyrics. These bands, along with other bands like the Sex Pistols, pushed the boundaries of taboos and embraced the fetishistic, creating a new form of music that would become known as goth.

As Margaret Thatcher enters 10 Downing Street, the stage is set for the emergence of goth as a global phenomenon. With their distinctive style and rebellious spirit, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and the Cure quickly gain popularity, becoming global stars of the goth scene. Their music, characterized by its dissonance and darkness, resonated with a generation of alienated youths who sought an alternative to the mainstream.

By the time Thatcher is cast out of office in 1990, goth has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. Its rock 'n' roll outlaw imagery and music have crossed borders, speaking to a generation of young people who were searching for identity and meaning in a changing world.

Forty years after the birth of goth, author Cathi Unsworth has written the first comprehensive overview of this enduring counter-culture. In Season of the Witch, she explores the politics of the era, from the miners' strikes and privatization to the Troubles and AIDS, as well as how goth's rock 'n' roll outlaw imagery and music cross-pollinated throughout Britain and internationally.

The book also delves into the social history of goth, highlighting its enduring spirit and refusal to give up. Goth has become a symbol of resistance and empowerment, a community that embraces its uniqueness and challenges societal norms.

In conclusion, Season of the Witch is a must-read for anyone interested in music, culture, and the history of a movement that has left an indelible mark on the world. With its captivating prose and deep insights, this book provides a fascinating and comprehensive overview of goth, a counter-culture that refuses to fade away.

Weight: 728g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788706247