Season of the Witch: The Book of Goth: A Times Book of the Year

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: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
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. Their figureheads are two very different kinds of dominatrices: Siouxsie Sioux, the charismatic frontwoman of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Vivienne Westwood, the avant-garde designer who became the iconic face of punk fashion.

As Margaret Thatcher enters 10 Downing Street, a handful of bands born of punk, including 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. Pushing at the taboos the Sex Pistols had unlocked and dancing with the fetishistic, these bands will become global stars of goth, shaping the cultural landscape as much as the Iron Lady herself.

By the time 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. Forty years on, author Cathi Unsworth provides the first comprehensive overview of the music, context, and lasting legacy of goth. This is the story of how goth was shaped by the politics of the era, from the miners' strikes and privatization to the Troubles and AIDS, as well as how its rock 'n' roll outlaw imagery and music cross-pollinated throughout Britain and internationally, speaking to a generation of alienated youths.

A fascinating social history, Season of the Witch tells the tale of an enduring counter-culture that steadfastly refuses to give up. Through its vivid storytelling and deep analysis, the book offers a unique perspective on a genre that has left an indelible mark on music history and continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.

Weight: 341g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788706278