Bauhaus was 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 goth group. Bauhaus combined a number of influences (punk music, glam rock, and even 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 goth rock. Bauhaus remains one of the most popular groups of its era and genre.

Their debut single, "Bela Lugosi's Dead ", 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".

After Bauhaus broke up (1983), all members of the band did various solo work. Peter Murphy worked briefly with keyboardist 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. David J. 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.

In 1985, David, Daniel and Kevin formed Love and Rockets, who achieved a US hit in 1989 with "So Alive".

Bauhaus reunited in 1998 for their "Resurrection Tour", which featured one new song ("Severance", a cover of Dead Can Dance). All the members are still working on music.

The line-up:

• Peter Murphy: vocals
• Daniel Ash: guitar, saxophone
• David Jay: bass guitar
• Kevin Haskins: drums

Discography

• Bela Lugosi's Dead (single) (1979) (Small Wonder)
• In the Flat Field (1980) (4AD)
• Mask (1981) (4AD)
• Press the Eject and Give Me the Tape (live album) (1982) (Beggars Banquet)
• The Sky's Gone Out (1982) (Beggars Banquet)
• Burning from the Inside (1983) (Beggars Banquet)

External Links

• Official website
• AllMusicGuide entry