BOB DYLAN CENTER VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB: GOTH: A HISTORY
Join Bob Dylan Center Director Steven Jenkins on Thursday, July 17, for a virtual book club event with Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure and author of a new book that explores the dark Romanticism of goth music, a misunderstood genre and culture.
“Goth” is an engaging historical memoir of goth music and culture, highlighting creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus and Joy Division. These bands offered a refuge for misfits of the 80s and beyond. Written by Tolhurst, the book provides a deep dive into the movement’s key figures, featuring stories and anecdotes from his personal memories, as well as insights from musicians, magicians and artists who shaped goth into an enduring cultural force.
Tolhurst traces goth’s origins through early art and literature, examining the works of T.S. Eliot, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath and Albert Camus. He outlines the evolution of gothic forebears, showing how many musicians transitioned from punk to goth. He then introduces the “Architects of Darkness”—Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division and The Cure—who defined the genre’s foundation. Tolhurst also discusses the “Spiritual Alchemists,” including Depeche Mode and Cocteau Twins, who expanded goth’s influence.
The book follows goth’s rise beyond England to New York, Los Angeles and beyond, exploring the fashion that accompanied the music. Finally, Tolhurst examines goth’s lasting impact across music, film, TV, visual arts and social media, concluding with why goth still matters today.
NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED!
Lol will be playing some European shows this spring with the Miki Berenyi Trio. Tickets are on sale now and we’ll see you there!
Tickets are available here!
LOL TOLHURST X BUDGIE ANNOUNCE UPCOMING TOUR!
Lol x Budgie are hitting the road! The duo will play their first headlining show on May 9th and the Casbah in San Diego followed by an appearance at Pasadena’s Cruel World Festival on May 11th. The duo will also be opening up a handful of shows for the Miki Berenyi Trio across the US. Berenyi is best known as the front woman for popular 90s shoe gaze band Lush and appeared on Lol and Budgie’s popular podcast Curious Creatures. See all of the dates and purchase tickets here.
LOL TOLHURST X BUDGIE X JACKNIFE LEE ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM!
Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee announced that their debut album ‘Los Angeles’ will be released on November 3rd is now available for pre-order. The first single, Los Angeles featuring guest vocals from LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, is also available now to stream.
Find out more about the Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee by clicking here and get all the details on the new album here.
GOTH: A HISTORY
We’re excited to announce that Lol’s new book, GOTH: A History. Is available for pre-order in both the US (click here) and the UK (click here). There are also a limited number of signed copies available in the US (click here) and the UK (click here). The book will be released on September 26 in the US and September 21 in the UK.
GOTH is an entertaining and engaging historical memoir of the genre of Goth music and culture, exploring creative giants like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division, and many more great bands that offered a place of refuge for the misfits of the 80s and ever since. Written by Lol Tolhurst, co-founder of The Cure, this book offers a fascinating deep dive into the movers and shakers of goth with stories and anecdotes from Tolhurst’s personal memories as well as the musicians, magicians, and artists, who made it all happen—the people, places, and events that made goth an inevitable and enduring movement…READ MORE
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CURIOUS CREATURES PODCAST
Curious Creatures is hosted by Lol Tolhurst and Budgie (Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Creatures, The Slits).
The duo have over 100 years of combined experience to draw upon since their beginnings as punk pioneers. In each episode of Curious Creatures, Lol and Budgie explore post punk’s enduring legacy and contemporary relevance as they welcome luminaries from all walks of life for revealing, yet relaxed conversation. Listen to episodes here or find the Curious Creatures online or on Apple Podcasts.