“Terrific photographs, a wide range of interviews, and an international perspective on the goth phenomenon make this an original contribution to the field of subcultural studies.”

Valerie Steele, author of Gothic: Dark Glamour

“This ingenious sifting of Gothic culture and the noir side of Post-Punk, involving the bands, clothing, hair, artwork and audience comes closer to a distillation of being cool than any book I have seen. A shared identity across time and geographical distance, with no visual link essential, is hard to describe but easier to visualise when handled in such a deft manner. We can see it here. Wonderful images, some now bordering on nostalgia, merge into a seductive whole, with the text providing an imaginative delving into time and places, with frequent nods to unrecognised talents, or fascinating context, such as Spain’s La Movida. Surprises burst out of every section, haunting and inspiring. This is your life, your inner history and, to others, essential mystery.”

Mick Mercer, goth and postpunk journalist