mrph | Excavating the Usenet goth (Reply)

I'm bored today. I'm very bored today. So, inspired by

scathe's excellent History of Goth and Google's "historic Usenet posts" page, I did some digging. And here are a few random factoids about goth's initial day trips onto Usenet...

The first mention of the word "goth" on Usenet, according to google, was on March 15th, 1983. But that's disussing Alaric and the sack of Rome, so it's not quite what I was after.

The first band reference I can find is, unsurprisingly, Joy Division - first mentioned in passing in a 1982 record poll. The first mention of Bauhaus is a few months later, at the end of '82.

Joy Division then get mentioned again, with this snippet on net.music:

To all heavy metal fans: If you want to hear a heavy metal band that transcends the ridiculous macho posing and redundant attempts at music found in most heavy metal, listen to Joy Division (Factory Records).

Heavy metal, hmm? :-)

The first mention of the Sisters of Mercy is in '83, and the first mention of Joy Division, SoM and Bauhaus in one category, in 1984 - as 'negative' punk.

Clan of Xymox get mentioned, in passing in '86.

But the first actual use of the word "goth" in the context we know and love wasn't until May '89, here.The Fields of The Nephilim don't get mentioned until 1989, either - in a "gloomy music" thread, which is also the first mention (afaik) of All About Eve.

Oh, and the first mention of Christian Death which definitely refers to the band (back in '86 on mod.music) contains the rather memorable line "Christian Death is was and will be Wank city" (from here). I guess some things never change... :)