Gothabilly

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Gothabilly (sometimes hellbilly [1] ) is music genre influenced by rockabilly and the goth subculture. The name is a portmanteau word that combines gothic and rockabilly, first used by the Cramps in the late 1970s to describe their somber blend of rockabilly and punk rock. [1] [2] Since then, the term has come to describe a fashion style influenced by gothic fashion, as seen in its use of black silks, satins, lace and velvet, corsets, top hats, antique jewellery, PVC, and leather. [1]

Contents

Characteristics

Gothabilly is distinctly different in sound from psychobilly, as while psychobilly fuses 1950s rockabilly with 1970s punk rock in a faster, more aggressive sound, gothabilly fuses bluesy rockabilly with gothic piano and guitar, and is defined by having slower tempos and emphasizing mood over aggression. [1]

History

The Cramps have been credited with coining the term "gothabilly". [1] The term was not popularized until the release of a series of international gothabilly compilation albums released by Skully Records in the mid-1990s. [3] [4]

Gothabilly is particularly active in the western portion of the United States, with many of today's bands originating in California. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hendrickson, Meagan (March 5, 2009). "An introspective into gothabilly". Auxiliary Magazine. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  2. Uutela, Deanna (October 4, 2007). "Case of the Zombies". Eugene Weekly . Eugene, Oregon. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  3. Valarie Thorpe: Interview with Ghoultown's Count Lyle, reallyscary.com. Retrieved on April 14, 2009
  4. Kirst, Sean (October 31, 2007). "A Halloween Greatest Hit...The Tale of Skully Records". The Post-Standard . Syracuse, New York . Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  5. Johnson, Daniel (April 9), "The Growth of Gothabilly", RSEE, Riverside County, CA.