The Cure drummer Lol Tolhurst has spoken to NME about exploring the origins of goth for his new book, how his former band were part of the genre all along, and how the likes of David Bowie, Joy Division and Nine Inch Nails shaped the scene.In his far-reaching new book, Goth: A History, Tolhurst explores the music, literature and art that shaped the genre, as well as the band he co-founded with Robert Smith in 1977. “Despite our passionate insistence that The Cure was not a goth group,” Tolhurst writes in the book, “The Cure was very much a goth group.”Speaking to NME from his home in LA, the musician laughed off The Cure’s insistence not to be termed a goth band. “We were kind of aware that any bandwagon you were on or anything that you were labelled by are very fashion orientated,” he said. “So when you attach yourself to something, as soon as that goes down, you’re done.”Part goth history, part memoir, the book tells the story of the music that shaped The Cure’s goth leanings – from David Bowie to Bauhaus, Joy Division to Nine Inch Nails – though Tolhurst’s own memories.

The book delves into the bleak Thatcherite world of the late ’70s and views it through a gothic lens, finding some unsung goth heroes too – like Nico, Scott Walker and Alice Cooper – who aren’t always immediately associated with the scene.“Alice Cooper was really shocking when he first came out,” said Tolhurst. “It was completely mind-blowing.

In fact, first time I ever played as The Cure, I persuaded my mother to get me this black zip-up studded jump suit because I thought it looked a bit like Alice Cooper.

Robert’s wife Mary, who went to school with us, did my eyes like him so they would all be weird.”The book also describes how goth music helped to.

Lol Tolhurst on his new book, ‘Goth’: “Bowie’s ‘Low’ was a template for Robert Smith and I”

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