People having opinions about “Visual Kei” must have forgotten about the 70´s-80´s “Glam Rock, New Romance” and “New Wave” when the hairspray formed into a thick fog and mascara had a tendency to “disappear” from moms or girlfriends.
The 80´s “Sleeze Rock” also had its share of it.
Adam Ant (above) was/is my favorite!
David Bowie, Marc Bolan (T-Rex) and Hanoi Rocks, Mötley Crue….
Bands like Malice Mizer and Seremedy (below) are merely following a tradition as old as rock itself.
As a matter of fact, androgyny was even part of the 1920´s jazz scene……..so if it upsets you…..????
Major Tom is a fictional astronaut created by David Bowie, heard in his songs “Space Oddity”, “Ashes to Ashes”, and “Hallo Spaceboy” (particularly in the remix by the Pet Shop Boys). Bowie’s own interpretation of the character evolved throu
ghout his career. 1969’s “Space Oddity” depicts an astronaut who casually slips the bonds of the world to journey beyond the stars. In the 1980 song “Ashes to Ashes,” Bowie reinterprets Major Tom as an oblique autobiographical symbol for himself. Major Tom is described as a “junkie, strung out in heavens high, hitting an all-time low”. This lyric was interpreted as a play on the title of Bowie’s 1977 album Low, which charted his withdrawal following his drug abuse in America. A short time later, there is another reversal of Major Tom’s original withdrawal, turning ‘outwards’ or towards space.
Behold… the Originale music video for the David Bowie song Space Oddity from Bowie’s promotional film, ‘Love You Till Tuesday’, originally released in 1969 and re-released on dvd. I’m very proud to be able to share this rare, unique and ‘odd’ version of the video and song itself, as I think it’s the only one on the whole internet. So, enjoy this piece of film space gold and vintage anti-special effects.
David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes (HQ 1080p HD Upscale)
I actually knew a girl who was present when this was shot (long story)!
Word on the street is The Tammy’s are regarded as one of Girl Group history’s greatest treasures.
You may not have heard of them, but you’re not to blame, as this is just one of their remarkable gems they managed to leave behind for us all to hear. In fact, this single was all but lost until being found again at the beginning of this century.
“In the spring of 1964, it peaked at #30 on Cleveland rock music surveys, and #15 in Pittsburgh. It was popular at high school and college dances throughout the Midwest, but somehow never made it onto the national charts…”
This is one HELLUVA ride so make sure you’re ready to take this boundary defying and strange, weird, intensely out of this world experience known as “Egyptian Shumba” – an absolute favourite that totally goes with the jist of this place…
Clubbing in my hometown (Gothenburg, Sweden) in places with an industrial look (and often combining Cybergoths, Goths, Fetish people and other wonderful freaks ) is an experience i miss a lot.
Personally i prefer the pounding, monotonous industrial type of music to more “bright” rave.
While the term ‘Cybergoth’ was coined in 1988 in the United Kingdom, by Games Workshop, for their roleplaying game Dark Future, the fashion style did not emerge until a decade later. Valerie Steele quotes Julia Borden, who defines cybergoth as combining elements of industrial aesthetics with a style associated with “Gravers” (Gothic ravers). Gravers hybridized “the British Raver look and the NYC ClubKid look with a ‘freak show’ spin.” This fusion between New York and London styles began in 1999.Borden indicates that initially the hair extensions and bright fishnets did not mesh well with goth fashion, but that by 2002 “the rave elements of dress were replaced by Industrial-influenced accessories, such as goggles, reflective clothing, and mostly black clothing.” Steele summarizes:
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Today cyber goths tend to wear primarily black clothing with hints of neon colors, as well as clothing made of reflective materials and PVC, and huge platform boots. Their hair extensions or falls often incorporate a bright color and multiple piercings are typical. Goggles are often worn. Some cyber goths also wear gas masks or (in what appears to be a kind of medical fetish) shiny PVC doctors’ masks.
Cybergoth fashion combines rave, rivethead, and goth fashion, as well as drawing inspiration from cyberpunk and other forms of science fiction. Androgyny is common. The style sometimes features one starkly contrasting bright or neon-reactive theme color, such as red, blue, neon green, chrome, or pink, set against a basic, black gothic outfit. Matte or glossy black materials such as rubber and shiny blackPVC can be mixed and matched in an effort to create a more artificial look.
The black-and-monochromatic juxtaposition can take a variety of forms, including brightly colored hair and make-up, cybernetic patterns such as live LED circuit boards, body modification, gas masks and goggles (especially aviator-style), typically worn on the forehead or around the neck rather than on the eyes. The most common use of a theme color is in the hair or eye make-up. Artificial, extended hair or “falls” are sometimes used to create this added effect. Falls can be made of various materials, ranging from yarn to fluorescent tubing to electrical wiring. Popular club gear for cybergoths includes tight black pants, tight black vests or shirts cut from ripped, solid or fishnet fabrics, resembling costumes from 19th Century Gothic novels or early black and white horror films from the mid-20th century. Companies that specialize in the style include Cyberdog, DANE in London, Pen & Lolly Clubwear based in Sheffield (UK), Lip Service, based in Southern California, Robotic Kitty Fashions which specializes in custom, made to order cybergoth gear, based in Chicago, and Diabolik, a shop in Montreal.
The Beautiful Times 