askaytakk

[askaytakk]

I got a LOT of ‘asks’ about why I’ve decided not to tattoo the hands/necks/fingers/faces of my clients anymore, so rather than respond to each I’ll put a little something here. This is something I’ve been considering implementing for quite some time and a particularly negative experience the other...

[askaytakk]

Amen to that!

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL

Thou shalt not wear fake blood on stage unless thy name is Ogre. Thou shalt not covet another band’s beats and vocals so much that you can’t create anything original on your own. Thou shalt not whine that nobody’s at the club tonight when you never told anyone else and went with the same three catty, judgmental people who would make fun of any new faces that showed up anyway. Thou shalt not scream that Faderhead is killing the scene when Faderhead isn’t industrial to begin with, which he’s always said. Thou shalt get over it if you aren’t into it. Thou shalt not have any other industrial gods than Throbbing Gristle, Skinny Puppy, Coil, Neubauten, pre-crappy Ministry, Front 242, Frontline Assembly, Nitzer Ebb, and Babyland. Okay, a few more, but not any of that boring, cliched stuff, especially the misogynistic shit. Thou shalt not just dance to overly polished, four on the floor club tracks. Thou shalt not think that industrial lyrics are just about robots, dystopian futures, consumerism, or WWII. Thou shalt have an open mind and appreciate different perspectives, because evolution is the only way for industrial to thrive. Thou shalt not sample Full Metal Jacket any longer. Or Network. Or Blade Runner. Or any Hellraiser film. Thou shalt start watching less obvious mainstream movies for ideas. Thou shalt not act like industrial music is an exclusive sausage party full of white pasty dudes. Thou shalt encourage everyone of every gender, race, and sexual orientation to create industrial. Thou shalt not apologize or diminish your enthusiasm in front of others for loving industrial or making industrial music. Thou shalt have industrial pride…but never refer to it as that because that probably sounds pretty stupid said out loud.

Thou shalt not follow the rules or trends. Thou shalt set the standard. Thou shalt never follow.

[askaytakk]

Would you ever do gangam style naked in public for money

No but here’s a link to a video of a dude doing it in a mankini  :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bLi1czv25o (NSFW)XD

[askaytakk]

Do you have any Goth band recommendations? I'm in a musical rut and keep listening to the same bands over and over. Thank you!

Not sure when this was asked (I haven't been around a lot on tumblr the last few months) but I'll do my best. My apologies if my reply is rather late.

Its hard to say what to recommend as I have no idea your knowledge of goth bands. So I'll assume you know the usual suspects.

Some bands I enjoy (a mix of old and new) that are goth or related in some way :

Suspiria

Miserylab

Children On Stun

Bloody Dead And Sexy

Joy Disaster

Screaming Banshee Aircrew

No Kisses

Fledermaus Sturme

She Wants Revenge

Scissor Pretty

Athamay

Strap-On Halo

The Merry Thoughts

Play Dead

The Horrors

Pretentious, Moi? 

The Cruxshadows

Virgin Prunes

Scary Bitches

Ghost of Lemora

Seikiera

As I said they aren't all strictly goth. Some are easy to find, others not so much. Most should have something on youtube so you can at least check them out.

[askaytakk]

Re : Deathrockets and Transphobia

I'm sure most of you have seen the propaganda against Deathrockets that was created by the gothfail tumblr by now. 

If not this is the piece that got things started : http://gothfail.tumblr.com/image/62002992660

Right now we have that out the way and before you all start reaching for your pitchforks and start forming online lynch mobs lets get a few things straight.

To start with you have only heard one side of the story. And its a side that had a heavy bias against Deathrockets - not a neutral party. 

Gothfail is a blog made purely to make Deathrockets (and associated people) look bad. Almost every post is either a pic, screencap or quote from Deathrockets accompanied by a description to put it in the worst possible light. Gothfail stops at nothing to make Deathrockets admin and regulars look bad.

Yet people blindly share the things Gothfail creates and without question. Why not - if someone took this much time to make it then it must be true. Its a snippet of a conversation so it must have been said and be every awful ISM and IST the original poster can think of. BULLSHIT!

Gothfail is out to destroy these people. And its using your sense of outrage to do it.

That lot at Deathrockets don't like Joji. Which is fine - we don't have to like everyone we meet or see online. But its not because he is trans or homosexual. Its because of WHO he is. Not WHAT he is.

They don't like Joji because they think he's a wanker, not because he is trans or homosexual. Gothfail is a blog made purely to make Deathrockets (and associated people) look bad. A look through their blog is enough to show this. If they were legit in trying to rid the goth/deathrock scene of bad elements why do they only target one small group? There are plenty of others out there doing bad they could target too. But they don't because its all about taking Deathrockets down.

Why - maybe Deathrockets ripped on them once. They've made jokes about a few people in the past and many of them they made peace with and left alone once it was clear they didn't like the joke. Many even became their friends. Hell they rip on themselves more than they rip on anyone else. I'm not saying Deathrockets are angels and are squeaky clean but in this case they are being vilified for the wrong reasons. They made some comments (in a group you have to search for specifically to find mind you) about a person they don't like.

They use a lot of common netspeak which many find offensive (eg the term fag). If you have ever played games online you will hear language like this. I'm not saying its right just that it happens. And for some its normal language and not offensive at all. They may be considered derogatory terms outside their circle but within its fine. Think of it like how swearing is more tolerated now than it used to be

But haven't we all said things about people we don't like before in semi-public places? Haven't we all used words that others may find offensive? Its called being human and human beings aren't perfect.

If you dig hard enough you could find dirt and offensive actions from anyone. Would you like to be judged by your less than perfect moments and mistakes too?

-

Here is what I think - 

Whoever runs Gothfail has a massive grudge against Deathrockets for whatever reason. Its probably something small that the rest of the world has forgotten about. And they are dragging everyone into their feud through the use of shock and outrage through reposts taking material out of context and tumblr activism. The fight is between Gothfail and Deathrockets, there is no need to drag the rest of us into it.

So... are you going to feed the hate machine and ruin some childish, offensive yet mostly harmless people who have an odd sense of humor?

Or are you going to ignore the troll trying to systematically ruin them?

Its your call.

  Edit :

Some more information has been found. Apparently the conversation in the pic happened in December 2011. Almost 2 years ago!

So why didn't this come out sooner?

Because its being used as ammunition to slander people and was likely only recently discovered by trawling through old records. Which then begs the question of how it was found given the Deathrockets facebook page has been dead and gone  for over 6 months.

The plot thickens... 

[askaytakk]

If we were all the same life would be pretty boring. Goths are allowed to have outside interests and you don't have to be on 24/7.

People get confused because some people think the outside interests add to their goth character and define them as goth. So they perceive it as if 'I am a goth then everything I do must be goth too' or 'To be goth I must only have goth interests'. Both of these attitudes aren't healthy.

Define your gothiness in the goth things but like what you like too. As long as goth is in the mix you are fine. Or you could just be you and not attach a label at all. 

zxiri confessed: “It sort of annoys me when other goths say things like “I don’t feel accepted as a goth because I don’t like reading the same books as other goths, or don’t have pale skin.” or whatever. So what? Most goths don’t like sports nor see the appeal in being a “jock”, and some even think it makes you less of a goth. But that doesn’t stop me from playing two high contact sports. I see it as an extention of my personality, not short comings. I doesn’t mean I like Bauhaus any less than any other goths.”

The image is Bauhaus ft. Peter Murphy’s cheekbones.

[askaytakk]

Why does he have to be considered goth?

You can be goth and like some non-goth things you know.

blood-is-life-nevermore confessed: “Even if he’s not considered as goth by the entire subculture, i love Marilyn Manson’s music and his character.”

[askaytakk]

I tan in Summer. I just go with it. Australia gets hot and you tan whether you like it or not unless you take extreme measures. Goth isn't all about being pasty white.

Anyone who says you can't be goth because you aren't white is an idiot and making the goth subculture look bad. 

That said are you sure its the colour of your skin they have issue with? Maybe you did something to piss them off?

Admin Note — I came out of my long slumber to respond to this confession made by Deletion.

For what it is worth, I think it is an absolute travesty that you would be made to feel this way by others. You know some horrible people if they shun you for these reasons. And please please don’t do that to your skin! You should never have to do something so drastic to fit in. I don’t know you, but I want you to know that I care about you. Just come here and I will hug you, and we can be goffbuddies! Never feel like you  can’t find a place to fit in! Please take a gander at this and know you are not alone!  -Batss

Picture credit

[askaytakk]

Have you actually looked at videos/photos of goth bands from the 80s doing live performances? A lot of the crowd don't dress typically goth. 

When I was new in the mid-late 90s it was the same. The whole idea of a goth club (if the club you mention is a goth club - people call anything dark alternative goth whether it is or isn't nowadays) being a sea of black is fairly modern. It really came to a head in the early 00s and unfortunately is still around.

I miss how it used to be where people weren't expected to dress in all black and fill the stereotypes. Made things more interesting and it was more inclusive. You don't have to be a goth to appreciate goth music nor do you have to be goth to enjoy a 'goth' club.

Just be you, enjoy what you enjoy and let others enjoy it too. As long as they aren't claiming to be goth if they clearly are not what harm are they doing? Its keeping your local scene alive.

Anon confessed: “While you are definetely still goth if you appreciate the music and dont do the fashion,I still find it sad when see photos of my local goth club and 90% of the people arent dressed goth at all.”

This visual pun is brought to you by Katze

[askaytakk]

Somewhat contradicting my post yesterday, but I turned down the snark a bit…

[askaytakk]

Impromptu music on WGD

Yesterday from about 5pm onwards I decided to post a series of clips to music on my facebook, kind of like an impromptu DJ set with a few commets along the way...

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Deliberately posting non-goth music on World Goth Day because I can. Isn't goth meant to be everything now anyway??? Seikiera - Nowa Aleksandria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dGUCY-P8dQ

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She Wants Revenge - These Things http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4cVv0kb-Fs

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Sopor Aeternus - Dead Souls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2TrECGUhs

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Marie Moor - Pretty Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JscjQByxSIg

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No Kisses - Swastika Sally http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st4-9iLlEv4

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Untoten vs Soko Friedhof - Die Out By The Sea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEaoYXhoxOk

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Victorian goth enough for you? OH THE DRAMA!!! *faints* Army of Lovers - Crucified http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdooYar_A6g .

Peter Spilles is so awesome. Ronan Harris has his moments of greatness too. IMATEM - Haven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-sROYoC8TQ

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One of mine. I'm a fucking showpony - what else did you expect? Corpulence on the Catwalk - Watch and Wait http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsK9hEzg_xc

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Electric Hellfire Club - Incubus (Leather Strip mix) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_tiU-xJd4c

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Lights of Euphoria - In Love With The Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPNtP5QTMc .

One of their lesser known tracks but a favourite of mine SNOG - Flesh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL5qqzbejyE

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Angelfish - Suffocate Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_cInrB7_xQ

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The Horrors - Count in Fives http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_cjfkietg0

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The Cruxshadows - Deception http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ulyCyAwxg

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Learn to laugh at yourselves you sad twats ;) Voltaire - The Vampire Club http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYKekg61EGw

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Did you expect anything else as the last song? Thoushaltnot - If I Only Were A Goth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9g0f-YT9f4

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...and not a single real goth song was played.

[askaytakk]

Welcome to the internet age where appearance is everything and substance means nearly nothing.

[askaytakk]

World Goth Day

Yep, its May 22nd again. Whoopie...

World Goth Day does nothing for me. I shall explain why.

To start with the date doesn't mean anything. Why not the first date Bauhaus played 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' live or something like that? Even the date of the opening of The Batcave would have some significance. But no - May 22nd is pretty much a random date plucked out of the air that doesn't clash with anything. Its close to when Wave Gothik Treffen is on, thats about it. World Goth Day wasn't established to really do anything. Anyone into goth is doing what they normally do anyway If anything it encourages outsiders to treat it like a second Halloween, maybe make a mockery of it. 

I remember when it first came about  something being said about ringing up and requesting goth music on the radio. You aren't going to ring up a mainstream radio station and ask them to play Sisters of Mercy or Siouxsie. The most you might get away with is requesting The Cure or a more mainstream friendly song like Eloise by The Damned or She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult on an 80s/retro radio show. It draws goth into the mainstream in a bad way because there is no meaning behind it. Goth subculture is already watered down and marginalised enough as it is (eg - the rise of pastel goth). The focus now is on style over substance for many and a meaningless day adds to the hollowness of it all.  You can bet your life it will be used for commercial gains. I have already seen one 'goth day sale' ad and I expect to see more. It will eventually become for alternative clothing designers (whether they are goth or not) the equivalence of Valentines Day for florists.   It feels like it was just created so the creators could gain some feeling of online fame without really doing anything. It feels cheap because it has no value or reason behind it - it simply just is. But like anything with the word 'goth' attached to it the doom cookies eat it up with a spoon. I wouldn't say I hate World Goth Day, its more a case of asking 'what is the point?' and 'do we really need it?'

[askaytakk]

In a way the only one who got it was Gwyneth Paltrow who clearly went as un-punk as possible because the theme is supposed to be punk. Stuff like this reminds me why the term 'poseur' came to be in the first place. Also why its still in use today.

But you could replace each use of the term 'punk' with 'goth' and it would be a fairly accurate depiction on why the fashionistas don't get it in goth either.

Welcome to ythe modern age where everything is everything now.

Here Are Idiot Celebrities Talking Out Of Their Asses About Punk At Last Night's Met Gala

Last night, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York hosted the 2013 Met Gala. This year’s theme was “Punk: From Chaos To Couture.” For many celebrities, this was the first time they had used the word “punk” in a sentence that wasn’t “Have my assistant get me Daft Punk tickets.” It was also an excuse for them to spend $10,000 to spike their hair up and play punk dress up for a night. When interviewed, they all sounded like total shitheads talking out of their asses. Here’s what some of them had to say in these actual quotes from the red carpet…

Read More

[askaytakk]

This analysis explains the difference between 'goth' and 'gothic' music well and why there is a difference.

Classical = dark romantic

Goth rock, deathrock, dark wave, some post-punk = goth

Not everything with dark elements is goth by default.

I love classical music! 

I think much Romantic Era, Baroque, and even more modern symphonic music is Gothic (not Gothic Rock, obviously, just Gothy-type music). Mendelssohn and Chopin both have a sublime melancholy. Debussy is lush, gorgeous, and introspective. Bach, come on! His toccatas! All his organ music is the stuff of Gothy wet dreams. How many Goth bands and horror movies have covered or sampled Toccata en Fugue in D minor alone?

I think the Russians bring the same gravity, darkness, and bold emotion to their music as they famously did with their literature, ie Prokofiev (listen to Dance of the Knights from Romeo and Juliet), Tchaikovsky, and crazy ol’ Stravinsky. 

Mozart was kind of the Robert Smith of Classical music (NO ONE calls him that), as his seemed either manic or depressed at times. Don Giovani, namely the final overture; “The Commendatore Scene” is pretty morose, even a little horrifying (in a good way ;p), and his unfinished Requiem in D Minor is in turns heart-breaking, and terrifying but always beautiful. Lacrimosa, should be familiar to most Goths. 

But, of course, then there is the Edgar Allen Poe of Classical music: (NO ONE calls him that) Beethoven. 

Bach is so skilled, Mozart so talented, Debussy so beautiful, but Beethoven makes your feelings his bitch.

Moonlight Sonata seems to redeem despair  but nearly stops your heart in the process. His 7th Symphony, especially Opus 92, is the very sound of heartache. Even Ode to Joy only gives you that feeling of elation because of the struggle that finally gives way. It’s so intensely bittersweet it can leave you broken… you know, in a good way.

I barely touched on Opera with Don Giovanni. It’s all killing, ghosts, murder, unrequited love, homicide, and other tragedies.

So, now you have me confused.

I think that music is extremely Gothic, but I still think you have to like Gothic Rock, Death Rock, Positive Punk, etc as well to be a Goth. 

The Cure and the Banshees are a great start! I bet if you explore more Gothic music (maybe Ethereal? have you tried Dead Can Dance yet?) you will find even more Goth music you like. 

You’re an interesting person with depth who cares about dark, Romantic music; it sounds like you are a part of this community!  Keep searching for music you like and enjoy! Do more things that make you feel good (and don’t hurt you or others, of course) and don’t be too hard on yourself.

[askaytakk]

Some excellent points here. But I'd like to add some a lot of people don't consider.

To start with we are all new once and we all got things wrong. Learning and being corrected when you get something wrong (eg - calling a non-goth band a goth band) is how you learn. When someone corrects you for getting it wrong it isn't hate, bullying or oppression - its informing you that you are incorrect. There should be no malice intended but I can see why some people may perceive it, especially teenagers. Teenagers hate being corrected and often see it as someone putting them down. Its not the case.

That said there is a right and a wrong way to correct someone. Insulting them or acting like a dick when doing it will make you look like an arsehole. Better to be blunt, stick to the point and keep emotions out of it. You are correcting a piece of factual information/knowledge not berating them for not knowing any better. Don't just say they are wrong, explain why they are wrong. The best way to change someone's mind is to offer a counter argument and not insult them in the process.

But

There are cases where someone is set in their mind they are always right whether they are or not. This goes for poseurs, babybats, elders - anyone. Not everyone wants learn what goth is all about and will simply assume what they think its about is right even if they have no idea or they simply don't care. You can't educate these people because they have no desire to learn. For many like this any form of correction will be seen as oppression.

Lets not sugar-coat it - goth isn't for everyone. Its not meant to be for everyone. This means some people won't get it or be accepted as goths. Goths are generally tolerant of differences but who is and isn't considered to be goth is a contentious issue. 

I find the whole 'gothier than thou' thing as laughable as all the various goth labels out there. You are goth or you are not. Type of goth or how  much goth is irrelevant and it confuses people. 

For those learning (which technically is all of us as you never stop learning) don't just follow a single opinion blindly. It doesn't matter how popular someone is or if they seem to be an expert take what they have to say on board and wigh it up with what you know. Do some research into the subculture you claim to love and be a part of. Get multiple opinions and facts then form your own opinion. If you have an informed opinion and can confidently back it up then people will be less likely to correct you. You may even do a little polite correcting yourself one day.

All of us at times let it get to our heads and build up a massive goth ego. Try to keep your goth ego in check because its a balloon and there will always be someone out there with a sharp pin to pop it. We've all let our egos run rampant at times in the past and have been thoughtless, its part of being human. Its okay not to be dressed to the nines 24/7. Its okay to not know everything about every goth band. Its okay to not live and breathe goth 24/7 and constantly force it down people's throats. In fact any of that stuff can make you come across as annoying and trying too hard, possibly making people question your 'gothiness' even more. If you participate in the goth subculture in some way and have an interest in goth music then you can call yourself a goth. Simple. If you claim to be goth and you aren't getting it right people will correct you and/or say you are not goth. But that doesn't mean people have a right to be dicks when correcting people.

This is sort of just my thoughts after having become an admin here. I mean, I used to think that the gothic subculture was awesome. Of course I have dealt with in scene heckling, “You’re a poseur.” and whatnot, but I really felt it was an isolated incident. I don’t fucking care at ALL what somebody else does, because as a general rule, I don’t think that other peoples clothing/music choices, reflect on me, or my ability to dress the way I want and listen to what I want.

There is so much hate, or confessions about hate from other goths, in the inbox. I think some people need to quit using the gothic subculture as a reason to refuse to mature. If you are picking on a fucking kid about the way they perceive the subculture, AND NOT BEING CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITICAL, then fuck you! People like you are the reason that some people don’t enjoy our subculture, or even if they do they don’t claim it as their home.

What is the point of this incessant need to piss on people who look at the subculture differently? 

And from now on, people should start paying attention to past post, before they get angry about their confessions not being posted. 

Hating on pastel/hipster/nu-goths = Confession already posted

Hating on metal being considered goth = Confession already posted

ETC ETC

I am not saying that people are not allowed to have negative confessions, I am saying however, if a similar confession to your’s has already been done we are unlikely to make it. So don’t get mad.

This was suppose to be a safe place to confess things, and have people understand you and it has turned into a big fat hate fest of “I’m more goth than you.” Some people seem to think that because other goths hated on them as younger goths, that they now have the right to do it to others. Maybe if you didn’t do it to them, it could lessen this cycle of unending hate, because mother fuckers I’m TIRED OF IT!

I’m also not saying that my opinion should matter to any of you, this is just my longwinded semi-confession.

=] ‘kay I’m done ranting, all of you have a nice evening! -Batss



[askaytakk]

From a modern sense (say 2005 and after) I tend to agree. It reinforces the 'everything is goth' and 'goth is whatever you want it to be' things. I'm amazed they haven't added stuff like pastel goth and nu goth to it yet to be honest.

Plus it takes the emphasis off the music which is pretty silly as goth is a music subculture. Sure its grown and diversified in ways but the music is still the core.

Is it just me or are events in general polarising more and not playing industrial/EBM beside goth as much as it used to be done? Real goth events are focusing on real goth music and mixed genre events try to avoid the dreaded goth word. I see this as a good thing. While both are dark alternative only one is goth.

But lets look at it realistically. Most goths don't stick to a single style anyway and that is why fashion is less important. Types of goth are irrelevant - you either are or you aren't. Black or white. Shades of grey and splashes of colour are irrelevant as is the need to label everything exactly.

Plus it seems the terms perky goth and candy goth are used interchangeably now. Perky goth has nothing to do with fashion - its merely a goth who tends to be more upbeat and positive. In effect the opposite of mopey goth. At least thats what it meant in the 90s, back then a cyber goth was merely a goth who is on the internet a lot.

But people take terms, misinterpret them and twist their meaning. Then more people do the same, it spreads and suddenly you have everyone believing the term has always meant what the misinterpretation says, especially if a couple of prominent people who are considered 'experts' jump on board too.

Hell years ago the term 'babybat' wasn't even a thing now people debate whether its a nice term or an insult. 

But the biggest part people forget (or are too young to even know or remember) is that these descriptive labels of goths were originally made as a joke. A joke people now take seriously. Come on people! Why so gullible?!?