We can live for eternity
We can live for eternity tonight
Dress of black, face of white
Lips of red, what a frightening sight
Are you ready to try zombie love?
Zombie love
Back in the peak of my 80s “goth” phase, there was an admission I was willing to make — should anyone ask or care to enquire. It was no grand secret:
I did not think that the subculture should be taken too terribly serious.
This was perhaps because I was put “beyond the palings” of the local goth scene. A little on the youngish side compared to the emergent goth scene; not independently wealthy enough to have custom lace, velvet and ruffled clothing; failed to see how black hair made someone a ”true goth” (dishwater blond in more of an Echo styling than in a Siouxsie styling, and yes… I was outright dismissed for that reason, as in “Get out of here, poseur. Goths aren’t blond.”); & etc.
I wore eye makeup, eventually did a Bob Smith rat’s nest, cobbled together something that didn’t require a fortune to procure for clothing — but by that time, I got so I could care less what the “real goths” had to say about me.
That probably explained much of my sensibilities about the matter at the time. I had tired of having such things being gated to me by superficial elements, so I leaned towards irreverence.
And while I did have my serious streak (Joy Division, The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds through Pornography and beyond, Skinny Puppy and a few bands best left unnamed), I also treated the scene as a big old, absurd playground (drinking beverages spiked with food coloring to look the color of blood, for example). I embraced the campy side of the goth scene and laughed when I wasn’t too busy crying.
Morticia was one of those bands that borrowed more from Alice Cooper than from Sisters of Mercy and, oh my, they were a fun crowd to see live for that decision. Lead singer spitting fire while twirling his drumsticks before the drum solo where he would then set the drums on fire at the finale of the show. More B-type than Criterion Collection.
Yes, it was all theatrics and camp. As corny as some of the songs have gotten as they have aged, it was one of the bands that put into performance much of my attitude: y’all take yourselves way too seriously. Have you looked at yourselves? Really looked at yourselves? How can you not be amused?
Anyway, I know I’ve put these guys up in the past, but I had a sudden flashback to that time period and had to share again. Enjoy.
16 responses to “Zombie Love | Morticia”
I am certainly amused😜
They were local trope-namers with their song, “Darksider”.
I had to explain what goth and batcave was because of how many in the local “scene” thought that was the proper label for the subculture.
Jodie and Matt were great people. While I wouldn’t say that I knew them intimately, we held more than our fair share of conversations in the clubs.
I remember going to a goth club right out of high school called the Amazon and basically cosplaying goth as I wasn’t at all part of that scene. It felt like stepping into another world. I continued to be goth every Friday night for a bit (went line dancing at a country bar on Saturday 😂). I never took anything that serious.
To give you an idea about my own attitude, my goth band usually ended up our live sets with a improvised psychedelic jam of “Peter Gunn Theme”: A song about loss and despair… then Peter Gunn.
We were considered “deviant” because of those kinds of antics.
I REALLY wanted to open for an alt-country band called Farm Accident, but the band broke up before I could make that happen. [Another was a local act with fantasy author Steven Brust called Sci-Fi-Western].
Sounds like such a fun time and I love bands that experiment!
It was fun 🙂
Oh, I agree – as with most genres there is that sense of ‘self-seriousness’ and being part of something that no-one else gets. Problem with all of these subcultures is that they all get usurped once someone sees an opportunity to make money. How long was ‘punk’ ‘punk’ before McClaren and Westwood turned it into fashion? Not to mention labels, managers etc.
Great fun, and I like this sort of self-mockery as much as anyone…although my failing is probably that I like my ‘Art’ to be a bit meaningful. Which probably explains a lot!
Punk was probably done by about ’78. But you lived closer to it than I did on several levels, so you probably have the more informed view. Mine is largely seated in retrospect, even by my entry, nearly a decade had passed by since McLaren and Westwood had gotten their hands on it.
Art is irreverent as much as it is serious, for my whole two cents. But I’m in the minority with such attitudes.
Oh, I agree – part of Arts purpose is, at times, to poke the bear.
I think true Punk probably remained more honest outside of London a little longer – I know you have some grasp of what life is like over here – if it’s not happening in and around London then it doesn’t count/matter…unless there’s money to be made. This is true in all aspects of life tbh.
I think punk probably evolved into postpunk by ’78-79 with the Manchester scene (I know, London and New York get the lion’s share of the credit, but I like the smaller start POV). Factory and the Hacienda seemed huge influencers in the overall sound.
Again, though, I was still playing with Star Wars action figures at the time, so… take that opinion with a heavy grain of salt. LOL.
Darth Vader, the original punk? 🤣
Luke Skywalker was the original punk. Darth Vader was the establishment. Han Solo was the gatekeeper. 🤣
🤣
He was a rebel, was he not?
Now… Yoda… He was so punk that most punks failed to see just how punk he was. He could school Iggy and Bowie in punk.
And now… I’ve likely worn out my welcome… 🤣
🤣My welcome worn out I have🤣
🤣