In the mid nineties I began college and was introduced to PINE e-mail, mailing lists, BBSs, and web searches on altavista using some 1.x version of Netscape Navigator. I wasn't using it to study. I was using it to search rabidly for my primary interest: music. I was into anything horror or gothic, even though I wasn't quite sure what I was looking for. No one really sat me down and explained to me Bauhaus, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy and Joy Division. Soon enough I came across compilations like Gothic Rock, Nosferatunes and the mix tapes in the classifieds of Slug & Lettuce fanzine.
Deathrock.com began as "The Deathrock Graveyard"... A tiny corner of the internet containing a few tidbits of information on some of my favorite bands that were anything horror or dark. This consisted of The Misfits, Samhain, Christian Death, The Southern Death Cult and UK Decay. It was partly my search for more music of the same genres, looking to reach out to other people into this genre, as well as providing a place for like minds to find me; It was, and still is, a way to expand knowledge of underground gothic, horror and post punk music.
I met a graphic design student who became (and remains) a huge inspiration to me, and became fascinated with web, graphic, and information design, so getting my own domain name was the next logical step. I put down Pagemaker and my photocopy fanzine Misfit Society and moved onto the webzine format. HTML and Photoshop became my platforms for expressing my love of music, sharing my discoveries, and searching for like minds, providing a source of information for what at that time was an extinct scene.
Since then, a lot has changed. There are countless new bands flying the deathrock banner, and even more who are just good bands. Almost all of the founding bands have had some sort of re-union, including an embarrasing Misfits re-incarnation (of which I turned down the opportunity to be part of once offered me, and any other would be young Glenn Danzig wannabe, by Jerry Only!). TSOL and The Damned made a much better go of it.
Deathrock's not hard to find anymore. It's no longer a shot in the dark to search for a band that has good hooks and a touch of the morose or a b-horror penchant. And I've moved on to other projects and following more dreams; The dream of a deathrock scene for me has come true, thanks to the many dedicated individuals out there who in their own seperate ways have contributed to this phenomenon. But no matter where in the world I am, no matter what dream I'm following, I'll always be driven to share my discoveries with anyone out there willing to learn. I do all I can to connect fnas, promoters, bands, collectors, DJs, and fanatics everywhere to the music they are craving.
Enjoy Deathrock.com!
- Mark Splatter
