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The Dark Scene 500 Is Ready

The Dark Scene 500 has been printed and delivered to me – here’s the next steps.  

Over the course of the next week, I’ll be sending out copies to everyone who pre-ordered through the Crowdfunder.  The librarians amongst you can be assured that a copy will also be legally deposited in the British Library (this being something of a “victory condition” for me).

Once these books have been sent out, I’ll make it available for general sale.  There’s enough copies to go around and I’ll make sure multiple methods of purchase are available.

The EBook version has just been signed off – this will be released shortly after the printed version.  This may be a suitable alternative for those of you outside of Europe (as postage isn’t cheap) as well as those who have gone all-digital.  

As it’s a self-published affair, I don’t have the assistance of a distributor, so if anyone has any suggestions for good places to sell or promote the book, please let get in touch.  I have a few plans up my sleeve but more ideas would always be welcome.  A few online zines have shown interest in reviewing the work, but I’m open to requests from others who’d like to cast a critical eye over it.

And enjoy the book!  I’ve purposely gone for a writing style that presents music as something to be enjoyed first and analysed thereafter.  If it achieves nothing else, I hope it inspires more music writers to pick up on the styles and eras covered within.

Work! (To Live) – July 2025

Work! DJ set from July 2025, featuring Attrition live between my two sets, and guest DJ Nik Panic joining Nathan and myself.  Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne and Doug McCarthy both feature.

9pm

Black Sabbath – Changes
Diary Of Dreams – Colorblind
Die Form – Cantique
Wumpscut – Sag Es Jetzt
Kirlian Camera – Odyssey Europa
S Y Z Y G Y X – Gimme Chaos
Blitzmaschine – Useless Pain
Escalator – God Eat God
Elm – Wapenrustning
Agrezzior – Strong We Stand
Ad:Key – Hoch die Hämmer

23:45pm

Fixmer-McCarthy – Freefall
Front 242 – Punish Your Machine
Covenant – Stalker (Club Version)
Project Pitchfork – Timekiller
Das Ich – Destillat
Die Krupps vs Nitzer Ebb – The Machineries Of Joy
Ministry – Just Like You
Portion Control – Amnesia
A Split-Second – Rigor Mortis
Absolute Body Control – Figures

The Dark Scene 500 – Crowdfunder Ends

The Crowdfunding Stage for The Dark Scene 500 is now complete. We didn’t quite make our target, but this wasn’t an ‘All or Nothing’ crowdfund, and we got close enough to continue as originally planned.

Thank you to everyone who supported the project, by contributing themselves and/or sharing the link and encouraging others to check it out. I’ll be getting in touch with everyone who selected an ‘Audience Participation’ reward shortly to arrange details. This will be the final content before the book goes for typesetting and then printing. I’m talking to the typesetter tomorrow to arrange next steps and agree timescales.

For those of you who weren’t able to contribute at this time, don’t worry – the book will be available for sale once published – ebook or printed options are planned. For now, my focus is on getting this project over the line.

The Dark Scene 500 – WGT and Beyond

Thank you to all my early supporters.  We’re 40% there on the Crowdfunder.  Recent weeks have seen me debut selections from the book via a reading at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in Leipzig. I’m also considering giving the talk one more time in London if I can find the right time and place.  If you’re ready to offer your support, a link is below:

Crowdfunder – The Dark Scene 500

The project has also been featured in the Dark Entries online magazine (in Dutch, but translation tools make a good job of it):  

“The Dark Scene 500” a new book about the ‘gothic’ scene!

Proofreading is paid for and is going well. 

Anyway, please let anyone who might be interested know of the project.  The book will be available for sale after the Crowdfunding closes – but the perks (named supporter, list your favourite songs) will be exclusive to early supporters!

The Dark Scene 500 – Crowdfunder Launched

So, it’s finally time. After nearly 4 years, I’m in the homeward stretch and it’s time to open out this project to the world.

My book, The Dark Scene 500 has been written, edited and is currently being proofread. Publication is in sight, but to see the project over the line, I’m seeking your support. Get your pre-orders in, maybe get listed as a supporter, or even contribute your own list of scene favourites. Whatever you can offer will be put to good use.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-dark-scene-500

WGT 2025 – Gothic Identity Lectures

For those of you attending WGT, you may notice alongside the gigs and clubs, there’s also some speaking events. In recent years this has included an English language bill, and this year, I’ll be one of the speakers. I’ll be speaking about my recent work on researching, writing and assembling the “Dark Scene 500” and its mission to tell the story of the scene through its most influential songs.  It’s on the Sunday afternoon (8 June), venue not far from the HeiDo (Pagan Village) in the south of the city.


https://www.facebook.com/events/s/gothic-identity-lectures-readi/9791564687589916/

Work! (To Live) – March 2025

My first set of 2025, back at Aces and Eights for Work! (To Live), alongside DJs Nathan Nothing and guest Soylent Black, plus Transhuman Rebirth live.  

9pm

Kraftwerk – Ohm Sweet Ohm
Pyrolator – Max
Crash Course In Science – Flying Turns
Suicide – Rocket USA
Psyche – The Brain Collapses
Ministry – Same Old Madness
Absolute Body Control – Give Me Your Hands
Die Form – Chronovision
Kirlian Camera – I Am The Light
Calva y Nada – Rascheln
Fortification 55 – And Tomorrow Atlantis
Benefits – Land Of The Tyrants

11:45pm

DAF – Kebabträume
A Split-Second – Bend My Body Armour
Autodafeh – Greed
The Invincible Spirit – Push!
Project Pitchfork – Requiem
Front 242 – No Shuffle
Spetsnaz – Apathy
Nitzer Ebb – Join The The Chant! (Metal Mix)
Die Robo Sapiens – Robo Sapien
Portion Control – Amnesia
Youth Code – For I Am Cursed
Dive – Sidewalk Sinner

Update – December 2024

It was a slow summer on the writing front, but things have woken up since.  I’m now working with an editor on the ‘Dark Scene 500’ text.  Piece by piece, we’re getting my writing into a fit state to publish.  500 songs that define a music scene is quite a number to get through but we are well under way. 

I’m also considering the next steps – self-publishing and then promotion.  I’m going to be contacting all the people I know who I think may be able to help, once the distractions of Christmas are over.  However, I’m also open to suggestions for how to promote this book to a wide an audience as possible.  If you’re interested in what I’m doing and think you can help (or know someone who can), please get in touch.  

Work! (To Live) – November 2024

The last Work! of 2024.  Joining Nathan and I tonight was guest DJ Cavey Nik, plus a live set from Dicepeople.  Here’s what I played.

9pm

Randolph and Mortimer – The Incomplete Truth
Click Click – Awake and Watching
Hula – Poison
A Split-Second – Rigor Mortis
Pankow – Sickness Taking Over
Borghesia – Discipline
No Sleep By The Machine – Mammonth
Parade Ground – Strange World
Bodystyler – Life After Death
Fixmer-McCarthy – Freefall
Cobalt 60 – Before
NordaR – Alarm


23:45pm

KMFDM – More’n’Faster
Snog – Corporate Slave
Die Krupps- Robo Sapien
Leæther Strip – Strap Me Down
Front Line Assembly – Iceolate
Covenant – Figurehead (Plain)
VNV Nation – Cold
Front 242 – U-Men
Acid Horse – No Name, No Slogan
Nitzer Ebb – Getting Closer

Work! (To Live) – July 2024

DJ set from Work! in July 2024.  Guest DJ this time was Mike Klein from Germany, and there was also a live performance from Majestoluxe from Sweden.  Here’s what I played.  

9pm

Insekt – Damage Done
Ionic Vision – Mass Madness
Pandoria – Crush
Psychic Force – Acceleration
Blind Vision – Bestialic Beat
Brigade Werther – Killbeat
Multiple Man – Luxury
Aircrash Bureau – Machine
Oomph! – Der Neue Gott
Void Kampf – EBM Poseurs

23:45pm

Boy Harsher – Pain (yes, I finally played it)
ULTRA SUNN – Keep Your Eyes Open
Buzz Kull – Into The Void
Kirlian Camera – Eclipse (Anniversary)
Cabaret Voltaire – I Want You
Skinny Puppy – Far Too Frail
Fad Gadget – Ricky’s Hand
Absoulte Body Control – Figures
Front 242 – Rhythm Of Time