Object 101: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” – Bauhaus

This object is a 45 vinyl single disc, a physical item that tells a particular story of Northamptonshire in the 21st century. It is, of course, a sound recording.

“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is a piece of vinyl, the debut single by the Northampton post-punk band Bauhaus, released in August 1979 on the Small Wonder label. It is often considered the first gothic rock record.

Out of the sweat & smoke of the eighties Northampton music scene one band managed to clamber from the pub & club circuit onto our nation’s television screens and the larger concert venues of the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world. The former St Georges Avenue Art school students Bauhaus hit the big time with their rendition of David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” which rose to No. 15 in the British charts and earned a much-remembered appearance on Top of the Pops, but they also enjoyed a much wider & longstanding global cultural & musical influence. Bauhaus’ roots can be traced back to the heady days of punk in 1976 and the sweaty atmosphere of The Paddock & Racecourse Pavilion.

Seeing Bauhaus at that time was genuinely stirring, vocalist Pete Murphy daringly provocative, toying with the audience who knew they were watching something very special. Within six weeks of their formation Bauhaus had recorded their first single, the hugely influential & what will come to be regarded as their finest hour, ‘Bela Lugosi’s Dead’, on the Small Wonder label. A startlingly atmospheric debut, David Jay’s bass and Kevin Haskins drums provided the single with its elegant & powerful metal skeleton, whilst Murphy’s hard, haunting voice alongside Danny Ash’s dripping guitar, provided the magic. Any other supporting information?

The single was chosen to appear in the Bowie film, ‘The Hunger’ with the band playing themselves. Despite the singles success of ‘Bela’ & ‘She’s in Parties’, Bauhaus were a live phenomenon. No recording could hope to capture the riveting presence of Murphy as he writhed about the stage, the howl of Ash’s guitar and the voodoo drums & hypnotic bass of Haskins & Jay. Even the four albums, ‘Mask, In the flatfield, The Sky’s gone out & Burning from the Inside’, could not recreate those unique charismatic performances.

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