The Best Gothic Rock Bands/Artists

Blending elements of post-punk and alternative rock, the best gothic rock bands are some the best known rock bands, albeit some of the darkest. Their lyrics are widely known for being brooding at best, extremely dark and gloomy at the other end. The best goth rock bands have made a huge impact on the bands that followed them, with many of the bands from the first goth rock period (bands from the UK in the late 1970s/early 1980s) remaining popular well after they first started out (1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and even today). 

So, what are the best gothic rock bands? Any list of goth rock bands has to include the likes of The Cure, Bauhaus, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Sisters of Mercy and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. These bands are closely associated with goth rock, and with good reason. Their music has transcended goth rock and has landed them on the top of rock critic's best of lists. These goth bands also feature a theatrical element in their live shows, which has made some of these bands the best bands to see live.

That said, it's up to you to determine who are the best goth rock groups and singers. This list answers the questions "who are the best gothic rock bands of all time?" and "who is the greatest gothic rock musician ever?" If you know enough about the genre, please vote based on the quality of the band's music (songs and albums) instead of just voting for the most popular gothic rock bands that you might've heard of.