| Gothabilly | |
|---|---|
 The Cramps in 1982 | |
| Other names | Hellbilly |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Late 1970s, United States |
| Regional scenes | |
| Mainly the United States and England but growing in popularity in many Scandinavian countries. | |
| Other topics | |
Gothabilly (sometimeshellbilly[1]) is music genre influenced byrockabilly and thegoth subculture. The name is aportmanteau word that combinesgothic androckabilly, first used bythe Cramps in the late 1970s to describe their somber blend of rockabilly andpunk rock.[1][2] Since then, the term has come to describe a fashion style influenced bygothic fashion, as seen in its use of blacksilks,satins,lace andvelvet,corsets,top hats, antiquejewellery,PVC andleather.[1]
Gothabilly is distinctly different in sound frompsychobilly. While psychobilly fuses 1950srockabilly with 1970spunk rock in a faster, more aggressive sound, gothabilly fusesbluesy rockabilly with gothic piano and guitar, and is defined by having slower tempos and emphasizing mood over aggression.[1]
The Cramps have been credited with coining the term "gothabilly".[1] The term was not popularized until the release of a series of international gothabilly compilation albums released by Skully Records in the mid-1990s.[3][4]
Gothabilly is particularly active in the western portion of the United States, with many of today's bands originating in California.[5]