Bauhaus were an English post-punk band consisting of Peter Murphy (vocals, occasional instruments), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). The band were known for their minimalistic, gloomy style of post-punk rock driven by jagged guitar chords and cold, distant synthesisers. However, they explored all the variations on their bleak musical ideas, adding elements of glam rock, experimental electronic rock, funk and heavy metal. 

Whilst their following has never expanded beyond a cult, they kept their cult alive well into the '90s, a full decade after they disbanded. Forming in Northampton in 1978 the group released their debut single 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' on the independent record label Small Wonder Records in August 1979. The song ended up staying in the UK independent charts for two years. 

Three months later the group signed with Beggars Banquet's subsidiary label 4AD, releasing singles ‘Dark Entries’ and 'Terror Couple Kill Colonel’. In 1980, they released their debut album ‘In the Flat Field’ which reached No. 1 on the independent charts and number 72 on the pop charts. The success of the album led to their first hits on the pop charts; both ‘Kick in the Eye’ and ‘The Passion of Lovers’ made the UK Top 60 in 1981. 

The band's second album ‘Mask’ revealed a more ambitious musical direction which featured elements of metal and electronic sonic textures – making their sound more accessible without abandoning the dark, foreboding core of their music. EP ‘Searching for Satori’ came next – followed by single ‘Spirit’. Their third album ‘The Sky's Gone Out’ peaked No. 4 on the album charts. Their fourth album ‘Burning From the Inside’ was released in 1983, and peaked at No. 13. 

The band split up shortly afterwards. Peter Murphy began a solo career whilst Ash and Haskins continued as Tones on Tail and, later reunited with David J to form Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had. David J and Daniel Ash also released solo albums.  

Bauhaus eventually reunited for a 1998 tour and again from 2005 to 2008 – when they released  ‘Go Away White’, a studio album they promised as their last statement.