The following is a list of notable artists who have been described as gothic rock by reliable sources. "Gothic rock" is a term typically used to describe a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes. According to both Pitchfork[1] and NME,[2] proto-goth bands included Joy Division,[1][2][3] Siouxsie and the Banshees,[1][2] Bauhaus[1][2] and the Cure.[1][2] The term was first used by critic John Stickney in 1967 to describe the music and accompanying performances by the Doors. The Doors' lyrics and their "audience-antagonizing performances" have even been seen as the beginning of gothic rock.[4]