Etymology The term "deathrock" was first used in the 1950s to describe a thematically related genre of rock and roll, which began in 1958 with Jody Reynolds' "Endless Sleep"Larkin, Colin: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music, Virgin Books, 1st edition, 1998, , p. 353 and ended in 1964 with J. Frank Wilson's "Last Kiss".Miletich, Leo: Rock Me with a Steady Roll, Reason magazine, March 1987 The term was also applied to the Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack". These songs about dead teenagers were noted for their morbid yet romantic view of death, spoken word bridges, and sound effects.Bernards, Neal; Modl, Tom: The Mass Media: Opposing Viewpoints, Greenhaven Press 1988, , p. 130. In 1974, the term "deathrock" was used by Gene Grier to describe the same phenomenon in rock music.Grier, Gene: The Conceptual Approach to Rock Music, Manual, Charter Publications, 1st edition, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1974, p. 6.
etymology the term "deathrock" was first used in the 1950s to describe a thematically related genre of rock and roll which began in 1958 with jody reynolds' "endless sleep"larkin colin the virgin encyclopedia of fifties music virgin books 1st edition 1998  p 353 and ended in 1964 with j frank wilson's "last kiss"miletich leo rock me with a steady roll reason magazine march 1987 the term was also applied to the shangri-las' "leader of the pack" these songs about dead teenagers were noted for their morbid yet romantic view of death spoken word bridges and sound effectsbernards neal; modl tom the mass media opposing viewpoints greenhaven press 1988  p 130 in 1974 the term "deathrock" was used by gene grier to describe the same phenomenon in rock musicgrier gene the conceptual approach to rock music manual charter publications 1st edition valley forge pennsylvania 1974 p 6