{{Short description|British rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ausgang | image = AusgangDropDead2004.jpg | caption = Ausgang at Drop Dead festival 2004 | image_upright = 1.2 | alias = Ausgang-A-Go-Go | origin = Birmingham, England | genre = Gothic rock, deathrock<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-16 |title=Defining Deathrock: Deeper Cuts Part 3 |url=https://cvltnation.com/defining-deathrock-deeper-cuts-part-3/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=CVLT Nation}}</ref> | years_active = 1983–1987, 2003–present | label = Criminal Damage, FM, Shakedown | website = {{url|ausgang.joshclark.co.uk}} | current_members = | past_members = Max<br />Cub<br />Matthew<br />Ibo<br />Stu }} '''Ausgang''' (German for "exit") is an English deathrock band formed in Birmingham in 1983.
== History == Ausgang was formed by members of the band Kabuki.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Indie & New Wave'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0231-3}}, p. 24-5</ref> Some members had also been members of another band, the Solicitors.<ref name="Larkin" /> Max (vocals), Cub (bass guitar) and Matthew (guitar) were all previously in Kabuki, who released one 1982 single ("I Am a Horse") before splitting up.<ref name="Larkin" /> With drummer Ibo, they formed Ausgang and played their first gig in September 1983 at the Powerhouse in Birmingham.<ref name="Larkin" /> They played with the likes of Death Cult, Alien Sex Fiend, Sex Gang Children and GBH before signing to Criminal Damage Records,<ref name="Larkin" /> who released their debut EP, ''The Teachings of Web'', in 1984. <ref>{{cite book |last=Freeth |first=Mark |title=Ausgang: Scarred Lips |year= 2026 |publisher=self published |isbn=9798245271125 }}</ref> Their next release, the "Solid Glass Spine" 7" single, reached No. 28 on the UK Indie Chart.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980–1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 }}</ref> Their final release that year, the ''Head On !'' EP, was produced by Andi Sex Gang.
Cub was replaced by Stu, and Ausgang signed to FM Records, who issued the ''Hunt Ya Down'' EP in 1985, followed by the band's debut album, ''Manipulate'', in January 1986.<ref name="Larkin" /> The band and label parted ways, and after a tour with Gene Loves Jezebel, Ausgang set up their own Shakedown label, returning with the "King Hell" 12" single later that year.<ref name="Larkin" />
Inspired by a friend who had painted the slogan on his jacket, the band briefly lengthened their name to Ausgang-a-Go-Go in an attempt to break away from their goth reputation, releasing the ''Los Descamisados'' mini-LP under that name in 1987 before splitting up.<ref name="Und">"Ausgang the story so far...Death Disco", ''Underground'', April 1987, p. 45</ref> A cassette-only collection of demos, ''In Retrospect (Out Of Our Minds)'', was released that year on the Fourth Dimension label.
In 2001, Anagram Records issued a collection, ''Last Exit... The Best of Ausgang''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ausgang-mn0000720987#biography | title=Ausgang Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | website=AllMusic }}</ref>
== Reunion == Ausgang reformed in 2003,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ausgang.joshclark.co.uk/biog.html |title=.:: Ausgang – Official Band Website :: |access-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322225731/http://ausgang.joshclark.co.uk/biog.html |archive-date=22 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and issued the ''Licked'' album in 2005. The reunited band played at several editions of the Drop Dead Festival, including New York City in 2004 and 2006,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bigtakeover.com/concerts/drop-dead-festival-iv-knitting-factory-new-york-saturday-september-2-2006|title=Drop Dead Festival IV – Knitting Factory (New York) – Saturday, September 2, 2006|website=Bigtakeover.com}}</ref> and Prague in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.deathrock.com/dropdeadprague/ |title=Drop Dead Prague 2007 |access-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220094047/http://www.deathrock.com/dropdeadprague/ |archive-date=20 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Discography == === Studio albums === *''Manipulate'' (1985, FM) *''Licked'' (2005, Shakedown)
=== Singles and EPs === *''The Teachings of Web'' 12" EP (1984, Criminal Damage) *"Solid Glass Spine" 7" single (1984, Criminal Damage) *''Head On !'' 12" EP (1984, Criminal Damage) *''Hunt Ya Down'' 12" EP (1985, FM) *"Bad Hand" flexi 7" single (1986, Fourth Dimension) *"King Hell" 12" single (1986, Shakedown) *''Los Descamisados'' mini-LP (1987, Shakedown) <small>as Ausgang-A-Go-Go</small>
=== Compilation albums === *''In Retrospect (Out Of Our Minds)'' cassette (1987, Fourth Dimension) *''Last Exit... The Best of Ausgang'' (2001, Anagram)
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Award Ceremony !Year !Nominated work !Category !Result |- |Berlin Music Video Awards |2019 |Backstabbers |Best Cinematography |Won |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{allmusic}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124091042/http://ausgang.joshclark.co.uk/ Official website] (archived) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20170104140059/https://www.deathrock.com/ausgang/about.html Ausgang] at Deathrock.com (archived) *[http://www.starvox.net/crypt/6aug.htm Review of ''Licked''] at Starvox.net
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Category:British death rock groups Category:English gothic rock groups Category:Rock music groups from Birmingham, West Midlands
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