Rozz Williams, 35; King of Gothic Rock in 1980s

Rozz Williams, 35, singer, lyricist and musician known in the early 1980s as the king of gothic rock. Born Roger Alan Painter, Williams formed the band Christian Death when he was 18. It established a cult following in the United States and Europe with such albums as “Only Theatre of Pain,” “Catastrophe Ballet” and “Ashes,” reveling in the dark, mysterious side of life. Other albums were “Deathwish” and “The Decomposition of Violets.” In 1987, Williams and his wife, Eva O, formed the group Shadow Project in San Francisco, which recorded “Dreams for the Dying.” Williams also became interested in spoken-word art and performance art, recording the album “Every King a Bastard Son,” among others. Williams moved Shadow Project to Los Angeles in 1991 and signed a recording contract with Triple X Records, which also produced his spoken-word collection “The Whorse’s Mouth.” On April 1 in Los Angeles, a suicide.