Lead singer and frontman for the goth band "The Sisters of Mercy". He's referred to by many people in the goth scene as "The Gothfather" even though, to this day, he says he wants nothing to do with the subculture whatsoever. He's known for saying things like: "It's disappointing that so many people have in all seriousness adopted just one of our many one-week-of-stupid-clothes benders". He also notes that, "I'm constantly confronted by representatives of popular culture who are far more goth than we, yet I have only to wear black socks to be stigmatised as the demon overlord."

Despite these comments, Eldritch and the Sisters of Mercy are still known as two of the flagship figures for the goth subculture.