Editing The Sisters of Mercy (section)

==Influences==
Eldritch cited [[the Psychedelic Furs]], [[Slade]], [[Pere Ubu]], and [[David Bowie]] as his primary influences;<ref>Robb, John. [https://louderthanwar.com/interview-andrew-eldritch-depth-trump-brexit-new-album/ "Interview: Andrew Eldritch in depth on Trump, Brexit, the ‘new album’ and himself"]. Louderthanwar.com. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2018</ref> and noted [[Motörhead]], [[the Cramps]], and [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]] among his early influences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/103730521_128910842153007_8688588499968291404_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=CO8rD-Mvc1QAX9AvIQl&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg2-1.xx&oh=128522e489ae624fca8cf89f21d5b726&oe=60871E29 |first=Nadine |last=Milo |title=La Métaphore Reptilienne Sisters Of Mercy |work=Rock The Town |date=October 1983 |issue=10 |page=16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329005042/https://scontent-cdg2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/103730521_128910842153007_8688588499968291404_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=CO8rD-Mvc1QAX9AvIQl&_nc_ht=scontent-cdg2-1.xx&oh=128522e489ae624fca8cf89f21d5b726&oe=60871E29 |archive-date=29 March 2021 |quote=Tous nos groupes préférés sont de vieux groupes éteints, à part Motorhead, les Cramps, les Banshees, et les Psychedelic Furs (''All of our favorite bands are old, dead bands apart from Motorhead, the Cramps, the Banshees, and the Psychedelic Furs'') }}</ref>  
<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ultimatesistersguide.org/images/mag_french/mag_fren1.jpg |first=Olivier |last=Lefevre |title=Merci Les Soeurs |magazine=En Attendant |date=September 1983 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811035546/http://www.ultimatesistersguide.org/images/mag_french/mag_fren1.jpg |archive-date=11 August 2016 |quote=Peu de nos contemporains possèdent une véritable dimension, les Banshees, les Psychedelic Furs. Les autres ne sont pas honnêtes. (''Few of our contemporaries have got a true dimension. The Banshees, the Psychedelic Furs. The other bands are not honest.'') }}</ref> 

According to Jennifer Park, the band has also mentioned [[Leonard Cohen]], [[Hawkwind]], [[Gary Glitter]], [[Lou Reed]], [[the Velvet Underground]], [[Iggy and the Stooges]], [[Suicide (band)|Suicide]], [[The Birthday Party (band)|the Birthday Party]], and [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]] as additional influences.<ref>Jennifer Park, "Melancholy and the Macabre: Gothic Rock and Fashion," ''Gothic: Dark Glamour'' by Valerie Steele and Jennifer Park, p. 145.</ref>

While the band enjoys a considerable fan base with overlapping interests in so-called [[dark culture]], the Sisters of Mercy consider themselves first and foremost a rock band. They have consistently discouraged associations with "goth" through regular public statements in the press and stipulations in their standard contract riders. Nevertheless, this has not prevented them from regularly appearing at festivals featuring this genre of music, such as [[M'era Luna Festival|M'era Luna]].